Category Archives: Carnival of HR

Carnival of HR: Online Social Currency Edition

The idea for the theme of this edition of the HR Carnival was the result of online social currency. Victorio Milian had been crafting a post on this idea long before I had considered using those three words consecutively, and in an actual sentence. He was gracious to grant me permission to run with it for this Carnival’s theme. What I haven’t quite figured out is whether it was the result of Victorio’s online social currency, or mine. Either way, it has prompted some fabulous contributions.

Enjoy the HR Carnival, and please take the time to interact with the authors, and each other. Even if you were not able to submit an article for this event, you still have the opportunity to contribute significantly to the dialogue by leaving comments on the posts, and by using some of your online social influence to spread the word for our contributors.

I have loosely categorized submissions into 2 categories: (1) Online Social Currency posts – those who took on the challenge; and, (2) Other Great Topics.

Online Social Currency

Unusual Idea of the Day – A Better Use of Social Currency. This post, by Victorio Milian (Victorio Milian blog) was the catalyst for this HR Carnival theme. Be sure to read the thoughts that have caused others to ponder the same question.

Finding Value in SoMe, by Dwane Lay (Lean HR blog). While entering into the world of social media is as simple as signing up and actually using it, the value of social media for businesses is something that needs to be quantified and measured. Dwane offers up some great, free advice in his post.

Project Social: What is Influence? by Laura Schroeder (Working Girl blog) is talking about “triangles of adoration.” What more to you need to follow the link? If you must, she also questions whether social influence is more about influence, or popularity?

HR Online – All Aboard Please – A Voyage of Discovery! is by Ian Clive (HR Toolbox). Why would anyone in HR feel compelled to share his or her thoughts with the world? While that might be a good question for your shrink, Ian shares his perspective on the matter.

The Net Worth of Your Network by Sri Subramanian (Talented Apps) asks if in today’s world of interconnected, geographically removed people, is it even possible to really connect without an online presence? She shares some solid principles.

Help Others to Earn Online Currency is by Ben Martinez (Riverbend Media blog). How should we define online currency, and how do we measure it? Ben writes about the connection that we have with other people.

Hoard, Spend, or Barter? What Kind of SM Personality Are You? Take your seats for this post by Robin Schooling (HR Schoolhouse). She takes an intriguing approach to asking how social capital is spent in a capitalistic society. So what kind of personality are you?

Online Social Currency: How to Build and Measure It by Lynn Dessert (Elephants at Work). This is a very nice piece for those who are still trying to figure out how the use of social media might translate into real currency. Yes, it is also a great read for those of us who only think we know. Either way, there is some solid, specific advice.

Other Great Topics

A Numbers Game, Sort Of, by Doug Shaw (What Goes Around Limited) takes an interesting and analytical approach to interpolating what blog statistics really mean. It’s okay, it doesn’t require the use of math to read and enjoy.

Advantage to Butt-In-the-Seat Training was written by Paul Meshanko (EdgeOhio). At what point is using technology to create real learning ineffective? Paul shares some great thoughts about the value of still planting butts in seats in our organizations.

Social Screening of Job Candidates: Focusing on the Facts, was submitted by Courtney Hunt (Social Media in Organizations). Whether we like it or not, social screening is on the rise, and there are some things that employers and job candidates need to understand. Now, if that wasn’t enough, Courtney also contributing a follow-up piece titled, Social Media and Recruiting 101: Overview and Recommendations. They are both great pieces and worth the read.

The Gordon Gekko Approach to Professional Development. Okay, movie buffs, who is this famous character? Stumped? Patrick Mullarkey (mentoring Mullarkey blog) will remind you, and will suggest that since money never sleeps, neither should your professional development efforts.

Which Change Model Should You Pick? Dan McCarthy (Great Leadership blog) contributed a timely piece on a topic that is right up my professional alley. While we are all dealing with change in our organizations, which model or models should we really be using? This might cause you to blow the dust off of some of those management textbooks, and I suspect it will introduce you to something new.

How to Talk to a CEO, by Mark Stelzner (Inflexion Advisors blog). The only thing more fun than writing a post to share how you’ve screwed up in your career is having the opportunity to read how someone else has done it. Mark shares a great post with some solid advice.

Are Your High Performers Really High Performers? This is the question asked, and answered by Chris Young (Rainmaker Group – Maximize Possibility blog). Smart companies reward employees based on potential, and recognize job fit as a contributor.

The Name of the Integrated Talent Management Game, by Kevin Oakes (i4cp – Trendwatchers blog) asks the question, why is it that so many companies recognize that talent is critical to competitiveness, but managing it as a comprehensive strategy remains so rare?

