The first few days of
SHRM13 have been packed with activities. Several great speakers, including
Fareed Zakaria of CNN, former Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton and
TOMS founder and Chief Shoe Giver
Blake Mycoskie shared their thoughts about the world and how HR professionals can influence organizations in today’s global economy. The 15,000+ HR professionals attending the conference have enthusiastically welcomed these guests. Between those and the educational opportunities, meetings and networking events, attendees do not have a moment to spare.
Zakaria touched on how the global economy is changing and shared that the top economies will be the new and emerging ones instead of the ones that have been traditionally seen as global leaders. He suggested that we need to change the way we look at how the world works and be more aware of the countries that will emerge as leaders in the coming decade. He was a great kick-off speaker to the four days of immersion in HR issues, particularly given that more than 100 countries are represented at the conference.
Clinton was greeted with resounding applause and shared her thoughts on why education, particularly early childhood education and the education of girls and women, is essential to future economic success for every country. She announced the Clinton Foundation’s Too Small to Fail initiative (toosmall.org) and reminded the audience that from age 1-5 is when children are growing and absorbing information at an incredible rate. We cannot squander the opportunity to ensure their basic education at an early age, and Too Small to Fail will work toward that, she said.
Mycoskie was an inspiration for an early Monday morning speaker. He shared how and why he founded TOMS and its “One for One” movement. He also shared several things that HR professionals should take back to their organizations to create success:
• Giving is good for business. Focus on giving and incorporating your customers into that giving, and they will become your greatest evangelists.
• People want their jobs to count, and they want to make a difference. Proud employees work harder than anyone else does.
• Give your employees opportunities to serve and serve together. It will build a stronger team and keep them feeling engaged and proud.
• Every business needs great partners to succeed. Look for organizations that share your vision and mission and partner with them for greater success.
In our recent issue of Certified, we have several articles about companies whose employees really feel like their jobs count. At
LEGO®,
Crayola® and
Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, employees say repeatedly that they wanted to work at the company because of its mission. To read what they had to say, download a PDF or request a copy of the publication
here.
Do the employees at your company feel a level of pride and engagement? What can you do as an HR professional to help engage them in your company’s mission?
