Your Grandma Trusts Me
A major pet peeve of mine is people getting or taking credit for things they do not deserve. Think Dunder Mifflin regional manager Michael Scott giving himself the “World’s Best Boss” mug. Unfortunately this shameful self-promotion is pretty common, especially with the advent of social media as an aid to personal branding. Think about it, social media provides a way for individuals to build a reputation without ever physically meeting anyone. Some may say the concept is pure genius.
Too frequently I see people claiming they are subject matter experts when they have no more experience than the average person. Ben Eubanks of UpstartHR knows what I’m talking about, as illustrated in his post on Jobacle.com! Yet for some reason these individuals win over fans by commenting on blog posts, making public comments in an open forum or getting quoted in an article. Guess what? The people you interact with online may not be the same people if you ever meet them in person. An online persona can be much more grandiose due to the lack of interpersonal communication. Think online dating sites like eHarmony! Some take advantage of electronic communication, knowing full well of how different one can portray themselves in an electronic versus in-person format. His or her commentary may be nothing but a baseless attempt to garnish some form of credit for personal and/or professional gain.
My love of writing and obsession with technology are what ultimately led to the creation of HR Gumbo. I am not here to get you to buy something from my company or claim that you must hire me to come speak at your next event. In blogging my goal is to give a different perspective on the human resource industry, that of a Millennial. I hope to be able to inspire others to recognize areas of improvement and engage in conversation aimed at making change in the workplace.
I would say that a good number of bloggers are interested in developing their personal/professional brands, including myself. That’s not a bad thing. We offer our posts to initiate conversation, to share valuable information, to educate and learn from colleagues. Unfortunately, there are some out there who would do or say anything to come out on top.
Now to get to my point…I urge those involved with social media for professional purposes to heed to their gut. I believe I am a good judge of character but I cannot speak for all you readers out there as I’ve never met most of you. In that respect I want to share some suggestions with you regarding developing trust in those bloggers you choose to follow.
First, please don’t take everything I say at face value. Unless I cite something, the content is based on my opinion. It needs to be said that you will not necessarily know if you agree with something or if it applies to you until you try it out for yourself.
Second, I urge you to get to know someone you follow on Twitter or someone whose blog you frequently read. Engage him or her in discussion to make sure you really do want to follow that person and respect their opinion.
Third, know that some people have ulterior motives and what they say or do may be hogwash and designed to inflate their egos and/or their wallet. It almost seems as if there should be a reference check in the process of whose blog you decide to trust.
Lastly, have fun. This is an ever-changing interactive process. Your thoughts and comments frequently create some of the most fascinating conversations among peers across the globe. We really appreciate the feedback!
[For interest’s sake, if you are a blogger, answer me this one loaded question: “Why do you blog?” Share your answers in the comment section along with your name and blog address.]
Stephen is the 2009 President of Big Bend SHRM and the founder/creator of HR Gumbo. He is an operations and people manager with a passion for social media and relationship development. As a proud member of Generation Y, Stephen has worked diligently to bring Big Bend SHRM to the next level – one of the most progressive SHRM chapters in the state of Florida. He is currently an HR Specialist in higher education in Tallahassee, Florida. @stevemgharrison
October 19th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
I love the “Why do you blog” question. It’s so broad and could encompass so many aspects of a persons life. For me, it started because I had an opinion or random ideas that I wanted to get out of my head. It later evolved as a means of branding and getting my name out there. I continue to do it because I enjoy it.
I think, to some degree, HR has a bad reputation and I want to help change that. Part of my motivation is it’s fun
I enjoy thinking of topics and expanding on topics that other bloggers have put out there. Think of it like voting, if I don’t get my voice out there about the changes that are happening in my profession, if I don’t try to make a difference in the reputation HR has, how can I complain when the SS HR slams into an ice berg.
I’m not a paid journalist, I don’t expect someone to cite my work on their thesis or college term papers; it’s my opinion and I always welcome a discussion as to why my opinion might be wrong. I don’t think bloggers are journalists, we’re all opinionated and, as you say, unless we cite something it should be taken as such.
