“The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.” – Albert Einstein
“Appreciation is an excellent thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” – Voltaire
Conference attendance has many dimensions of meanings. For some, it is a way to escape work or home for a brief period of time. For others, it is a way to obtain something they need; HRCI credit, education on a specific topic, etc. As the 2012 HR Florida State Conference & Expo approaches, I challenge you to think about attending in terms of giving and receiving.
The Value of Giving
When I think of my role as a speaker, I create ways I can make my session much more than me sharing information with you, the audience. That act would be giving at the most basic level. What I aspire to achieve is being able to take my topic of “How Social Tools Can Empower A Global Organization” to the next level. That means I create a gift of information as well as a facilitated interaction with each of you. It means I expose the rough edges to they can be dissected and discussed. It means being vulnerable to have my ideas challenged and being open to other people’s’ ideas. It means giving without thought of what I may receive.
As a participant, I want us both focused on giving- contact, interaction, desire to learn and share. Your experience will be more than listening and taking notes that you may never use. You’ll be challenged to participate and give your ideas to me, to my co-presenter (Steve Boese), and to your colleagues in the room.
Where Does the Receiving Come In?
If we all focus on giving, the result is we will all automatically receive more than we put in. We will leave inspired to try new things, not only by my session, but by all the sessions at the event. By opening yourself up and approaching HR Florida with a changed mindset, you will create valued relationships with other professionals that will continue to build.
If you leave the event with even a handful of new contacts, you will enhance your value of the conference ten-fold. These are the professionals you will keep in touch with and who can become your external benchmark for best practices. So, come to the 2012 HR Florida State Conference & Expo and not only get those traditional values, give the gift of YOU!
Trish McFarlane is the head of HR for Perficient, Inc., an IT management consulting firm. She has over 15 years as a practitioner in human resources and communications. She is also a consultant, writer and speaker. With expertise in leadership development, employer branding, innovation, change management, social media and all aspects of human resources, Trish is able to capture readers and audiences with real-life examples of the way leadership plays out in organizations. She writes the HR Ringleader blog and is co-founder of the Women of HR blog. She is also the co-founder of the HRevolution conference.
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