I am going to take you back to the 1st grade and one of my favorite books, Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct.

Everyone in town knows Edwina. She is the dinosaur who plays with the kids. She is the dinosaur who helps little old ladies cross the street. And best of all, she bakes yummy chocolate-chip cookies. Everyone loves Edwina except for Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie. Reginald knows dinosaurs are extinct and is ready to prove it. 

Edwina knew that, in the eyes of others, she was extinct. And here is the cool thing about Edwina . . .she just didn't care. So what you ask? Ok, here's the HR connection.

I don't bake yummy chocolate chip cookies and I am not loved by everyone. However, like Edwina, there are Reginald Van Hoobie-Doobies out there predicting my demise. Well, not my demise but HR's demise. And like Edwina, I really don't care. Ok, I care about the future of my profession but I don't care about the prediction.

From HR Gumbo, the Big Bend Society for Human Resource Management, 

"This is an exciting time to be a human resource professional.  Whether positive or negative, there is a huge spotlight on our profession, forcing our leaders to ensure all the 'ducks are in a row' so to speak.  From monumental changes in employment law to health care reform, HR pros are on a first name basis with the business community."

No doubt about it, HR is in the sea of change. The sea of change is pretty rough these days and not for the faint of heart. What is an HR professional to do?

EVOLVE.

You've heard the conversations and the predictions. When that little voice in your head says, "What the heck do they know?" "Sounds great for you but that's not happening in my organization - ever" "Don't tell me how to do my job" or some version of the same theme, quiet it down. Tuck away the fear. Listen. Consider. Try it out. Challenge, question, research and counter. Do something. And don't do it alone. Bring others with you. Share.  

Is HR dying? asks Laurie Ruettimann, Punk Rock HR. HR is not dead yet responds Mike Vandervort, The Human Racehorses Blog. Read the posts, read the comments (all of them!) and add your voice to the mix.

Together, let's show the Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobies of the world just how evolutionary HR can be and maybe, just maybe, they'll be making chocolate chip cookies for us.

While you are thinking evolution, think about joining me at HRevolution where we can continue the conversation.