Bonus Track - RecruitingBlogs2024-03-28T13:26:17Zhttps://recruitingblogs.com/forum/categories/bonus-track/listForCategory?categoryId=502551%3ACategory%3A551057&%3Bpage=2&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHow do you track employee engagement?tag:recruitingblogs.com,2019-07-17:502551:Topic:21180462019-07-17T12:09:08.382ZGayathri Arunhttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/GayathriArun
<div class="u-serif-font-main--regular"><div class="ui_qtext_expanded"><p class="ui_qtext_para u-ltr u-text-align--start">If I were to ask you to rate your relationship with your brother on a scale of 1-5, 1 being poor and 5 being outstanding, how are you going to do it? You cannot give a 3 and wonder what that is supposed to mean. So, we realize that it is difficult to measure engagement using quantities, right? Measuring…</p>
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<div class="u-serif-font-main--regular"><div class="ui_qtext_expanded"><p class="ui_qtext_para u-ltr u-text-align--start">If I were to ask you to rate your relationship with your brother on a scale of 1-5, 1 being poor and 5 being outstanding, how are you going to do it? You cannot give a 3 and wonder what that is supposed to mean. So, we realize that it is difficult to measure engagement using quantities, right? Measuring <span class="qlink_container"><a href="https://www.synergita.com/features/employee-engagement.html?utm_campaign=Dhanya&utm_medium=Q+%26+A&utm_source=Quora" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank" class="external_link"><b>employee engagement</b></a></span> is hard because there is no clear definition as to what employee engagement is. Is it satisfaction? Or is it Happiness? Or is it adherence to Core values?</p>
<p class="ui_qtext_para u-ltr u-text-align--start"><b>Here are a few ways to do it:</b></p>
<ul>
<li><b>Have a people friendly environment in your workplace:</b> Now how do I do this? I will conduct surveys and measure employee engagement and improve my workplace environment.</li>
<li><b>Anonymous feedback:</b> Most of the time employees do not want to disclose their identities. In that case, you should keep in mind that you protect your employees’ identities by making the feedback process an anonymous one. This will make them feel comfortable sharing their feedback openly.</li>
<li><b>Gather insightful data:</b> Like I mentioned earlier, try not to quantify your employees’ feedback. Try to include questions like:</li>
<li>Where do you see yourself in three years?</li>
<li>Where are you in terms of your company’s goals?</li>
<li>How are you contributing to the company’s success?</li>
<li>What is your perception of the work that you do?</li>
<li>How do you think your manager recognizes your contribution to the company?</li>
<li>How do you manage to give your best to the company?</li>
<li>How would you endorse the company to the others?</li>
<li>How would you promote the company if you were the Ambassador?</li>
<li>How do you think you would analyze your leaders in the company?</li>
<li>How well do you understand your company’s mission?</li>
<li>How is your approach to work aligned with your company’s objectives?</li>
<li>How are your goals compatible with the company’s core values?</li>
<li>If you were made the CEO of the company, what would you change?</li>
</ul>
<p class="ui_qtext_para u-ltr u-text-align--start"><i>Try these questions and limit the responses to 100 words. This will make your employee engagement more people friendly and inclusive.</i></p>
<ul>
<li><b>Create employee surveys quickly:</b> HR teams can design and implement employee surveys quickly and easily on their own without involving any learning curve.</li>
<li><b>Understand your employees pulse:</b> Incorporate an inclusive work culture by understanding what works for your employees with the responses that they give in employee engagement surveys.</li>
<li><b>E-communication:</b> E communication redefines employee engagement through a performance management software. Emails are the primary mechanism of communication in any organization. For instance, the E-communication platform in <strong><a href="https://www.synergita.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Synergita</a> </strong>enables HRs to engage their employees through emails and a visually appealing dashboard with powerful metrics to send out emails. <span class="qlink_container"><a href="https://www.synergita.com/features/e-communication.html?utm_campaign=Dhanya&utm_medium=Q+%26+A&utm_source=Quora" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank" class="external_link">E-communication</a></span> has numerous benefits:</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The HR can communicate effectively from one efficient platform.</li>
<li>The HR can customize the emails according to one target audience.</li>
<li>The visually appealing dashboard enables leaders to keep track of their emails, what seeks the attention of their employees, what communication strategies work best for their employees.</li>
</ul>
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<p></p> Born Under the Sign of the Turd - rewindtag:recruitingblogs.com,2011-11-18:502551:Topic:14680672011-11-18T05:33:32.836ZRayannehttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/Rayanne
<p><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original" style="float: left;"></img></p>
