Why HR Should Share Internal Company Stories

Why HR Should Share Internal Company StoriesNothing makes HR groan more than discovering theres a company crisis afoot. Three hamburger King employees are the most recent bad apples to join the ranks of HR headache-inflicting employees everywhere.In case you missed it, a photo supposedly snapped at an independently owned Mayfield Heights, Ohio, Burger King is making the rounds online, grossing out whopper-loving patrons everywhere. The photo, which shows an employee standing in lettuce bins, came captioned with, This is the lettuce you eat at Burger King. The three employees deemed responsible for playing with Burger Kings product have since been fired, but their disgusting viral behavior will continue to intimidate HR from sharing internal company stories.Despite disgusting viral behavior like Burger Kings latest incident and the dirty Dominos employees from 2009, sharing internal company stories publicly is a brilliant company strategy HR professionals should embrace. Heres whyCust omers Like ItEngaging customers is becoming an increasingly difficult task for companies. More and more customers ignore marketing campaigns and instead search for the companies offering the best coupon. Whats worse is that customers minimally engage with companies that spend time and money on social tools, causing brand influence and profits to decline.Sharing internal company stories is a great way HR can humanize its company and employees to customers. Much like spokesperson advertising, internal company stories tie a product or service to a face, giving customers an overall positive feeling about the people who are responsible for creating and distributing the companys products or services. Creating video clips of charismatic internal employees is one great way to engage customers.It Attracts TalentHR professionals know that not every employee at their company is 100 percent satisfied with his job. But, for every unhappy employee a company has, there are plenty of respectable, e xcited employees with great stories to tell.Take Groupons Sam and Amy for example. Back in March, the couple shared their love and engagement story to deal-loving customers everywhere. The simple blog post shows befhigung talent that Groupon is a fun, easy-going place to work where you may even find love.Find outgoing employees with great stories to tell at your company and encourage them to share externally. The feel-good approach may make your company more attractive to potential talent.Itll Get You PressSure, releasing great finances and stock increases will certainly get a company press, but pure financial reporting has grown increasingly complex and even downright boring for the average media consumer to read. Journalists, after all, are storytellers, so embracing sharing internal company stories will likely get you some press attention.Additionally, if an unsatisfied employees antics go viral, like in the case of Burger King, you better believe itll be all over media outlets w ithin days. While these internal company stories are the kind HR dreads, its a common strategy to combat the negative with positive employee testimonials. HR should embrace communicating positive internal company stories because, in times of crisis, they can salvage a companys reputation.Does your company share internal company stories publicly? Why or why not?Image courtesy of Flickr.

How to Control For me and Against me Thoughts

How to Control For me and Against me Thoughts How to Control For me and Against me Thoughts Because our jobs and careers are such a large and important aspect of our lives, its only normal to focus so much attention to these areas. But what happens when our thinking is unhealthy?FM and AM. For me and Against me thoughts. They are just like they sound. For me thoughts are those thoughts you have that bring you up, are encouraging and positive. Against me thoughts are the opposite degrading, depressing and negative. Many different things we come into contact with on a daily basis are always trying to tell us what and how to think this is pretty, that is unattractive, this is acceptable, that is not the path to go down. Yet, often times, the loudest voice we here is the one inside our heads.Controlling your thoughts - cutting back on AM and increasing FM thoughts - is an important step on the path to success. Below are five areas youre sure to encounter in the pursuit of your dreams, the AM thoughts that can come along with them, and how to turn your sticking thinking into FM thoughts.PassionEveryone has a passion or passions. Its whatever ignites the flame inside of you whatever lights that spark. Passions are usually uncontrollable, meaning you simply cannot help the way you feel. Ever since you watched your first episode of Law Order you wanted to be a detective, or your love for people is innate causing you to pursue opening a nonprofit. Yet, just because something is in inside of your heart, doesnt mean your mind always agrees.AM thoughts I do not have a passion I dont care about anything.My interests are too different.I cannot become successful working in a field related to my passions.FM thoughts Although I have yet to discover my passion, I will.My interests are original and unique.Success is waking up each day loving the work I do, not how much money I make.AbilitiesI believe everyone has a natural talent(s), but this doesnt mean people cannot learn ne w skills. Ive heard the saying that talent isnt born, its created, which means no matter who you are, you can master a craft if you put in the necessary time and effort to do so. Our abilities, gifts and talents are crucial to our future success because these skills are what allow us to become successful. Yet, using your gifts will be that much harder if 1) you dont believe you have any or 2) you arent confident in the ones you do have.AM thoughts I am untalented.I dont have what it takes.I am not as good as the next person.FM thoughts I am talented and have special gifts.I have what it takes to succeed.I do not focus on the skills of others, but continually sharpen and increase my own. Someone elses talent does not diminish my own.Goalsrahmen goals is a necessary step when trying to accomplish your dreams. Often times we look at the big picture, which is necessary, but breaking tasks down into smaller goals instead of aiming directly for the top helps. We have to remain focused and positive when executing the short-term goals because its very easy to fall into a negative mindset as 1) you wait for the end result and 2) you encounter roadblocks that may cause you to stumble along the way.AM thoughts My dreams are too big.This is impossible.Its rare to accomplish this kind of goal. Most people dont make it.FM thoughts No dream is too big. If I can see it, I can become it.With hard work and determination, nothing is impossible.The only one stopping me from accomplishing my goals is me.CouragePursuing your hopes and dreams isnt always easy. It will take a lot of courage to get out there and do what youve set your mind to do. It always seems more comfortable to avoid taking risks, but if you never try how will you know what you can and cannot do?AM thoughts This is too risky.What if I fail?I should just take the easy route and do something more realistic/tangible.FM thoughts Taking risks is how you experience new things in life.Theres no such thing as failure. Onl y lessons learned.Easier doesnt always mean better. An easy route wont challenge me to grow.PerseveranceThe ability to persevere is vital to becoming successful. Nothing in life will be handed to you. The path to accomplishing your goals will be filled with obstacles, hurdles and setbacks, but its how you react to the unexpected that counts. AM thoughts will cause you to throw in the towel and give up, but choosing to think FM thoughts can help you push through.AM thoughts This is too hard.I should just quit.I should have never tried to do this.FM thoughts If it were easy, everyone could do it.Ive come too far to give up.Either way theres going to be an election and someone is going to win. You may as well run. (Translation) If I dont try, someone else will.Remember, no one is guaranteed to be on your side when youre pursuing your goals. Controlling your thoughts will ensure that, at the end of the day, you will at least have one person who believes in you yourself.