Yesterday I had the privilege of delivering the luncheon keynote address to the 1,000 volunteer leaders gathering in Washington D.C. for the annual Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) Leadership Conference.

It was a fitting conclusion to my conference keynote schedule for the year and marked my 12th engagement in partnership with SHRM this calendar year.  My relationship with this Association has provided me an opportunity to address thousands of their members, attend keynotes, breakouts, workshops, round tables and take an active role in the ongoing conversation about the future of work.  It has afforded me some perspective on the challenges and change associated with the way we accomplish meaningful results in the workplace.

The way we organize work, elevate productivity and improve performance is changing.  Right now.

It will be incumbent upon Managers and Leaders to be increasingly more open, transparent, flexible, creative, and collaborative.  Collaborative Leadership is simply the new and improved model for navigating this ever complex, constantly changing business landscape.

Human Resources is perfectly positioned to guide and shape this transformation.  To evolve work style design. To have increasingly more impact on the business.

To get there will require both HR and Leadership to step boldly into the opportunity, challenge the status quo and exert change from a position of influence.  The enclosed Flip Cam clip from yesterday’s keynote offers a thought and a killer question around influential leadership.

I left this conference yesterday truly inspired by this leadership community, their collaborative work effort to make a difference and the impact they are going to have on the future of work!

I always learn more than I share and I continue to be grateful for that opportunity.

I look forward to continuing the conversation in 2012.  Hope to see you in the ATL.  Until then, stay connected!

 

Posted in Leadership, Performance

Tags: Change Agent, Collaboration, Collaborative Leadership, Keynote Speaking, Leadership, SHRM, SHRM Leadership, Work

I always feel especially good about any opportunity to work in the hometown.

The shots are from my keynote last week at the annual MNSHRM State Conference.

Tomorrow I have the priviledge of opening the 2011 Work/Life & Flexibility Expo.

If you are in the Twin Cities it isn’t too late to join us!

Hope to see you in the morning!

 

Posted in News

Tags: Flexibility, Keynote Speaking, SHRM, Speaking

I usually get 60 minutes.

This morning I had 75.

A short time to inspire action.  Initiate change.  Make a moment memorable enough to make a difference.

I am a keynote speaker.  That is my job.  I aspire to make a difference. That is my purpose.

There is resistance.  There always is.  Not everyone is going to like what I have to say.  Not everyone believes you can create enough momentum for meaningful change in 60 minutes.

I am good with that.  You should be also.  I don’t need to appeal to everyone.  I never will.  Neither will you.  We just need to make a difference with those that matter the most.

For me, that means a successful morning can look just like this:

One person inspired.  One purpose solidified.

That is often how change happens.  One conversation.  One connection.  One meaningful moment that inspires action.

We all have the power to make a difference.  Especially among the people that matter the most to us.

Each moment matters. Every conversation counts.

Thank you Minnesota SHRM for having me keynote this morning (you can follow the event at #MNSHRM).

Today was important to me.  This is my hometown.  This is my community.

Did I make a difference?

I suppose that isn’t for me or any of us to decide for that matter.  What is seemingly important is that we try.

That seems like work worth doing.

Posted in Communications, Leadership, Performance

Tags: Keynote Speaking, Passion, Purpose, SHRM, Speaking

Over the next few weeks I’ll have the opportunity to speak with thousands of HR Professionals & Leaders in business.  This week I will be in North Carolina and soon following in Minnesota, New Jersey, Bahamas, Venezuela, Orlando and Virginia.

Part of the conversation happening in this community is the relationship between the C Suite and HR.  Does the C suite value the work?  How can HR bridge gaps to gain credibility, support, strategic influence and cold hard cash to make a meaningful contribution? What if the C suite just doesn’t get it?

Real questions.  A real interesting conversation during a time of HR transformation where 90% of business leaders surveyed said that they are focused on making significant changes to their human-resource policies in the next 12 to 18 months (PwC’s 2011 annual global CEO survey).

Last week while working with a client I was fortunate to attend a business briefing where a panel of 4 CEO’s talked very specifically about what they want from HR.  The focus of the conversation was how they define a “strategic HR business partner” and “what they want and need from HR now.”

4 key themes emerged from this C Suite panel regarding HR as a Strategic Business Partner:

Understand the Business: HR work starts with the business.  You need to be informed and understand the business strategy, objectives and obstacles as well as you understand HR.  Speak the language.  Do the requisite homework. Become an expert in the business you support and serve.

Be Present with Presence: Be visible.  Set meetings that focus on HR serving the business.  Offer to attend meetings that focus on business strategy and priorities.  Develop collaborative relationships with functional leaders across the enterprise in support of the HR value proposition.  Ask for feedback and establish clearly defined expectations and objectives around the HR contribution.

