Today I am on my way to HRevolution 2011, the 'Unconference', (I really don't like that word), for Human Resources professionals that I have had a small part in organizing, along with my colleagues Trish McFarlane, Ben Eubanks, and Crystal Peterson. The event will most certainly be fantastic, I am excited to see so many old friends and also to meet many new ones, as the event has grown over the years there always seems to be a new class of HRevolutionaries it will be my privilege to meet.
Today I fully expected to post about the event, to thank our generous sponsors, and to otherwise promote and recognize the many, many people that make the HRevolution event so worthwhile and special.
But on Thursday I received some surprising news, that changed both my short-term plans for today's post, and certainly my plans for the future.
On Thursday I was informed that my position, along with several of my colleagues, have been eliminated due to an organizational restructuring.
On the blog, and in the other social circles I travel, I have not talked very much about my 'day job'. That was a conscious decision - I never got the sense that what I did on the blog, on the HR Happy Hour Show, at any Human Resources conferences or events, and really anywhere that was not 'work' was understood all that much or really appreciated by the decision makers there. And that is perfectly understandable and acceptable, I never had the expectation or assumption that any employer would or should care about what I was up to in my spare time.
But unexpected changes and surprises are just that - surprising. And while I did have the sense that in the long run that I would likely need to move on to something more closely aligned with my interests, skills, and leveraging the strengths that having developed properties like this blog and the radio show have given me, I was not really prepared to commence that process on the day prior to the HRevolution event.
But the reality is I need to move on to the next phase in my professional career.
And it is kind of hard to think about that, mainly because of concerns about the team I am leaving behind. In my time with them, I found them to be extremely dedicated, competent, and a real pleasure to work with. I hope that I was able to help them, at least a little, and that whatever changes are in store for them will not be too difficult.
For me, I plan on flying to HRevolution, enjoying time with friends and colleagues, and sure, talking some about my next phase and potential career opportunities, but hopefully not dwelling on that so much as to detract and distract from the HRevolution event itself, one that myself and the team have worked on so much over the last few months.
When I get back from Atlanta, it will be time to sort out the future.
If you are interested in talking about what that future may look like, either at HRevolution or after, I would love to hear from you.
Find me at:
Email - steveboese@gmail.com
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/steveboese
Phone (I promise I will try to answer) - 585-317-7492
Twitter - @SteveBoese
or via the contact form on the right side of the blog.
Thanks!