“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I’m sure that I’m not alone in saying that a few weeks ago, I was looking forward to closing the door on the dumpster fire called 2020 and anticipating the hopes for the next normal. Then January 6, 2021, happened. As I’m writing this, I’m not completely sure that I know everything about the incident. I do know that it’s being investigated and I’m confident that the right people will be held accountable for their actions. I will have to be patient in the meantime.
Being patient is hard. Really hard. When we see things that are wrong and unjust, we want to fix them. And fix them now. Completely. That’s when I’m reminded of the Dr. King quote at the beginning of this article and the importance of continuing to move forward, even if we’re doing it with baby steps.
I’ve been a member of SHRM for a long time. One of the first activities I got involved in as a volunteer leader was government affairs. Initially, it was simply to stay current with pending legislation, which is important. But I didn’t stop there. Later, I was able to visit Capitol Hill and talk with my legislators about issues that were important to me, my organization, and my industry.
Over time, I realized that learning how to build relationships with my legislators allowed me to make a difference and help to shape better workplaces. That added a lot of value to my SHRM membership.
I understand that many people are sick and tired of politics. They’re tired of wearing masks and not seeing family and friends. They’re just plain tired. There are days when I’m right there along with you. But then I’m reminded of the words of Dr. King and how important it is for me to continue to move forward, even if I only take it one baby step at a time.
Sharlyn Lauby is an author, writer, speaker and consultant. She is president of ITM Group Inc., a consulting firm which focuses on developing training solutions that engage and retain talent in the workplace. She's previously served as a member of SHRM’s Membership Advisory Committee (MAC) and Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility special expertise panel.
She is equally well-known for her work on HR Bartender, a friendly place to talk about workplace issues. The site has been recognized as one of the “Top 5 Blogs HR Pros Love to Read” by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Sharlyn is the author of two best-selling books published by SHRM: “Manager Onboarding: 5 Steps for Setting New Leaders Up for Success” and “The Recruiter’s Handbook: A Complete Guide for Sourcing, Selecting, and Engaging the Best Talent”, which are available on Amazon.
Her personal goal in life is to find the best cheeseburger on the planet.
Sharlyn's social accounts:
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharlynlauby
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https://twitter.com/sharlyn_lauby
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https://www.facebook.com/HRBartender
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