Human Capital in the Headlines

This is an article blurb that I ran across in the ASTD bulletin. Perhaps if the leaders of these organizations realized that the employees on their "To -do" list were actual people instead of human capital on a budget line, they would be well on their way to resolving the challenges faster. Your thoughts?


Boards Increase Oversight of Human Capital Issues Human Resource Executive (12/07) Vol. 21, P. 20; Behan, Beverly
A new study by the Hay Group reveals that more boards, especially those of the top companies, are paying attention to human capital issues. The Hay Group conducted a study of 150 top executives for Fortune magazine as part of their report on the World's Most Admired Companies. The survey found over 75 percent of boards added management of human capital to their to-do list in the past several years. Over 66 percent said CEOs and management often consult board members on human capital issues, like employee-turnover rates, job-acceptance rates, diversity statistics, and employee-satisfaction. Attention to these issues was even more prevalent in the most admired companies than average. For example, over 80 percent of the most admired companies developed human capital strategies as part of their overall corporate strategy, compared to 70 percent of most other boards. More than 80 percent of the most admired companies also included human capital measures as part of their CEO performance evaluation, and over 90 percent had emergency succession plans in place. This study demonstrates how attention to human resources is an important factor in helping a company get an edge on its competition.

Frequent Question...

Someone asked me again today what the whole contagious thing is about and how it correlates to leadership. In short, I shared that contagious is what we all are because everything we do rubs off on other people. And then I said, leadership for me begins wtih leading yourself and what I often share with managers is that if you cannot lead your own self out of a low self-esteem or other personal issues, then you have no business leading others who bring that and more to work with them. He asked for my card so I think he liked the answer.

Can you really have balance?

Many times members of an audience will ask me how I do all that I do? Do you feel balanced? Clients will ask me to come in and teach employees how to have balance and the truth is that balance is extremely difficult to achieve, if even possible at all.

I like the way Robin Fisher Roffer described it in her book: Make a Name For Yourself
"I don't try to balance work and family. I never have. In my life they are all mixed up. I don't shut it off when I close the door to my office and walk aroudn the corner to my house. I bring it inside and let it pull up a chair. My husband and I talk about it over dinner. It would seem weird to me to drop it at the door, and my family would feel left out if I didn't share this incredibly important aspect of my life with them."

So for all of you who attempt to achieve balance, there may be some hope. Stop trying to give everything equal time exclusively. Find ways to involve each in the other parts of your life... your whole life and recognize that some weeks work will take more time. Some times life will take more time. Maybe the key is to be balanced in our intense desire to achieve perfect balance.

Until we have the honor of meeting in person...
monica@Monicawofford.com