Another Day in the HR Field

This is a post I started in April and just getting a chance to publish. My apologies for the delay.  It's been a few years since Tami Ireland and I started the state legislative conference with then ILSHRM Director, Carolyn Spherl.  With continued support we have had our ups and downs but yesterday put a smile on both of our faces for a couple reasons. Those reasons center around two things: 1) Growth & 2) Opportunity.  Both of us have visited Capitol Hill in DC during the SHRM sponsored Lobby Day and have mirrored our approach as closely as possible. However, some years  have not even come close to this year especially as it relates to opportunity.  If you compare the picture of our first year to this years, you can see the growth in number of participants. It's obvious to us that even though growth has been slow it is still growth. Can't wait to see what the 2015 ILSHRM / CICSHRM legislative event will bring next Spring.  The opportunity I was referring to is seeing a

Well that was a blast! Hanging with long time HR friend, Dave Ryan, talking about Running an HR Department of One down south in the state of Louisiana. It was more than a blast...it was a great learning experience. I have always considered Dave mentor on areas of HR where I had little experience. One of those areas is Labor Relations. This go around I learned a lot about some new technologies that will help get the job done more effectively and efficiently.  Among my list of takeaways from Dave include Smart Recruiters, Work for Us, Flubaroo, and Google Docs. Mobile apps have been the rave for a couple of years now but Smart Recruiters seem to have an edge on the recruiting space. The app allows cost conscious HR professionals to post job openings for free and then get picked up by a host of other online job banks. On top of your return on investment for a pinch of your time, it's relatively easy to learn and use. Another related Facebook add on is called Work For Use which do

I  admit, I am not the most polished among my peers in the HR speakers community. Nor do I attest to "know it all" or have the most interesting "stories". I especially have not worked at a Fortune "any number" organization which usually are the only ones who actually get paid to speak. Well there are those who have authored a book who get paid. I'm not there yet either.  What I do know is how to pick a great partner in crime, what topics are not usually to the level of detail I feel is sufficient and how to dress for the occasion. Like the latter even matters, right? Well you will find a few shopping trip posts on social media where it has mattered to some (myself included).  I also admit that less than a handful of speaking gigs hardly qualify one to be "on the circuit". What I confess to be true about speaking at a conference is:  *I have a fabulous time helping others.  *I meet a great deal of wonderful HR professionals as w