Excellent post Stephen!
October 19th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Great title to the blog! Great question, too. I think it warrants a HR community-wide discussion about the whys and wherefores of blogging.
Here’s why I blog. I blog because I love to write. I blog because I have an opinion and knowledge to share. I blog because it gives me a chance to do some research and then take something that may be too “academic” and put my own spin on it to make it easier to understand or more interesting to the reader. I blog because I hope to influence other HR/OD professionals to do something that will have a wonderfully positive impact on themselves or their organization.
There you go. Great job, Stephen!
October 19th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Why do I blog? Ditto adowling and hrwhisperer and simply, I blog because I have something to say and I get to be part of a bigger conversation. My connections inspire me, challenge my thoughts and educate me each and every day. Oh yeah, my connections are pretty cool too!
October 19th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
I’m still really new at the whole social media gig, but have quickly found myself hooked. i’m just hoping it doesn’t turn into a bad habit and i end up face down in a ditch somewhere. my wife has already given me the evil eye as she catches me for the 15th time on a saturday in front of the computer. i think i started to blog (http://hrfishbowl.wordpress.com/) just because everyone else was doing it – not ashamed to admit it. i realized, though, it’s quite the cathartic exercise. more than anything, it allows me to challenge the stuff that annoys the living flip out of me. i’ve really learned to be less concerned about whether people are actually reading the blog and more focused on delivering a message that reflects some evolution of thought around an issue. it helps me frame my own way of thinking. and afterall, who doesn’t like a good old fashioned debate (which, by the way, is the one thing I wish I saw more of on the HR blogs…debate). thanks for the good post.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Why do I blog? I never planned to. When I started reading the other great ones out there, I would comment on posts, but I always felt like there was more to say. As the ideas piled up, I decided that I would take my experiences as a new HR professional and share them with those around me. I target newbies by writing about my current experiences, and I target veterans to help them remember that spark they had when they first got fired up about this profession. I love what I do, and I don’t know that I could ever go back!
October 19th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
@Charlie We are going to be good friends. I can tell already.
@Stephen Great post, amigo!
October 20th, 2009 at 6:53 am
I blog because I can.
When I was younger, I loved to write. Later I felt that years of cranking out inter-office memos and e-mails killed my writing style and I would never ‘write’ again. Blogging is an unexpected chance to work on the craft of writing, express my creativity and perhaps occasionally say something helpful to others.
October 20th, 2009 at 9:08 am
I blog because of the cash you can make. Isn’t that why everybody blogs?
October 20th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Now to answer seriously, I blog because:
1. It gives me a voice to share what I hope are useful ideas with the HR community that cares to pay any attention. (It is bigger than I ever thought or hoped it would be. Thanks!)
2. It creates unprecedented networking opportunities.
3. It lets me learn from incredibly smart and talented people.
4. It has allowed me to become a better writer, and a published author, albeit not in books.
5. I do make a little money, although I spend all my earning and more traveling to conferences that I attend to because I want to write about them.
I haven’t figured out the complete sponsorship and advertising componenets to blogging yet, because I plug around at a time-comsuming full time job and a 2 hour daily commute.
October 20th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Great post, Steve. Nice to get the gears in motion with some introspective thoughts.
I blog because it allows me to share my thoughts/words/images with the world. I run a fashion blog (http://thestylesample.com) as well as the blogsite for the magazine I publish (http://www.stylesamplemag.com), so blogging also connects me to others with the same interests–I’m talking worldwide. Sometimes I get an emotional rush from the support and camaraderie that comes with interacting with a community of like-minded yet diverse folks. It’s great!
