Pulling It Together
There’s a prescript that’s uttered when people are feeling distracted, disconnected, overwhelmed or fearful—and that is, “pull it together.” It struck me several days ago, that that is what my work is about. Helping companies and the people that work there, pull it together. But, it’s more than moving out of disconnect and overwhelm—it’s about energetically and actively coming together. In essence, becoming a healthy community of people committed to a shared vision…and “pulling together” towards that vision.
Right now, we are in the midst of a significant shift in our paradigm of “work.” There is an up-leveling underway and it’s gaining traction. If you aren’t aware of it or aren’t sensing the shift, it’s time to take note. Business has, in essence, examined and refined most every aspect of business operation. Technology, systems, reporting, data, automation and process have experienced remarkable change and improvement. There remains, however, one glaring area that has yet to be powerfully understood and attended to…the people who get the work done.
The reasons for this are numerous, but it doesn’t change the truth of it. Most businesses “manage” their people in a style that harkens backwards and not forwards. Even larger corporations with their healthy budgets and intricate HR departments, haven’t created far-reaching change. There’s a lot of lip service and pomp and circumstance, but the end result is oftentimes only incremental in its effect.
Here’s the reality…the people that work for a company are the single most important asset of that company. They are the company. They are the customer service person who daily engages with the people buying the product or service. They are the salesperson hitting the pavement everyday in search of a new opportunity. They are the warehouse person managing that which comes in and that which goes out. They are the administrative person keeping the wheels moving smoothly. The people that buy the products and services, that engage with the company, rarely deal with the executive or management group. They are, however, interacting daily with those mentioned above.
A company that has “pulled together” enjoys an enormous advantage over a company that is disconnected and unclear. They know their most important asset is united and aligned to the company and the work. Their people know they are valued and important. All of this combines to generate a culture that is empowered, innovative, collaborative and growing—that’s the energizing (and prosperous) new paradigm of business.
