Category Archives: SHRM Conferences

Review and Demo of @SlideKlowd – a Game-changer app for Events, Conferences and Training

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slideklowd

I’m on vacation in sunny California so I thought I would pull a few of my favorites from the archives. Check these folks out. 

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You never know who you’re going to connect with on the Twitters.

Back a few months I had tweeted a post in regard to me preparing for my SHRM Work/Flex presentation and happened to mention my Powerpoint. I received a follow from @SlideKlowd and checked into who they were – as I often do before simply clicking the ole “follow” button.

Upon my investigation I found out more about their amazing mobile and desktop app that allows greater engagement between presenters and their audiences whether it’s at conferences or events, online hangouts or training. I was so excited about the possibility of doing away with “the way we’ve always done it” and having to fill out those paper surveys after a conference session or keynote, for one. Secondly, I see how this can tremendously affect the way we communicate and present future events and / or training for HR and beyond.

Just think about the possibilities of having real-time engagement with your audience and being able to walk away with REAL data. I guess it could be terrifying to presenters who are boring and those who can’t engage an audience and the like.

My next step was to follow them back online and hear more about their product and services so I did just that. I was hoping to use SlideKlowd at my presentation in October but it was cutting it short.

I sat in with my new-found connection > Justin Foster, one of the founders of SlideKlowd, in a private one-on-one Webinar to share more about what they offered and I fell head over hills with this product. I like it so much, in fact, that I told several of my HR buds about it and scheduled a Google+ hangout for Justin to present the demo to them.

hangout with SlideKlowd

Here is the hangout >

Thanks Justin, for a superb job and for the fantastic job you guys are doing at creating a greater way to drive engagement.

Oh, you’ll want to check them out at SlideKlowd.com and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter. I can’t recommend them enough.

Here is their latest video introduction.

When HR is kicked to the Curb

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I can’t tell you how many emails, DM’s, Facebook Messages and LinkedIn messages I get from folks that are looking for work. And I don’t mind at all.

I love connecting folks with other people who are looking for prime candidates online and looking for referrals and recommendations from people they trust. That’s the new way of doing it.

With every new job posting it seems there are hundreds applying for that same position which can be very frustrating and overwhelming to someone in our current job market.

Even if you’ve gone to college and received a PHR, SPHR, GPHR or GOPHER (okay, I made this last one up) and have worked in your field of expertise for hump-teen-million years – you are not exempt from being laid off. It’s a fact!

It’s interesting and alarming that so many HR and Recruiter friends are the ones contacting me lately with the awful news of them finding themselves being laid off, canned, booted out of their long-term positions and some of them are frantic. I would be the same.

I will say it again folks, nothing is EVER a sure thing.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’ve found yourself in this position and are in job-search mode:

  • Network: Try and stay connected online and off. You may just connect to the right person that can make that introduction to a key connection that will help you get that next gig.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach out to your connections and let them know (like folks are doing with me – and that’s cool). Sometimes you just have to open that mouth (or email) and let others know your business. We all need support. And again, your connections may be key in helping you get that next opportunity.
  • Keep your certifications up to date. Go to conferences and sit through all the boring sessions if you have to.
  • Continue to pour any and every kind of knowledge in the ole brain. And no, you don’t already don’t everything there is to know. If nothing else, it will help you maintain your sanity. (Note: Try to refrain from all the Alien shows. You don’t want to mention those in your next interview)

It hurts my heart when I receive an email from a friend (especially a smart and savvy HR friend) telling me they were just let go. I immediately go into a mode where I’m looking through all my connections to see who I can connect them with that can help, wracking my brain for a job posting I’ve seen across the Webs that have been shared by my recruiter friends and struggling to try and see how I can help them in their search.

As I stated yesterday on a status update “It takes a Village.” But if you haven’t invested time in building that Village before you need it I just don’t see how you are going to survive this new way of the social job search incorporated into your strategy.

Being able to connect and pull from those said Villagers is key in getting ahead in your job search in today’s social savvy marketplace.

For more info on how to develop social into your job search strategy check out Discovering Social’s “Defining your Personal Brand.”

It’s not Social Media that’s killing productivity at Work

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I don’t know about you but I’m personally sick of hearing all the hype associated with the loss of productivity debate as it regards to Social Media and whether to allow it or not in the workplace. The reality is that your employees are already using Social Media at work even if they’re hiding under their desks with their smartphones to do it.

How about we try and think creatively as to how to incorporate it and use it to our advantage and business initiates? Sound like a plan?

Last month I presented at SHRM’s Work-Flex conference here in Chicago and my session was titled “Gaining a Competitive Edge in a High Tech World” and you can download that presentation on my SlideShare, if you feel the need.

