A very special thank you to all of my Twitter friends that helped promote the opportunity, ERE for the pass and related promotions and a very special thank you to Glen Cathey, the Boolean Blackbelt for his promotion efforts.  A total of 153 people responded to the poll and 92 people submitted an email expressing interest in attending the Conference.   

Take a quick survey to share your insights!  

Here’s the question: What impact is the current economic cycle having on your talent strategy? What approach to talent and business has your company taken during these challenging times? Respond to one of the two polls below to share your insight. 

Here’s the Reward: I want to help you get to ERE Expo at the end of the month.  Times are tough and budgets are tight, so in partnership with ERE I’m pleased to help one lucky person receive development and learning to keep moving your career and your company’s talent strategy forward.  ERE will provide you with a Conference pass for the general sessions - a value of $1395.  AND I’ll provide you with 35,000 Delta skymiles to get your there.  

Would you also like to attend the full-day Master Workshop that Kevin Wheeler and I are presenting? I can also offer you a very special rate of $595 – a savings of $200.  See a full description of our workshop included below the polls.  

Here’s what you need to do:  Answer the poll question below that best represents your company’s position and response during the economic downturn.  After you respond to the polling question – send me an email with the subject line “I want to go to ERE”.  Be sure your name and phone number are included in the email.  Also tell me how / where  you heard about the contest so I can thank who helped you get here!

Polls close on Thursday, March 12th at 3pm PT.  To be included in the drawing you must respond and send your email by that time.  One winner will be selected from the participants and I will contact the winner and book their travel with them.  Travel must be booked at least 10 days prior to departure or the recipient will need to pay any additional fees related to issuing the ticket.  If you win and don’t need travel but prefer to use the miles against a hotel room for ERE that can be arranged. 

Respond to only one question – #1 OR #2.  You can select multiple answers. 

Pre-Conference Full-Day, Master Session Workshop

Strategic Talent Visioning and Action:
navigating the present to prepare for the Future and advance your talent strategy
Presented by Kevin Wheeler and Susan Burns 

“Very thought provoking & encouraged a very holistic approach.
Exercise was very useful to spark strategic thinking.”
Participant at our 2008 workshop

During these difficult economic times it is critical to be able to suggest alternative talent strategies to management and to be able to provide management with facts and data about internal and external talent quality and availability. Developing expertise around the realities of the talent market and committing to strategic directives that establish a guiding path will help to further your own development and leadership capability while also ensuring your company’s success in the future.

Some of the economic issues we face are caused by the shifting nature of work and the growth of globalization. As the business and talent landscape continue to shift, increased challenges around competition, multi-generational work environments, global complexities, and economic uncertainty require new boundaries of thinking and action. Developing the skills and approach to frame your strategy and build a compelling case positions you and your recruiting team to deliver increased value and guide your organization to success.

“Great content, made me think broader and deeper about strategic planning.  
Included great framework for strategic planning. Very valuable info.” 
Participant at our 2008 workshop

Through hands-on, interactive learning this workshop will boost your expertise in navigating the market and support you in:

• Developing a broader understanding of the trends influencing the talent market today and in the future that shape the overall landscape. 
• Building an approach to anticipating, preparing for and managing uncertainties in the business environment.
• Designing and incorporating market facts and data and company analytics to build a compelling case for enhanced talent function positioning.
• Leveraging a talent planning strategy to break through recruiting obstacles and reach new ground.

You’ll also work hands-on in a situational planning exercise that incorporates your experience, learnings from this session, and interactions with others to broaden your perspective of potential and desired outcomes.

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“Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.”
Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519)

How do you replenish and nurture your mind?  Keeping a fresh and open perspective on each aspect of our life is an important part of living fully.  The contributions we’re able to make in every aspect of our lives – personally and professionally, come from our own ability to see and seek opportunities in tune with who we are and embrace the future.  During times of intense change and uncertainty – whether invited or uninvited, its especially important.  It’s easy to become fully absorbed in what’s immediately around us and to quickly lose perspective on what’s truly important, especially in business. This has become an even greater truth as the work we do increasingly demands us to be agile, adoptive, creative thinkers.  Being able to broaden our own perspective, engage others in our vision and re-imagine the possibilities and “what if” of tomorrow to enable creativity and innovation is what nurtures our own growth and our own sustainability. Imagine life in da Vinci’s time and how much more complex life is today!  Yes, its all relative, to a degree, but the future will increasingly demand more of us and more of our minds.  How we embrace this challenge will be indicative of what we accomplish as individuals and what we accomplish collectively within organizations to connect with, engage and enable talent to carve a path to the future.

Finding the time and a passion that nourishes each of us is very individual.  I’ve found that balancing physical intensity, through yoga and hiking, with the natural beauty of the places I travel to enjoy these passions has been a rewarding combination.  When we give our selves the time to slow down and absorb what is around us its amazing how the mind opens and how we can begin to see things through a new lens. While I do think its not only possible but important to do this daily, its through these times of extended “journey” that enables us to incorporate it into each day more effectively and practice active awareness. Tomorrow I head to Sayulita, Mexico, for a yoga teacher training retreat.  The yoga will be challenging, power vinyassa style, and together with the surrounding beauty of the hillside retreat on the Pacific Coast I’ll once again find the nurturing balance of physical intensity and natural beauty.  Regardless of your passion and the time that may be available to you, find opportunities to replenish and nurture your mind.  There are options around us every day if we’re open to recognizing them.

If your interested in learning more about Power Vinyassa Yoga – here’s a few people you may find of interest.  Each of them also offers retreats throughout the year.

Rolf Gates – one of my teachers and author of a fabulous book – Meditations From the Mat
Baron Baptiste – creator and founder of Baptiste Power Vinyassa Yoga
Lisa Black – master Baptiste instructor and founder Shakti Yoga Studio
D’ana Baptiste – co-founder of Baptiste Power Vinyassa Yoga and teaches other styles as well

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