Disarming honesty for HR from Hans Blix

There can be few people better qualified than Hans Blix to talk about coping with unrealistic expectations or about managing teams that need to show they can deliver.

The news that the former UN weapons inspector will be delivering the Opening Address at this yearís Human Resources Forum UK and Europe therefore represents a massive coup for the HR community.

Blix, a Swedish international law expert who was appointed head of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNIMOVIC) in 2000, was famously described as being ìStuck between Iraq and a hard placeî.

On the one hand he was attempting to satisfy the UN Security Council, which was calling for further inspections for weapons which seemingly never existed. On the other he was faced with the fact that the US and its allies were champing at the bit to commence military action.

HR professionals who feel they are being asked to do the impossible could undoubtedly benefit from trying to emulate the speakerís legendary calmness as well as from heeding his forthright opinions.

If George Bush and Tony Blair had listened to Blix there would probably have been no war in Iraq. Can those engaged in the war for talent also afford to turn a deaf ear as he switches the focus from chemical weapons to realising unexploded HR potential?

Other keynote speakers at this yearís floating Human Resources Forum UK and Europe, which will be taking place on the P&O ship Aurora between 11th and 14th May, include world renowned self-help and leadership guru Dr Stephen Covey and Larry Hochman, one of Europeís best known futurist speakers.

The Human Resources Forum, which is celebrating its 10th birthday and is organised by Richmond Events, has already received confirmation of attendance from nearly 500 senior HR professionals from the UK and Europe and 120 HR product and service providers. It is expected to set sail with around 800 attendees, including speakers and press. A few places still remain.