Comments on: If People Were Capital

By: Robert Hruzek

Robert Hruzek — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:38:27 +0000

@Wilson – Unfortunately that’s so for a lot of organizations. But there’s still hope, I think. The marketplace will generally reward (over the long term) the ones that take this to heart. Those are the ones to keep an eye on!

By: Robert Hruzek

Robert Hruzek — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:37:16 +0000

@Ellen – Augh! My brain! My poor brain! (Insert dripping sound as brain begins to melt…)

As always, Ellen, you add value every time you comment here. Thanks for making me think hard about these issues. I believe they are indeed the keys to successful organizations’ solid growth in the next century and beyond.

Thanks for makin’ us think!

By: Wilson Pon

Wilson Pon — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:02:05 +0000

I totally agree with your inspiring and provoking thoughts here, Robert.

Honestly, most of the companies are trying their best to suck away investors money and they have no obligation to protect them here!

By: Ellen Weber

Ellen Weber — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:40:18 +0000

Great post and intriguing insights here to a 2-bit question! Robert. What if you took those five principles and then asked the capital (I mean people). Back up to the wall for another stick:-)

1. Protect: What would happen if people told firms how to protect them and the market in the same strokes?

2. Invest: Can you imagine a joint investment – with shared benefits – based on talents of all people at the discretion of the people?

3. Grow: What about a survey to identify the growth strengths and weakness and growth plans launched from people’s perspective?

4. Secure: Could an interactive and talented team not help to secure mutual benefits for management and workers with mutual dividends?

5. Transfer: What about reward change and growth at every level of the firm in ways that produce ongoing rejuvenation.

As I read these great ideas, I saw people (capital) as both the instigators and the participants in such a move toward a sunnier landscape for all. Nuff said — great stuff and discussion – as always:-)

Ellen Webers last blog post..Rewrite News – One Creation at a Time

By: Robert Hruzek

Robert Hruzek — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:40:20 +0000

@Ulla – It’s a continual mystery to me too, when companies don’t see their human assets – all of them – as the “gold” that they are!

By: Robert Hruzek

Robert Hruzek — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:38:40 +0000

@Karen – The studies show it’s true, over and over again, but when it comes down to it, so many companies fail in this area. But we keep hopin’, don’t we?

By: Ulla Hennig

Ulla Hennig — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:57:25 +0000

Robert,
thanks for your post – it touched matters I have been thinking about quite a lot the last days. We had an assembly of all employees on last Wednesday, and our president held a speech. He does that on every assembly of our employees, and the last time he did it he did not quite realize that the people in front of him were employees, people working as secretaries, librarians, people in the administration. His speech addressed professors and lecturers, who are not participating in our assemblies. He did not seem to see the necessity to invest in the human capital sitting in front of him. This time it was a bit better (actually, he got a few hints before holding the speech), but I still wonder: why don’t such people realize, what they can do with their employees when they say “You are important – without you, we couldn’t realize the goals, we need you and your commitment!” Why?

Ulla Hennigs last blog post..Autumn Sky

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:53:55 +0000

Robert, this was an excellent answer to Ellen’s question. It’s funny organizations have Human Capital Management but they actually value financial capital more than people. They see people as assets but would do more to save a building than invest in a person to make them feel more connected to the organization. I think most companies do a poor job in this area and a few stand out and as a result have a thriving business. The interesting thing is that all capital has a purpose. Companies generally do a poor job of connecting people capital to purpose, even though studies overwhelmingly show that when people get that connection productivity and morale are dramatically improved.

By: Robert Hruzek

Robert Hruzek — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:28:21 +0000

@Maarten – I’ve wondered that practically every year I’ve been out there in the workforce. Sometimes they do, and sometimes they don’t. The problem is when they start looking at the next quarterly results instead of the long-term. Gets ‘em into trouble every time, that way.

By: Robert Hruzek

Robert Hruzek — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:26:58 +0000

@Brad – Way too many, truth be told. If only they would start looking at their workers this way – and for real, not just in words – just think of how the workplace could change! No wonder so many want to jump ship these days. And in the end, it hits all of us right in the, er, nether regions.

By: Maarten Lemmers

Maarten Lemmers — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:12:35 +0000

Hi Robert, I do believe you've got a point here, and the comparison sure does stick ... it makes you wonder though why most companies treat their people like expense items (I have to agree with Brad on that) instead of capital, which in the end would benefit us all ... Maarten Lemmerss last blog post..... beam me up Scotty!

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:25:12 +0000

Robert, Persuasive tactic comparing employees to cash assets - that's an analogy even Ebenezer Scrooge would understand. Unfortunately, there are companies out there who look at employees as expense items. Brad Shorrs last blog post..The Best Marketing Advice that Came My Way