When I first set upon this crazy enterprise I wasn’t sure what I was doing or if it would take off. Whilst I’m still not sure what I’m doing, I’m delighted to say that the idea has very much taken off.
The individuals below have all agreed to contribute and if they all do then we have have more than enough content to justify the ‘book’ tag and it will be of incredible quality. I’m hoping that we attract more writers over the coming days, so please share this blog and the intent. It would be great to get a few writers from the US (edit: we now have!) , but as you can see from the list it is already very much an international project.
- @simonheath1 – Simon Heath
- @Projectlibero – Jon Bartlett
- @TimScottHR – Tim Scott
- @HR_Gem – Gemma Reucroft
- @OD_optimist – Meg Peppin
- @dougshaw1 – Doug Shaw – submitted: In Fear of Fear
- @LadyLoki – Niki Rosenbaum
- @ruchikaabrol – Ruchika
- @Malcolmlouth – Malcolm Louth
- @StephenTovey13 – Stephen Tovey
- @paperclipgirl – Louisa de Lange
- @Jawaddell – Julie Waddell
- @HRManNZ – Richard Westney – submitted: Collaboration is the new Competitive Advantage
- @sterling_amanda – Amanda Sterling
- @Jsarahwatshr – Jane Watson
- @KateGL – Kate Griffiths-Lambeth
- @KingfisherCoach – Ian Pettigrew
- @conmossy – Conor Moss
- @dds180 – me
- @bphilp – Bob Philpin
- @fourgroups – Four Groups – submitted: A Physics of People
- @sukhpabial – Sukh Pabial – submitted: What is hope?
- @verawoodhead – Vera Woodhead
- @myhr_nz – Jason Ennor
- @Joolztybura – Julia Tybura
- @BenMorton2 – Ben Morton –submitted: Leadership in a VUCA world
- @IanandMJ -Ian Davidson –submitted: Why thinking in averages is below average thinking
- @ariadneassoc – Simon Jones
- @octopusHR – David Richter
- @MrAirmiles – Jose Franca
- @MorrisElise – Elise Morris
- @sineadcarville – Sinead Carville
- @engagingemma – Emma Lloyd
- @kat_hounsell – Kat Hounsell
- @TashTasticNZ – Tash Pieterse
- @fuchsia_blue – Julie Drybrough
- @pontecarloblue – Amanda Arrowsmith
- @wendyaspland – Wendy Aspland
- @HRswitchon – Nicola Barber
- @mervyndinnen – Mervyn Dinnen
- @damiana_HR – Damiana Casile
- @EmilydouglasHC – Emily Douglas
- @MeghanMBiro – Meghan Biro
- @DwayneLay – Dwayne Lay
- @PamelaRoss – Pamela Ross
- @Nicky_T – Nicky Texeira
- @Lembitopik – Lembit Öpik submitted: HR challenges on the USS Enterprise
- @LetSdeG – Leticia S. de Garzón
- @zoemounsey – Zoe Mounsey
So, I’m assuming at this point that people are in favour of the concept and I’m now getting requests for more detail. This blog is an attempt to give some of that detail…
FAQ (it stands for Faked Anticipated Questions)
Why did you decide to do this?
I had the idea on a whim when I was thinking about crowdsourcing and in particular this list of HR social influencers http://list.ly/l/5qg. It seemed like a nice community project and, as I enjoy the content shared on HR blogs so much, I thought it might be nice to collate it. I then shot out an impulsive tweet and things took off from there.
So, what is your motivation?
My motivation is very much about giving people an open space to create as individuals, whilst at the same point creating something as a group. I’m unlikely to get a job from this (if you’d like to hire me have a look at goo.gl/fySbh ) but I currently have some space in my days I thought it would be fun to build something. The book will be priced at free, so this isn’t a stealth commercial project. It is a community project, plain and simple. I like ideas, I have the time to invest in helping and motivating people to share theirs. If you agree to take part then please understand that this is the ethos and don’t ask be complicated questions about who owns the rights etc. I simply don’t know and am probably disinclined to make things more complicated, if you are worried about this then just don’t take part. If you can think of it as a giant collection of guest blogs then you are in the right place.
What are the entry criteria?
Anyone can contribute – it can be their first blog or their hundredth. It can be new or their favourite old blog. It just needs to make sense standing alone. I’m sort of hoping that we do get to showcase some new bloggers and that the experience helps them go on to create more, that would make the project worthwhile in itself. There is no quality control – if someone has taken the trouble to write it then I will take the time to publish it. I haven’t approached anyone directly as I wanted people who were involved in the project and didn’t want to place any pressure on people to contribute. Please don’t attempt to sell a product – that is the only thing that won’t be acceptable.
What are the timescales?
A month from today for the content (!) should be enough for the length of writing required. So by 16/08 please have your content submitted or uploaded (see below). If you are able to do it earlier then please do, as there is only one of me so having 30 arrive on deadline day will doubtless cause issues.
*cough, cough* but you don’t know anything about publishing do you?
No, I don’t, good spot. I do, however, love new technology and I’m also able to use Google. The combination of these things has led me to PressBook which is like a communal WordPress tool that will allow people to upload their own content and then for me to publish the content as an eBook to make available on Amazon etc.
So we are all uploading our own material?
It would be really helpful if once you have written it you could upload it yourself. If you write it in WordPress it brings everything over quite painlessly.Send me your email, I’ll send you a log in and then you can just paste your material in as a new chapter. Click on text and then new chapter…
If this seems like the scariest process in the world then there is a two step process
i) attempt it yourself, you only get to live this life once and being in fear of useful things isn’t very useful
ii) send me your content directly – I don’t want anyone to suffer undue emotional distress in what should be a pleasant process
How will the book be structured?
I’m undecided. I might attempt to collate similar entries together or deliberately leave them apart. Who knows? It’s fun embracing an open approach.
What if everyone writes on the same topics?
I don’t think they will, but if they do then we will still have a book – just on a narrow range of topics. My experience is that people have their own style which means at the very least people will offer different angles on topics.
Is there anything I can’t do?
Please don’t link to any material that we don’t have rights for. I like putting video and pictures in my blogs, if you are doing so then please make sure you aren’t breaking the law when you are doing so.
What will it be called?
I haven’t a clue. I’m accepting suggestions. In fact if you send me suggestions I’ll run a poll and we can choose together. That is how collaborative this can be.
Can I contact you with questions?
Yes, I’m weak on Geography, but I’m pretty strong in most other areas.
I’ve submitted an entry….I think!? Great idea – hope you get lots of contributions David
Delighted that we are up and running with such excellent content. Thanks Doug, awesome stuff 😉