Joe Gerstandt | keynote speaker, freedom fighter, freak-flag flier

I recently wrote a post titled “Whole People make Whole Organizations” which got a fair amount of traffic and generated conversation with some readers including Nilofer Merchant (who I am a fan of), and she pointed me towards some of her wonderful thoughts on the topic.  (P.S. She also has a webinar coming up that   [Read More…]

Join the conversation On ERE.net… Diversity and inclusion may be the most poorly understood issues in business today. While many of us have come to believe that investments in diversity and inclusion are primarily about compliance, political correctness, sensitivity or special treatment, the truth is something different. Diversity means difference. Difference can show up a   [Read More…]

I see whole people. I like art. In 1947 Jackson Pollock started experimenting with a new form of painting.  One of the pieces he produced that year was Galaxy, which is hangs on a wall about 5 minutes from my house.  I like this painting a lot.  I cannot decipher it for you or tell   [Read More…]

I recently facilitated a series of sessions focused on how to make a community’s culture more inclusive.  There was a particular issue that the group got kind of stuck on.  The participants were talking about disparities in employment and how hiring practices play a role.  One of the participants made this statement: “I am here   [Read More…]

I think that social media is a big deal.  I think that social media is poorly understood.  I think that social media represents a really big opportunity for human resources. I am not saying and will never say that you have to be on Facebook to survive as an organization…I am not saying and will   [Read More…]

Synchronicity? At the exact moment in time that business desperately needs what only human resources can do, there is a big noisy pile of new tools available almost custom designed for the work of human resources.  Human resource leaders can bring a lot of additional firepower to bear on the work they are doing, play   [Read More…]

Some thoughts on Veteran’s Day. I have become a huge peace freak in my old age, but I am still thankful for the four years that I spent in the Marine Corps and I am still very humbled by the sacrifices made by the men and women in the Armed Forces.  I wish they were   [Read More…]

I do believe that this is a golden moment for the human resources profession.  I also believe that this discipline is in need of a golden moment, so I hope that it we act on this opportunity…aggressively. I think that it is important for human resource leaders (and other business leaders) to understand the nature   [Read More…]

My wife recently got a new phone.  She drew this picture of me and sent it to me on my phone.  I love technology.

The New Web and the future of H.R. I did a Web 2.0 overview presentation this week for a group of HR leaders and I was reminded what a match made in heaven this is.  Web 2.0 tools (when used appropriately) are uniquely human and uniquely social in nature…and as people that work in and   [Read More…]