Check out hr.com! It is one of the largest online communities for human resource professionals out there.
You will find…
I think this is a great new resource for hr professionals. Check it out!
There has been alot of talk lately about online brand reputation management. But have you thought about your online reputation management? It is very common practice for an employer, a client, a potential business partner and even that cute guy next door to “Google” your name and see what comes up. Are you ok with what they might find? With the vast array of personal websites, corporate websites, blogs and social networks out there, you are bound to show up at some point. So think about it next time you are at the local watering hole and had a few too many, and start dancing on the bar and your “friend” snaps a picture of you that in her words, “Will be perfect for Facebook!”. Is that the image you want sent out into cyberspace? Is that the first impression you want to make on a potential employer or man of your dreams? If so, no problem dance away, even flash a little (you know what). Just know ahead that it may fall onto the screen of someone you would rather it didn’t.
Well, I am pretty sure you have heard about it and pretty sure you have signed up and even more sure you are addicted!!! Its called Facebook or as my sister likes to call it FaceCRACK. I am NOT a social network junkie at all. I do NOT have a MySpace page and MyBlogLog page is sorely neglected. I have just never had a personal desire to be part of them. Why? I have visited these sites many times in the past and always came away with a feeling of fakeness, lies and two-facedness. It was like I didn’t know these people or even cared to know them, so why would I waste my valuable time connecting with them. But then along came Facebook. I heard about it. And heard about it. And then it was everyday I heard about it and then I was seeing how people were getting really emotional about it. Not to mention even some of the bad publicity Facebook is getting.
So what am I to do?… of course, I checked it out. I wouldn’t say I am as addicted as others I see. I uploaded some photos, I put in a few tidbits to my profile and I can even go a few days without logging in. But others, OOOOOH MY! They are logged in all day. Letting us all know every time they go to the bathroom or one of their kids throws up or even better each time they breakup with their boyfriend and get back together. (Which I see can happen a couple times in just one day!) I mean com’ on…. But I am drawn in time and again. WHY?
Why do I care about these people and not the others? Well, it is familiar. These are people I
actually know, or at least have know at one point in my life. I find I do actually care about them because I know them either through past memories or events or experiences or people. Its a nostalgia thing. It brings things back to whats real, where you came from and who you were. And with family members on there too, its like they keep it real for everyone. You can’t fake it or pretend to be someone you are not, cause you can be sure they will call you on it.. (or at least post a picture from your early teen years to set things straight).
My name is Tracy and I am on FaceCRACK!
Just wanted to let you all know that if you are in the area come on down to our 6th Annual Calgary Stampede Style FREE Pancake Breakfast! It is always lots of fun with yummy pancakes and sausages. This year all donations are going to the Kelowna Womens Shelter. To get more information on the Pancake Breakfast click here!
I recently put together an application for Canada’s Top 100 Employers 2008. It is a national competition to determine which employers lead their industries in offering exceptional workplaces for their employees. It was a great experience for me and Enquiro as it forced us to organize and document all the great things that we have done and are doing.
Employers are evaluated on:
1. Physical Workspace
2. Work Atmosphere And Social Atmospheere
3. Health, Financial & Family Benefits
4. Vacation & Time Off
5. Employee Communications
6. Performance Management
7. Training & Skills Development
8. Community InvolvementYou can go here to see the top 100 list for 2007.
The application process was also very rewarding in that it helped validate that what we are doing is on the right track and it also showed some areas where maybe we could step it up a notch or two. If you have never been through this process before, I highly recommend it (even just for practice). And fingers crossed, hopefully in the fall I will be writing a post about us making the top 100 list!!!
Does your company have clearly stated and visible core values? Are they written down or posted for all to see each day? Does everyone in the company know what they are? During interviews and resume reviews do you constantly refer to these core values for alignment? If you don’t have or do these things.. ask yourself, why not? Because without these clearly laid out with “buy in” from all, you are not going to be a successful company with successful team members. Strong imbedded core values are the back bone to the best corporate cultures out there.