<p>My week has been another crazy one, I am sure many of you can relate...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>After a post I wrote here about a year ago, Sandra McCartt asked me if I ever wondered if I wasn't "born under the sign of a turd."</p>
<p>Frankly, <strong>yes</strong> - I have wondered that and often. But then I look around and realize that bad luck is all relative. It's the whole "one man's junk is another man's treasure" scenario. Life can suck and usually does. But it all…</p>
<p><img style="float: left;" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original"/></p>
<p>My week has been another crazy one, I am sure many of you can relate...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>After a post I wrote here about a year ago, Sandra McCartt asked me if I ever wondered if I wasn't "born under the sign of a turd."</p>
<p>Frankly, <strong>yes</strong> - I have wondered that and often. But then I look around and realize that bad luck is all relative. It's the whole "one man's junk is another man's treasure" scenario. Life can suck and usually does. But it all depends on how you look at it. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I work hard. I play hard. And I really just want the simplest of things: I just wanna be happy - and I just want my children to be happy. I have never cared to be rich - just wanted enough to get by. I never wanted to be famous - unless it meant I was accepting an Oscar at a televised awards ceremony. And I never wanted to rule the world - just my own family or my own business. Relative is relative, <em>I know. </em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>If you get a splinter, what do you have to do? Well, you can leave it alone, it will most likely fester and become bothersome or worse, infected. Then you could take an antibiotic and the infection will go away, but it will still be bothersome. The most logical solution is to bite the bullet and dig out the splinter. That's what I usually do anyway. It's kind of like taking care of that zit in the middle of your forehead - everyone's gotta do what they gotta do. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Sometimes, the splinter still gets infected or the zit comes back. It's easy (and even feels good sometimes) to cry about it, whine about, scream about it, stomp your feet about it, or even throw things. I've done them all. But the best thing is to remove it - <em>again. </em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Your splinter might be a family feud or an ex-spouse. It might be a cranky and unsatisfied boss or client. It might be a difficult project or recruitment. It might be a tax or IRS issue or simply finding work. Or, it could be a car accident you can't forget.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>But</em> <strong>do what you can to find peace or simple happiness.</strong> That may mean forgiving or forgetting. It may mean simply letting go. It isn't easy - it can be downright hard. And trust me, I can be stubborn and want to hang on to anger or hurt. It's so much easier to do than letting go and, <em>gulp,</em> experiencing growth. Damn, I hate it when that happens. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>How about this? I'll try if you try. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Have a great weekend!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> <em style="font-size: 13px;"><em>Rayanne Thorn, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/ray_anne">@ray_anne</a> is the Marketing Director for the online recruiting software company, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.Broadbean.com">Broadbean Technology</a>. She is also a proud mother of four residing in Laguna Beach, California, and a daily contributor for Blogging4Jobs. Connect with her on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/rayannethorn">LinkedIn.</a> </em> </em></p> Rewind: Leadership, Truth and the Google Waytag:recruitingblogs.com,2011-10-21:502551:Topic:14457442011-10-21T05:13:35.770ZRayannehttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/Rayanne
<p><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original"></img></p>
<p>Leadership is one of my favorite subjects to write about, for many reasons. Mostly because I have had some really great experiences working with some really great leaders - BUT there have also been some horrible experiences, with horrible leaders. Most can relate, I am sure.</p>
<p>We either follow or we lead - or we beat our own drum. There will be times during our lives when we will do one or the other - or we somehow manage to do all three simultaneously - I seem to…</p>
<p><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original"/></p>
<p>Leadership is one of my favorite subjects to write about, for many reasons. Mostly because I have had some really great experiences working with some really great leaders - BUT there have also been some horrible experiences, with horrible leaders. Most can relate, I am sure.</p>
<p>We either follow or we lead - or we beat our own drum. There will be times during our lives when we will do one or the other - or we somehow manage to do all three simultaneously - I seem to do all three all the time. Maybe the reason why I lack sleep so very often. :-)</p>
