SHRM Blog

MAD ABOUT MAD MEN

Sexism is more than illegal. It is immoral and bad business.

There is more than a little bit of sexism in the roles portrayed in Mad Men.  So why are so many of us crazy about the show, even though we deplore the sexism that is part of it?

Of course, it is a TV show and not real life. And, the characters are not only psychologically interesting but also physically attractive.

And, there is great writing and acting.   The sex doesn’t hurt, either. I hear...

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#Nextchat Recap: Let's Talk Social Media @ Work

Social media is rapidly becoming an essential tool and an integral force in the workplace. Whether for human resources, sales & marketing, public relations or customer service, social media is now the megaphone for an organization’s corporate culture and employment brand.

For those companies that have embraced it, this new way of working and communicating has generated fresh opportunities, influenced new audiences, and increased productivity. It’s also created a few unforeseen fires.

On March 21, #Nextchat invited special guest Aliah Wright (@1SHRMScribe) to discuss “Let’s Talk About Social Media @ Work.”

Here are some...

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HR Tools and Tech: Monster's BeKnown

Meeting the evolving needs of employers, recruiters, and the emerging workforce, Monster.com, the worldwide leader in connecting job seekers to opportunities, has released BeKnown, a professional networking app for Facebook where users can create professional networks in a Monster-type environment, without ever leaving Facebook. The app allows for the sharing of company and individual professional profiles with your social network and providing recommendations on schools, employers and individuals.

A user can share specific jobs through their BeKnown networks and invite contacts from other social...

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What Does Your Culture of Health Look Like?

Over the past year, I have been researching how companies are approaching wellness as we dive head first in the age of mobile. I’ve even written about it here.

We’ve heard for years that the definition to insanity is “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results” and we do this with employee wellness initiatives. We want to be known as the best companies to work for and we say we are on the cutting edge in offering wellness to our employees, yet we continue doing the same thing over and over, year after...

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Executive Book Club: March 2012

How do organizations manage social media effectively?

Every organization wants to implement social media, but it is difficult to create processes and mange employees to make this happen. The Social Media Management Handbook is geared toward helping you manage every step of the process required to use social media for business, specifically addressing the internal process that takes place within a business before those strategies can be implemented. 

The Social Media Management Handbook provides a complete toolbox for defining and practicing a coherent social media strategy...

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Listening Builds Relationships

Imagine yourself in a sandwich shop and you’re at the register.  The employee behind the counter has just asked for your order.  The conversation goes as follows:

You:  “I’d like a turkey on wheat with lettuce and tomato only.” 

Employee: “Do you want mayonnaise or mustard on that?”

You:  “No, just lettuce and tomato.”

Employee:  “What kind of cheese would you like?”

You:  “I don’t want cheese.  I only want lettuce and tomato.”

Employee:  “It comes with cheese, though.  Are you sure you don’t want cheese?”

This scenario happens to me on...

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Using LinkedIn Responsibly: References and Avatars

We all have a LinkedIn profile, right? With over 150 million members, and growing at the rate of two new users per second, it’s hard to imagine anyone not being on LinkedIn. It’s a great place to share your professional accomplishments.  And, it’s a good place to be seen by recruiters.  But sadly, I’ve also seen articles cautioning LinkedIn users about references and photos or avatars.

Until now, I’ve never thought twice about either of these matters.  I mean, why wouldn’t you put your photo on LinkedIn?  It helps you connect with people.  And, references…well, you...

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You make a difference by inspiring others to make a difference

Here’s how:

1. Stop fixing.

If your passion for excellence and success drives you to constantly fix people, stop it. Problem centered fixers invite self-protective restraint in others.

2. Compassion wins.

The pursuit of personal gain and glory doesn’t inspire; it threatens. Inspiration occurs when others believe you genuinely put them before yourself.

3. Share frailties.

The frailties you’re working through inspire others to work through theirs. Avoid whining. Focus on hope, progress, and benefit.

4. Leverage weaknesses.

Your weaknesses are inspirational opportunities, especially if you’re loved. For example, acknowledging your...

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Would You Want to Work for You? (and 7 Things You Can do to Change a "No" Answer)

I asked a manager recently, “Would you want to work for you?” Stunned, he stopped, wordless for once. Then meekly, he admitted, “No, I wouldn’t.”

Why this manager (and many others) answer “No”

Manager Mike knew he was difficult and habitually gruff. Demanding and impatient, he was often accused of being in a bad mood. He was constantly complaining to his employees about his boss, his peers, the company, the policies, and even the economy and politics. He was so busy managing up to his bosses and out to his customers, that he forgot to lead...

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Your Next Great HR Hire Is at SXSW

I am just back from the SXSW Interactive Conference where I spent time with tens of thousands of geeks, nerds, dorks, and techie wizards. Not everyone at the conference was a Gen Y hipster — although it felt that way. I was tremendously fortunate to meet amazing men and women of all ages who had impressive resumes and interesting stories.

The one unifying theme? Everyone in attendance was passionate about technology, mobile devices and digital media.

It was a fun scene. I couldn’t help but think that the next great leader in Human Resources might be found...

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