Do I Look Like a Dinosaur to You?

I am going to take you back to the 1st grade and one of my favorite books, Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct.

Everyone in town knows Edwina. She is the dinosaur who plays with the kids. She is the dinosaur who helps little old ladies cross the street. And best of all, she bakes yummy chocolate-chip cookies. Everyone loves Edwina except for Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie. Reginald knows dinosaurs are extinct and is ready to prove it. 

Edwina knew that, in the eyes of others, she was extinct. And here is the cool thing about Edwina . . .she just didn't care. So what you ask? Ok, here's the HR connection.

I don't bake yummy chocolate chip cookies and I am not loved by everyone. However, like Edwina, there are Reginald Van Hoobie-Doobies out there predicting my demise. Well, not my demise but HR's demise. And like Edwina, I really don't care. Ok, I care about the future of my profession but I don't care about the prediction.

From HR Gumbo, the Big Bend Society for Human Resource Management, 

"This is an exciting time to be a human resource professional.  Whether positive or negative, there is a huge spotlight on our profession, forcing our leaders to ensure all the 'ducks are in a row' so to speak.  From monumental changes in employment law to health care reform, HR pros are on a first name basis with the business community."

No doubt about it, HR is in the sea of change. The sea of change is pretty rough these days and not for the faint of heart. What is an HR professional to do?

EVOLVE.

You've heard the conversations and the predictions. When that little voice in your head says, "What the heck do they know?" "Sounds great for you but that's not happening in my organization - ever" "Don't tell me how to do my job" or some version of the same theme, quiet it down. Tuck away the fear. Listen. Consider. Try it out. Challenge, question, research and counter. Do something. And don't do it alone. Bring others with you. Share.  

Is HR dying? asks Laurie Ruettimann, Punk Rock HR. HR is not dead yet responds Mike Vandervort, The Human Racehorses Blog. Read the posts, read the comments (all of them!) and add your voice to the mix.

Together, let's show the Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobies of the world just how evolutionary HR can be and maybe, just maybe, they'll be making chocolate chip cookies for us.

While you are thinking evolution, think about joining me at HRevolution where we can continue the conversation.

Book Review: Find Your Strongest Life by Marcus Buckingham

Marcus Buckingham, self-defined strength strategist, sets his sights on women in his new book, Find Your Strongest Life. 

To sum it up in one word, this book is about moments. Marcus writes, "Moments matter most. They matter more than dreams, goals, values or relationships. Moments make all of these things real." And it is in these moments that choices are made.

Never before have women been faced with so many options and never before have the choices been more difficult. Drawing on years of research, Marcus presents a simple, yet powerful, strength-based practice a woman can use to quiet the noise and, in the face of many choices, guide her to the choices that build upon her strengths. 

Find Your Strongest Life is written in an easy to read conversational style.  Emails, quotes and stories from women at various points in their lives joined together by a common desire added a lot of value - and validation - to the book.  

Marcus does not promise to have all the answers but what he does promise, and deliver, is an opportunity for women to view the moments of their lives - differently.  

I am reviewing this book as a member of Thomas Nelson's Book Review Blogger program.