In the presentation I made mention of the fact that it’s not Social Media that’s killing productivity at work, it’s other things such as email. It was noted that we’re spending 2.5 hours a day sorting, reading, and deleting emails that is just one of our productivity killers. I wish instead, someone would just kill email. I despise it. I mean, I really hate it. It’s such a time-waster and buzz-kill.

Incorporating the use of technology at work is a no-brainer and should instead be looked at as “keeping up with the times.” We’ve dealt with technology at work for years now with fax machines, even email and the use of computers and as we all know technology rolls in and out at the speed of light. By the time you buy that brand new HD TV and get it plugged in at home, the newer model is already on the shelf. That’s just a fact.

Social is changing how we do business, not only how we communicate.

So what are the real time wasters and productivity killers at work? Take a look at this Infographic:

What do you think about this? Do you have anything else that you’ve noticed that’s killing productivity that you’d like to add?

Thanks to the good folks at Compliance and Safety for the fun Infographic.

Photo Credit (TOP) SawPedia

A time and a place – for cleavage!

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I’ve been to so many conferences and networking functions this past year – I can’t even see straight. It’s a good thing though. We must get out of our PJ’s and out into the REAL WORLD once in awhile or we start saying things like, “I’m not gonna hurt ya, I’m gonna bash your brains in” (Okay, maybe that’s a little rough – and for those of you who may not know, comes from the movie “The Shining”).

But I must say, I’ve seen way too much cleavage at these “work” functions.

Cleavage is not a bad thing, but when we see it in the workplace (especially on a daily basis), at a work networking event, at every conference you attend, or fill in the ___________________, then I start wondering “What’s with these people?”

I really would rather look them in the eye and not be distracted. Imagine what it’s doing to the men folk around you?

Now for the record, I have great cleavage. But IMHO, there’s a place for it.

In fact, when I first started in sales in a male dominated industry and my clientele was made up of construction workers and the trades – it totally helped increase my sales and made me “stand out” (pun intended) from among my peers.

And I broke my own rule recently of showing too much cleavage at a recent event I was speaking at just hoping that in case my presentation sucked, I would keep the audience amused. (I kid)

But let me just get my point out there since this is my blog, I’m tired of looking at your cleavage. It looks like (as one friend pointed out) a baby’s ass poking through your blouse. And you’re better than that!

My point is, there is a time and a place for all things (even cleavage). Not sure that HR conferences, our offices, business networking events or during work hours is the place. Be smart. Dress appropriately.

Save it for the crazy HR after parties.

My Recap of SHRM’s #WorkFlex12 Conference – and how it affected me, personally

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I had known for about 7 months that I would be attending SHRM’s WorkFlex 2012 Conference here in Chicago that commenced yesterday because they had asked me to be one of their session speakers. And I knew that they were having a roll-out of some fabulous speakers, but I had no idea how much it would change me personally.

Sometimes we find ourselves in a funk, especially when we’re trying to juggle (Work and Life) the very things we are preparing to discuss in some sort of public seminar or speaking engagement. This used to happen quite frequently when I traveled and spoke across our nation many years ago. I never thought it would happen to me this time.

I’ve been doing this juggling act with work and life now through so many life-changes; the loss of a job, the loss of my husband’s career and trying to help him navigate his next move, car issues, home issues, family issues. Add all this to your current work-load and starting a new business is sometimes very challenging. Who am I kidding? It’s sometimes overwhelming and keeps me up at night (and not in a good way).

I headed to the conference on Wednesday, not making Tuesday because of many of the issues I stated above. I had been up all night the night before heading in and was running on about 2 hours of sleep. I knew it was going to be a long day and I would need to somehow dig down deep for some kind of supernatural strength to be able to make it till the end of my session, not to mention blogging and sitting through numerous sessions and a few keynoters that I wanted to be in on.

I will admit that I have been on an emotional roller-coaster and a bucket of nerves for several weeks now. And I was starting to feel sorry for myself and I could sense myself chewing on a bitter weed of discontent. Even my close friends were kind enough to point it out. I had indeed become a Debbie Downer to be around. One of those very people I can’t stand to hang with, I had become.

And guess what? Something happened.

I had sat in on a couple of fabulous sessions back to back in the morning and was able to live-tweet several nuggets. And then I went in to hear JR Martinez speak.

As he began we found ourselves laughing at his humorous jabs at the audience and then so many of the things he shared began hitting very close to home and I kind of had an epiphany. Something started shifting inside me. A paradigm shift, for lack of a better explanation.

