I was notified that I made a list of the Top 25 Digital Influencers in HR.
Yup, everyone has a niche on the internet.
I was asked to tell you about my inclusion on the list, and really, I don’t mind. It’s always an honor to be included — I guess. Maybe. Sorta. I write a blog called Punk Rock HR and I believe that lists, much like teamwork, are for suckers.
You may wonder how can I eviscerate a list and talk about it at the same time. I wonder about that, too. Let’s talk about that tension & conflict.
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When I think of lists, especially those like Best Companies and the Working Mother 100 Best Companies, I am reminded of inherent flaws in selection & inclusion methodologies. Some argue that numbers don’t lie — but anyone who deconstructs narrative as a hobby knows that numbers are just another way to communicate in the world. Numbers don’t lie but people do.
I am also reminded that you can make all the lists you want, but one bad tweet about a poorly delivered product, service, or performance review will influence the population just as much as your inclusion on the Top 50 Gen Y Companies or the Glassdoor Top 50 Best Places to Work.
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Here’s something else to think about when considering the validity of a list. Smaller and more amazing companies, people, and industry organizations don’t have marketing departments and PR firms who can dedicate the time & effort it takes to apply for inclusion on these lists. In fact, I just received this note from Winning Workplaces that demonstrates my point.
Winning Workplaces is happy to announce that applicants for our 2010 Top Small Company Workplaces competition with Inc. Magazine have more time to complete our official online application. The deadline to apply has been extended to January 22, 2010. Applications for 2010 are now being accepted at https://tsw.winningworkplaces.org We encourage you to share this with your readers so they may apply.
Scrappy, entrepreneurial people who are running a business and making money don’t have time to futz around with lists. Thoughtful people who are influencing in this world aren’t lobbying to make list-makers aware of their efforts. They’re just doing great work.
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So if I’m making broad generalizations, which I’m prone to do, I’m pretty sure that most lists are bullshit. The whole concept of a list reminds me of old media — narcissistic, chummy, and not very reliable.
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Except here’s where it gets sticky. I always read lists because they tell a story.
- I’m curious about who is on the list and why. You can talk about algorithms, data, and point-factor comparisons. Don’t lie to me with your math. The human element always comes into play.
- I am always curious as to who is left off the list, too. Some trade groups and associations will make you pay a fee to be considered for inclusion on a list. Beauty magazines make you purchase a place on a list as a form of advertising. If your company (or your blog) isn’t on a list, why is that? What does that say about the list’s authenticity?
- Lists tell the story of the person who made the list. I wonder about the personal biases and blind-spots of the author. As much as we may claim to be impartial, we’re not. Many of us are misinformed about organizations, people, geographies, etc. We get shit wrong and our lists will reflect those errors and inaccuracies.
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Again, I want to thank HR Examiner for including me on The Top 25 Digital Influencers list, but I want to roll my eyes at my placement.
- Am I flattered and thankful? Yes.
- Do I mind giving a free shout-out to a newly launched website, which is probably why I’m included on most lists in the first place? No. I don’t mind at all.
- Do I want you to read the list and suggest a few other influential sites that aren’t included? Totally.
I also want to know what you think about lists. Useful? Relevant? Important? Ridiculous? Let me know what’s on your mind. After all, you are important just by the sheer fact that you come to the #13 most digitally influential blog. In HR. That you’ve heard about.
Yeah, mofos.
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I totally agree with your statement, “Smaller and more amazing companies, people, and industry organizations don’t have marketing departments and PR firms who can dedicate the time & effort it takes to apply for inclusion on these lists”
My company SEI was featured in Consulting Magazine in 2008 as the #2 Best Small Firm to Work For. I wondered why we weren’t featured in the 2009 edition of the same – 2009 was a record year for us, despite an awful economy – we had nearly 100% growth.
The answer: We don’t have a marketing department. Our growth WAS the reason we weren’t on the list. Our consultants were too busy solving client problems to answer Consulting Mag’s questions!
In any case, this is a different kind of list – one that looks to be pretty grounded scientifically and not just those who ‘answered a questionnaire – so congrats to you and everyone else that made the top 25!
Jason
I think I love you.
