A more human place to work

Today I write from a plane on my way to one of our events at the beautiful Pebble Beach Golf Resort on the Monterey Peninsula (I know, I know, I’ve got it rough…) and was thinking about the last time I was there. Earlier this year, I had the honor, privilege, and sheer, paralyzing intimidation of speaking to a group of executives following Gary Hamel, Lynda Gratton, and Tammy Erickson on the platform. I survived my speech, and some in the audience even stayed awake for it, but I was struck by the similarity of at least one conclusion that all of these intellectual heavyweights arrived at, even coming at management problems from different angles.

Professor Hamel shared his research on management innovation; Lynda spoke eloquently about her research on Hot Spots, where business breakthroughs happen; and Tammy shared her updated studies on generational cohorts and their unique behaviors in the workforce. But all of us came to basically the same conclusion, and I liked Professor Hamel’s wording the best: companies throughout the world need to provide “a more human place to work” now that the industrial has given way to the knowledge age. I don’t think this is much of a surprise for anyone, yet the majority of companies are moving far too slowly. A part of this trend is the simple competition for limited talent as baby boomers slow down. But a lot of it is about a far more democratic work environment that the subsequent generations have come to expect.

A student in school today can google a topic during a lecture and prove her teacher wrong. In real time. How do you think that same student will deal with her boss? 

We insist on conducting modern enterprise with tools and conventions that could generously be described as “antique”. Schedules? Punching the clock? Staff meetings? How about “the meeting before the meeting”? How much do these tools of control do to unlock the creativity in individuals that serves as the basis for competition? 

So what is a “more human place to work”? Here’s what it means to me: 

·        An environment where creativity that leads to value is richly rewarded

·        Flexibility. In my schedule, in the technology I use to conduct my work, in the media through which I communicate.

·        Space to experiment, make mistakes, learn, and move on

·        A real meritocracy where results and consistency are valued over tenure and authority.

 What does it mean to you?