Coming back from a duo-conference in Las Vegas (HRevolution and The HR Technology Conference) requires a few days to decompress. When you take the amount of business and technological information available, add in demos, friends, numerous parties and the call of the Vegas casinos and other distractions, it makes for five days of exhaustive participation.

I’ll write more about HRevolution in future posts but today, I’d like to share my thoughts and observations about the HR Technology Conference.  Since 1998, this is the premier conference for technology advances in the HR space.  And, as a practitioner for many years, it never occurred to me to attend until three years ago.  Even then, I did not fully understand the positive impact that learning more about HR technology would have on my career.  Taking time to learn about the technological advances in the profession along with the opportunity to network with industry insiders is priceless.  If you’ve never been to The HR Technology Conference, I’d like to share my perspective on the value you can gain.

The Sessions and Speakers

This is one of the few conferences in the human resources industry to adapt the sessions to the specific needs of different types of participants.  They offer traditional presentation style sessions on a wide array of topics, debates among leaders in the space, panels to allow the participants to ask questions of experts and even a new HRevolution unconference-style experience so that participants are fully engaged in discussion and participation.

The topics offered cover workforce planning, talent intelligence, understanding and incorporating social technologies and HCM analytics, to name a few.  And each year, you’ll hear vendors and clients sharing stories of how real, day-to-day workplace issues were solved using technology.

The Expo Hall and Vendors

A trip through the expo hall can be one where great value and insight is gained.  It can also be an intimidating place where a practitioner can feel completely overwhelmed.  Even worse, many HR conferences fill in the gaps with vendors who are there to sell purses, jewelry or other non-business related items.  You won’t find that here.

The expo hall at The HR Technology Conference provides the opportunity to see live demos of solutions.  Almost every vendor will take time to get to know what your business needs are, then show you how their product can help fill the gap.  You’ll see familiar names like Monster, Aquire and ADP.  You’ll also find smaller start ups who are taking social to a whole new level.  So, whether you work for a large, global employer or a small business, you’ll find solutions you need.

The Networking Events

Sure, this year the conference was in Las Vegas and I know that alone can give the impression of never-ending parties.  For some who seek it out, that can be the reality.  However, for most practitioners, you can find a good number of events that are fun and provide the ultimate networking experience.  This year, I was fortunate to attend several events where I met CEOs, CHROs, consultants, analysts and other practitioners.  They included events hosted by The Starr Conspiracy, Monster, Knowledge Infusion and several industry leaders.  These events are one of the best reasons to attend.  I have learned more and made lasting professional relationships here that is worth the cost of the ticket year after year.

The Cost/ Benefit Analysis

The price of a ticket is small considering all the benefits of attending.  Typically starting several months before the event, you can find discount codes with hundreds off the registration fee.  And, if you start planning for 2012 now, you can find great travel deals for your accommodations.  The HR Technology Conference will be back in Chicago on October 8th, 2012.  Be sure to mark your calendar for February 2012 when registration opens.  The conference will also offer scholarships to help qualifying individuals attend.

Thank you to Bill Kutik, David Schadovitz, Claude Werder and LRP Publiciations for hosting one of the top HR events each year!

I had the opportunity to be a guest this week on the Drive Thru HR radio show hosted by William Tincup and Bryan Wempen.

In this episode, we chat about HRevolution, the HR Technology Conference and what is going on in the world of business.  Please click through to take a listen…

Trish McFarlane on Drive Thru HR Radio

The HRevolution is coming to Las Vegas on October 2, 2011 and you’re invited.  Join us at Mandalay Bay as we partner with the HR Technology Conference to provide the best conference experience yet!

HRevolution is an industry-changing conference in the US for human resources.  It began as a single tweet on Twitter as a way to bring HR professionals, recruiters, CEOs, and other industry leaders together to discuss the current state of human resources and where the industry is headed.  HRevolution has produced three highly successful events and we’re excited to create the 4th event as part of the HR Technology Conference. We are refining the focus of the event and expanding the reach to increasingly more diverse and high-level HR professionals.

What is the ingredient that makes HRevolution different from all other events? It’s YOU.

