Hey, You’re Doing it Wrong

As my kids head back to school today to begin their first day of 1st grade, I’m reminded of that great scene from Mr. Mom.  You know, the one where Michael Keaton has to drop his kids off at school and he does it all wrong. He’s driving up the wrong side of the school drive and someone says, “Hi Jack.  You’re doing it wrong.”  Fast forward to later in the movie as Jack really embraces being Mr. Mom and now he’s not only NOT doing it wrong, he’s the guy out there directing the traffic as some new parents there are doing it wrong.

As I sat through orientation to send my kids to 1st grade, I heard a ton of reminders of how things are done.  Some make sense, some don’t, but the point was…..hey parents, we’ve been doing this a LONG time this way and if you don’t do it our way, you’re doing it wrong.  That’s cool.  I get it.  After all, not worth an argument over when a kid can step off the curb or that the school wants them to sell a bunch of junk to raise money for the PTO.  What bothered me is that so often in daily life, we’re told we’re doing it wrong.  What ever happened to learn about ways to communicate that are positive and that encourage people to be creative and innovative.  Maybe there is a better way.  Maybe.

I had a conversation with another HR blogger yesterday.  We talked in general about how people seem to fall into this online community in a myriad of ways.  I love that there isn’t a “right way” or a “wrong way” to do it.  It’s pretty simple:

• If you want to have a blog- Set up a site and write. Period.
• If you want to speak at a conference– Know your stuff, connect with conference organizers, volunteer.
• If you want to network and make friends online– Be real, genuine, sincere, authentic.  All the things that people gravitate to.

And, if you don’t like those ideas, you know what?  I won’t stop you and say You’re Doing It Wrong.