Last month, members of Texas SHRM met in San Antonio for a strategic planning meeting. Organized and led by our Director-Elect Jennifer Rower and facilitated by our Field Service Director Sherry Johnson (AKA "SHRM Sherry"), the hard work of the 50 attendees led to priorities and specific goals for Texas SHRM in the coming years.  The overriding themes that emerged from the day-long process were around providing Resources to Chapters, Chapter Leadership Development and Retention, and Member Advocacy.  The direction provided by this impressive exercise will be invaluable in meeting the needs of Texas SHRM and Chapter members, as well as SHRM members at large in our state.

In thinking about our productive strategic planning meeting, it reminded me of the similarities to our work as HR professionals.  We can be the leaders of change and direction in our companies and organizations to identify SWOT (strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats) particularly as it relates to our employees, and then focus on those areas that will have the greatest impact toward driving the business.  And, as we have done in Texas SHRM, those plans must be reviewed on a regular basis to accommodate changing conditions.  We have the capacity and position to set the human capital strategy for our workforce, and must use our influence to make it a reality.