Influence for Impact: Guide leadership to serve the business the right way related to people and performance.  Coach communication.  Cultivate and celebrate culture. Reinforce and recognize values.  Be ready to demonstrate and dollarize the impact to the business around people practices.

Lead the People Strategy: Be proactive.  Serve as a catalyst for change.  Show up with new ideas and solutions to problems that have not been considered.  Challenge the status quo. Be an advocate for what the business needs to be doing better in an effort to optimize people and performance.  Hold the business accountable

In short summary, what the CEO wants from HR or any function for that matter is simple.

Results.

It is all about performance.

Deliver.

Don’t be denied.

Do the work.

Demonstrate a result.

Dollarize it.

Today you can influence the business from almost any level of the organization.  You don’t need permission to have influence.

But the one thing you do need?

Impact.

That is what the C Suite wants the most.

Impact. Performance. Results.

Talent is a top of mind priority in the C Suite and HR is incredibly well positioned to deliver increasingly more value to the business. No doubt it is going to look different and I look forward these future directed conversations, ideas and insights in the coming weeks.

Posted in Leadership, Performance

Tags: HR, Human Resources, SHRM, Strategy

I love Chicago.  A few summer’s ago I actually lived downtown.  Who doesn’t want to be in Chicago during the summertime?  So for 3 months I rented a loft and made Chi Town my home.  It was a great experience.  I am excited to be back.

I will be attending the 2011 Illinois State SHRM Conference this August 22-23.  I will be presenting on an agenda with some outstanding keynotes and concurrent sessions.  I am excited for both.

This event represents an opportunity for me to listen, learn, laugh, engage, grow, improve, connect and consume the ideas, insights and inspiration of one of the strongest lineups of thinkers, doers and leaders in the human capital space.  It is quite evident the IL SHRM State Council took great care in assembling the content for this event and the crew that is going to be sharing and socializing the content as it is delivered.

I expect this event will be social.  I expect this event will be collaborative.  I expect this event will be filled with actionable content.  I expect I’ll have a healthy “to do” list when I leave. I expect to make several new, meaningful connections.  I expect to consume a Chicago Dog.   I expect to have a whole lot of fun!

To make your event experience more memorable I’d encourage you to spend a few minutes online getting to know some of the people participating in this year’s event on the Social Media Press Corps.  Their properties are included below.  I think you’ll be impressed and find that in meeting them personally they all share a vested interest in elevating the practice of people and willingness to help wherever they can.

I hope you can join us.  I hope to see you at the Meet Up Monday night.  I hope we get to connect.

Blogger                         Blog Site & Twitter Handle

Robin Schooling           The HR Schoolhouse @RobinSchooling

Jessica Miller-Merrill     Blogging 4 Jobs @blogging4jobs

Jennifer McClure           Unbridled Talent @cincyrecruiter

Joe Gerstandt                Joe Gerstandt @joegerstandt

Jason Lauritsen            Jason Lauritsen @jasonlauritsen

(Also Talent Anarchy)

China Gorman           China Gorman @chinagorman

Dwane Lay                  Lean HR @dwanelay

Mike VanderVort        Human Race Horses @mikevandervort

Jason Seiden              Jason Seiden @seiden

Ryan Estis                  Passion on Purpose @ryanestis

Trish McFarlane      The HR Ringleader @trishmcfarlane

William Tincup           Drive Thru HR @williamtincup

Charlie Judy              The HR Fishbowl @HRFishbowl

Curtis Midkiff             SHRM @shrmsocmedguy

Maren Hogan         Marenated @marenhogan

Geoff Webb            Radical Events @radicalrecruit

Bryan Wempen       Drive Thru HR @bryanwempen

William Tincup        Drive Thru HR @williamtincup

Posted in Social Media

Tags: Conference, Illinois SHRM, Keynote, SHRM, Social Media

Attending a conference this week full of powerful speakers created some memorable moments. What always seems to stand out are what I call the ‘power statements’. The quote you could recite without notes.  The bold statement that makes you stop dead in your tracks and think about your work, life, relationships, what is missing, most important and worth your time, energy and investment.  Returning from SHRM 2011 Las Vegas there was one that resonated for me in a big way:

“Don’t Chase the Paper, Chase The Dream”

This quote was introduced during the Tony Hsieh keynote on Delivering Happiness.  It is a powerful quote borrowed from Diddy while delivering advice to now deceased rapper Notorious BIG and related to pursuing passion over profit – another power statement delivered by Zappos CEO Tony and later supported with the Simon Bailey suggestion to “Pursue Purpose over Profit”.  This whole idea of meaning over money was also reinforced during the Arianna Huffington keynote, “pursue doing good by feeling good…find the meaning….the purpose.”

Sir Richard Branson even put his own spin on following your instincts boldly with his “screw it, let’s do it” approach to business.

