When HR hurts itself - session reflection at #cipdACE

Thoughts from "How can we evolve the HRBP model to make it more effective" 

I have heard several times at the #cipdACE conference that HR (and L&D and OD) needs to do something about it's reputation.

This morning John Amaechi galvanised a whole room (based on what I could see and have heard since) around how and what we could do to becoming giants and why and how to be more human, as we've been hearing about from Peter Cheese and others.

There has been so much to be proud of as a profession here at the annual conference, but the lat session I went to also showed that we still have work to do to be 'stronger together' (yes really, and yes I know how political/trite etc that sounds). It seems we sometimes struggle to break down silos and see the 'value' of all within HR, or at least explain it.

And when the question of outsouring came, the responses showed how 'conflicted' we are ourselves, even though there was clear sense-making (A: its about the quality of the relationship). This again raised how important it was to do what we do in context of our organisations - their culture, size, customer need. In other words, their is a place for that diversity and a reason for it.

On top of this, there were some sound points made including:

• Everyone needs a business partner mindset, eg understanding the business
• To understand the business, we must venture into it and talk to people!
• It's about understanding the business environment we operate in.
• Skills must be fit for purpose across different roles
• We need to be mindful of the career trajectory of different roles in HR

But it is what happened after the session reflecting the 'mood' to something said in the session, that really emphasises my title point - that HR must model values like collaboration and kindness rather than undo itself. It doesn't mean that we all have to bend but we should all blend. Yet one comments was taken as creating a them and us of BP and COE and was taken by some to seemingly dimish some work. That did not seem to be the intent. But it was what people heard. It upset some. It changed the mood. Some of the good points that followed, were I suspect, lost in the mood-fog.

Having said that, what was good was that audience participants 'called it out' - people said how they felt, listened to clarification, supported each other and didn't lose sight of the intention that we want to do what's right for our businesses. And there was challenge as to whether we were really future thinking though it was hinted at.

What I got from it is that we need to listen to each other better, rank less, learn more, forgive, explain better, do better, move on. And perhaps set our bold future.

We're all in this. We all matter. We are all and must strive to act as giants. Us, not leaders, not robots, not AN Other. It is you, and me and all of US.

I'm thinking about what my actual 'pledge and do is' from what I've heard and experienced - what's yours? Share on Twitter or engage on LinkedIn. See you there!

Denise.
#blogsquad
#cipdACE #E4

An ACE first day

Day one reflections from #CIPDACE

This isn't a sophisticated blog, but when there's so much to tie together and so much going in my head, I find it helpful to put down some summary thoughts down writing*

Here are three clusters of thought...

My first reflection actually isn't about the conference itself, but rather about the 'how you show up' attitude I see at conferences.
People come for so many reasons - to learn from others, to engage with others, to stretch themselves, to check out providers and to have some headspace. They come from far and wide. And whilst that's great, it does make me wonder how much we more we should be doing to create the vibe outside of such events, how we 'show up' in our day-to-day and what we can about those people who are in our teams who don't feel the positive profession vibe (that sometimes being the why they don't leave the office to experience this).

Secondly, casting my mind back to this morning, I'm also pleased that I've been able to carry the content of the keynote on 'Trust' with me. It really has permeated my thinking today. In fact in the summary of the two main sessions I attendee, we today, it is clear that learning to let go and trust is pretty key to the now and the future of work. For example need to trust people to be self-directed learners, we need to trust people to development others and we need to trust people to self-manage and self-assess rather than force them into classrooms or appraisals.

And finally, along with trust, another overarching thought that keeps coming through for me is the importance of knowing and doing what works for your business. In other words: Context. What works for one place doesn't work for others. But, lets not ignore that the issues are really consistent which is why most of us rock up and hear similar themes in sessions at similar events over what has been a significant period of time.

None of this is big news. None of this is rocket science. And yet, here we are again. Because whilst it all makes sense, it's not enough to hear this it's how it translates for real. And it's not as simple as it sounds or why aren't we all doing it.

What is easy (and right) is feeling personally uplifted by what's possible for the profession when you attend ACE, and I am hopeful for what's coming next (starting with tomorrow).
I believe that those people I've engaged with today will be passionately sharing when they get back to their clients and companies. I look forward to how the new profession map will continue to professionalise us. And I trust that those of us here will really hear and benefit from the messages we're hearing.
But, the most important thing for me is to how we translate this mood in a sustained way in a wider space.

For more detailed content, follow my twitter account @DamsonHR or to connect with me find me there or on LinkedIn.

Same again(-ish) tomorrow? See you then!

Denise.

*Other truths: I also need to write to justify my time here and the CIPDs trust in me, and to support my fellow blog-squadders who you really should check out!

Approaching CIPD ACE with refreshed thinking

It's nearly ACE!

I am really pleased to be on the #Blogsquad of the CIPD's Annual Conference and Exhibition (the ACE in the title!). But, there's a 'but'. Several, in fact!


Whenever I find myself using the word 'but' after a less than positive sentence, I know it's time for some fresh thinking*.


(*And fresh thinking is one of the things I know I'm going to experience at ACE.)


So this week, I've had to challenge myself around the sentence "I'm really looking forward to CIPD ACE, but..."


In no particular order, my 'but' list is...


1. I've so much to do in the office
2. My son is not happy I'm off... again
3. There's so much to see and do there, how will I do it all?
4. I'm not properly prepared
5. What if I don't do my blog-job well enough


So, here's what I'm reminding myself in response...


1. With so much to do at work, now is the perfect time to give myself this 'break'. We can get too locked in to the day job, and getting out and about can revive us and make us more efficient and energised on the return.


2. My work related trip refreshes me for home too, as a break from the everyday. More importantly, it's good for my son to see me do work-stuff outside of the day job and see how immersed and happy you can be doing a job you really want to be and grow in.


3. Whoa, take the pressure off! I don't have to see and do it all. And nor should I want or need to. One of the great things - there's such a range of things to engage in. You have, can and get to make some savvy personal choices. Linked to...


4. I'm not prepared YET, but equally I'm not there yet either. There's still time. If I focus. Focus on what I actually need to hear, see, seek and know. But also that I should just allow room to go with the flow, in the moment, when the time comes.


5. I will reflect what I feel as well as what I see and hear. And what does 'well enough' mean anyway. I'm not there to be perfect, just to give a reflection of my experience. And hey, I'm not alone... there are my super talented blog-squadders who'll be doing a super job, sharing content in all manner of ways. (In other words, get over yourself Dee!)

And there you have it.


Do you have a 'but' list? Is it much the same as mine? How can you reframe yours? I tell you, it'll be worth it to go with a healthy mindset and clear conscience.


If you can't make it, find us on social media and read our various blogs. You'll find us using the hashtag #cipdACE and will find most of us on LinkedIn or a quick internet search.


Hope  to see you there in person, or on social media!
#reenergised #excited Denise.