October 20th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
I want to say a big thank you to all who have participated in the conversation thus far! Each one of you make excellent points and continue to add to my inspiration to do what I do. Awesome! On top of that I urge you all to check out Bonita Martin’s comment. She started to add but determined there just wasn’t enough space so she added it to her own blog! Check out HR Superstar at http://www.hrsuperstar.net/2009/10/why-do-i-blog.html.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
I love the comments so far! Keep ‘em coming, people.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
It takes a lot of time and energy to decide to trust someone or not. And it should never be given lightly. Too many people get sucked in by a pretty face and a few feel-good comments, but they never validate. Trust–but validate, my friends.
October 21st, 2009 at 6:56 am
This is a great discussion!
I started blogging because someone told me I needed to in order to build a brand. The reason I continue to blog and love blogging is because I want to connect with my online community. I’m grateful for the relationships I’ve built online and I care deeply about them. Through blogging I hope to bring content that small business owners will find useful, make them think and move them off center.I guess part of what I’m doing through my blog is coaching. I also blog because I want to start a conversation and because sometimes I get fired up about something and have to get it off my chest.
~ Alicia
October 21st, 2009 at 11:15 am
I answered it in my own blog post: http://tinyurl.com/yz9ytux
October 21st, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I blog because I wanted to make something tangible. As an office worker I don’t make stuff, I do stuff. It’s worthwhile, but it doesn’t have the same significance as something you’ve created. Blogging allows me to be creative, stretch myself mentally and physically, and allows me to say, “Yeah, I made that.”
Great post Steve!
October 21st, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Stephen –
Great post – I blog to learn. Lot’s of other stuff comes as a result, but the ability to learn (as I write, from others, from getting nasty emails) is the big draw for me.
Check out Bruno’s post. Just having someone cite Chuck Klosterman is money. If you haven’t read him, go do it. It’ll make you a better writer….
KD
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:44 am
Stephen,
Great discussions and thanks for asking the question and for promoting the conversations.
For me I started out to give my students another resource for information from someone they (hopefully) trusted. But over time the blog has been much more about giving me an incentive to learn, to ask questions, and to challenge my own thinking. There is no better way to embrace your passion than to engage in it daily and in a very public way.
I agree with KD and Bruno – Klosterman rocks.
Steve
October 25th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
@adowling – Thanks for the kind words. I agree, I do not believe bloggers are journalists. Rather, we’re facilitators of change to those willing to consider what we have to say as valuable.
@hrwhisperer – Love your comment: “I blog because I hope to influence other HR/OD professionals to do something that will have a wonderfully positive impact on themselves or their organization.” I know first hand the value of your influence. Keep up the amazing work!
@lisarosendahl – I agree. The connections you have the opportunity to make through blogging can prove to be some of the most valuable.
@charliejudy – Social media is addictive! The challenge is what keeps us all going. I second the notion regarding debates! Bring it on!
@beneubanks – So our evil plan to take over the HR world is unfolding!
The perspective you provide as a relatively new HR professional is refreshing and thought provoking, especially to this fellow Gen Y’er.
@kristafrancis – The creative aspect of blogging IS fun, isn’t it!?
@michaelvandervort – Cash money. You mean playing with social media is not yet considered a full time job!? Ridiculous!
@tamia – Thanks for the comments!
@allen – I agree, trust should never be given lightly!
December 4th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
First, I want to thank Trish McFarlane for turning me onto this post. I love what you’ve written here Steve. Wish there was an authenticity meter to help sort through the BS, but I think your advice to trust your gut is dead on. So sorry I missed this when originally published.
December 4th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
your blog’s so timely…for me
i’m in the process of writing a post for my 6-mo blogging anniversary (i think only i’ll be celebrating…but i will have candles and tequila). i started blogging to talk about things i wanted to talk about. i’ve found that i what i get from blogging is a lot more — like KD, i learn: i read more, think more, research more, engage in more conversation now that i’m blogging. i also blog because i get all fired up about something and *really* want to talk about it with others and see what they think. i blog to express myself, which in turn is making me bolder in real life. and i now blog because i found this entire community who’ve become teachers, students, and friends of mine.
now i think i’ll just copy and paste this into my anniv post…
great post. great comments. f