If you haven’t heard his story I highly recommend it. Having come through so many challenges (which seems like an inappropriate word) and finding the strength to go on is his mantra and was what I needed to hear to get me outta my funk.

Here are a few things he shared that struck me:

  • Everybody has a story. (This is something to always keep in the back of our minds, especially when we’re dealing with people. It tends to make us more sympathetic).
  • Being flexible is MUST! Plans change, either by our choices or the fact that life is unpredictable. But even the high rise buildings around us are created to be flexible to be able to stand the atmospheric conditions.
  • Adapt and Overcome! No matter what comes your way.
  • Every single person has strengths and weaknesses. When we find ourselves in a crossroads of life, we need to find our strengths. Dig deep!
  • There comes a point in life when there’s nothing else you can do but simply throw your hands up and laugh! Even in the midst of difficulty.
  • Your life can completely change in one moment. How are you going to respond to it? Are you going to quit or fight?
  • In his darkest of times he made the decision to forget about his long-term plans he had created and focus on the short-term. How could he remain positive – today? Tomorrow will take care of itself.

In the end, he started talking of how he made it out of his “funky time” because he started thinking of how he could give back. He started volunteering his time, through his darkest of moments, and visiting others who had gone through horrible experiences of their own. This drew him out of himself and his own pity party, and once again, created purpose.

Sometimes we need reminders that cause us to think differently, whether it’s how to incorporate new ideas in the workplace, juggling our own work and life initiatives, or simply seeing that inside each and every one of us is a hidden strength that if found can pull us out of the deepest and darkest of places. They cause us to once again help us re-focus, re-group and find our purpose.

Thank you SHRM, for bringing this conference to my city and allowing me to have been a part of something life-changing.

Adjust your Work-Life to join our LIVE Hangout on Work-Life with guest @JudyMartin8

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Today I will be chatting it up LIVE with my pal Judy Martin, of WorkLifeNation.com. We will be hanging out on Google+ which you can join in on the hangout, watch the LIVESTREAM on Google+ or on my Youtube. The recording will be added here after the fact.

Since we are headed to Chicago next week for SHRM’s Work-Flex Conference and October is National Work and Family month, I thought it would be cool to gather an industry expert who is way more qualified than I, to discuss this issue in a LIVE video chat. So I asked my online pal Judy if she would be interested in sharing her knowledge with me and she agreed.

A little about Judy

Judy is an Emmy award-winning journalist and the founder of WorkLifeNation.com. “Transforming Stress in an Always-on World.” She’s been tracking trends in work-life integration, workplace wellness, career development and business for two decades. She has contributed to NPR, Marketplace Report, BBC Radio, CNBC Business Radio, Forbes.com and News 12 Long Island.

As a stress management consultant, Judy combines her skills as a breaking news reporter, volunteering in Hospice-related work and as a yoga and meditation teacher ~ to help business executives better manage stress in the work-life merge. She released her first CD – Practical Chaos: Reflections on Resilience in 2006.

Hangout Overview: Here are a few things we will be discussing during the hangout

  • Is Work-Life Balance even possible?
  • Over-loaded and stressed out employees
  • Technology and it’s affect on work-life
  • Reducing Stress in the work-life merge

UPDATE: We had a blast hanging out with Judy Martin discussing this topic. Here is the recorded hangout >

Catching up w/@DougShaw1 discussing HR, Culture, and Conferences! #WatchThis

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I love meeting folks for Google+ hangouts and hosting video interviews. Yesterday was no exception.

I chatted with my friend @DougShaw1 right before he was heading to the States to speak at the Ohio SHRM Conference from his hometown of London, and we decided at that time that it would be great to reconnect after his visit here to discuss the conference, the experience of meeting online connection IRL and more and here’s our video hangout.

Shouts out to John Jorgensen for giving insight into the conference planning and so forth during this chat. Take a look>

HERE IS DOUG’s VIDEO on Strategic Planning

I love Doug’s style, humor and insight into Human Capital Management as I’m sure you now do. Make sure to connect with him online:

Follow him > Twitter

LIKE his page > Facebook

Link up with him > LinkedIn

Circle the guy > Google+

Watch his videos > Youtube

See his goods > Website

Photo Credit: socialtimes

Think twice before posting that pic to Instagram!

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We’re still in HR Conference mode with two extraordinary conferences here in Chicago this weekend (HR Technology Conference and HRevolution) and then a couple more the end of October (SHRM’s Diversity and SHRM’s Work-Flex Conferences).

