SHRM21 in Las Vegas delivered a great live event! Thousands of people donned their masks and attended in person. As a marketing professional, this was my first SHRM event and my first experience with HR professionals. My take is that HR is the heartbeat of an organization, and it goes well beyond recruiting, onboarding, employee handbooks, and benefits. I heard common themes of mental health and wellness and inclusion.

ATD 2021 kicked off with a lively and engaging keynote from Angela Duckworth. She began with stories from her childhood and how her family placed a high value on achievement, success, and achievement. She knew she wasn’t the smartest person in her class or in school, and this concerned her. She also knew her father frequently talked about people being smart. Or not. 

One of my least favorite tasks is having difficult conversations at work. I am generally non-confrontational, but there are challenging situations in the workplace that require tough conversations at the right time. This is one of those soft skills that both employees and managers need to develop and should be part of your training program.  

First aid training for employees may not be the highest priority on your list of training needs, especially if most of your people work in an office. We’ve all seen people goof around or hurt themselves when they weren’t paying attention. You may also have people who encounter different hazards while they work like machinery and chemicals. An extension of your safety training should include first aid.  

During the pandemic we saw examples of corporate innovation as companies pivoted to adjust to new business and operations challenges. Fashion designers produced face masks, full-service restaurants built drive-up windows, and distilleries made hand sanitizer. Cultures built on creativity were nimble and able to react with agility. Some companies are realizing that their rigid, inflexible cultures need to evolve and they are looking for innovation training. 

Being promoted to your first management position is an exciting time in your career. It can also be intimidating and overwhelming. The increased visibility and responsibility offer new challenges and stresses. As a first-time manager, training is key to success.