Actually, I’m pretty sure.
I don’t like lists, I don’t like “Our company is wonderful” awards. I think the creators of lists just want to seem important for being able to put out such a list and for the most part (if the people/companies on said list or that receive the award are APPLYING for it) it is all just an excuse to pat yourself on the back.
When a company/person doesn’t even apply for a list/award and has not heard of the organization putting out the list/award—that is just awkward.
Lucky #13. Congrats, Laurie!
Congratulations. And lists…they’re link bait. Funny how that is.
Let’s talk about school rankings.
First, the acceptance rate is considered a factor. Who cares if everyone and their mother applies to Stanford? Is Stanford better than MIT or Harvard if more people apply there, or because it’s harder to get in? I’d apply there over MIT or Harvard just because the weather is nicer!
What about the measure of income? People who live in higher cost of living areas are naturally going to earn more than people who live in the middle of nowhere. This would give schools in big cities a natural edge because they’re tied in with those communities, even though the graduates aren’t necessarily better off. For $700,000 you can buy a mansion in Rochester, NY–I do not exaggerate–but that will get you a very modest home in Palo Alto, CA. In fact, Stanford has a housing program for professors so they can afford to live near campus.
Finally, I looked at many MBA programs, and frankly, Harvard’s MBA program is crap. However, it’s ranked high consistently because the graduates do well. So, should Harvard be ranked higher than other schools just because of good connections? I don’t think so.
When it comes to lists, I look at them as a guide rather than a map. If I had to choose between Harvard, Princeton, or Yale, I’d probably pick whichever was closest to my personality style, rather than whichever one slightly edged out the other. Unless there are significant outliers–such as RIT’s Color Science, Printing, or Micro-Electronic Engineering programs–a specific placement tells you virtually nothing.
Right on #13!! yep— I mistrust lists as much as I give any credence to political polls— who are these people you’re polling?? Is there a good chance out of 1,265 you selected, 1,235 could be complete morons? um… yes! Could they have been selected purely from a neighborhood known to sway a particular direction?? …um… YEAH! duh….
IMHO– I think you’re on the list because of your gorgeous, cover girl hair and red carpet smile– just sayin’
Umm…Sorry Kerry, but I loved her first
Now…Great post Laurie – as always you are so modest. I would agree with you that lists don’t matter, but i’m not on them and I like checking them out so see who I may be missing and should be paying attention to. I found you because of a list. Ok, thats not true – but someone could have found you because of that list.
So suck it up – reject the anti-establishment for a minute and love the fact that you get to do what you love to do and get recognized for it.
xoxoxo
@Jason I don’t know if it’s grounded scientifically — but it makes an attempt to be scientific, so I guess that means something.
@Kerry Mwah.
@InkedHR That’s kind of how I felt about this list, sorta. Like thanks, but really, I don’t know anything about HRExaminer. I do know the guy who just started it — so that helps make it less awkward.
@HRPuter
Thanks!
@Frank I’m gonna do a list. I’m working on the concept right now.
@econopete I picked my college because a) my boyfriend went there and b) I didn’t have to take a math or science class. So fuck those Ivy League programs.
@MattyMat What? How do you know what I look like? I’m short and dorky. #fact
@Sarah Fine. I’ll be recognized but I won’t like it.
@Laurie Please— don’t be so modest.
http://threebysea.typepad.com/.a/6a00e554fe2aac883401157080a0fa970b-500wi
@MM LOL.
Oh come Laurie, math should be *integrated* into all college programs!
Get it? Get it!?!?!
