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I live just a few minutes away from one grandson and 1000 miles from the other.    Fortunately, I am able to spend time with each of them every week. When I have mentioned this to friends, the first thing they ask is, “how?”  The answer is simple:  A computer and a webcam allow us to overcome the distance and see our grandson, Lorenzo, as he has begun to walk, run and say words. We visit with Lorenzo and his parents for an hour or so every weekend. Lorenzo gets excited when we first can be seen on the computer screen and greets us enthusiastically. After everyone says hello, he proceeds with his play while we talk with his mom. A few minutes later, he will come back to the computer and wave, dance to music, laugh and wander off again. He blows us kisses and waves goodbye when the conversation is ending. In that hour, the relationship with his grandparents deepens and grows.

The same routine is followed with his paternal grandparents in Italy, though this conversation is in Italian. He responds – plays – dances and blows kisses. At 15 months, this little boy is connected across the globe! It is comfortable and commonplace for him in a way that would not have been possible a few years ago. 

It should be no surprise that HR is expanding into a global focus!  HR has changed; this millennium has seen the profession developing across borders and cultures. The dramatic changes that have occurred in the global landscape and economy have resulted in a world that is more connected than ever before.  Historical and geographical divisions are becoming increasingly irrelevant and our jobs in HR are becoming even more challenging.  A new world is dawning and we need to be ready.

I am not sure how Lorenzo’s generation will be referenced. Will Gen Z come after Gen Y?  Whatever they might be called, I see a generation for which technology is commonplace, diversity is the norm, and relationships regularly transcend geographical borders. It will be an exciting world, not just for Lorenzo, but for us all.

Get ready – study for the GPHR!  Visit www.hrci.org for details.

Keith Ferrazzi

Anyone who read my earlier post is aware of how much I have been looking forward to hearing Keith Ferrazzi speak at HR Florida.  Keith presented one of the Masters’ Sessions entitled “Relationships for Group Success”.  He is the author of two bestselling books emphasizing the importance of relationships in our personal and professional lives.

Keith’s two hour presentation included several “group work” sessions in which we were encouraged to use his relationship development ideas.  Each attendee’s experience was affected by what they learned through listening and interacting with others. It has taken several days of reflection to summarize my “take homes.”  Here they are:

*Relationships are fundamental to our success!

*Deep social bonding among team members will result in greater success for the team.

*It is essential to develop a strategic plan for our lives.  What do we want to achieve in 30 days? 3 years? Long term? (We must know where we’re going before we can map out a route to get there.)

*Find two people with whom to develop “lifeline relationships.”  Lifeline Relationships incorporate peers who we care for and respect. These relationships should be mutually beneficial and include the core values of honesty, transparency, and accountability. (Note the concept of “mutual relationship” – people are not a commodity to be used and tossed aside.)

*Ask for help: “What do you see me doing that holds me back?” (Friends can help someone recognize and move beyond negative behaviors and subliminal patterns.)

*Remember feedback is a gift. It is information to be processed just like all other experience.  Take it or leave it, but always say “Thank you”. 

We often hear the saying – “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” There is some truth in this statement; we are who we are because of our relationships with others. The relationships we develop at work, chapter meetings, conferences, and volunteering in the community help us to grow personally and professionally.  In Human Resources, as in life, “what you know” is critical, but it is in relationships with others that we are able to leverage that knowledge to make a difference.   

What a whirlwind of a week it has been here in Orlando, FL.  I’m beginning to get used to a 5:00 am wake-up call, although this one seemed like it came in even earlier after the Vegas Night festivities!  Up and out the door by 6:00 am to meet up with my buddy Michael Long of Red Recruiting to set up for his “rise and shine” session “Twitter for HR and Recruiting.”  It was awesome to see such a large group of attendees for such an early session.  Michael touched on the basics of Twitter like retweets and direct messages and then went on to discuss search capabilities perfect for recruiting.  The audience was fully engaged and asked lots of excellent questions.  A big shout out to Michael for giving us some face time as he was pulling double duty – attending the HR Florida State Conference as well as the Disney Institute.  Check his blog out for full coverage. 

The last general session began with the announcement of the 2009 HR Florida Volunteer of the Year, Lori Goldsmith, SPHR.  Lori has tirelessly been the voice of certification since her early days in HR Tampa, and has continued to be the face of certification for HR Florida. Along with volunteering her time serving the HR Florida State Council in that role, she volunteered to step in as the program chair for the 2009 Conference when the previous program chair stepped down.  Lori is a professional. She embraces the HR Florida State Council mission and values while continuing to improve on her skills and assisting others in improving theirs.  Congratulations Lori!

Following the award we welcomed Battlestar Galactica’s Admiral William Adama (aka Edward James Olmos) to the stage for a keynote address on diversity/race relations.    After joking with the audience he launced into one of the most intense presentations I have ever witnessed.  Everyone watched intently as Olmos described “race” throughout history.  “There is only ONE race – the human race.”  He also referenced his lively presentation at the United Nations on the same subject.

As this was the last day of the conference, it was the shortest with sessions ending at noon.  While attendees were checking out of the hotel and traveling back to their homes across the state our conference team was debriefing and beginning plans for the 2010 conference.  In a year that has been so troublesome for so many we did not know what to expect when it came to meeting our goals as an organization.  Countless organizations across the country have had to cancel their conferences due to projected poor attendance and financial difficulties.  With this in mind the council made an effort to be optimistic – and I am sure glad we did.  As one person put it, “We are in spitting distance of reaching our goal!”  Not only did our team sell out the expo hall, we also secured sponsors who went above and beyond to make this event such a success.  On top of that our attendees were amazing.  I had multiple conversations with exhibitors and sponsors who echoed the same sentiment – the attendees this year were the best they have ever seen.  Engaged and invested, not here just for the swag.

2009 HR Florida Conference Team

What began as distant goal last year ended today with one of the best conferences the HR Florida State Council has ever put on.  From a behind the scenes perspective this has been one of the largest and most demanding events that I have ever been a part of.   So much goes on that the average attendee is unaware of.  I have to give kudos to an amazing conference team led by an incredible leader.  Without them we may have faced similar hardships as many other organizations.  We stepped up to the plate and hit a home run!  It has been an honor to work with each and every one of them.  Until next time…