Turkeys, Twitter and archaeological office cupboard digs ...just some of the extremely diverse range of topics touched upon in the world of #hrblogs in February 2013...a particularly vintage month, I feel!And February 2013 has also given us what I believe to be the very best single sentence yet written in the history of #hrblogs...
But before we get down to business, let's first all take a moment to congratulate leading UK HR blogger Doug Shaw on hitting and passing the 500 posts mark on his blog! Here's how Doug marked the occasion. Well done, sir...and looking forward to post number 1,000!
So what have been your favourite posts from the world of #HRblogs this month?
Please do get in touch and share your own favourites - either by leaving a comment (below), or via Twitter, Google+ or LinkedIn.
Now here are my favourites...
Best of the HR blogs February 2013: 20 great HR blog posts from February 2013
As always, my selection of HR blog posts here is entirely subjective, and presented in alphabetical order by author surname.
- Jon Bartlett: It Starts With A Conversation,
Charlotte (aka @bipolarblogger): While The Tide Is Out: Human Resources For Mental Health #HR4MH,
Alison Chisnell: It Started With a Blog...HR for Mental Health, and
Lorna Leeson: Getting Over It
"[W]e don't need a new movement. Instead we need to talk, to chat, discuss, share and empathise. That is how we will end the stigma, one conversation at a time." So says John Bartlet on the topic of mental health in the workplace, in the first of these four thematically-linked posts. Each of these posts is a direct result of the HR for Mental Health movement (#HR4MH). I think that #HR4MH stands as the proudest and most inspiring achievement yet from the world of #HRblogs. As Alison says, it began with a single blog post at the start of this year. It has grown into a truly remarkable movement, doing so much to inspire wider understanding and generate debate on mental health in the workplace. And its work is ongoing. Maximum respect. Follow Jon on Twitter. Follow Charlotte on Twitter. Follow Alison on Twitter. Follow Lorna on Twitter. - Naomi Bloom: Truly Blessed
What is it to be truly blessed in terms of the work you do? This tweet from Naomi Bloom says an awful lot in fewer than 140 characters. And the follow-up tweet is inspiring, too. Follow Naomi on Twitter. - Steve Browne: Eat. Sleep. Do HR
There's been an awful lot written already in 2013 about that old chestnut, employee engagement. Steve Browne suggests a refreshingly different approach: We shouldn't just be asking questions about employee engagement, we should also be looking at just how engaged HR is. Steve sets out an inspired list of three I's that characterise engaged HR: HR should be "inclusive, intentional and individualistic." What do you make of Steve's three I's for HR? Follow Steve on Twitter. - Christopher De Mers: Why Twitter Works For Me
"Because I can see the real you." This is one of the very best things I've ever read about what Twitter has to offer. Please do not miss the opportunity to read this post. Follow Christopher on Twitter. - Jon Evans: Get Ready To Lose Your Job
Driverless cars = "2 million truck and taxi drivers out of work"? Evans argues that "software is eating the world, endangering almost every job there is," with the consequence that "America has now hit peak jobs." The potential impact of driverless cars on truck and taxi drivers is just one example of an area of employment that could soon become extinct. And where might HR find itself when humans have left the office building? Definitely one to ponder. Follow Jon on Twitter. - Marla Gottschalk: A Little About Introverts (And The Workplace)
I've said it before: I am a card-carrying introvert. So I was delighted to read this excellent post from Marla Gottschalk on the impact that introversion can have on workplace experiences. Not only is this a superb example of blogging, it is also a superb example of conversation-starting/dialogue-building via social media. Marla has sparked off an absolutely fascinating conversation via the comments field, and also via a LinkedIn post exploring these themes further, which is entitled A Note About Introverts and Teams. Follow Marla on Twitter. - Shane Granger: Peak Employment (Part II): UK
If Jon Evans' post (above) introduced you to the topic of 'peak jobs,' might I also recommend this fascinating and sobering analysis of the topic from Shane Granger? This post focuses on this topic as it relates to UK. Shane argues that the UK - in common with many other countries worldwide - could reach peak employment "in the next decade." Follow Shane on Twitter. - Jay Kuhns: I'm HR and I'm Too Busy for Social Media
Jay pulls no punches in telling HR professionals who have yet to explore social media that it's time to "get with the program." Jay's point about the phenomenal pace of change in social HR makes for particularly interesting reading if taken alongside the post from Jon Evans listed above. But what I really love about this post is that it's not really such harsh medicine: "One of the things you're not aware of that comes automatically in the world of social HR is the massive amount of support you will receive." 100% true. If you've not already, please do give social media a try ...and send me a tweet when you're up and running! Follow Jay on Twitter. - Sarah Miller: How To Avoid Being A Broke One
