Oh what a tangled web we weave

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Man this anonymous shit deals up some weird days sometimes and yesterday was one of the weirdest.

You may remember that a while ago I wrote a post about the CIPD’s latest campaign Think HR, Think Again. And it kind of became a little controversial and along with other commentators then became a news story in itself. One of the main criticisms in the aftermath was that the CIPD didn’t engage with those critics within the social media world. Well yesterday they proved me and others wrong.  Following the Think Stink thingy I started talking with Natalia Alexandrou at the CIPD which (to cut a long story short) ended up with me visiting CIPD Towers.

If you’re anonymous, arriving at reception is always a tough one.  I can confirm that if you get hit by a blizzard 30 secs from entering it doesn’t make it any easier.

Reception: Blimey are you ok

HRD: Yes, I thought I’d come disguised as a snowman

Reception: Can I take your name?

HRD: No, not really

It doesn’t tend to lead to the easiest conversations you’ll ever have, but thankfully she was game for a laugh (despite describing me as a kind of HR mystery shopper).  The meeting was, I think, good and I’m hopeful that some exciting things will come out of it.  Words are one thing, actions are another, but I certainly understood that there are within people wanting to do something differently, whether they can convince an institution to shake itself up a little is another matter.  I for one am willing to help and I am sure that there are many of you out there that will be too.

If that wasn’t enough, in the evening I attended the Personnel Today awards courtesy of HR’s very own Clarke Kent Rob Moss.

The evening kind of went a bit like this,

Them: Hi, I’m blah blah blah from blah blah blah

Me: Hi

Them:…………

Me:…………….

Them: ………..and you are?

Me:……right….this is going to sound weird……but I can’t tell you……

Them: edging away …………right………..

Me: It is a bit like an ice bath…..harsh at first, but you get used to it……..

Them: OK………so what do you do?

Me: Mainly talk shit and swear a lot

As you can imagine, the networking opportunities were just fantastic. Fortunately I met Gareth Jones (rapidly becoming one of my regular playmates) Rob Jones ( top geezer as long as you don’t have to sit next to him on a train), Jon Ingham (who made tweeting acceptable during dinner) Noel O’Reilly (journo and selective vegetarian) Eugene Farrell (health dude and part-time anarchist) and Laura Chamberlain (total babe and my new virtual crush).

So yes it is weird and yes it is awkward being anonymous. But good shit has and does come from it if you just put yourself out there a little and trust. And that is before I mention the high-class prostitutes on floor 28……..