10 great things every pro should know (and how to do them without feeling like a tourist!)
I was standing in line at my local supermarket over the weekend and noticed a cover of Washingtonian Magazine titled, “The Great Washington Bucket List.” The issue offered a rundown of the cool, hip things to do in Washington, D.C., whether you were a local or a tourist. As I thumbed through the issue (impressed with myself for picking up something other than gossip rags), it got me thinking about bucket lists and what would be on my version of an HR and learning bucket list.
The big question is – where do you start?
When was the last time you flew out to Vegas for The HR Technology Conference? Or, watched a HR debate go down on #TChat?
Admit it, it’s been awhile.
We’re busy and it’s difficult to step back, evaluate and prioritize. So, I set out to pull together a collection of things we thought was important to do as a HR and learning and development practitioner. Here is my collection of the 10 most memorable sights, sounds and events you really shouldn’t miss, and some tips of how to see them like you have “been there and done that.”
- Visit HR Tech 2015 – If you are a HR or learning executive, this is the one event you don’t want to miss! It’s your one stop shop for all the latest technology and information about the HR and learning space. And if nothing else… its Vegas baby! (Shameless plug… feel free to visit Meridian at Booth #2614)
- Visit ATD 2015 – This is by far the best learning and training event of the year! Where else can you learn all about your industry and visit Harry Potter World! (One more shameless plug… visit Meridian at Booth #1209)
- Subscribe to Fistful of Talent website – If you want a good laugh and great, honest advice from people in the trenches, look no further from the gang over at Fistful of Talent. The blogs are hysterical, relatable and authentic. They understand HR problems and always provide an interesting twist on how to handle rough situations.
- Pick up a copy of Power of a Habit by Charles Duhigg. Leadership advice is in no short supply, but this book is worth a read. Don’t just take my word for it, Daniel H. Pink gives a glowing review saying, “You’ll never look at yourself, your organization, or your world quite the same way.”
- Bookmark the top HR websites. Make a habit of visiting CLO, Human Resources Executive, and Training Industry weekly. These publications are full of smart articles that will resonate with you and your organization.
- Rip the band-aid off and get social! Log onto twitter and follow the latest happenings and insights from some of the industry thought leaders. They spend their day tweeting meaningful perspectives on leadership, development and good-old-fashioned HR issues. A few of my favorites: @ednathanson, @timsackett, @steveboese, and, of course,@oprah (and, my final shameless plug, @MeridianKS)
- Spend some time reading up on the latest industry research. Subscribe to the email lists of industry analyst firms like Bersin, Deloitte, Forrester and Gartner. There is a lot of free research out there is meaningful to you. Here’s a free Brandon Hall Report on how to turn your learning center into a profit center!
- Become a member of your local SHRM chapter!
- Check out the Meridian Learning and Development Hangouts – where else can you take a 20 minute break and hear the latest info and insight on the latest HR and Learning topics. We promise you won’t be disappointed!
- And my final shameless plug, visit the Meridian Knowledge Solutions Blog. We are committed to keeping it packed full of relevant content and thought leadership around learning, development, human resources and workplace culture.
That’s all for now!
-SS