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<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Have a great weekend all!</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>-Rayanne</p>
<p> </p> Bonus Track Rewind - It's Just Part of Lifetag:recruitingblogs.com,2011-09-22:502551:Topic:14226162011-09-22T22:03:39.409ZRayannehttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/Rayanne
<p><br></br> <img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original" style="float: left;"></img></p>
<p>This week has been a busy and strange week for me. Last week, I travelled to two different cities for business and this week saw me in another city for yet another conference. While the information gain is significant <em>whenever</em> I get to travel, I also gain a greater understanding of how important the home-front is, of how much I love those from whom I have travelled so often and so far. It is in that realization and in homesickness that I have found a peace…</p>
<p><br/> <img style="float: left;" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original"/></p>
<p>This week has been a busy and strange week for me. Last week, I travelled to two different cities for business and this week saw me in another city for yet another conference. While the information gain is significant <em>whenever</em> I get to travel, I also gain a greater understanding of how important the home-front is, of how much I love those from whom I have travelled so often and so far. It is in that realization and in homesickness that I have found a peace and joy in appreciating my life and the place where I find myself.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It is with this acknowledgement that the theme for my writing this week has circled its wagons around "It's Just Part of Life". I love when I have opportunity and inspiration that seems to align the chuck wagon with the scouts and the rest of the wagon train. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I am happy to share my <strong>part of life</strong> series here with my RecruitingBlogs family and ask that if you happen to be attending HR Tech to please come by and see me, we will be in Booth 1140 in the Expo Hall or please send me a message if you would like to connect; I'd love to say hello and chat for a while!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>It's Just a Part of Life</strong></p>
<p></p>
<p>Thanks all - have a great weekend!</p> Bonus Track August 29 - September 2tag:recruitingblogs.com,2011-09-02:502551:Topic:13703602011-09-02T06:00:04.047ZRayannehttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/Rayanne
<p><br/> <img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original" style="float: left;"/></p>
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<p><em><strong> </strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>Welcome to Bonus Track Weekly Update!</strong></em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>TRULondon Hello!! Bonus Track just rolls along...</p>
<p>I'm in Carmel on vacation -- Goodbye Summer...</p>
<p><br/> <img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original" style="float: left;"/></p>
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<p><em><strong> </strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>Welcome to Bonus Track Weekly Update!</strong></em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>TRULondon Hello!! Bonus Track just rolls along...</p>
<p>I'm in Carmel on vacation -- Goodbye Summer...</p> Bonus Track Weekly Update August 15 -19tag:recruitingblogs.com,2011-08-19:502551:Topic:13418012011-08-19T06:18:13.804ZRayannehttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/Rayanne
<p><br></br> <img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original" style="float: left;"></img></p>
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<p><em><strong>Welcome to Bonus Track Weekly Update!</strong></em></p>
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<p>I hope everyone had a productive week as summer begins to wind down. Schools across the globe are back in session and the sunsets, in my neck of the woods, are occurring earlier and earlier. </p>
<p>Enjoy your weekend!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Enjoy the Weekend! It's frickin' Friday!!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>by…</p>
<p><br/> <img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original" style="float: left;"/></p>
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<p><em><strong>Welcome to Bonus Track Weekly Update!</strong></em></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I hope everyone had a productive week as summer begins to wind down. Schools across the globe are back in session and the sunsets, in my neck of the woods, are occurring earlier and earlier. </p>
<p>Enjoy your weekend!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Enjoy the Weekend! It's frickin' Friday!!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/rayannethorn">rayannethorn</a></p> BIG Bonus Track Announcement...tag:recruitingblogs.com,2011-07-29:502551:Topic:13066432011-07-29T19:30:36.455ZRayannehttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/Rayanne
