I’ve come to the conclusion that I enjoying helping others learn how to use social media and the tools that go along with social media.
I’ve been helping my boss learn from scratch, she’s been a great student. I’m also helping a local HR pro set up her own blog next week and I’m also helping a Twitter friend learn how to use Google Reader. Ben over at UpstartHR connected me an HR Pro that’s setting up a PTO program from scratch. While not social medial related it’s still sharing the knowledge. That’s been a blast to help with; yes I’m a nerd, move on.
Helping others has also helped me to learn to use these tools in new ways so I can in turn show them. My pal over at Creative Chaos Consultant says sharing is caring so I’m sharing and oddly enough, people are accepting my advice.
Along with the sharing is caring philosophy, I’m sharing what I’m learning from my Google Reader with the managers at my office. Some are taking the advice and running with it, others not so much and they are truly missing out. The blogs have been great ice breakers for managers meetings. It gets them thinking and starts the meeting off with great conversation.
Our next managers’ meeting is Thursday. With so many wonderful posts out there, I’m torn on what to share.
Have you shared a blog post with your leadership team? Are you sharing your knowledge with others? Share what you’re doing with me and the PseudoHR readers (side note: I might steal your idea; fair warning)
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Well, I’ve shared info from a lot of sources with my leadership and here’s what I did.
First, instead of running too many posts/ideas in one shot, I created a monthly topic (mutually agreed by all managers/leaders). I would then present data that was relevant for that topic via blog posts, news articles, tweets, etc., during weekly meetings and did involve others to share their thoughts too. By sticking to a single topic per month, it gave enough time and enough room for detailed discussions. It also helped address topics that mattered most to the leadership team, rather than sprinkling a variety of info. The tricky part was in identifying topics/areas that mattered most to the crowd in the room.
Second, 100% focus should be on people who buy the idea. Really. Initially, I was so excited with presenting info that I thought everyone would buy-in to the thought of sharing ideas. And when that didn’t happen, my focus automatically shifted towards keeping the critics happy. Bad choice, I lost a lot of time.
Hope that helps. Good luck!
My recent post on The Pursuit of Something Better was used twice. First on the blog, second in the office. I edited it and made it more hard-hitting with actual examples from inside our company and passed it out to our HR staff. Several great comments and some good (desperately needed!) conversations took place. I’m already looking forward to my next opportunity.
Pick one of your posts (or another, if you’re self-conscious). Add info that applies directly to your own organization, and email it as a PDF or just hand out copies. You never know what it could unlock!
I’ve told some of the people at work about my blog…though it has made things a little strange at times. The other week I blogged with the title “I work with you, but do I have to be your friend?”
@TheHRStore – For the critics at my office, my theory is I’ve given you some tools to help you do your job better and its up to you to use them. Thankfully the majority of my management team is accepting the advice and running with it.
@Ben – I haven’t used one of my own posts yet but that’s an interesting idea. < runs off to check archive >
@Anthony – A few of my coworkers are aware of my blog, just a few and I hope to keep it that way for now. Our Trainer refers to work friends an involuntary friends because you didn’t choose them and have to be around them every day.
Ooooh, am I the inept Google Reader friend? If so (and even if I’m not) thank you so much for helping me!! Yay for interwebs friends!
@Dysfunction Junction – Dude, you are so far from inept its not funny. I was happy to help, like I said Sharing is Caring
I’m trying to encourage my HR classmates to become involved with social media. After reading your post, I started sharing blog posts they might find helpful on my Google Reader.
http://www.google.com/reader/shared/kerensa.loucks I’m specifically trying to encourage them to read blogs and join twitter. I think my shared Google Reader will help them start to get their feet wet.
@HR_Kerensa Good for you! Bring them into the Social Media cult! What I found most useful for me was some advice from Kris Dunn, follow the people he’s following that you find interesting or that you can learn from. Feel free to give them my twitter id (adowling) and I’ll follow them back if their bio has HR in it.