Lists are only as important as the people who are on them and the media make them. I do agree they are fun to read, see who is on them and what # they come in at but then does that affect me and my decisions about that company and their product, that company and how they are as an employer, etc.? No, because then I put the magazine down, go to a different website and totally forget about the list completely. But Laurie, just know this. . . you will ALWAYS be #1 on my list!! He He He!!!
lists can be dumb. i agree. i land on a list and then i’m like… well, i didn’t ask for this but now i have to say thanks, acknowledge, make it honorific, etc.
but, let’s face it. some (the majority?) people need lists. people can’t think for themselves and need guidance to help them decide who is great and who isn’t. don’t you think? where else do you start? people can be extremely lazy and won’t do the research on their own to find out what/who’s good and what/who’s not. it is laborious and time intensive. and, if not relying on lists themselves as gospel, people possibly need them as a starting point for formulating their own opinion and making independent judgments from there about who’s hot and who’s not.
as a side point to the whole list issue – i agree that not all companies can afford the manpower or time to devote to list submissions. and yes, scrappy, entrepreneurial people who are running a business and making money don’t have time to futz around with lists. but they do need to futz around with their brand and evangelizing about their brand. lists may always exist but i think the message that needs to be spread and that i wish you would have spread is that there great things you can still do to generate awareness and create a buzz for your company independent of lists – and this is where, for me, at least right now, i think social media is powerful. 1) you don’t need to be on a list to show people how great you are. 2) if you generate enough buzz about yourself on the interwebs, that in and of itself may help you land on lists without you futzing to get on them. people will take notice.
so anyways, those are my forty cents on this matter.
congrats for making that list and the many other lists that recognize you for your contributions to our space.
@econopete Ugh, math humor.
@Sara Exactly. (& thank you)
@JLee Well, thanks for the congrats.
i think the message that needs to be spread and that i wish you would have spread is that there great things you can still do to generate awareness and create a buzz for your company independent of lists – and this is where, for me, at least right now, i think social media is powerful.
This is *exactly* why I blog. I love it when people come over here, respond to a post, and share great ideas — like you just did. Your comment is so rich with ideas and suggestions that I never would have made because I whipped up this post in two minutes. You just exemplified the power of social media: reading, reflecting, corresponding, sharing, and collaborating. Awesome, Jessica. Thanks!
Laurie, I wish that I had an answer about who should be on the list but is not. My only involvement in HR is reading a few HR blogs and I recognized most of the people on the list. It looks like the usual suspects and a validation of what everyone already knows. It’s kind of like a ranking of top countries that just uses the UN Security Council membership.
My favorite lists are the “People who should be on this Top 25 list but aren’t” or “Most underrated” because they look beyond the usual suspects.
It’s all bollocks really. One person’s view of the world which it appears doesn’t extend much outside the good old US of A.
Laurie,
Thanks for mentioning and linking to our small business competition, but it’s not just a list, which is why our applicants make it a priority to apply and why readers of the winners announcement story take the workplace practice insights revealed and run with them in their own companies. More on this at: http://bit.ly/4CGVWo
I did appreciate later in your post where you said that lists make you wonder about their creator. I think we’re pretty transparent about the process behind our award, but if you want to know more feel free to contact me.
Thanks,
Mark
@Mark I was happy to weave in your press release
because it looks like your organization makes an effort to be inclusive and reach new audiences. I hope to help with your awareness!
@NZ
@Deadhedge “It’s kind of like a ranking of top countries that just uses the UN Security Council membership.” I like your idea on underrated lists. Check this one out: http://rehaul.com/who-are-your-top-influencers/
Okay, so I have to tell you guys — I was bitching to Ken (the husband) about doing dishes. Just because I work from home doesn’t mean I always have to do the dishes. I said, “I’m the #13 most influential HR digital influencer.”
He said, “When you crack the top 10, I’ll do the dishes.”
FML.
Ha! Love it Laurie. I think your husband and mine have similar thoughts on humor. Good job. I knew I could count on you for a post like this that makes me laugh.
Jessica
@blogging4jobs
Full disclosure preface: I was laid off by a company repeatedly listed as a ‘best place to work’ list; I have replaced them as an employer.
The company rewarded excellence and quality. Something changed, and it spent 2-3 years eliminating the innovative, type-A workers, while keeping the sheep (if my ego were less secure, I would wonder what this says about me). When that job was complete, the survivors received annual e-mails from the ‘best place to work’ group asking if they thought their company deserved a place on the list. Even the survivors of this weird Darwinian experiment know which side is up. The company continues to be listed as a best place to work.
There are plenty of other companies I would love to work for on this same ‘best companies’ list- I know they are well-run, happy companies. But the list is just a list – nothing will ever replace old-fashioned research.