There were certainly plenty of actionable ideas behind the inspiration but it does beg the question.  Does the passion play and meaning movement advice from these entrepreneurial giants translate to the everyday practice of Human Resources and the future of work?

It better start.

65% of employees are classified as under-engaged.

84% of employees intend to look for a new job in 2011.

When work becomes a life necessity (drudgery?) over something we look forward to doing, it is a problem.

Work is an emotional experience.  People are hungry for more meaning.  Money matters.  But it is so much more satisfying when you find (and help others find) the intersection of passion and the paycheck.

In fact, that really is what Delivering Happiness is all about.  Cultivate a culture of passion and purpose and watch the profit follow.  It is hard work.  It takes planning, strategy, values, vision, development, alignment, authentic leadership and focus. On things that may seemingly feel like they are intangible.  Relationships.  Communication.  Trust.

Passion doesn’t manifest on auto pilot.  It happens on purpose.

As leaders and managers we’d all do better by being in the business of dream chasing with those in our employ.  We all show up at the office with our own individual needs, hopes, dreams and desires.  They are all different.   As leaders if we can understand those unique needs, focus on the whole person (work and life require balance and flexibility), cultivate meaningful relationships, create clear expectations, design a better experience and align toward a common purpose we will be taking giant steps in the right direction. That is where people are free to flourish.

We all deserve the freedom and independence to chase our dreams. At work. In life.

Happy July 4th!

Posted in Communications, Leadership, Uncategorized

Tags: Delivering Happiness, Passion, Purpose, SHRM, Tony Hsieh, Zappos

The man behind the Virgin empire, Sir Richard Branson, opened the 2011 SHRM Annual Conference & Exposition (Going to be a great event…follow the action #shrm11) on Sunday afternoon in a Q&A session that covered the unconventional entrepreneur’s childhood lesson’s (he suffered from dyslexia and dropped out of High School to launch his fist business), appetite for risk, philosophy on culture, talent and his impetus to take you on a ride into outer space. He is an absolutely fearless entrepreneur!

While he acknowledged a bit of luck on the journey he also shared that the very core of building a successful business is to make a difference in the lives of others. “I am inquisitive. I love making a difference in other people’s lives. There is no point in starting a business if you aren’t going to make a difference.” In discussing his philosophy on business with the 14,000 attendees he talked about the opportunity for HR to “influence” the C suite, engagement, culture, talent and indicated how very essential the people strategy is to the success of the Virgin enterprise. Common sense but not always common practice.

He didn’t hold back on the importance of removing the wrong kind of people – “the kind that destroy the spirit of the company” – from the business or the awful approach American business has to workplace flexibility. Two clear opportunities for improvement that HR can most definitely “influence”.

Implied throughout much of the conversation was his appetite for adventure, passion pursuits and tolerance for risk. While it hasn’t always worked out perfectly (Virgin Cola) it most certainly has been a style that has proven essential to Virgin’s success. That is a message HR and just about everyone in business today can embrace during this time of unprecedented transformation and change.  We all have the opportunity to have an impact. To make a difference.

The best part about his opening address? His check goes right to charity. Virgin Unite.

Here is a look at making a difference.

Posted in Brand, Employee Engagement, Leadership

Tags: Richard Branson, SHRM, Virgin

I checked into the Hotel Del Coronado last night.  Exhausted from a wonderful 48 whirlwind that included keynotes for CUPA and SHRM and so many new, meaningful connections.  On my pillow was a placard with the hotel’s daily affirmation (nice touch) that read:  “Somewhere on your journey don’t forget to turn around and enjoy the view.”  How fitting.

Ten years ago (or perhaps a little longer) I made my first trip to San Diego. I was a Sales Manger who just got the big promotion to Vice President attending my first SHRM National event as a vendor/exhibitor (part of my new role and responsibility).

I was awestruck by the SHRM experience. The size and scale. The programming, people and parties.  The speakers.  The keynote speakers.

During the evening we made our way over to Coronado Island for a reception at the very same Hotel Del. Gathering around, watching the sunset, casually initiating new relationships with potential customers over cocktails.  I am not sure if I was inspired by the sunset or the cerveza but among our small group I casually blurted out, “someday I am going to keynote this conference.”  A moment of uncomfortable silence was followed by laughter and another round.  A brazen comment made by a kid buzzing from his new promotion.  Speak?  “Stick to the sales” was the prevailing thought.

Not in my mind.

This week I followed Dan Pink (someone whom I have admired for years) as the Day 2 Keynote Speaker at the SHRM National Talent & Staffing Conference.  After nearly 10 years of National breakout/mega sessions it was nice to step up.  I hope my message resonated.   I hope to check another box on the list very soon.

