Why HR Professionals Hardly seen on Other-than HR Networking Forums !!!

Today (Sunday-9th Dec 2012) : I  attended a forum on Public Speaking in Hyderabad. I met few :  business owner, doctor, engineering student, govt. employee, Teacher, CA, Marketing Professional, Hotelier and many others...  had a great time in learning from their experiences.... 

9.12.12 - Hyderabad - Keen Learners

While, driving home I was thinking myself that I did not meet any HR professional. This is not the first time I have encountered this question. While attending many forums across India and other countries I seldom meet any HR professional in "Non-HR Forums".  

I was trying to get an answer and thinking  "Is it that HR professionals Are - 

• Well Read and Informed that they don't have a need to attend beyond HR forums (Even many HR Forums  attracts less numbers)
• Think that they have enough interactions during their course of job that they do not see a need for interaction.
• Too busy that they can't spend any more time
• Balancing Life after Work
• Thinking the world ends by  meeting or networking with people who are their official employees or few other HR professionals..

Let me stop here and explore further. With my limited exposure of 21 years in HR profession & business also an average of 2 network events attend every month over last 21 years, let me write somethings to find reasons (not definitely an answer). 

Networking :  While world is moving to network based Business Relationships, Hiring, Learning and everything in business... I see very less done by the HR professionals to foster this aspect in their own profession. I am sure in my wildest guess the HR Fraternity is minority compared to many professions as on today... 

We can make a difference : Considering approximately 4 crore establishments (Large+MSME) in India and < .5% of them have HR Department - The number May be at 1-1.75 lacs of professionals (both organised & un-organised HR departments). The opportunity is with an average of 10-20 external interactions other than your own company, it would make a lot of difference in building the profession and keeping it close to the Business.  

My urge to the budding professionals from B-Schools and also the HR job holders in any Organised & un-organised HR Department :  If you want to make career in HR and you wanted it to be known... its time to focus on networking with, other than HR professionals and make your mark with multiple professional groups and individuals. This not only gives you a learning exposure to be successful but also a great understanding of "Business on the Otherside". 

This would not stamp you as an "Event Manager" but "Eventful Business Manager"....

Please do share your thoughts and feedback on my note to improve and bring different perspectives... So We learn more than what is know....