Speaking as an HR professional…
April 20, 2020
I’ve never wanted to be a speaker. As a child, I loathed public speaking so much that I attempted to play “sick” the entire week of elementary school speeches… every year… twice per year because we did them in English and French. It wasn’t until my mid-twenties when I was asked to speak at a university graduation ceremony, with hundreds of grads and their supportive families, on a stage with a podium, with multiple cameras and screens, that I decided to get over it. What happened at that ceremony that changed my mind? I didn’t die. That’s it. I survived. Nothing went wrong, I didn’t fall going up the stairs, I don’t think I muddled my words, but if I did, no one noticed. And what’s more, I was proud to celebrate the success of over 200 students and hand out an award of excellence.
So what does that have to do with Human Resources? HR isn’t a job that a lot of people aspire to. There are very tough moments, you have to make difficult decisions, and it can be emotionally draining. But, it can also be inspiring and motivating! Since then, I’ve spoken in front of many audiences and I can tell you that it does get easier. The nerves never really go away, but that’s ok. I sought out help to get better – Toastmasters not only helped me learn new skills and practice, but they are one of the most inclusive groups I have ever been a part of. I also reached out to Carley Inglis of Clearly Learning Solutions who did a great job at teaching our team “The Workshop Workshop” where we learned right from a professional facilitator.
We recently submitted an application to speak at a conference and gathered some of the amazing speaking engagements I’ve been invited to recently. They range from leading teams through an HR topic and answering questions, teaching a group something new, to shooting a cameo for a video game. I'm sharing this with you to inspire you to do things that scare you, learn from them, and get better at them. You never know where your new skill may take you.
We would also appreciate you thinking of us when planning your next HR training or team meeting so we can share more with you!
- Lisa
Highlights
The Online & Digital Education Academy (https://myodea.com/) enables innovative, technology-driven learning experiences through gamified business courseware. ODEA’s online course, “The Foundations of Business”, as a unique opportunity to teach valuable skills, no matter the learning level. Lisa Isaac, CHRL, CHRP, opens the level on health and safety with a 4:10 min. video cameo. View the video here . Read the article and check out the game here.
Shooting the footage for the ODEA “The Foundations of Business” video game: