One of my favorite shows this season is "Under Cover Boss." In today's episode, the CEO of an Amusement Park Complex visited his parks across the country and tried a variety of jobs for size... he became a server, a cleaner, and a greeter. He was trained by employees with whom he would never otherwise have come in contact. He learned about their heartaches and determination. He was humbled by those from whom he learned.
The show often brings tears to my eyes. I guess for once I see a show in which CEOs get it. They get what moves their organizations forward. They get that without people in the trenches their organizations would collapse. The get that they are responsible for people... not just balance sheets and deals and stock values.
So often in the HR world we become cynical. We talk about Theory Y and how people really want to do well - and yet we spend our days polishing new regulations and policies and procedures that make absolutely sure no one will do something wrong on the company dime. We have endless meetings with our legal counsel. We make sure we know exactly what we should include in that applicant contract so that we are forever protected should we per chance want to do something we probably shouldn't be doing in the first place.
Worst of all, we assume our people are disposable. We use terms such as restructuring and reengineering and reoptimizing. We hide behind business words and protest that we have a responsibility
towards our stock holders. We rationalize it. We make it work.
But in all this rationalization we forget for whom we are responsible. We forget that as leaders we are the captains of our ships.
Captains don't leave the ship with a golden parachute while their people drown. Captains don't throw half the people overboard so that the ship won't sink. Captains drown with their people or
bring them safely to the harbor. Captains take responsibility for the power they were given and the privileges of such power.
What sort of captain are you?
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BK23 (Thursday, 20 May 2010 11:47)
I am more of a First Mate than Captain, but I have been a mentor & trainer in corporate H.R. departments for over 10 years. What I try to teach employees in H.R. is that every business is doomed unless they take care of their customers' needs in the best way possible. In H.R., the "customers" are our EMPLOYEES! If that point can be made, most trainees will realize that our employees are not "interruptions" to our business.....they ARE our business! I have also been fortunate to have corporate leaders who support these values.
ayub hafeez (Thursday, 27 May 2010 14:21)
I am the student of H.R,what are the initially characteristics of an effective leader? i want to create a difference between the study and profession of H.R. kindly send me suggestions through my e-mail address"hafeez_121@yahoo.com"
Thanks,