Pondering HRevolution 2010
HRevolution has left Chicago.
HR social media thought leaders and practitioners from around the country converged for 24 hours+ of discussions on HR, social media, communications, and leadership/development. And now it's over.
Starting with the Monster Tweetup Friday night, we met up with old friends and met online friends (and new friends) for the very first time. The connections and conversation made Friday night carried over into the unconference the next day and the Catalyst Ranch was charged both with excitement and easiness.
My high point of the day was the session I facilitated with Jennifer McClure. Discussing whether or not HR could be trusted, we had a great discussion. After that, I joined other sessions covering topics that included blogging, generations in the workplace and health care. I listened, observed and reacted, but personally, something was missing. No denying it - I didn't have the same spark that I saw in others. Was it the topics discussed. . .or was it me? Have I lost my spark for the future of HR?
After lunch, I took some time out of the sessions, grabbed some bacon popcorn (yes, bacon popcorn!) and started to question if HR really is where I am supposed to be. Seriously. I don't know.
In a stream of consciousness kind of way, here is another thought on my mind:
HR professionals are at so many points across the spectrum in terms of social media, credibility, influence, and leadership. Giving them social media knowledge, a new way of speaking about it, or links to cool tools are not going to get them anywhere if they lack credibility, influence or the ability to get things done. For some, the gap between where they are today and where they know they (and their organizations) can be, seems impossible to bridge.
It's not sexy, flashy, or particularly forward thinking but our future looks bleak if we can't create a confident, capable, credible and influential human resource ground swell where the rubber meets the road.
More to come. Later.
Thoughts, food, bacon popcorn aside, I'd like to acknowledge the HRevolution planning crew and thank them again for the work they did to bring this event to us. You rock!
May 10, 2010
Reader Comments (12)
I think I understand what you are saying about questioning the HR thing. I've been tossing around ideas since about Christmas on that exact issue. I made the decision to jump out of corporate HR, mostly because there is only so much headbanging I can do. I'd rather work with companies that want straight forward, no-nonsense approaches to social media intense, technologically advanced evolving workforces.
I'm hanging my shingle in the wine industry, because that's what I love - and hopefully, I can use a career's worth of HR expertise to keep the lights on.
If you want an ear to bend, i'm going through it too.
And regardless of that, I'm always willing to talk about wine! :)
I'm glad you were there, and thank you for sharing your thoughts in your session, and throughout #HRevolution
Keep scratching at your stream of consciousness issues as I think you're on the right track. Something will break loose (I promise) and then the path will be clear. I have the same unsettling sense as you do and not a week goes by without questioning my place in this industry.
Mark, the new look is just a few hours old and will be coming together more over the next few days (and weeks). Thanks for the encouragement - the thoughts are streaming. It's a bit unsettling and a tad scary.
And you are asking the right questions. Your deliberate and thoughtful questions make me think that you are in the right place - challenging, questioning, leading.
I think we need a "big thoughts" session next time where people can just ideate. :)
And you are awesome.
Oh, Deirdre, I am sooo glad we got to finally see each other. Right now I am feeling a bit "dispirited" (is that a word?) and not sure what it is all about - the mark of a great conference that has me thinking?!