Getting Outside of Your Work. Right Into Your Own Backyard.

I read. A lot.

Every now and then I come across something that causes me to stop, think, reflect,and wonder- even when reflection was the last thing on my mind.

The culprit this time was Kris Dunn. In his post, How a Sucky Economy Makes a Professional Identity Outside of the Workplace More Important, Kris says,

"Don't let your job define you as a professional. . .be involved in conversations relevant to your profession outside of your work. . . use social media, write, get involved in local and regional organizations, volunteer, etc. - all with the goal of establishing a professional identity outside of work."

Geesh. Thanks Kris.

Getting Outside of Work

Getting outside of work is real challenge for me considering I never leave the office.I begin to "do" as soon as I get into work and do not stop until I leave. I am a train moving forward picking off tasks, issues and problems as they come,never taking the time to get outside.This way of being makes for a very small world (and a very conflicted, often crabby,Lisa).

I started a blog a few years ago to branch out.Beginning With absolute anonymity, Progressed to having my name and picture on the front page. I discovered I enjoyed writing. I added a blog roll, linked to blogs, and joined an HR social network. I began to broaden my reach.

Broadening the Reach

In November 2008, I (finally) joined the conversation on Twitter and set up a Facebook page for friends and family.While the initial rush was all consuming (read: dreaming in 140 character sound bites) I am better able to balance the rush while continuing to connect with others at my own pace. I consider myself fortunate to now know the people I do and am honored to call some friends.

I follow coast to coast,across time zones and in many zip codes. The one zip code I am missing, however,is my own.The local SHRM chapter is Central Minnesota SHRM and I am not connected to the members of my local HR community.

Bringing it Back Home

When I recently heard the President of CHSHRM was establishing a LinkedIn group, I was one of the first to sign up. Soon after, I invited members of the group to connect with me on Twitter. Ever have a party and worry no one would come? Well, that's what happened to me.I invited CMSHRM members to connect with me on Twitter and no one took me up on my offer.Not one. Hmmm.Why would they?

I have not been to a state conference or a monthly membership meeting in over 6 years. I look forward to attending the Christmas Party each year, but never seem to get there. Quite simply, I am not getting it done locally.

Getting it Done

Like the person in Jason Seiden's post, "While y'all are chatting, I'm gettin' it done." Surprise! That's a career ender" who works without getting to know his colleagues, I am working without taking the time to get to know my local HR colleagues. I am not making the time to build professional relationships locally nor have I Developed any local social capital to make an impact -but I can make a difference.

The CMSHRM LinkedIn group is growing. I invited a few members to connect with me and will invite more (maybe all!). I searched Twitter locally but did not find the statistical 3% of HR professionals that should be on.I will get it done with the other 97%, face to face, beginning at the May membership meeting.

I will get it done right in my own backyard- one hello at a time.

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In Need of a Pitch

Help! I am (stuck) in an elevator, without a pitch. Fortunately, I signed up for 31 Days to Build a Better Blog at ProBlogger. Our first assignment was to write an elevator pitch for your blog. So, here I am in the elevator minding my own business (looking at people's shoes) and Red Recruiter wants to talk to me about my blog.  What do I say?  "Hmmm. I am working on it. I'll get back to you on Floor 57?!" 

My space has a lot to do with transformation in HR and in personal leadership, learning from experiences, valuing communication, being authentic and getting to the heart of the matter.

Floor 20 coming next!

People matter but you, as a leader matter more, and leaders need to take care of themselves. It's about bringing "you" to the table - the good, the bad, and the ugly of it all. The human condition is the best condition to be in - no hype, no gloss, all real.

Doors opening at Floor 32!

It's about building, it's about connecting. It's about joining Jessica Lee in bringing sexy and cool back to HR. Jessica can take care of this on her own and she's not asking for help but if she should happen to start a movement, I am there! It's about bringing cool back to the government.

Next stop Floor 41.

It's about getting (and keeping) me in the game when I would be much more comfortable hanging out in the backyard hammock reading a book by myself. It's about providing a space where others can comment on my ideas, share their own and move the conversation forward. It's about me learning to write better and finding the chord that resonates with others.

Going up!

My space is about a lot of things and I am not yet able to pin it down to 10 words or less. But I am working on defining it. It may not happen this week, or this month and definitely not by the end of this post but I know that I will know it when I see it. Until it changes again.

Floor 57. Time to exit the elevator. 

Fun ride. Maybe it just simply is all about the journey.