Are you MENSA smart?
What is the four-digit number in which the first digit is one-fifth the last, and the second and third digits are the last digit multiplied by 3? (Hint: The sum of all digits is 12.)
Tabitha likes cookies but not cake. She likes mutton but not lamb, and she likes okra, but not squash. Following the same rule, will she like cherries or pears?
There is at least one nine-letter word that contains only one vowel. Do you know what it is?
These are all examples of quiz questions you may be asked if you are interested to evaluate your IQ to join Mensa. Mensa, the high IQ society, provides a forum for intellectual exchange among its members.
Our global HR association activities include the exchange of ideas through podcasts, mini-podcasts, discussions, white papers, case studies, special-interest groups, and, regional, national and international gatherings; the investigations of members’ opinions and attitudes; creating ethical standards and practices within the HR industry, and assistance to research. While we may not have a requirement like Mensa, that our members be in the top 2% from an IQ standpoint, we do encourage learning and educating others to enable leaders to be smart and not outsmarted.
The last of the three questions above is easy, right? The obvious answer is, “strengths”. A word that we in Human Resources, are very familiar with. Defining and evaluating our employee’s strengths. Creating interview questions that draw out the strengths of candidates. Ensuring that our business has a strategic plan that maximizes our strengths in the market place and with consumers. Evaluating the strongest TA metrics and using them to strengthen our hiring process.
The association provides what you alone may not be able to accomplish, Strengths in numbers. With HR Executives, Managers and Directors, and also Service & Technology Providers and Analysts, as well as those managers who have the desire to strengthen the HR skills they need to do their job (interview, coach employees, set goals and objectives, etc.)
We offer learning via monthly TLC’s – (Thought Leadership Councils), TLC Talks, podcasts and other member meetings on topics about talent acquisition and management, learning and development, employee engagement, employee services and benefits and outsourcing. We give our members the opportunity to grow and strengthen their Network by connecting to other leaders in Human Resources
We provide opportunities to participate in Best Practice Sharing conversations, join committees and work groups to advance the profession of HR, develop ethical and better processes and tools to improve performance of HR systems, partners and technology. This includes our newest product, a Provider Certification program that helps buyers syphon through the many options available today and be more efficient in their partner selection process.
We creating HR service and technology Industry tools through reviewing and creating industry standards and processes to improve customer satisfaction, business performance and/or reduce costs. And the HR Knowledge we collect and post includes access to research, reports, case studies, podcasts, demos, articles and trends pertaining to all functions of Human Resources.
We know you can’t talk about strengths without evaluating the opportunities, so I’ll share the one opportunity most important and prevalent to us, growing and expanding our membership channel and community to strengthen the breadth and depth of knowledge we have of Human Resources across the world. So, if you are not a member, please visit our website, www.hrotday.com/association to learn more and to join today.
So, what are your strengths? How do they complement those you work with? And what are you doing to use your strengths and likewise, to develop more? I’d love to find out during our next new member orientation. Oh and by the way, for those who felt that I left them wanting for more questions and brain teasers, New Jersey is administering the next MENSA testing on September 7 in Holmdel, NJ.
Zachary