What If No One Knows You Do a Great Job?

Thanks to everyone for their active discussion over the past couple of days in regards to my opinion that SHRM is not living up the expectations of its members, or potential members. I really appreciate the participation of China Gorman, whose knowledge, class, and passion brought so much to the discussion. Thank you as well to twitterverse for spreading and adding to the discussion. If you would still like to participate in the discussion, please feel free, I think there is still much to say and discuss over both the near and long term. Also, if you completely disagree with me and would like the opportunity write a blog counter to my ideas on the topic, please contact me at whatsapufnstufATgmail.com. I will certainly give anyone that opportunity. Well I’m sorry there wasn’t a new post yesterday, but I wanted to give folks a chance to continue to comment on Tuesday’s topic, and I really did a number on my back, and thanks to the pain there were only random periods of lucidity yesterday. There are a couple of themes from the discussion that I’m going to pick up on over the next several posts (however I do promise another metrics post next week – I’m just to sore to do math right now . @Corey Feldman brought up a brilliant point: “Where I think SHRM has failed is in that it hasn’t risen to a critical level a public consciousness. SHRM members can and do see your efforts, but the public and corporate leaders seem mostly uninformed and/or uninterested in SHRMs efforts.” This really got me thinking, not just about SHRM but about the nature of success in general. Savvy leaders know the value of perception, the concept of “brand value” is a concept based on perception. Credibility is given or taken based on perceptions. My question is this: What adds more value, doing good things that no one is aware of; or doing good things that everyone is aware of? It’s an interesting conundrum, I know. My thought is the value created through public knowledge and awareness (that entry into the public consciousness) in all that we as individual do, is huge, in a good way. Unless you are satisfied with where you are and feel that what you are doing is sufficient to meet your needs, then to grow, advance, expand, whatever, then others outside of your immediate circle HAVE to be aware of your existence and value. For large organizations or communities, that entry into the public mind has the potential for exponential benefits: new membership, new support, new expertise, ect. To me it’s a win/win. What do you think?