Employees ARE the company

18th Jul 2007 @ 3.13pm

I have always disliked the term ‘human resources’. It implies that people are resources just like anything else at the company’s disposal. Yet people are the company. And whatever plans, strategies and missions may exist, it’s the people - the company - that will succeed or fail in those quests.

Great companies are made up of great people, who are motivated to deliver their part of the plan. These companies are able to succeed where others either fail or are just mediocre. The quality of the strategy is critical, but plans remain plans unless they are executed day in and day out.

“Line of sight” is a term we hear used often, to help employees see their how their roles contribute. For a company to be truly great, it needs to go further than that. People need to co-create their roles, by first understanding the strategy, believing in it, and then defining what it means for them. In other words, creating their own local strategies as part of the whole.

Achieve this and you have the essence of a great company, made up of motivated, connected and adaptable people who work together with a common purpose.

posted by Paul Honeywell
filed under Engagement, Organisations