Tag Archives: Social Media

RocketHR is Born

Social media is growing, and there’s no end in sight. Recently, Kris Dunn came and spoke to my local SHRM chapter about social media and its uses for HR professionals.  It’s interesting that he was slated to come in August, because I had proposed a chapter blog shortly before then. I envisioned something like the work that Stephen has done with HR Gumbo, but probably not as awesome. Anyway, a few weeks of frenzied work behind the scenes led to the current site.

One potential issue was that we weren’t sure how the blog would play out in the long run. What if I moved away? What if I suddenly hated blogging? To smooth that wrinkle, I promised updates every week on Monday, since most of the people reading wouldn’t be able to keep up with more than that. After a year, we will reassess and see if we can draw in more writers, because I would like to do more with the chapter in a hands-on capacity whenever possible.

And RocketHR was born.

I’m hoping that it can be used as social media “training wheels” for the members of the chapter (and anyone else out there who’s delving into SM for the first time). The first posts are directed toward those fresh faces, so make sure and point people in that direction if you think they can learn something useful!

  • Have someone you’re trying to convert to social media? The post on the social web might be helpful as a primer.
  • Need to explain Google Reader to someone? Keep the Google Reader tutorial close at hand.
  • Know something that might be useful to someone new to the social media space? Leave a comment!
  • Are you new to this stuff? If so, then please let me know what you’d like to learn!

And as always, any assistance in promoting this new blog would help greatly in proving its worth as a tool for my local chapter. Thanks!

And the snazzy logo was created by my good friend Allen Robinson (@logicwriter).

LinkedIn+NASHRM=Networking

Networking with LinkedIn, no handshake necessary

Networking with LinkedIn, no handshake necessary

Did you know that we have a LinkedIn group exclusively for our NASHRM members? Currently, over 130 members are taking advantage of this tool. Are you? If not, this post is going to help you learn more about this valuable tool.

In a recent meeting, new members of the chapter were asked why they joined. The number one reason cited? Networking. In the amazingly large HR community that the world has grown into, it’s harder than ever to stay connected with the people you need to know. However, the NASHRM LinkedIn

group offers a solution. The monthly events are wonderful, but it’s difficult to build lasting relationships in the short amount of time provided. Why not move the conversation online?  Since the creation of the group, I have connected with several dozen members of our local group, and it has opened up some connections with people outside my normal range.

Now I understand that many of you probably aren’t even on LinkedIn just yet, but that doesn’t mean you can ignore it! It’s becoming an amazingly powerful tool for networking, sourcing, and job hunting. The article 15 Sneaky Ways to Use LinkedIn to Advance Your HR Career is definitely worth a read. I guarantee you’ll learn something that you could put to use within a week’s time, and the time invested will be invaluable.

Still on the fence about LinkedIn’s value? Leave a comment and let me know why. Already a member? Then join the group and introduce yourself!

Photo courtesy of Boston Public Library
SHRM Chapter Leadership Guide

Why You Need HRevolution

Check out the quotes below. All of them have come from conversations I’ve had recently with HR professionals in my local area.

  • I’d love to learn more about social media and technology, but I’m just too swamped at work.
  • We’ve wanted to start a blog for some time now, but we just weren’t sure how to get started.
  • There is so much communication lacking in our organization. Nobody knows what the heck is going on.

Technology is changing our lives. It can make you more productive, effective, and intelligent–if you are willing and able to use it.

Want to learn how? Sign up to attend the HRevolution event now!

Having trouble communicating across a far-flung organization? There’s something for that. Difficulties with people sending mass emails to those who really don’t even need to see them? There’s something for that. Want to get out of your little box and actually interact with the employees under you? Yes, there’s something for that, too. But if you spend all of your time just trying to stay afloat in the paperwork and policy manuals, you’ll never be able to break the cycle. I guess you’re just stuck, right?

Not really. That’s why you (and so many others in your exact same situation) need HRevolution. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a learning experience. It’s going to be a networking event on steroids.

You need an HRevolution.

You need an HRevolution.

Squeeze the Network

When I have a tough question that can’t be answered by someone nearby, I turn to my network, and it’s come through for me so many times. Technology increases the size of that network tenfold.

Thrive on Challenge

If you start delving into technology and social media, the rest of your HR department might think you’re a bit crazy. Don’t try to convert them all at once. Pick one person who is most favorable to technology use and help him/her with a problem by using technology or social media. Focus on turning that one person into a champion for your cause, and they will go out and promote the idea for you!

In that vein, I’ve been working closely with a coworker on a few projects. When he learned of the pending HRevolution, he was ecstatic. Want the input of someone from outside the organizing committee? Here’s what he had to say:

I am looking forward to attending the HRevolution conference. There is great benefit to exploring social media, blogging and the value it can add to our organizations. I believe that HRevolution will help bring focus to like-minded HR professionals that are looking to modernize their organizations and potentially revolutionize their HR departments.

Ditto.