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<img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original" style="float: left;"></img><p><span class="font-size-3">Today’s <a href="http://www.bonustrack.us" target="_blank">Bonus Track</a> marked my last daily post here on RecruitingBlogs. There had been a lot of speculation when RBC sold as to whether or not I would continue to write here. I have loved writing here every. single. day. I will continue to post occasionally on RBC.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> …</span></p>
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<img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original" style="float: left;"/><p><span class="font-size-3">Today’s <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bonustrack.us">Bonus Track</a> marked my last daily post here on RecruitingBlogs. There had been a lot of speculation when RBC sold as to whether or not I would continue to write here. I have loved writing here every. single. day. I will continue to post occasionally on RBC.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/jmillermerrell">Jessica Miller-Merrell</a> approached me a while back asking if I might have an interest in joining forces. I am thrilled by her asking and excited about this alliance. We share a similar passion for social media and the HR and Recruiting Industries. </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">RecruitingBlogs.com has been my <em>perfect</em> home-away-from-home, encompassing all that has interested me in business for the last fifteen years. This isn’t a goodbye, it is just a tender thank you!</span></p>
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<p><span class="font-size-3">-Rayanne</span></p>
<p> </p> Be Great to Discover Your Greatest Thingtag:recruitingblogs.com,2011-07-29:502551:Topic:13054562011-07-29T04:54:50.410ZRayannehttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/Rayanne
<p><br></br><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original" style="float: left;"></img></p>
<p>I can remember <em>the very first blog</em> I ever wrote. It was about eight years ago on MySpace and it was a rant about a rude lady in a grocery store. It seemed like I was good for two rants and a couple poems a week. It wasn’t long and I was hooked. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>And thus, my passion for writing was re-kindled and my fascination with blogging began, and has since never subsided. Some years ago, I watched a video of…</p>
<p><br/><img style="float: left;" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original"/></p>
<p>I can remember <em>the very first blog</em> I ever wrote. It was about eight years ago on MySpace and it was a rant about a rude lady in a grocery store. It seemed like I was good for two rants and a couple poems a week. It wasn’t long and I was hooked. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>And thus, my passion for writing was re-kindled and my fascination with blogging began, and has since never subsided. Some years ago, I watched a video of <a href="http://www.sethgodin.com/sg/bio.asp">Seth Godin</a> and <a href="http://www.tompeters.com/toms_world/press_kit/who_is.php">Tom Peters</a> discussing blogging at an American Express annual meeting. Tom Peters made the statement that <em>in the last last fifteen years, blogging had been the single greatest thing he had done for his career.</em> At that time, I had been writing daily for only three months but I had to whole-heartedly agree with him – though my fixation with blogging was still so new.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>When Jason Davis, aka <a href="http://www.recruitingblogs.com/profile/Slouch?xg_source=profiles_memberList">Slouch</a>, asked me to contribute <i>in some</i> way to RecruitingBlogs a few years ago, I was excited by the opportunity and after a weekend of brainstorming, I sent him the outline for Bonus Track. The discipline that writing daily brought to my life and work <em>changed</em> my life and my work. After two and a half years, I can honestly say that writing so often and so intensely has completely changed my life, my work – <em>has changed <strong>me. </strong></em> For almost four years, the RecruitingBlogs community has inspired me in my work, taught me about the industry, and produced my greatest friends and mentors. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>When I have had the opportunity to present about blogging at a public event, I have suggested that everyone should write, as often as possible or, <em>as many writers will share,</em> when you have something to write about. Everyone should write, <b><i>everyone.</i></b> I have also stated that <em>not every<span style="text-decoration: underline;">one</span></em> should publish and <em>not every<span style="text-decoration: underline;">thing</span></em> should be published. I have many posts sitting in draft form, waiting to be tweaked or trashed. And there are many more where they came from. <br/><br/><br/></p>
