Blog

Half Time

At the half way point of 2014 – here’s a quick summary of who matters to me at this time.

Monday 30th June. We’re half way through 2014 – time flies and all that. Today is also the fifth anniversary of my departure from the BT corporate machine.

I was reminded of this half year point by my friend Michael Carty – who has just published his Social Media Half Year Honours List. I enjoyed reading and reflecting on Michael’s post and scribbled a short note about some people who are making an impact around me this year. As encouraging as ever, Michael suggested I play with the notion further, so I have. Lists are flawed, this one has little in the way of data to back it up – and I’m doubtless going to forget someone’s worthy inclusion – but here we go.

First up is everyone who has offered me work so far this year, even those whose offer I’ve politely declined. Your contribution is essential – thank you.

I couldn’t do this work without Carole’s support – smart, kind, adaptable and with an elegant ability to kick my ass, which I sincerely appreciate.

Heather Bussing is someone I always look forward to hearing from. She is bright, and through her provocative writing, she encourages and invites the very best challenges and thinking. Unvarnished loveliness and a pleasure to know.

Dwane Lay – funny and considerate, and a karaoke master.

Neil Usher’s personal rage against the machine is written with such elegance and prickle, it commands attention.

My dialogue, friendship and work with Meg Peppin is inspiring. With Meg’s help I’ve truly come to appreciate the importance of having someone to check in with. She is:

Open
Thoughtful
Caring
Just a little dangerous
Truthful
Trusting and Trustworthy 

Meeting Michael VanDervort has been a 2014 highlight for me. We follow each other from afar on social media and having a chance to share jokes, beer and pizza in Louisiana will live long in my memory.

I’ve only met Euan Semple once or twice, and his shares and scribbles are often a joy and a challenge.

My good friend Ade Bird, with his mix of kindness and vulgarity is an essential friend. We met at school a bazillion years ago and have failed to shrug each other off since then.

August and September hold so much potential it’s scary – trips to Illinois, New York City and Ohio will give me opportunities to catch up with so many good people and the chance to see Sabrina Baker and the team at ILSHRM again, and do experimental stuff with Joe is very exciting. Steve Browne aka The Joustmaster aka The President of the United States of HR is also right in the mix along with the team at OHSHRM.

Robert Ordever is someone who cares about his work, and puts a smile on my face. So does Bina Briggs – a focussed optimist who I’m fortunate to know.

The 2014 Facilitation Jam team have been excellent. I love the Jam – and through my interaction with others who enjoy the concept, I’m convinced that more people need to find the time to hone their practice, their work, in an emerging, free form way.

And I couldn’t do what I do without Carole so knowing she’s here too is very important to me. I know – I already mentioned Carole – but hey, it’s my list I’m in charge.

What does all this mean? I’m just grateful for the people in my life I guess. Michael – thanks for inviting me to think about this. At the 2014 half way point – who is doing it for you? Whoever it is – I hope you find a way to let them know.

Thank You

It rained hard here yesterday afternoon. Once the rain had passed, Carole suggested that the three of us go for a stroll. We went out hoping to find things that we could photograph to represent the letters in the words, ‘thank you’. As you can see – we had to give nature a helping hand at times, but after an interesting, and very focussed stroll, we found what we were looking for.

Thank You

Is this art? I guess so – it’s an artistic representation at least. I’ve not shared photography on this site before now, I tend to use Instagram a lot for pictures, and I’m reacquainting myself with Flickr again too. I’ll probably pursue my photography interests over at Instagram and Flickr for the most part – but I found this particular photographic challenge fitted with my art and learning aspirations – so here it is.

Making Way – I’m Not Renewing My CIPD Membership

I am a supporter of the CIPD and have been for a few years. I’ve done volunteer work through and for them and carried out a small piece of paid work too. In 2013, I decided to join the CIPD to see what being a member felt like. Then, in December 2013 the CIPD invited me to take part in a consultation survey about the future for members. Note: the grammatical errors in the text below are exactly as they appeared in the original invitation.

As a valued CIPD Affiliate member, Id like to get your help and views about some changes we want to make to how we structure CIPD membership and the services we offer to members. We want to ensure were evolving membership to meet the changing needs of the profession. So, through this important consultation survey, wed like to understand the specific professional and personal needs which led you to become an Affiliate Member of CIPD.

I completed the survey, one of the clunkiest and leading (as in leading you towards a conclusion we’ve already reached) pieces of consultation I’ve ever participated in, and subsequently blogged about a few ways the CIPD could cocreate better value for its members. Usually when I take part in a survey I expect to see some results published publicly, or at least shared with the participants. In this case, none were forthcoming and after waiting and feeding back my  disappointment with the absence of feedback, I forgot about my participation – until news of a reshaped membership and fee structure became public.

Student membership fees are being reduced, and I may be wrong but I think every other level of membership is being increased. The membership fee at my level (Affiliate), is going up this year from £138 to £225, an increase of 63% (wouldn’t it be fascinating to see the results of the earlier consultation to see how they correlate with this action?). £225 is not a huge amount of money to me, and I was already sure the fee was going to rise, loads of questions in the survey I mentioned earlier were about putting fees up (hey – just call me Sherlock). Nevertheless, 63% is a big hike, and this prompted me to stop and think, ‘How, if at all, have things changed for me, since becoming a member of the CIPD?’

I’ve been wrestling with the question for a while, and honestly, I’m struggling to come up with an answer. Yes, I now get a monthly magazine in the post, which I confess I always read, and often enjoy, but a lot of other benefits the institute offers, just don’t attract me. On reflection, I’m not surprised, for although my work is all about people, I’m not in HR.

CIPD Profession Map

When I look at the CIPD Profession Map, what interests me is most of the behavioural stuff around the edge of the circle, plus two or three of the professional areas. These things are not the preserve of HR, far from it – and to be fair to the CIPD I don’t think they seem themselves as being the sole custodians and guardians of this stuff either. But the point is, I don’t need to be a member to sharpen my own practice in these things.

If you’d like to play with the map and see how it could work for you – click on the picture and you’ll be taken to the CIPD website interactive version.

I can see value for people in the profession and for people interested in pursuing and retaining professional qualifications, but for me in particular, and for Affiliates in general, I think it’s far less clear what the value proposition is. So – I’m calling a halt to my experiment. I will continue to provide support and constructive criticism as I have done since I became aware of the CIPD, but I will no longer be doing this as a member.

Instead of renewing my own membership, I’d like to offer to pay for two student membership renewals at the new rate of £90. That feels like a much more useful, and potentially valuable course of action to me. Are you a student member of the CIPD, and would you like one of these renewal offers? If you would, then please contact me so we can work out a way to get the money to you. First come – first served.

Update : I received lots of interest to my offer to map for two student member subscriptions, and I’m pleased that I was able to assist a couple of people along the road with their career development.