Reignite that Spark

I talk to a lot of HR professionals. Many are burned out and tired of the “same old thing.” While not all have turned into curmudgeons yet, there are quite a few who need a spark of creativity. They need someone to push them to grow continually. Maybe it’s you? If so, there’s no better cure than learning new and exciting ways to accomplish your goals.

What if your company had a tool that let it communicate with its employees? And what if they got to communicate back? What if you want to get your own voice out there, but you don’t know how to start your own website or don’t have time to figure out how to set up a blog? Sound interesting? Want to know more?

Then take a stand. Let your voice be heard. Join the HRevolution.

HRevolution logo (and the flattering quote) courtesy of Allen Robinson (@logicwriter), as cool of an HR cat as they come.

Use Google Reader to be Better, Smarter, & Faster

My Google Reader

My Google Reader

With so many great blogs online that provide HR commentary, research, and advice, it’s very tough to keep up with the multitude of posts that appear on daily basis. Earlier this year, I was having a tough time, because I followed about 10 blogs manually (going to each site daily to check for new content). Then I learned about Google Reader, a free tool that allows you to read all those blogs in one place in a fraction of the time!

For those that attended the August chapter meeting, you already have an inkling of what Google Reader can offer you as an HR professional. And it even has some great business benefits, too! For the rest of you, here\’s the short version. Google Reader is an online application that allows you to collect dozens of information sources via RSS (Really Simple Syndication) into one place for easy access, automatic updates, and quick professional development. Sound good? Great. This is a step-by-step tutorial for getting your Google Reader set up.

Go to the Google Reader page. If you already have a Google account, you can log in here. If not, it\’s very easy to create an account. I’ve created a new one just to show the steps, so after filling in my new account information, clicking the link in the confirmation email, and logging into my account, here\’s what you see:

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Click the “Reader” button in the top bar, and you\’ll be taken to the normal Google Reader screen. The default Google Reader address is google.com/reader.

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Google offers several helpful tips, and I encourage you to check them out if you wish. But first, we\’re going to add some resources to your reader to get you started. Click the “Add a subscription” button, and type “upstarthr.com” into the box. You are now subscribed to UpstartHR with your Google Reader! Every time a new post is added to the blog, you will automatically get a new item in your reader. Instead of checking this blog (and the other resources that are coming in a moment) on a daily basis, you can just drop by your Google Reader for a few minutes every morning and you\’ll be done for the day!

 

Now, there are a few small buttons on the bottom of each item that look like this:

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Each has function, but the main ones you\’ll probably use are described below.

  • Add star-For the good ones that you\’d like to re-read later.
  • Email-Got a funny/interesting post that you just HAVE to share? Email it!
  • Keep unread-Sometimes we (I) get long-winded. Keep them for later.
  • Add tags-Have a LOT of subscriptions? (I’m in the 80+ range!) Take control by adding tags like “recruiting” or “benefits” to certain blogs. This can help you stay organized, but it is optional.

Now, I know that you want more than just one puny blog in your reader, so let\’s add some more, shall we? Here\’s a short list just to get you started. Just click the “Add a subscription” button and type these into the box one at a time. If you want to be a little more extreme, you can also add the second batch of blogs to your reader as well.Or you can do the “kid in a candy store” thing and pick and choose the ones you’d like to add. A more definitive and organized list is currently being developed.

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And if you ever get tired of one of these (although not likely), it’s fairly easy to remove a subscription as well. If you have more suggestions on other HR resources, feel free to leave a comment below. I’m always looking for more resources!

The Social Web and You

Snapshot of the Social Web

Snapshot of the Social Web

Social media and social networking are big buzzwords today. In some circles, they are lauded as a magical method for taking your organization to extraordinary heights. In other circles, they are discarded as a fad or a waste of time. In actuality, they are neither of those. This primer will help you to determine the differences between social networking and social media. It will also help you to see some of the pros and cons of these technologies.

Social Web-Not Too Scary

To start, social media is different from social networking. They share some characteristics (their social nature), but their purposes and uses are different.

Social media is a method for people to upload, peruse, download, distribute, share, and enjoy multiple types of media (video, audio, favorite sites, etc.). Examples include YouTube, Flickr, and Digg.

Sounds easy enough, right? And that’s not even the part that most people are already familiar with. Those familiar names show up in social networking.

Social networking is a way for people to interact and connect with others in a virtual setting. Examples include Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Social Web-Pros/Cons

Now that you have some idea of the functions of each of these portions of the social web, we can discuss the benefits and drawbacks. The benefits of these tools include communication flexibility, speed of information dispersal/retrieval, and inexpensive access. The drawbacks include low productivity among users (this is contested here), steep learning curve, and, at times, more noise than signal.  If you have an opinion on the pros/cons of social media, feel free to leave a comment below!

Now that you have learned some of the basic essentials of the social web, you’re ready to dig deeper. In coming weeks, we will cover some excellent (free) tools to help you dip your toe into the world wide Web. Be sure to subscribe so that you don’t miss a single thing!