<p>Great adventures, interesting travels, horrible interviews, brilliant partnerships, nightmarish candidates, resentful applicants who didn’t get the job, unresponsive hiring managers, fantastic new hires, conniving split partners, pristine recruitments, happy clients – all stories waiting to happen or blog posts in the hopper. You may have heard me say this before and it continues to hold true. <b><i>I write because I have to. </i></b>It is no longer a matter of the project I need to complete or a stringent goal. It is part of who I am. And the <b>who I am</b> changes daily. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I am incredibly honored and thankful to be a part of this community, my "online work home". Sometimes, change is necessary and as <a href="http://www.recruitingblogs.com/profile/NoelCocca?xg_source=profiles_memberList">Noel</a> and <a href="http://www.recruitingblogs.com/profile/TimSpagnola?xg_source=profiles_memberList">Tim</a> pick up where Slouch left off, changes will occur. One of the greatest lessons I have learned from social media is how to be flexible, how to adapt quickly and how to take it in stride. These are necessary and admirable traits in business today. Garner these, provide a quality service or superior product, and stay true to who you are. </p>
<div style="line-height: inherit; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; white-space: nowrap; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; cursor: default; color: #000000; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto; text-align: left; float: left; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 2px; border: 0px initial initial;" id="post_path_row"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'MS Sans Serif', sans-serif, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; white-space: nowrap;"> <a style="text-decoration: none; color: #000000; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; white-space: nowrap; font-weight: normal; cursor: default; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto; text-align: left; background-xg-p: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.recruitingblogs.com/forum/topics/be-great-to-discover-your/edit#"></a></span></div>
<p> </p>
<p>The <i>greatest things you can do for your career</i> are many. Pick one, master it – be <i>great</i> at it, that’s how it becomes a <b>greatest thing</b>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><i>by <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/rayannethorn">rayannethorn</a></i></p> Talent. Born or Bred?tag:recruitingblogs.com,2011-07-28:502551:Topic:13038492011-07-28T06:47:31.840ZRayannehttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/Rayanne
<p><br></br> <img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original" style="float: left;"></img></p>
<p>As I walked out of the coffee shop, I spotted the perfect table. It was half in the shade, half in the sun and the shade was provided by a lovely, leafy tree - not an umbrella. For some reason that made a difference. For some reason, it made the shade more real and seemingly cooler. I set my course and weaved m y way through countless other tables filled with countless other patrons who shared my same idea - a moment of morning quiet before the rush of day…</p>
<p><br/> <img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original" style="float: left;"/></p>
<p>As I walked out of the coffee shop, I spotted the perfect table. It was half in the shade, half in the sun and the shade was provided by a lovely, leafy tree - not an umbrella. For some reason that made a difference. For some reason, it made the shade more real and seemingly cooler. I set my course and weaved m y way through countless other tables filled with countless other patrons who shared my same idea - a moment of morning quiet before the rush of day began. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>And then out of the corner of my eye, I saw her. She moved quicker than I and before I even had a chance to comprehend what was happening, she was sitting at <b><i>my table</i></b> and was motioning to her friends to join her. <em>Thief.</em> I quickly maneuvered my way past her and found a less-than-perfect spot to take ten. I didn't fume, I didn't make faces, share a gesture <i>or even</i> say a word. I just went about my own business and let it go. It was not worthy an extra thought or concern. And <i>yet,</i> here I am writing about it and thinking about it still.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>After all, it was the perfect table. There are those that sit at the perfect table all their lives and don't even know it or they do know it and don't appreciate what they have. Then there are those who sit at a crappy table and make believe or try to convince themselves and others that their table is the best. <a href="http://www.amywinehouse.com/">Amy Winehouse</a> had a pretty good seat. But she blew it, she couldn't appreciate the view or feel the relief of her own natural shade - an incredible voice, unlike any other. For some reason, it just wasn't satisfying, it wasn't enough. It's <a href="http://youtu.be/w1evzhSast8">Back to Black</a>...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And then, sitting at a fancy, fake table sits a beauty who can only just pluck out a tune, barely eek out a song, auto-tuned for radio-play and embarrassing live. And we can't ignore enough to make her go away, as money and commissioned awards pile up and the illusion lives on for a deceived public and in her own head. Real talent escapes. And a forced table in manufactured shade never stands empty.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The argument lives on between the naturally-gifted vs. the manufactured. Is the job easier if it comes naturally or does this mean less work equals less drive for ultimate success, like the kid who never has to study as opposed to the kid who studies her heart out, passionate to succeed and pleased as punch with a C+? You have come across these individuals, perhaps you are one or the other. </p>
