A quick note to all the HR professionals who have something to say about workplace harassment and wonder if they should start a blog.
The answer is maybe.
Do some research. I know you want to strike while the iron is hot and express yourself on timely issues. Spend some time on TLNT or HRE Online and weigh in with comments and letters to the editor. Participate in SHRM’s NextChat or get involved in Jennifer McClure’s Facebook group for HR professionals (ask her how because I’m not a participant).
Next, keep a journal for thirty days. Communication requires practice. Capture your ideas, for good or bad, in a notebook or phone. See what you’ve got at the end of the month. Then ask yourself — am I writing a diary or do I have a point of view? A blog is built on a good set of bones. Journaling your life is okay, and it’s a necessary part of the process, but being a sturdy individual with strong ideas is the skeleton on which you hang your stories and ideas.
Finally, before you lock down a URL and start blogging, try expressing yourself on LinkedIn. They have an excellent publishing platform that’s geared towards business-savvy professionals who have something to say about work. It’s also free, and it probably won’t freak out your employer if they see your posts on LinkedIn.
The world of work needs your idea, but it might not need your blog. Lots of tools and platforms out there to explore without jumping off the deep end into the world of blogging. If you have something to say about workplace harassment, find your channel. Most of all, don’t jeopardize your career in the process. The best HR writers and bloggers are the ones with full-time jobs.