Ya know, most of the time, I sit around shaking my head about how the human race has become nothing more than a bottom feeding blood sucking goo of about me, for me, give me, feed me, pay my bills, take care of my children.   Reading the newspaper and listening to talk radio or TV is a quick trip to the quicksand of depression.

 But every once in a while I am just knocked off my feet by a brilliant remark, insight, generosity or just good will from some of our people-kind.   That happened yesterday.  A casual remark from one of our own – a new guy on our block (AND WE NEED YOU TO BLOG STEVE!).   Out of the blue, in the middle of some kind of business discussion this guy comes out with this, paraphrasing here: “The reason I joined this business is because I truly believe that with the exception of the medical field – our profession has the greatest impact on human lives.  Whether it is finding someone the right job, keeping them out of the wrong job – we have the ability to positively influence lives.”  WOW.   What a concept.  We are not just about making money – we actually influence lives.    I had to stop and think about that for a minute. Steve is right.

 Maybe that makes me shallow and a candidate for the blood sucking goo of about me – but I LIKE feeling that we can make a difference and positively influence lives.  It just makes me feel good, and I wanted to share.

How can you stop sourcing in the HR world? Or researching? Or name generating? Or pipeline building? How can you say you never need to look for people or that you have enough? OK, I’m done let’s close shop? Not happening in my world!  

I love the JIT Sourcing concept from Glen Cathey (you’re my latest hot thing BTW Glen <smiles> ) and am all over the lean concepts which help you maintain that fine balance between efficiency and effectiveness (two different things in case you don’t get it) but in my holistic approach to HR, whether it is for a new company preparing to explode with good talent, a third party recruiter working a search assignment for an external client or just a really well established, been-around-for-ages firm, doing what they do best everyday; the “quest” for finding talent never really ends. Unless of course you get hit with a Recession BAM! like we did last year (the economy is still climbing out of the ditch mind you). But even in the deepest depths of a horrible last year, smart recruiters and sourcers kept going.  Even when working a search, the best recruiters know the search is not done till it is done and so the sourcing for fresh meat continues (my apologies Vegans – you can read that as fodder or grass).

Knowing where to go to get good talent is like having that quintessential little black dress in your closet. OK dudes, a suit and god forbid I ever get into a little black dress! The knowledge that it’s always there no matter what and that you can use it in any kind of emergency, formal or informal, is priceless! Keep looking, happy sourcing.

SIMPLE….. it allows you to make calls from one computer to another, anywhere in the world, totally free of charge.  Now that should be VERY attractive, especially in this economy that has yet to totally recover.  I myself have been using Skype for a few months and will be using it more now that fellow colleagues/friends/family are getting in on this act.  Is Skype just for making phone calls you may ask??!  NO, not only does Skype allow for voice communications but it is used for video (with the addition of a Webcam).  Many newer computers, particularly laptops, have the webcam, microphone, and speakers built in for just this purpose.  Ever go to one of those FedEx stores to video conference?  I did and it was plenty expensive.  At least with Skype you have another alternative.  The Cons?!?  Well, it isn’t a suitable substitute for regular phone service, nor does it pretend to be. From a safety standpoint, it’s important to know that Skype CAN NOT be used to make emergency 911 calls.  Other free services on Skype include: transferring and forwarding calls to others on Skype, instant messaging and group IMs and conference calls.  Give it a shot; I did and it is worth the hype!

Interruption? What is that?  HELLO – we all get interrupted daily, whether it be professionally or personally.  Have you ever taken the time to consider how many interruptions you encounter each day?  A phone call, an email, or anything else that unexpectedly demands your attention, and, distracts you from the task at-hand…
The smallest of interruptions can rob us of time we need to be successful and achieve the task(s) at hand.  As important, an interruption breaks your focus which adds more time to your day when you have to re-engage yourself to get back on track.
How do we control interruptions?  GOOD QUESTION!  I have been trying to figure that out for years.   Here are some steps I have figured out so far:

• Make time for priorities. Handle larger, important projects early in the morning, before you read your e-mail and before interruptions are likely to take place. Schedule some quiet time – sign out of IM, shut down your computer and turn off the ringer on your phone.
 
• Inform your co-workers that you are “going away” so you can get some important tasks accomplished.

• Share with people that unless a situation is urgent, to save up information and approach in one email and/or call- to prevent unnecessary interruptions.

How do you handle interruptions?  Please share!