Transformational Change Management and Organizational Culture, by Maryanne Wanca-Thibault. Maryanne writes about change as an ongoing part of an organization’s evolution. The key is in finding a strategy that minimizes uncertainty and perceived risk.

Well, there you have it friends – the HR Soot version of the Carnival of HR. Thank you to all who contributed, and I again invite others to join the discussion by writing comments on these posts. Now that I’ve spent my online social currency, I suppose that I had better invest some time in the work that is providing me with a paycheck today. But then again, who knows what our social connections will lead to tomorrow.

August 3rd Carnival of HR: Online Social Currency

Carnival of HR: Blog Posts That Inspire

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Matthew Stollak is hosting the April 27th Carnival of HR at his True Faith HR blog. He asked participants to identify another blogger’s post that inspired them to change.

I am using this opportunity to recognize Charlie Judy. Charlie’s HR Fishbowl is one of the first HR blogs upon which I stumbled, and his style and message resonated with me from the first time I read it. One of the earliest posts that I recall is The Care and Feeding of Your CFO. Charlie has an authenticity to his writing and thinking that is both edgy and refreshing. I immediately identified with his work because he was not espousing the traditional, fluffy, can’t-we-all-have-a-seat-at-the-table HR rhetoric. His blog was a catalyst for my decision to jump off of the blogging cliff.

I have since connected with a number of other progressive HR professionals and bloggers who are asking the right questions, and who are successfully challenging the stale thinking through which our profession has created its own reputation. Check out the Great Links tab above for a list of other HR bloggers who are smart, talented and contributing to a new dialogue that will influence our profession toward a better place.

Safe At Home

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This post is part of a series in the March 30th Carnival of HR that is being hosted by Dwane Lay over at his Lean HR blog. I highly encourage you to check out the other posts from some great bloggers. Dwane provided a single title for this series of posts, and challenged all takers to put their own spin on what it means to them. My head hurt for several days as I tried to come up with a post, but then I finally threw reason out and went with heart.

The healthcare HR guy in me considered this post an opportunity to discuss employee and resident safety in nursing homes; the ex-cop thought about domestic violence and abuse prevention (another passion of mine from my law enforcement days); and, the husband asked his wife for her ideas. Her response was a laundry list of potential safety hazards in our home that are coincidentally connected to the unfinished remodeling projects I’ve started, and the To-Do List items I’ve allegedly neglected.

I ended up doing what any lover of literature would do. I searched for a nugget of literary insight to provide an experiential context to the title. Thorton Wilder wrote,

“It’s when you’re safe at home that you wish you were having an adventure. When you’re having an adventure you wish you were safe at home.”

Conflict

Conflict is inherent to the human condition. What we think we want, and what we have in the moment are infrequently the same. We are influenced to believe that things can and should always be better. This often comes at the expense of appreciating what we have. If I only had another boss, my work would be so much more enjoyable. If I could only lose those extra 25 pounds, I would feel so much better about myself. According to a Manpower Study cited by CNN, 84% of employees plan to look for a new job in 2011.

Unemployment

Sadly, there are many talented people right now who are experiencing a long and unplanned adventure. They are meandering through the tumult of unemployment and uncertainty, and dream of getting back to the safety of steady work.

I graduated from college at another time when the economy was less than impressive, and jobs were scarce. Despite the love and support of family and friends, it was discouraging. The poet in me wrote,

The Angler

Life for life, and troll with ambitious whole

In the word, mark whatever you shall see.

Promising cast lashes flesh till it bleeds,

Lures my future on the passions extolled.

Forwarned all anglers presented false fate

Dancing the nymph of the translucent goal

For the fish has learned, taken what it stole,

Await no more a strike on lying bait.

Shallow pools synthesized so clear and pure,

The waters will run for eternity

Flowing, flowing out to the farthest seas;

I won’t bite; damn all those dreams you procure.

The floating fly on the surface appears

With no strikes, no hits, and no wasted tears.

Make It Safe

For those who are fortunate to be Safe At Home, pause long enough to be truly thankful for what you have. When you have achieved a state of gratitude, reach out and support those who are on an adventure. Become a coach and mentor to college students looking for their first jobs; take the time to actually talk with job applicants who are struggling, and be honest with them; get involved in the collaborative efforts of others to help the unemployed. Here are just a couple of examples (please add to this list by leaving a comment):

Job Angels

Hire Friday

Gratitude doesn’t mean that we cannot dream of making our future better, but it must mean that we are also looking out for others. If you are Safe At Home, support those who are on an adventure. If you’re on an adventure, then keep your faith; and, when you do find yourself Safe At Home once again, remember that others will be on an adventure of their own.

HR Soot: Live your gratitude by lending a hand to others.