The 2014 Season of the #8ManRotation is Here!

by Matthew Stollak on Wednesday, February 11, 2015


Like the Replacements 2015 tour, the latest edition of the 8 Man Rotation is back by unpopular demand.  Hot takes from Steve Boese, Kris Dunn, Lance Haun, Tim Sackett and myself on all that happened in the world of sports in 2014 and how HR can learn from our favorite athletes.

 What is the 8 Man Rotation?  From the 1st edition:

"The 8 Man Rotation. In basketball parlance, it refers to the five starters and three players off the bench who play the primary amount of minutes during a game. Given that most basketball rosters contain 12 or more players, the coach has decided that the combination of these 8 players provides the team with the best opportunity to win. Team chemistry and production are at its maximum. 

 The keys to success with an 8 man rotation and sports is not much different than the keys to success in human resource management. As co-contributor SteveBoese writes, “Where else but in big-time sports can you see the effects of talent assessment, recruiting, leadership, and employee engagement played out, in public, under the spotlight, every day of the year? What players to draft, which ones to develop, which ones to cut loose, and how to build the right mix of personalities and talent to achieve team goals are the primary concern of all sports franchises.”

The 2014 edition brings 64 all new posts comprising 161 pages, with a special foreword from proud Ohio State alum Paul Hebert, and, as always, the great 8 Man Rotation logo from Lizzie and Isaiah Maldonado. 

 Over the five seasons, we have now totaled 278 posts and 688 pages of sports and HR goodness.  Luckily, sports continue to entertain and amaze each year providing new fodder to contemplate. 

 Check out the latest edition below or at our dedicated site, the8manrotation.com.


#SHRM Chapter Advisors, the SHRM Case Competition & Career Summit #SHRMStudent

by Matthew Stollak on Monday, February 9, 2015



One of the underappreciated roles among SHRM volunteers is the SHRM student chapter advisor.  The success of a SHRM student chapter is typically dependent on a willing faculty member to step up and take responsibility for being the lead contact.  He or she advises and assists the students in running their chapter through guidance, not doing the work.  A chapter advisor truly lives by the St. Norbert College motto: “Docere verbo et exemplo (to teach by word and example).”
  
How does a SHRM student chapter advisor accomplish the above? 

First, the advisor acts as the official point of contact for the chapter.  The advisor is the liaison with SHRM ensuring the chapter maintains the appropriate chapter roster as well as collects all mailings.  The advisor them disseminates information and materials to the student officers and members.  Second, the advisor maintains the continuity of the chapter.  Since annual membership turnover is usually 40-50% due to graduating members, advisors play a critical role to provide continuity from year to year. Third, the advisor works with the professional chapter liaison to foster leadership and organizational skills in the student chapter executive board.  Fourth, the advisor often will take time out of their schedule to travel with students to state, regional, and national conferences.  Finally, the advisor acts as an advocate for the chapter in school affairs as needed.

Unfortunately, volunteering as a student chapter advisor is not often appreciated at many colleges and universities, as it  takes time away from research and scholarship.   Even an excellent advisor might not get much credit for promotion and tenure.  As a result, it takes a dedicated individual to take time out of their schedule to attend chapter meetings, or prepare the students for the HR Case Competition. 

However, advisors are not alone in making a student chapter a success.  The advisor leans on the many HR professionals, both locally and statewide.  These professionals often come speak at chapter meetings, serve as mentors for students, or even provide tours of their local companies or shadow them in their jobs.

With that in mind, the regional SHRM Case Competition and Career Summit is an opportunity to get professionals, chapter advisors, and students together.  According to SHRM, "the case scenarios reviewed during the competition can focus on any number of HR issues and requires strategic thinking, ethical decision-making, and strong leadership and presentation skills."  In addition, the Career Summit allows students to hear from keynote speakers and get 1-on-1 time with HR professionals to discuss career development.  As SHRM has cancelled the Student Conference at the 2015 Annual Conference after 15-plus years, the regional event may be the only event that many students will have that is student-focused.

The West Division takes place March 13-14 in Ontario, CA.   The early registration deadline is February 17.

The East Division takes place March 20-21 in Baltimore, MD.  The early registration  deadline is February 19.

The Central Division takes place April 24-25 in Covington, KY.  The early registration deadline is March 26.

If you are a HR professional near any one of these areas, take some time to volunteer and meet the dedicated advisors and the future HR leaders of tomorrow.