Just take a look at Isadore Sharp and what he has done for the Four Seasons Hotels. He had a very clear vision of the kind of hotels he wanted to own and operate. But to acheive this he also knew he had to have a clear vision of how that was going to happen, so he wrote out a mission statement with one very crystal clear statement running through it - The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This common thread is drill from top down to bottom up. Doormen, housekeepers, CEO’s everyone it empowered with this statement to use their common sense and do what is best for the guests. This empowerment is the basis of an incredible culture that has each team member feeling like they can and do make a difference for their guests. And this in returns has guests feeling they are special and wanting to come back.
So where to start?
First, sit down and think about it. Is it community, personal growth, respect, fun, passion, vision, creativity, quality… or all of these that runs like a common thread through your company? You need to think about what core values are important to you and the people in your company. They need to be values that can always be referred to for guidance and company alignment. You may end up with one or you may end up with 10… but once decided on… write them down! Put them in the team member manual. Put them on your website. Put them EVERYWHERE! Live by them, measure by them and succeed by them.
Establishing company core values could end being the most important thing you do for you, your company, your team and most importantly your customer.
In case you have been stranded and recently rescued from the “Lost” island, you may not know that SHRM is holding their 59th annual Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas late this week from June 24th-27th. It looks like an awesome lineup with keynote speakers such as, Lance Armstrong, Linda Alvarado, Dan Pink and Erin Gruwell. And not to mention Michael Mcdonald will be enterraining the crowds on Tuesday night! The conference boasts to have the most comprehensive and relevant professional development programs available. On Monday, the Best Place to Work Institute will be announcing the “50 Best Small & Medium Companies to Work for in America”. “The awards honor organizations that strive to make work more rewarding and who have successfully created positive cultures that foster engaged and empowered employees.”. Although I will not be there, (maybe next year) I look forward to reading and hearing all about it next week!
Here is the conference at a glance.
Penelope Trunk wrote yesterday about a Braided Career. I absolutely love her writing and almost always find her articles hit home with me in some way. There are some days when I daydream of this type of lifestyle and wonder if I could ever do it. Although I havn’t dropped it all to follow a boyfriend around the world or sell everything I have to start my own business “yet”, I can see myself almost at the cusp of it at times (selling everything, moving to Indonesia, little hut on the beach..) oops, sorry daydreaming again. Anyway, I am 33 and already on my 3rd career path. In todays world quite usual, 25 years ago not so much. Maybe the unusual thing for today is that I have been at my present job for 5 years now. Am I losing my edge? Am I conforming? Am I my parents? (oh man) Is the cusp getting further away? Possibly, but I think we all have to do what feels right at that time and right now this does. As I talked about in a previous post we all have priorities that for now keep you where you are. For those that can throw it all to the wind and jump onto the next thing with little more than a thought… well, I salute you! That in itself takes great courage and willpower.
Also know as, SEO Consultant, SEM Strategist, Search Engine Marketing Specialist, Search Success Strategist (and more). I recently interviewed Jody Nimetz the Senior Organic Search Strategist at Enquiro Search Solutions Inc. about his job, culture and the future of online marketing. Here is part 1 of what we talked about:
How long have you been with Enquiro?
Jody: I started with Enquiro in January 2004, so basically about 3.5 years.
What are your main responsibilities (what do you do each day)?
Jody: Ultimately I am responsible for keeping my clients happy. This means making myself available to them for any consultation or questions that they may have. My typical day includes reviewing industry blogs and websites to see what is happening in the search industry. I also research outstanding issues for my clients which may involve checking their web analytics, checking search engine rankings and evaluating the client’s website. We offer a variety of deliverables to our clients, so on an average day I may be working on items that include things such as keyword analysis, site audits, conversion audits or the like. I usually have strategic meetings and huddles with other team members to discuss strategies for our clients. I also spend time writing search related articles and posting news on my blog, SEO-Space which focuses on Organic Strategies for B2B marketers. I am always quite busy so the day usually goes by pretty fast. I still manage to sneek a game of foosball in here and there too.
Where do you see organic search marketing in the next 2-3 years?
