Note: This is my final formal post on the 2009 SHRM annual conference. All of the other information is being wrapped into more topical posts in the coming weeks. I think you’ll enjoy this post anyway so read on.
I have the day off today but it certainly doesn’t feel that way. I am way behind on e-mails, I have been sick since I got back from New Orleans and now my wife is sick. I’ve had a lot of time to think about my conference experience, why I ended up going and why I might do it again.
The main reason I went was to speak at the conference on a panel about HR blogging. Everybody has asked me how it went. I always tell people that it went great but that I feared we spoke to an audience that already had an understanding (or at least curiosity) about using blogging and social media as tools. I’d really like to explore how to reach out to people who aren’t using these tools. It is my hope that future sessions of this nature will be given a better timeslot (the last session of the conference is pretty brutal). I thought the idea of live broadcasting over the internet was outstanding though. Here’s another trend I hope SHRM embraces as well.
I came into the panel with three points I wanted to emphasize
- Anyone can blog – It is a skill like writing a newsletter or a memo or learning a new software program.
- Blogs can make you smarter – I’ve learned more from blogging than what I’ve given back.
- Your blog isn’t part of the press – Even though it isn’t, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a wealth of information to be gained.
The conference experience was great if not a whirlwind. I met up with people I had only known through long lines of communication (including our entire HR blogging panel) and was introduced to hundreds of new people that I didn’t know beforehand. Kris Dunn hit upon something in his post that explains why my conference experience may be different than other’s: I connected with my niche. I connected with fellow bloggers and social media interested people in our space. I connected with companies who are doing cool things in this space. Outside of that, my conversations with other HR professionals were mostly along the typical networking paths.
SHRM is a huge organization. If I had come by myself without an established group or niche to connect with, I would have been disappointed with my experience. The enormity of the conference coupled with many of the sessions being repeats of content I’ve received through other local events would have made it hard for me to sell it to my employer.
Mark Stelzner’s idea about appealing to the stratification of HR professionals in their current role (generalists, managers, VPs, etc…) is a good start. I think SHRM also talked about different tracks to take depending on your skill level. Neither one of them matters if SHRM doesn’t help encourage some community built around these niche areas in their membership. Maybe SHRM Connect (SHRM members only) helps. I don’t know.
What I do know is that SHRM members should have hope about the organization moving forward. SHRM COO China Miner Gorman has shown she has what it takes to lead the organization forward if it is willing. SHRM’s Public Affairs staff treated bloggers as well as any of the traditional press. I honestly don’t have a single negative thing to say about the execution of the conference or the SHRM staff I worked with.
Will I go next year? I hope so. San Diego is my second favorite west coast city and is a quick two and a half hour direct flight down there with no time zone change. I am hoping we can get another chance to talk about blogging or social media to SHRM members. More importantly, I hope to meet up with my HR niche and continue to work on advancing HR.
In conclusion, my feelings about raging against SHRM haven’t changed thanks to the conference. I saw people that, given the same opportunities as everyone else, went hunting for swag instead of making connections or going to sessions. Being a rockstar in HR has nothing to do with SHRM and everything to do with how you operate.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Terrific post as usual Lance. In my opinion, you nailed it with – “I saw people that, given the same opportunities as everyone else, went hunting for swag instead of making connections or going to sessions. Being a rockstar in HR has nothing to do with SHRM and everything to do with how you operate.”
Lance, I second what you said and what Mark reiterated. The key is to make the physical, face to face connections, not go home with a bunch of crap. The knowledge of those you interact with should be your swag.
I also agree having gone to two of these HUGE conferences that this one was more fun for me because of those connections I had made in advance. It’s hard to go alone, but if you are brave and reach out, oh the people you’ll meet.
Great post.
Nice post. Another key to getting the most out of a conference — any conference — is to stay out of your hotel room as much as you can stand it. The conversations you have after the sessions are over are priceless. Have dinner with strange people, go to tweetups, share cabs, chat up strangers in the checkin line. If they are wearing lanyards announcing that they are also at the conference, they are fair game.
I wish I was there meeting you guys and other bloggers. Now you’re making me sad. Eventually I will meet everyone. I’m at 8, so I got 492 HR/Recruiter bloggers to go.
Anyway, on your 3 points, I agree with the first 2 points about blogging, but the third one, whatever you look at it, has been blurred. Let me be clear that the press and blogging /columnists are different, but they’re under one umbrella and that is telling a story. The press is there to tell the story, the blogger is there for an opinion from the facts given. Although you’re not part of the press, you are accounted for the information that is written on your blog(s). People will call you out if you distort any information and since your blog is syndicated, it’s fair game. Frankly, everyone who has a blog is a columnist, but with access, they’re a hybrid journalist/columnist and that line has been totally blurred.
Finally about the swag…I’ll admit I collected swag…wait….a lot of swag and try to bring it home. You can call me a dork but that’s what I did. Now, the only reason I grab swag is to give it to my then co-workers. I worked for a nonprofit and all they got is bounses but not enough positive reinforcement. I do agree that some take a lot for themselves, but there are some that take swag and do what’s best. Also swag helps on tipping your hotel maids on occasion.
I’ve been in HR for more years than I care to remember. I go to the SHRM Annual Conference solely to get new ideas. This includes your session on blogging, which I knew little to nothing about. Now I’m a little more than interested. Don’t always assume that you’re preaching to the choir.
As a first time attendee, I was very excited to attend, purely at the thought of that many HR people in one spot. But I quickly realized if it were not for twitter and the tweet ups I would not have interacted with as many people as I did. In general the sessions do not allow for much interaction and SHRM did not offer much in the way of networking/social events. Parts of the conference came off a little too polished, like a well scripted evangelical telethon but overall I think SHRM did a good job and I absorbed a wealth of information.
No having to carry home a giant monster doll….priceless.
@Mark – Thanks!
@Kari – I loved this conference for the sheer amount of people I could meet up with. I think that is just a huge opportunity that can’t be missed.
@Mary Ellen – Exactly. It is difficult staying out of a particularly comfortable room to boot but sacrifices must be made!
@Tracy – I don’t necessarily disagree though I do think that there are two problems with bloggers: If they are interested in making significant money, they are making deals. I’d love to say we can separate out that information, but I don’t think it is perfect. Secondly, I think bloggers have a huge self-interest in the topic while journalists and the press have a huge self-interest in presenting a story. There is a disconnect there.
@Bob – You are right. And actually, you are one of several people that e-mailed or commented to let me know that it gave them new ideas. That’s great. I think my overwhelming fear is that we feel like we have made progress when we haven’t. I want to stay on my toes until HR gets it.
@hfahey – Absolutely. I think that is a big part of how they can improve the sessions. There needs to be some interaction during the concurrent sessions. Both for the good of the session and the good of the organization.
Lance, just watched the webcast yesterday and it was very well-done. Covered it on my HR blog at Hewlett Packard, I welcome you to add any comments: http://bit.ly/1a3t3r
Your approach to the networking at SHRM was really impressive, I’ll link back to your posts again when I do an upcoming “Art of Networking” post.
Steph K
HP
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