Totally Consumed
I am a Totally Consumed Human Resources Coach for a privately owned company in Oregon. I am the father of three beautiful children and owner of one very friendly dog. I am a seeker, a doubter and sometimes a true believer. I find joy in simple pleasures: playing with my children, holding tightly to my one-and-only, blogging and checking small and large tasks off my to-do list.
How could your HR Department use a Wiki?
I’ve captured the Wiki’s in plain English and posted it here in hopes that my fearless cohorts in Paradise might one day be inspired and motivated to use this great tool for drafting and posting things like HR policies and job descriptions.
Illegal Immigration: who’s really to blame?
A friend of mine, who wishes to remain anonymous (let’s call him Anon-i-mouse), drew the cartoon below offering an alternative viewpoint on the real cause of illegal immigration.
Seems to me like the idea has merit.
It’s easy to blame lax border security and corrupt employers for the influx of undocumented workers, but are Americans prepared to pay the higher costs that would ultimately result without laborers from south-of-the-border? The economic co-dependence of the US and Mexico (and other countries from which our immigrant populations come) is more complex than some anti-immigrant activists realize.
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Eight Points of Interest: Week in Review
Below is a list of eight interesting sites, ideas and newsworthy tidbits to sum up what I found of interest this week on the interweb.
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1) The month of November has a new name! It’s now MOvember (as in moustache!) Tyler over at BC, along with a lot of other manly men, are growing MO’s for the month of November to raise awareness and charitable contributions for prostate cancer research.
2) Democreated.com: “We the people” are creating a brand. You sign up, fill out a questionnaire letting us know what you think the brand should sell, how it should be marketed, what it’s vision and purpose should be then you become part owner. An interesting experiment, it’s success is yet to be decided (68 days left till the brand goes up for auction).
3) Stop Calling yourself a Blogger!: This gem is from David Armano at Logic+Emotion, where he lists 10 great reasons to not call yourself a blogger. I won’t give them away here, but the gist is that the word “blogger” cannot encapsulate your real passion – that being, hopefully, what you write about, your content.
4) “THERE’S PROBABLY NO GOD“. This quote is the result of an ad campaign using billboards and buses to get that message out. I can think of oh-so-many ideas that I’d pay to put on a billboard before this one. Let’s just call this one ‘newsworthy’.
5) The Human Clock: I know this isn’t exactly new. It’s first iteration was launched back in 2003, but having recently rediscovered it, I have to rave. My girls and I are going to take some pictures and send in some submissions as a family activity this week.
6) Create a unique blogging experience: I love SlideShare, and this presentation for bloggers, er, whatever you want to call yourself (see #3) is one of the better ones out there.
7) HR Lori, points to Dead Fish, who found a great list of 10 ideas on How to Work Better.
Interesting article on ethnic Barbies at Seeing is Believing, thanks to anti-racist parent for pointing the way to this interesting post.
Source
Social Media, Dead Fish and Logic+Emotion
I wish I could get our marketing department here in Paradise to see, understand and take advantage of all that Social Media has to offer.
Neil, over at Only Dead Fish, created this slide show that I think outlines the case for social media in clear terms. Check out the rest of his site while you’re there, good stuff!
Social Media and Dead Fish
I wish I could get our marketing department here in Paradise to see, understand and take advantage of all that Social Media has to offer.
Neil, over at Only Dead Fish, created this slide show that I think outlines the case for social media in clear terms. Check out the rest of his site while you’re there, good stuff!
Quote of the Week: The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
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Different perspectives on Illegal Immigration
Some different perspectives on Immigration and the Undocumented Worker:
1) Walk a mile in the other person’s shoes:
2) To lose a job to a foreign national:
3) To be different and speak another language:
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HR pros, beware the undercover ICE snitch
The following is a true story. The conversation below took place a while back, between an Undocumented Worker (hereinafter referred to as UW) and an HRish person I know (hereinafter referred to as HR). The conversation was in Spanish, but we’ve translated here for you.
UW: Excuse me, kind sir. Are you hiring here?
HR: Why, yes!
UW: Great! Only … uh, I need to be honest about something though.
HR: ok…
Under the BIG Blue Sky
Before work and blogging, my first consummate love is for my family. I have a sweetheart who keeps me grounded and beautiful children who give me a reason to not work late. Not only that but I’m blessed with an extended family that forgives, encourages, challenges and inspires me.
In that vein, permit me to venture away from the world of HRM for a moment and point the way to a blogger who focuses on the family; and specifically to a post that made me want to be a better husband and father.
Leadership: 109 Movies that Inspire
Back in August I did a post titled, “Leadership: 91 Movies that Inspire”. At the time I thought of it as just a cool collection of movies that instructed or inspired me over the years. A little over two moths later, (thanks to Google analytics) I learned that it is hands down the most popular post reached by search engine to this blog.