Jody: Interesting question. The one thing about the search industry is that it is always changing. Organic search marketing is no different. I think that with organic search marketing in the next couple of years we are going to see a shift from focusing on tactics to focusing on strategic solutions that concentrates on the end user. New technologies continue to emerge, so I think that a lot of companies are going to take search marketing in-house. I think that organic rankings will become less important as the search engines move from universal search results to serving up more personalized and unique results for the user. Organic search marketing is going to mean ensuring that our client’s sites are found not only in traditional search engine results but in other avenues such as online video, podcasts, blogs, social media communities (such as LinkedIn, Facebook etc.) I recently wrote a tongue in cheek post on the Future of Search that illustrates some potential happenings with organic search marketing in the future.
What do you enjoy most about your job at Enquiro?
Jody: Hmm there are so many great things about Enquiro… I like the various challenges that I am presented with. I love the fact that I learn something everyday and am challenged to the best of my abilities. The best thing about working at Enquiro however is the people that I work with. We’re a pretty close bunch and do a lot of stuff together from whitewater rafting to playing softball to going to out for dinner.
What do you think are the most important things a company can do to encourage corporate culture?
Jody: There are a number of things that a successful company can do to encourage corporate culture. I think that everyone in the company should have a voice and should feel free to speak their mind. As well as having something to say, it is important to listen to everyone. I’m a firm believer in transparency and laying all your cards out on the table. Having a balance between life and work is also key to encouraging corporate culture. You hear the stories about Google and how they have professional cooks on staff, pet daycare, beach volleyball etc. Egos should be checked at the door, “we above me” and working as a team and creating a positive environment all go a long way to encourage corporate culture.
What do you think makes a good leader?
Jody: The ability to listen. The ability to encourage creativity, innovation and passion. A good leader should be able to lead by example. If you look at most successful leaders they are able to get the best out of the people around them by providing clear vision and sound judgement.
What is the most important/interesting thing you have learned recently?
Jody: Wow I learn so much everyday. I recently learned that if Anaheim wins the Stanley Cup this year then the Stanley Cup finalists who lost in 2002 (Carolina) and 2003 (Anaheim) will have won the Stanley Cup in 2006 (Carolina) and 2007 (Anaheim)…. well I thought that was interesting (it’s amazing the things that you can find with a search engine.) Probably one of the most important things that I have learned recently is that ideas are the precious things and that one should be careful when sharing ideas with others who may capitalize on or take credit for your ideas.
Do you have any suggestions for those thinking of a career in SEM?
Jody: Yes learn the fundamentals about marketing and understand that search marketing is more than just tactics. The search industry needs more strategic thinkers who can develop innovative strategies that will ultimately benefit both the consumer and the marketer. Think win-win!
I want to thank Jody so much for his time. Please be sure to check out SEO-Space and Part 2 coming soon!
I was asked this of my 9 yr old daughter last week. And after stating many simple examples that I though she could relate too, I think she got it. But then it got me thinking (oh no). There are so many levels of priorities… and with each priority comes a sort of sacrifice. You almost always give something up to get something else. And this is at the extremes but here are some examples: If I choose to make having a new house a priority. Then I give up time and money to maintain that house. Example: If I make my career a priority. I risk mental and physical fatigue, time with those I love etc. Example: If I make taking a vacation a priority. I may feel financial hardship.
Now of course there are payoffs to making these our priorities or we just wouldn’t do them. But the true skill is all in the balancing of the priorities. The people I admire most are the ones that can balance it all and never let things sway to far in the favour of one priority or another. I believe that you have to think about each of your priorities, from the small ones to the biggies and ask yourself… Is this balanced? Is what I am giving up to have this as a prioroity truly worth it? Why am I doing this? This actually relates closely to a previous post I did about the Top 5 Corporate Culture Killers in that these same “top 5 killers” if flipped around can also apply. You can actually ask yourself: #5 - Do I have passion for this priority? #4 - Is this an “I Before We” priority? #3 - What is my goal or direction of for this priority? #2 - What action am I taking? #1 - Have I communicated this priority to those around me?
Her simple question got me doing this and its already forced some small changes. Hopefully it does for you too.