Gentle reader, I have slightly censored the title of Sarah's post here. Rest assured that it is a hard-hitting title for a hard-hitting post on gender issues in the workplace. Sarah says: "Good luck babe, and may you, not your relationships or your gender, define your life path." Follow Sarah on Twitter. - Neil Morrison: Ask A Stupid Question
"Seriously, have you looked at your recruitment process from the other side of the fence?" Well said, sir. Everyone out there who's involved in recruitment in any way would do well to consider what Neil has to say in this post. Does your own organisation's recruitment programme risk being geared primarily towards helping you pile through the mountain of job applications as quickly as possible? Follow Neil on Twitter. - Rick: Workplace Archaeology
I love it when one HR blogger's words spark another blogger to get writing. Rick takes as his jumping-off point Robin Schooling's musings on workplace archaeology (which was one of the best HR blog posts of January 2013). Here, Rick goes through the detritus of management initiatives past shoved into an office cupboard. He uncovers "a museum of organisational change [...] a graveyard of corporate initiatives." This passage is outstanding: "Nowadays, as so much more is done electronically, artefacts like these are much harder to find. Sometimes, the debris from previous change programmes is still there but it is locked away in seldom-used directories on forgotten shared drives or mothballed parts of the intranet, which makes it that bit more difficult for the would-be archaeologist to unearth. And it's nowhere near as much fun as digging through an old cupboard." Follow Rick on Twitter. - Tim Sackett: How Does HR Think? and Doug Shaw: Creative Leadership - From There To Here
Creativity: An essential quality for HR? I've paired up these two posts as each includes direct and to-the-point words on creativity and just what it means in an HR context. Tim says: "If HR lacks creativity - your work environment is going to lack creativity." Doug says: "You can't jump into creativity. It isn't an app you just switch on. It isn't PowerPoint, it isn't Excel, it isn't Word. Creativity is something you need to slide into." How important do you think it is for HR to be truly creative? And what's the best way to unlock and to harness creativity for HR? Follow Tim on Twitter. Follow Doug on Twitter. - Julie Waddell: Solving The Obvious
How's this for a great little definition of what HR is all about? "HR's role is not to sit in the ivory tower and dole out words of wisdom, nor are we meant to put on the striped shirt of a referee. We are there as a sounding board and resource so that everyone else can deal with their own issues." The story of how Julie arrived at this realisation is equally as good as the conclusion itself. Do please check out Julie's Accidental HR blog for further words of wisdom! Follow Julie on Twitter. - Jane Watson: The Superbowl of Title Inflation
Last month, it was my honour to share with you what I believe to be the very best blog post title in the history of #hrblogs (via Richard Westney). This month, Jane Watson blesses us with what I believe to be the single best sentence ever penned in an HR blog post: "Trust me when I say that there is no easy way to tell a man that you'd like to hire him to collect turkey semen, and inseminate female turkeys." Jane's post is a joy throughout. I love her take on the history of "ostentatious titles" in the workplace, and the likely motivations involved in awarding them. As Jane says, "business cards are cheaper than raises." But they can also create the risk of a decidedly top-heavy organisation. Follow Jane on Twitter. - Jane Watson: What I Wish I Knew Then... and Richard Westney: How to make a grown man cry and other valuable HR lessons
Two posts on a theme here. New Zealand-based HR blogger Richard Westney gives us a life story based around "the sorts of things the text books don't tell you about" working in HR. This post was sparked off by Richard's excellent tweeted contributions to the ongoing discussion of HR's peculiar rites of passage, which followed on from a post here on Employment Intelligence last month. And although she comes first in the strictly alphabetical listing here, Jane Watson was inspired by Richard's post to share her own personal HR rites of passage. Superb blogging from each of you - thank you! Follow Richard on Twitter.
- Best of the #HRblogs January 2013: 19 great HR blog posts from January 2013
- Best of the HR blogs 2012: My favourite HR blog posts of the year!
- Best of the HR blogs December 2012: The HR bloggers' choice!
- Best of the HR blogs October 2012: 14 great HR blog posts from October 2012
- Best of the HR Blogs September 2012: 13 great HR blog posts from September 2012
- Best of the HR Blogs August 2012: The HR bloggers' choice
- Best of the HR Blogs: 13 great HR blog posts from July 2012
- Best of the HR blogs: 15 great HR blog posts from June 2012
- Best of the HR blogs: 12 great HR blog posts from May 2012
- Best of the HR blogs: 13 great HR blog posts from April 2012
- Best of the HR blogs: 12 great HR blog posts from March 2012
- Best of the HR blogs: 12 great HR blog posts from February 2012
- Best of the HR blogs: 12 great HR blog posts from January 2012
- The HR data tapes: HR lifers; CIPD qualifications; workforce analytics, & more! My pick of HR data posts from January to March 2012.
- My 10 favourite HR blog posts of 2011
| Tweet |
|
| Permalink | Email this |