So I’ve updated the list, thanks in large part to some suggestions from visitors and fellow leadership gurus. Here is my ever growing list, currently at 109, of “Movies that Inspire”. I’ve listed them here alphabetically, with a brief “leadership moral” for each one.
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The bloggers audience: why, and for whom, do you blog?
When I first started blogging, imagining I was writing for my son was the only way I could honestly and openly muster my deepest level of sincerity. The problem is, writing something intended for my son to read years in the future left my writing lacking immediacy. Not only that, but it’s hard to invest time in creating a post and not share it with people you care about.
So I told a few people about my blog and it didn’t take long for the word to spread. Once my blogging became common knowledge among my co-workers and family, I noticed that I began running all writing through an “is this appropriate for work and family” kind of self-check. For example, my boss and father-in-law both read my blog and are both very conservative; so I found myself tempering any writings that might appear to have a leftist slant.
I thought about writing anonymously, but what’s the fun in that? I want those people I care about to read my blog. Trying to keep it secret amongst a “few” close friends is nearly impossible. A secret identity known by 20 people really isn’t a secret.
Seems I can’t win. If I write anonymously then my friends and family will not know about my secret passion. Be “out and open” and all my writing will be influenced (tainted?) by my audience selection.
Help me kind readers. Tell me, why do you blog and more importantly, for whom?
Source
Thank you to some very special people
Friday night we had a service awards celebration here in Paradise. It’s success was only because of the enthusiasm and efforts of a few, very special people. This blog gets hundreds of unique visiyors every week so I normally like to keep names out of it. But these special people deserve credit and some very special recognition all their own.
To Lindsay, Javier, Kellene, Dalena, Keegan, Lorenzo, Doreen and to everyone else who helped us plan, set-up tables, chairs, decorations, plants and one big screen – I give you a heartfelt thank you. You made a difficult and stressful project fun and fresh. And with all the negativity that can so easily pervade a workplace, you gave many craftsmen and coaches a reason to smile and remember what’s so great about working in Paradise.
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To ask permission or ask forgiveness?
Dear Totally Consumed:
I can’t read my boss. Sometimes I get in trouble for not checking with him first, and other times I get in trouble for not making a decision and waiting too long to act (usually because he’s not reachable). I can’t win. Any Advice?
Sincerely, Befuddled and Bewildered
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Dear B2,
It’s been said that it’s easier to ask forgiveness rather than permission. This truism doesn’t mean one should be impudent and brash, but rather one should not be afraid to be bold, stand-up and take responsibility.
Every boss has their own style, the trick is learn how your boss likes to work and roll with it. When in doubt, find a time when your boss is available and let him know how you’re feeling. It’s best to err on the side of over-communication in the beginning of any workplace partnership.
I can’t speak for your supervisor, but when I’m not reachable or busy, I love it when employees use their best judgment and make their own decision without waiting to be told what to do. Yeah, I don’t always agree with what they decided, but I appreciate those who aren’t afraid to make the tough calls.
It’s easy to ask others to make decisions. It’s hard to make the decisions and be held accountable ourselves. If you aspire to a leadership position in the future, you can’t be afraid to make the tough judgment calls.
The wise Emo Phillips once surmised, “When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn’t work that way. So I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.”
For the record, I do not advocate stealing bikes; but you’ve got to admire any kid (or employee) who knows what he/she wants and in the absence of clear direction takes their own initiative. Good luck!
Why Employees Hate HR (and what to do about it)
Dear Totally,
HR people suck. I went to my HR Department looking for help and all I got was the corporate line.
Ever since my “confidential” visit to HR, my boss has been cold to me and I’m nervous about my job. I feel like I’ve been put on some kind of Problem-Employee list.
If HR people see themselves as advocating for employees, they are just deceiving themselves. HR is there to protect the bottom line, plain and simple. HR is two-faced in that way, always saying “people are the most important asset”, when in reality they are just shills for the company.
I’d have a tiny bit of respect for HR if you guys at least admitted that you’re not there to help people. You’re just there to help the company, period.
Sincerely, HR Hater
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Employee Events: Is the money worth it?
Dear Totally Consumed,
Our company is going through a very difficult financial period. Money is tight. We have a yearly award banquet that recognizes the accomplishments of some of our best employees. The problem is, this event is very expensive. Is it right to have this kind of lavish party, when we just had a round of layoffs and most departments have been asked to slash their budgets?
Sincerely, Potential Party Pooper
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Dear P3,
From the tone of your letter, my guess is that things are pretty grim at the office. Now, more than ever, your employees probably need a pick-me-up. A reason to celebrate, any reason, is probably a good idea right about now. No need to be extravagant, just spend enough time and energy on the event so that attendees have a good time and leave with some good memories. Good luck!
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