Why Shining the Spotlight Makes us a Better HR Community

My fall conference season always ends with the HRUnite! Awards celebration. Yesterday we got to celebrate 28 deserving nominees in 5 (now 7) categories from across the nation. A diverse representation of individuals from different industries and various levels of their HR or professional career. These individuals were nominated for their contributions or efforts to make our #HRCommunity , the organizations and people they serve better.

I started this awards celebration to shine the spotlight on others in our profession because the more we celebrate the work of others - the better our community becomes. By deliberate design, you cannot nominate yourself, nominees receive the nomination and the nominators name, and that last years winners (your peers) vote to decide who will receive an award in the main award categories. The "catalyst" and "advocate" award winners are selected organically. These individuals are "surprised" in stealth fashion either by video or during the awards celebration and are nominated through word of mouth, social media or by recommendation. It is not about winning the award, it is the recognition of the nomination that we celebrate together every November. My goal is that this boost of "being seen" for the everyday efforts in their HR roles, the contributions to our greater HR community or passion for HR will remind those nominated they are making a difference.

This isn't about egos, status or title; but kindness and the selfless efforts of those individuals to which make our profession better that we celebrate. We do not ask for business metrics, three recommendations or a narrative essay, we just ask our nominators to share their reasons why they think this person is #HRAwesome . Simple, honest and heartfelt feedback shared from team members, CEO's, clients, service providers and fellow HR peers everywhere.

Over the past four years some incredible HR pro's have been celebrated as nominees and winners. Our nominees are celebrated thanks to some amazing sponsors to allow us to send a celebration box with an awards certificate and other surprises. These efforts can only happen thanks to some amazing partners. This year we had multiple watch parties taking place where friends, family and colleagues all came together for an inspirational keynote from Shawn Lee and to celebrate all the nominees and winners. This makes my heart melt with pride because we got to make more than 30 individuals #HRDay yesterday.

Shawn Lee reminded us during his keynote that the "Greatest Resource is Human". I believe in investing in others. The more we shine the spotlight on others, the brighter our HR community becomes.