Rock Stars – changing the world of work. . .

The SHRM Leadership Conference was in full swing yesterday.  Sessions were offered to update us on SHRM’s strategies for 2012 (San Diego SHRM is very well aligned with SHRM’s strategies).  Both Pam Green and Mike Aiken got us off to a great start.  Pam even gave a shout out from the stage to San Diego SHRM based on some of the innovation that we are doing (you’ll be experiencing it in all its Technicolor glory throughout 2012) in the area of strategy.  Then, we went to break out sessions based on chapter size.  SD SHRM qualifies for Super Mega status (the largest) which are chapters with membership over 1000 members.  As an organization that is older than SHRM (in my personal life, I never admit older – just better), it is terrific that we are able to maintain our membership at over 1000 members.  This is a testament to the quality of the membership and your commitment to learning, growth, and staying connected.

Yesterday’s signature event is a tie, from my perspective, between the keynoter Ryan Estis and the 2011 SHRM Pinnacle Awards.  The awards recognize Chapters and State Councils that exhibit superior merit.  We won the Pinnacle Award several years ago for the creation and execution of our Workplace Excellence Awards program which just celebrated its 12^th year.  Awards were given for helping the homeless find work; assisting at-risk youth in acquiring the skills necessary to succeed in today’s workplace; assisting our veterans transitioning into the civilian workforce and for developing and offering an HR for Non-HR Managers of small businesses.  As you can tell, SHRM is adapting to the times and delivering value not only to our members, but to our communities throughout the U.S.  It makes me proud to be a SHRM member and inspired the San Diego SHRM team to think “bigger” in terms of what we can offer you as well as what we can ask you to help us with contributing to our community.

Finally, Ryan Estis’ session was really a Rock Concert.  I kept thinking to myself, as he moved about the stage with such presence, of that Maroon 5 song “moves like Jagger.”  If you haven’t heard of him, Ryan is a Rock Star of today’s economy and he is encouraging us, the human resources professionals, to become the Rock Stars of our workplaces.  He believes, and I concur, that we can change the world; or at a minimum, we can change the world of work.  I can’t wait to introduce him to San Diego; Nina Woodard (President Elect 2012) and I are already conspiring to discover the best way to showcase his passion as well as his unique skills that are so relevant to the 21st century environment.  I won’t spoil it by telling you much more, as you can check out his website (www.ryanestis.com) for details and I would not do him justice.  However, let me share with you some of the statistics that make our work so much more critical as our economic future unfolds.  Seventy percent of employees are currently under engaged in the workplace and only twenty percent of employees are well suited for their roles.  Eighty four percent of employees plan to find a new job and ninety percent of CEOs intend on making significant changes to HR practices in the next year.  

I have had the privilege of learning directly from legendary leadership stars such as Ken Blanchard and Marshall Goldsmith.  San Diego SHRM, let me tell you that I was super-impressed by Ryan.   His ability to engage and inspire an audience of human resource professionals in the midst of all of the workplace issues that we face today was breathtaking.  And, thanks to Ryan’s work, I know that the San Diego SHRM Board needs to bring the same energy to you.  As I shared with your Board members at our changeover meeting, I feel incredibly privileged.  As a San Diego SHRM Board member, I get to:  do really interesting work; work with, and learn from, extraordinary people; and I am allowed to make a difference.  I am passionate about what I get to do and, in 2012 and beyond, I look forward to passionately pursuing the delivery of programs and experiences that enables you to bring excellence to your workplaces.