Oct 02 2007
Why Employers should–And Increasingly Do–Care About Creating A Great Workplace by Sue Shellenbarger (WSJ, 10-02-07)
Shellenbarger has written a fine piece (WSJ: 10-1-07) that should not surprise any senior leader. What is embarrassing is that Shallenbarger’s piece should be “new information” to senior leaders. Bottom line: when corporations provide a supportive and engaging environment where employees can thrive as valued human beings profits follow. There is a logical order here that should be respected, honored and followed by top leadership. It is a non-negotiable reality that people who feel authentically valued and esteemed are more often deeply compelled to deliver for the organizations that provide the environment where valuing and esteeming takes place. Conversely, those more obdurate senior leaders who simply refuse to admit that cultivating the value and professional development of employees is a waste of time and money continue to provide those draconian work environments where issues of value follow way after the bottom line if they follow at all…and yet they wonder why the most talented and visionary employees walk out the front doors. Pity the leader who by their arrogance and ignorance places the cultivation of people at the end of the corporate gravy train. Shellenbarger is spot-on correct. So tell me, after all this time and evidence, why do so many senior leaders continue to opine, “Who cares?”