<p></p>
<p> </p>
<p><i>by <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/rayannethorn">rayannethorn</a></i></p> Technologies Come and Gotag:recruitingblogs.com,2011-07-27:502551:Topic:13016072011-07-27T05:44:53.974ZRayannehttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/Rayanne
<p><br></br><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original" style="float: left;"></img></p>
<p><b><i>Conversations come and go. So do technologies.</i></b></p>
<p> </p>
<p>There are those who believe that their own words are the only true words. There are also those who believe there is no one smarter than they or that no one else could possibly have a good idea or provide insight that could possibly change outcomes. Closed-mindedness destroys many business ideas before they even have a chance to get off the ground. </p>
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<p>It is easy to watch this…</p>
<p><br/><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1267850187?profile=original" style="float: left;"/></p>
<p><b><i>Conversations come and go. So do technologies.</i></b></p>
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<p>There are those who believe that their own words are the only true words. There are also those who believe there is no one smarter than they or that no one else could possibly have a good idea or provide insight that could possibly change outcomes. Closed-mindedness destroys many business ideas before they even have a chance to get off the ground. </p>
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<p>It is easy to watch this in religious discussions or in political arguments. It is often difficult for someone with a passionate viewpoint or heartfelt belief to hear - <i>actually hear</i> - what another party has to say. And the usual choice for how to deal with an opposing or different point of view is to walk away or duke it out, either using words or, <i>sadly,</i> fists. There is a course of thought that if someone or some group doesn't believe how you believe or act how you act, the only thing to do is to destroy the opposition. This is obviously not the type of conversation that comes or goes. </p>
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<p>I, <i>personally,</i> cannot afford to maintain a position of absoluteness. This leads to stagnation, retardation of thought, and /or to falling behind - losing edge - missing the boat. My first induction into technology was the social networking of the late nineties. I was inept, I was far behind my curve, and I felt I could never catch up or learn what I needed to learn in order to truly benefit from what technology had to offer me, an ordinary mom who worked in the dental field. My transition into recruiting was not only an eye-opener but truly - <i>truly -</i> a life saver. The best part, <i>I discovered,</i> was that I was a quick learner... this tech stuff all made sense, and if it didn't, I could figure it out or find someone who could help me figure it out.</p>
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<p>I am not an engineer or techie of any kind. I am someone who cannot learn enough or quickly enough. Social Media and its offerings intrigued me. I knew, <i>like many others</i>, that the way we communicated would be changed by the not only the speed of social media, but by the intrigue and desire of its participants. We learn and retain more quickly when and what we <i>want</i> to learn and retain. My aspirations for business were altered when I realized that the PC was transitioning from a luxury item to a necessary item in not only every business, but in each home.</p>
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<p>The last five years I have spent recruiting in or marketing for technology and diving head first into tech, myself, as a user. I will never be a techie or develop a software, but you can bet I will use it and promote it. Why? Because it would be senseless for <i>me</i> to deny it. It would be like Grandma telling my mom that Elvis or the Beatles were just fads. They were, true, but they changed the world of music forever.</p>
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<p>I suppose in the long run of it all, that what we <i>do</i> and <i>use now</i> <u>are</u> just fads. Just like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_camera">Polaroid cameras</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_track_cartridges">eight-track tapes</a> were fads, like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VCR">VCRs</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkie-talkie">Walkie-Talkies</a> - but each step forward, away from a lingering fad or technology is a step into a changing world, a world that was changed by <i>that fad</i>. And I'll take the steps because I just don't think I can afford to be left behind.</p>
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<p><b><i>Can you?</i></b></p>
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<p><i>by <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/rayannethorn">rayannethorn</a></i></p>