Agitated 2

We're in the midst of some major reorganising and things are not so happy around the block. I won't talk about the mechanisms of how it's going to happen (because no one seems to really know) or about the speculations of what's going to happen. I'm just going to focus on my reactions to the reactions around me.

Over lunch, I bumped into an ex-colleague who had bumped into our ex-boss. When asked about whether this reorganisation is going to translate to an influx in ex-staff to his (our ex-boss) organisation, he merely shrugged it off, saying that none of us are 'technical' enough to work for him.

Yes, we all know that our professional fate is in our hands. Yes, we should take control of our own retraining. But what of employers who second-guess their staff's proposals and ideas, and those who see no value in certification for fear that their staff will flee the organisation? What employers/management need to realise is that the livelihood of many are within their control. If you want your
organisation to be dynamic and innovative, you have to be willing to support those who display such characteristics. You have to take the initiative of hiring the right people, and grooming those internally to develop such skills. If you want an organisation that is accountable, you have to first be accountable for your own actions and lead by example. You have to have consistent policies - those that are aligned to what you say.

When you manage an organisation for many years, and look back, what you see is the fruits of your own labour. So if the people you left behind is not 'good enough' for you to hire, maybe you had a strong role to play in that result. Yes, we are all in control of our own destinies, but we have to remember that when we lead, we are also in control of the destiny of others.