‘Connection’ Articles at Everyday People

I grew up watching the fantastic TV show – Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. It was an amazing show because they went around the globe showing the reality of the natural world which I was oblivious to. Mind you, this was long before the personal computer or the internet were even ideas. It was a program we’d watch as a family on a weekly basis.

I remember watching in fascination the life of the African Savannah. The animals ranged from giraffes, elephants, hyenas, cheetahs, and gazelles. There was an episode showing how the cheetahs would hunt for their prey and I was glued to the screen. When the gazelles stayed in their herd, the cats couldn’t attack. There was strength in numbers. Inevitably though, there would be one gazelle innocently eating tall grass without noticing the herd had wandered off leaving them alone.

All of a sudden, the chase was on. The cheetah had been patient, and now it leaped into action. The young gazelle was quick and darted back and forth to elude the cheetah. In the end, it didn’t end well for the gazelle. The cheetah overcame its prey.

The lesson I took away from this was to make sure I was never isolated. I understand the natural interaction of hunter and hunted in the animal kingdom is a matter of survival. These types of chases are going to occur all the time.

Isolation though has become a choice lately. I’ve noticed a crack in the foundation of social media in its various forms. I remember having a conversation with my brother and sister-in-law back in 2007 about joining this new platform called Twitter. They had joined and thought it was something I’d enjoy. I was skeptical and didn’t see the point. I checked it out and decided to give it a try. I’m glad I did because it opened the world of others from my profession I didn’t know even existed.

I also chose to be more visible and active on other platforms including, Linked In, Instagram, and Facebook. Since then, platforms have come and gone. They’ve evolved or devolved as the years have passed. There have been ebbs and flows on each one that have influenced the decision for people to participate in them or not. I remember the period of “shaming” that occurred as well chastising peers for not using social media.

Through it all, I have chosen to remain active. There is one primary reason for this – the people. Please understand when I say this I’m including those who differ from me in their thoughts, content, and approaches to the medium. I also have thousands of people who share some common thread binding us together. It’s like having a global “herd” of connections.

Over the past few years, and especially this year, I’ve seen people choose to drop away from one platform or another. Some have chosen to disconnect altogether. I’m saddened by this and yet understand. No one should be forced to participate in a forum where they feel it runs contrary to their beliefs. Blind conformity is never a good reason to be involved anywhere.

At the same time, I’m concerned because I sense a growing movement of isolation is what is occurring. The robust friendships and connections I’ve built over the years are waning and are possibly going to disappear because we aren’t together on this platform or that. Social media eliminated the barriers of time zones and geography. We could connect with the punch of a Return key on our laptop or phone. The vast majority of people I’ve come to know over the years have been virtual connections. It’s very cool when we’ve had the chance to meet in person and I cherish that. The in-person connections, however, are the exception versus the rule.

I don’t have a solution or a call to action to offer. That isn’t typically how I like to write. I’m hoping that staying the course and doing my best to continue, create and foster connections will stem the tide of people dropping away. I’m not sure it will.

I do know this . . .

We are better together than if we’re isolated.

I want to see people around the world come together to learn from each other, have intentional conversations, and improve the world of work and the world in general. We were created to be together and be a community. The forum doesn’t matter to me. Staying connected does.

I hope you step in with me.

As I sit to type my weekly post, I am overlooking a beautiful mountain range that encircles the Las Vegas strip. It’s my first time to visit Vegas, and I find it to be an incredibly intriguing human experiment !! (That will be for a later post to be sure.)

One thing that strikes me though is that in the midst of a desert sits an endless series of skyscrapers, neon lights, constant movement and a throng of people taking in absolutely everything their senses can endure. It’s like an oasis filled with people searching for something to refresh them.

After finishing the Ohio SHRM State Conference, I noted another oasis in the midst of a desert. During the hustle and bustle of the sessions, vendor hall, food, SHRM Store and entertainment, people are looking for something to refresh themselves professionally. You see Social Media usage jump from literal non-existence to a robust life because people have to tell others what they’re experiencing. It’s great to see people embrace social media, even if it’s for this short burst. Ironically, there’s still a movement out there at conferences that wants to squish and limit social media. In fact, one of my friends was attending another State Conference said that they had speakers (who weren’t on social media themselves) encouraging HR to not allow social media. That narrow look at things kills me.

You see, I think social media is more than a platform for exposure. Sure, that’s what many people use it for. However, I think social media is the best method to connect, communicate and curate. There is a hole in HR people. They want to connect and become this amazing tribe, but they don’t know how. It starts to bubble at HR events, but then it dissipates as soon as the event concludes and “real” work starts again.

We continue to compartmentalize social media as something that exists “out there” and is “for others.” I’d like to see that change. To me the first primary function of social media is to connect. Before social media, our HR sphere was limited geographically both in how far we were willing to go and who we met at traditional gatherings. Social media allows us to meet others who do what we do and face the same challenges and opportunities we do. You aren’t alone !! This is one facet of the oasis that is within your reach.

The next is communication. Now we have the ability to reach out with the touch of an “enter” button to talk to anyone. We have no reason to say that resources aren’t accessible. People want to help each other, but YOU need to be the one who reaches out. Sitting by your mobile device hoping someone will ask you for your keen and sage advice isn’t going to happen. Reach out first. It’s not as risky as you think.

The last piece is curation and it’s something that needs to start happening more. This is more geared to my friends who are already well-versed and comfortable in the social media space. People want to hear your voice and the voices of others. I appreciate that people fill social media with content, but I see most people publish and not push. By “push” I mean sharing the great content you see to others. When we get caught up in analytics and how our numbers are running, I feel that we want see how our personal social media brand is doing more than making the profession stronger.

Be the oasis !! Get information out to people and gather them together so that they are renewed and equipped to be able to do the good work of HR in their corner of the HR universe. I want you to join me in making social media a platform that is more than just a series of announcements !!

People in HR are seeking the oasis. Let’s start meeting there. The desert isn’t really where need to be. HR practitioners want to gather and come together. Join me in making this happen !!