These conferences are great and have some of the best speakers and sessions on what’s up in Human Resource Management and also gives us a chance to hang out with fellow HR folk and talk shop – whether it’s the latest technology or the idiot at work who wrongfully tweeted crap about our current President.

They also give us a chance to hang out, get to know each other in a more personal way with all the after hour parties and such.

TAKE HEED

That being said, I think it’s safe to say that keeping in mind that your online brand matters, especially when attending these HR parties (or even your own WORK parties).

We all love Instagram and the ability to immediately share pics of us with our online friends we meet IRL (in real life) and show the world that we think we’re important cause we’re hobnobbing with the cool kids.

But let’s get something straight – posting pics on Instagram and sharing to Facebook or Twitter the one of you dancing on the bar while using the #hashtag of the event,  is gonna bite you in the rear come Monday when you go back to the office. You’re likely to hear the phrase “I’m sorry. You’re no longer employed here.”

Then you’re doing the job search thingy and find that everything has spiraled out of control in your little world. You may even have a heart attack when someone tells you “I’m sorry you’re just not a good fit for the job” because they can’t get that party pic outta their head.

Okay, I know this sounds a little extreme, but this stuff happens. It not only makes you look “wild and crazy” but it takes away from the purpose of the event and sharing socially. It diminishes it, really.

We’ve come so far with Social Business and Social Sharing in the world of work and especially at our conferences in keeping those informed who were not able to attend the conference. Why would we want to ruin it and take us all back to the year 2000? (It only takes one bad apple)

So this is just a friendly reminder to think before you post. Whether at a conference, a church picnic or at work.

And as our friend William TinCup always reminds us “Just use common sense.”

Stop:You’re Killing Me with your BORING Presentations!

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A lot of you know, and some of you don’t, that I have been working on my last presentation of the year for SHRM’s Work Flex conference here in Chicago, October 23rd and 24th.

This will be my last conference I attend for 2012, and yes, I’m honored to be speaking on the 24th on “Gaining a Competitive Edge in a High Tech World.”

Having said that, I have been putting off the actual PowerPoint presentation for my session and have been losing sleep over it for months now. I have literally laid there awake in bed thinking “How am I gonna pull this off and add some excitement to my presentation?” You know, keep everyone awake. I love using humor but sometimes it’s very dry and not everyone gets it, especially HR.

If there’s anything I hate, it’s a boring presentation. I have been in numerous sessions and some were good and some, not so good. Some just simply put me to sleep. And I get that some HR topics aren’t the most exciting things to discuss and yet have to be brought “to the table.”

I love when I finally get up before a group and speak but it’s the anxiety before it actually takes place that almost puts me in the grave.

Even when I used to travel professionally and sing in front of thousands I would work myself into a frenzy right before only to get out there and do my thang and LOVE it! They say a little nervousness before something like this is good for you, or normal, but I’m not so sure.

So I wanted to take this awesome opportunity from my friends at SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management) with whom I am a regular contributor over at WeKnowNext, and do it up right. You know, do something different that would actually take a ho-hum presentation to a spectacular, technical masterpiece (cough, cough). And since the topic has to do with “setting yourself apart” from the rest and incorporating technology into the workplace, I wanted to be able to do that in my presentation.

There’s nothing worse than seeing a presentation with massive amounts of statistics and data and or hundreds of bullet points. Learning to present like Steve Jobs is something I’ve been studying for awhile now. Steve mostly used pictures (after all, a pictures worth a thousand words, right?) in his presentations and captured the attention of the audience through various means but he kept it simple and that’s something I wish most folks would do.

There were a few who did this at this past year’s Illinois SHRM conference and I was captivated. They were very effective and kept us entertained and we learned something in the process.

STOP it, I beg you, with your overload of information and keep it simple, stupid!

I finished my presentation just yesterday and I must say, I’m glad that it’s finished. I know there are a few things to fine tune, but the overall presentation, content and use of technology (in going with the theme), I FEEL, is good – though I can’t make any promises. But then again, I often think things are funny, when they aren’t to anyone else.

I am passionate about sharing with others how to incorporate the use of social technology into their strategy for their businesses and organizations and I’m hoping they’ll catch that wave of excitement and be entertained along the way.

I’ll gladly share the presentation on my SlideShare afterward for those of you who won’t be able to attend.

Wish me luck!

Photo Credit: GeekoSystem

Susan and Sabrina chat up #ILSHRM12 Conference (with out takes)

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Hey folks, a Happy Tuesday to you all. Here’s a video clip of me and Sabrina Baker discussing what to expect at the upcoming ILSHRM State Conference. We’ve added a few out takes, so be sure and stick with it to the end. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: There were no individuals harmed in the making of this video (we hope).