I’m back! Time for blog number two! As I mentioned in “I Survived #SHRM19,” I had a lot to reflect on post-conference! I had almost four pages of thoughts and decided to turn this into a mini blog series. So, if you haven’t read the first one yet, please do so! But also, please enjoy my top seven takeaways from the different sessions I attended during the conference.
*Please note: as mentioned in my first blog, I didn’t attend many sessions… so please don’t be offended if I did quote you below. It’s probably because I didn’t make it to your session due to the overwhelming amount of other opportunities available!
Top 7 Takeaways from #SHRM19 (In no particular order…)
1. “Your title doesn’t matter and your years of experience don’t matter. Your voice matters! Everyone’s experience matters!” Wendy Dailey of Sanford Health
My takeaway: We can all learn something from everyone. Each person we interact with is unique; they live different lives than we do so they can provide a different perspective to every situation. It’s important to connect purposefully with as many people as you can so you can open yourself up to as many perspectives as possible.
With that said, everyone can learn something from you. You are unique. You live a different life than everyone else. You can provide a different perspective to every situation you encounter. You should connect purposefully to as many people as you can so they can learn from you, and so you can learn from them.
2. “You need to start thinking about the future and make actionable plans to get where you want to.” Frank Spencer of Kedge, LLC.
My takeaway: Company’s spend a lot of time reacting and thinking about the now. We need to spend more time being proactive and thinking about the future, because our organization can’t survive if we don’t plan for what’s to come.
3. “You don’t need to know everyone, but you should know someone.” Steve Browne of LaRosa’s
My takeaway: Steve is such an upbeat person; he is a Human Resources role model. All HR professionals should want to be like him. But it is true that a lot of us aren’t like Steve. But that doesn’t mean we can’t try to be in a smaller capacity. Don’t ever feel like you are alone when you are in an environment with 20,000 other HR professionals. They are all there for the same thing that you are: to learn, network, and grow. If you don’t know someone, say hello. Don’t just sit by yourself at lunch, play on your phone on the shuttle, or look down on an elevator. You never know who you might meet, so even if you can’t meet and know everyone, try meeting those that you can!
4. “No matter what, be POSITIVE.” Mofota Sefali of Tiger Brands
My takeaway: This one is short, but sweet. Be positive, it will allow others to sense your glowing persona and upbeat personality. It will make others want to come to you!
5. "Create workplaces where everyone (veterans, people with disabilities, previously incarcerated individuals, older individuals) thrive and grow!” -Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. President and CEO of SHRM.
My takeaway: Every. Single. Person. Deserves. A. Chance.
6. “Transform your organizational values into observable behaviors so people can be held accountable if they don’t follow through.” Brené Brown (Keynote)
My takeaway: Too many times we let things slide within our organizations because we don’t know how to hold people accountable. It’s easy when someone does something blatantly wrong. But what if one of your company values is innovation. At what point do you say, this person isn’t innovative enough, they can’t work here? You don’t, right? But – you want your employees to live up to your company values. It’s almost like an oxymoron. So find a black and white way to say, innovation means XYZ and if you don’t do this, your job will be in jeopardy.
7. “Learn one new thing at a time. Focus your energy on that one thing every day.” -Blake Mycoskie (Keynote)
My takeaway: You can’t be an expert on something if you try learning 20 things at once. Try learning one thing at a time so you can become an expert on it before moving on to the next. It will help your confidence because you will know exactly what it is that you’re doing, instead of doubting your abilities.
And just when you thought I was done… you realize that there is still one more blog to come out of this mini blog series! Coming soon… “Out of the Box Conference Experiences”
Amanda Brunson is employed as a People Business Partner by Sabre. Amanda has been an active volunteer with SHRM since 2014 in many capacities, including President of the Rollins SHRM Student Chapter, Director on the Greater Orlando SHRM Board, HR FL Conference Committee Member, and SHRM Young Professional Advisory Council (YPAC) member.
Amanda received her Master in Human Resources Degree from Rollins College in May 2016. She holds an Advanced Leadership and Management Certificate from West Virginia University at Parkersburg. Most recently, Amanda obtained her SHRM-CP certification in January 2018.
Amanda is passionate about advocating for the Future of HR. She does this by sharing her knowledge and experience to aid others in attaining their goals.
Amanda currently resides in Orlando, Florida and enjoys bowling, visiting the beach, and visiting Walt Disney World in her spare time.
Connect with her on LinkedIn and on Twitter, @TheHRPanda
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