You will bring your knowledge, your questions, your fears, your ambition, ideas, and all those things that make you unique.  Then, instead of just sitting quietly in your chair as speakers feed information to you, YOU become part of the sessions.  We pull in some of the most talented thought leaders in the space to guide and challenge us.  You take an active role in each session.  It’s all about the dialogue and networking.  If you go home having made some life-changing contacts, we’ll view the event as a success!

HR thought leaders and practitioners from around the globe will be converging for 24 hours+ of mind-bending, trend-setting discussions, yet space is limited, so sign up today HERE!!  Then, stay on for the HR Technology Conference.  When you register for HRevolution, you’ll receive a large discount on your HR Tech ticket.

Now….. go buy that ticket!

*Special thanks to Bill Kutik and Claude Werder for partnering with us.  The planning committee thanks you!  And, a welcome to newest planner, Matt Stollak who is helping shape the next generation of HRevolution!

I listened to a replay of the Bill Kutik radio show recently.  In this episode, his guest was Karen Cariss, Co-Founder and Global CEO of  PageUp People.  It was a fascinating discussion about neuroscience and specifically, how the human brain interprets certain situations using the limbic part of the brain.  During the show, Bill and Ms. Cariss began talking about performance and Ms. Cariss said, “Seventy percent of feedback is a waste and of that, half of it is actually damaging.”    Ms. Cariss also asserted that the reason is because it is delivered formally and throws the brain into a “fight or flight” mode.  The person becomes defensive and begins thinking with the limbic portion of the brain, thus not in the mode to readily accept the feedback.

With so many discussions in the HR space about whether or not there is value in formal performance reviews, this is a compelling argument against them.  Or at a minimum, in how to deliver the performance conversation.

Think back to performance reviews you’ve received and those you may have given.  Do you believe that such a high percentage of feedback is actually a “waste” or that it is a form of coaching that is valuable? I’d love to hear the arguments for and against the formal review.  Personally, I prefer the more informal, day-to-day feedback.  However, I’m still in the camp that an annual review is helpful if it is leaning toward the development of the individual for the coming year.

What you do you think?  Weigh in in the comments. And, be sure to check out the podcast of Bill’s show.  It’s a great use of twenty minutes!

I’ve taken the HR Technology Conference challenge.  Have you?

I was listening to the HR Happy Hour radio show several weeks ago and the guest was Bill Kutik.  Bill is the Godfather of HR Technology, Co-Chair of the HR Technology Conference, columnist at HR Executive Magazine, host of the Bill Kutik radio show, consultant extraordinaire, and championship square dancer.  Ok, I made the square dancing part up, but he’s just cool enough to be able to pull something like that off.

I called in to the show and asked what advice Bill had for HR generalists who are attending the HR Technology Conference for the first time.  He gave some advice that I had never heard before and it made a great deal of sense.  Basically, he advised HR pros to sit down with the person in the organization that is responsible for the HR systems/ HRIS.  Then, find out what is going on in your own company by asking:

• What technology are we currently using?
• Does it meet our needs?  If not, what options are we exploring to address our needs?
• If I go to the HR Technology Conference, what applications should I explore?
• What problems are we having and what are we thinking about changing in terms of our technology?

The value of that conversation will put you in a fabulous position going into the show.  And, Bill even offered for people to stop him personally to ask questions.

My challenge to you is three-fold.

1. If you can possibly come to Chicago September 29- October 1, attending the HR Technology Conference will definitely be a learning experience that is well worth more than the cost of the ticket. Where else can you have access to some of the brightest minds in the field?  Click HERE to register.  And, use the discount code ‘RINGLEADER10’ when you register, you’ll save $500 off the cost of the conference.
2. If you are not in a position to come, I hope you’ll follow the learning here on this blog and by following the hashtag #HRTechConf on Twitter.  In addition, if you can’t attend, I still challenge you to find your HR tech guru in your organization and still have the discussion that Bill outlined.  It will better position you as a professional as you work with your leaders.
3. Whether you go or not, I’d like to find several people willing to have this conversation in your own organization and report back here.  I’ll summarize all we learn and publish it after the conference.  If you’re interested, email me at TrishaM89@gmail.com.

So, have you had this conversation with your HR technology guru?  What did you learn?