I suppose I checked in to the Hotel Del to look back and remember that night here 10 years ago.  To reflect.  To write.  To enjoy the view.  The many ups and downs.  Highs and lows.  Wins and losses.  Big dreams.  What I see most prominently are the people.  The people I love.  The people I miss. The people I met this week.  The people that matter.   The good news is there is always room for more of those people.

I have come to realize that how you do something and who you are doing it with are just as important what you are doing.

Looking back to enjoy the view is such sage advice.  It helps you see forward more clearly.  More passionately.  More purposefully.  This time around I am 100% certain it isn’t the cerveza.

Take a moment.  Look back and enjoy the view. Embrace the present.  Think forward.

What a journey!

Posted in Leadership, News, Recruiting, Uncategorized

Tags: CUPA, Keynote Speaker, SHRM, Speaking

Spring is here.  After a long Minnesota winter it is very welcome.  But that isn’t the season I am most excited about.

Nope.  I am ready for Conference Season!  The next few months will see associations and corporate teams gather in multiples.  From the annual event to the impromptu off site, busy professionals will be getting together to connect, communicate, collaborate and set the course for forward progress in their business.  I assume a little fun will be had along the way.

I recall a couple years ago hearing about the conference model dying.  The premise being that with emerging technology there would simply be increasingly less need to have a conference style event.  That premise didn’t deliver on the promise and as someone who attends 30+ conferences a year there is increasing interest the live event.  No doubt, expectations around the experience are on the rise.  Quality content and connections are a baseline requirement.  But today, people have a real need and desire to come together and share with like minded people.  I am fortunate to have two such opportunities this week.

Today, I’ll be in Little Rock talking about Passion & Purpose at the CUPA Southern Region Conference.  Then it’s immediately off to the SHRM Talent & Staffing Conference to spend a couple days with a Rock Star community in San Diego.  I simply cannot wait to be part of the conversation about the most critical issue facing just about every business as we emerge from this recession:  TALENT!

I had an opportunity to have a pre-conference conversation with SHRM about the event.  Part of that conversation included some thoughts about how to get the most out of the conference experience as an attendee.  My key thought is opt in and participate! Online.  Offline.  Tweet Up.  At breakfast.  In the evening.  Take it all in!  If you leave with 3 key ideas to take action on in the next 100 days (TAN PLAN) and 3 new, meaningful connections then the experience will have been very worthwhile.

If you aren’t able to join in the fun this week our intention is to continue the conversation online (we think it is important).  I’ll be teaming up with Don MacPherson of Modern Survey later this month for the Engage – Inspire – Empower webinar event.  We’ll explore the latest research and mega trends on Employee Engagement and provide some specific, actionable take away for business leaders.  The data alone is worth the price of admission (FREE)!  Plan to join us on Tuesday, April 26 at 11:00 am central time (register here). Don’s latest post on the value of values is also well worth the read.

Looking forward to a great season!  Hope we connect along the way!

Posted in Communications, Employee Engagement, Recruiting, Social Media

Tags: CUPA, HR, Keynote, Leadership, Recruiting, SHRM, Talent

I was fortunate to spend a couple days this week working with a world class talent acquisition team.

The group at CDW is lead by Melissa McMahon, SMA Chicago’s 2010 Staffing Professional of the Year.  This team knows talent.  The business recognizes that talent will be the disruptive competitive advantage. They need to achieve growth goals and this group is going to deliver the people that deliver on the business plan.  These are People Who Get IT!

I can tell you the focus of our training and time together wasn’t spent on tactics like Boolean Search, Recruiter ready Linked In profiles or source effectiveness reporting.  Nope.  We actually spent our time on Recruiter Effectiveness.

What constitutes Recruiter Effectiveness on a world class talent acquisition team?  Have a look at the Rock Star Recruiting skill and competency list as defined by CDW in session (picture enclosed).  A pretty good self assessment for anyone concentrating on the practice of people.

Our training emphasized the competitive decision cycle – from Recruiter point of contact to conversion.  Where the real recruiting happens. This is what Team CDW had to say about the experience:

The session content resonated because they buy into a fundamental principle – Recruiting is Sales (and Marketing).  That is a conversation we’ll continue next month at the SHRM Talent & Staffing Management Conference & Exposition in my Tuesday morning keynote.

If you completely disagree with what I have to say know that Dan Pink is keynoting Monday and Susan Packard is on Wednesday.  That alone is worth the price of admission and the all star sessions and networking in San Diego is never a bad thing!  Hope to see you there.

Enclosed is a video preview of our Sales & Recruiter Effectiveness training.  Feedback is always welcome!

Posted in Communications, Recruiting, Sales, Uncategorized

Tags: Keynote Speaking, Recruiter Effectiveness, Recruiter Training, Sales Training, SHRM, Sourcing, Staffing, Talent, Training