Most times when people discuss and/or review their asset allocations…their focus is on cash, savings accounts, stocks, bonds and other money driven options. But when you are working on strategies to grow or diversity your business or organization… it is most necessary to take a strong look at your Personnel “Asset Allocation”.
Employees are always considered one of an entity’s GREATEST assets. It just makes sense… right?? Good, confident, dedicated workers can make the difference between stable productivity and potential excellent return-on-investment. This potential is true both in the public and private employment sectors. Determining if certain people are in the “right job” or would a position redesign/job change be a better employee action…is all part of correctly allocating your personnel assets.
Today, I am not sure if business or organization leaders take enough time to review and consider creative options in obtaining the best Personnel “Asset Allocation” situation!
Personnel assets impact costs related to salaries, insurance, space, equipment, travel and professional development. These operational costs are often the greatest factors in a company’s day-to-day function and performance/profit. So it is logically critical to not ignore taking the most appropriate time necessary to ensure all personnel are progressively striving and achieving high level productivity in the workplace.
Bottomline: Don’t view the Personnel “Asset Allocation” responsibility with a: (1) we have always done it this way, or (2) it would be real confusing to try something different, or (3) what if it makes things worse… so let’s ignore it and maybe it will improve on its own… plan-of-action strategy!! Instead strategize collaboratively with other co-workers periodically and review personnel matters in a comprehensive and individual manner so all of the best opportunities come your way.
It is with a feeling of qualified satisfaction that I share this final podcast for the year 2025. Working With People is a simple sounding topic… but as we all know, in real life, it contains a large list of leadership challenges. Are some challenges fun to take on… Yes! But do we mostly deal with the more complex personal side… also Yes!
Well my Working With People podcast tries to offer five simple but specific “words of advice” in this topic area. Will they help… yes… but the five are just a beginning.
One of the most unfortunate consultant requests I have had recently… was to do a workshop on avoiding Polarization In The Workplace! And when I asked for a few points of discussion that may help me prepare a talk on this very important issue, the “requesters” recommended a focus on:
Deflating the “Us vs Them” situations
Getting past “opposing extreme” scenarios and
Suggesting finding a “middle ground” issue resolution between individuals
Today more than ever before, I believe Polarization In The Workplace (and in our world as a whole) has hit an all time high! Politically, socially and ethically it seems more people tend to take a side on issues much more often than to work toward a compromise point of view. In fact there was once a time when the person who developed and offered a middle ground/compromise solution was viewed as a good solid leader. Today that person would be looked upon as someone who can’t make up their mind and thereby is “wishy-washy” on important issues.
Well as I considered the most important points I would cover in a Polarization In The Workplace learning session, I decided to share a few TRIPLE III TIME options:
Remind everyone that there will always be more than 1-2 or 3 views on any issue.
Remind everyone that the customers you serve will also have different views on your service or product… both good and not so good.
Remind everyone that the best opportunities often come from all sides giving a little… so everyone can get a lot.
Remind everyone that no matter your job/life role… that life-long learning, continuous improvement and compromise will remain everyone’s job.
Remind everyone that “taking-sides” on any issue labels you as close-minded and unable to be appropriately open to creativity and innovation!
Finally, when you are faced with Polarization In The Workplace challenges… always begin your corrective action with a directive to everyone to look in the mirror and ask themselves: “What could/should I do differently?” Then as a follow up to your directive… let them know you are ready to write down their ideas!!
“Those who make new innovations and are successful in breaking the rules are creating the new rules. And in a never-ending cycle, those new rules will have to be broken as well.” From “The New Rules of Innovation” (2012)
There are so many individual thought pieces that can be discussed when writing about innovation… but risk-taking and rule breaking are two that I have NOT specifically targeted… so far!!
As you… we… all watch and participate in a world that realizes change on almost a minute by minute basis… old ways and old rules just seem to be a heavy weight around fast-paced progress. Even when the latest innovation arrives and some question its success impacts… if it improves the status quo… it must be considered some form of “winner”.
Hence as the opening quote proclaims, if you don’t plan to: Break Some Rules!… progress will remain at the “held hostage-starting gate.”
During my Director years, one of my biggest innovation rule-breaking challenges was to inform those at the next higher level of leadership that applying their old rules to our new way of service delivery… would NOT work! Whether we framed our new initiative as a “demonstration project” or “pilot program”, the ultimate goal was to up-scale everyone’s mindset on how to evaluate us. New/alternative “measuring sticks” were debated and ultimately applied because traditional rules of performance needed to be “broken”!
Bottomline: if you really believe in innovation and you Break Some Rules… it should not be considered illegal/subversive/disrespectful or non-compliant. Rather it should be assessed, non-traditionally measured and given appropriate support for an attempt to modernize and encourage progress. Additionally when one Breaks Some Rules…unplanned successes and diverse development outcomes often occur!
Remember, innovation action needs to be accepted and encouraged…. or new successes may never be allowed to grow.
Sometime… somewhere we have all heard the phrase: “Don’t Lower The Bar”. And if discussed in a professional development situation… the phrase most often refers to lowering the standards/expectations that need to be met to qualify for something. So as a consultant advising business or organizational leaders… do you think there would ever be a time or event that would push me to suggest “lowering the bar”?
Working with people no matter the job or the position you hold is one of the toughest professional tasks. And although there may be decision-making moments that would offer positives if lowering the bar of requirements were made. In the long-term however… any precedent-setting action of lowering qualification requirements… may cause multiple non-progressive results.
What challenge/results am I referring to? Check out the following TRIPLE III TIME “Don’t Lower The Bar” concerns:
Lessening the number of learnings needed to attain certain credentials.
“Squashing down” the time needed to certify total completion of requirements.
Taking “assumed-learning” as “good enough”.
Convincing yourself that more experience will fill-in the learning gaps.
Not worrying about your own credibility when you sign a certificate of completion or letter of recommendation for someone.
Remembering that job orientation/on-boarding learning normally occurs just once.
Finally, regarding awarding promotions and advancements, lowering the bar based on employee longevity… existing degree status… or friendships and company/agency loyalty… can often result in unfortunate outcomes.
Applying the “Don’t Lower The Bar” principle may be difficult in some unique categories. However it has been my career-long experience that maintaining and maybe even RAISING THE BAR of professional standards/expectations… can produce quality progressive outcomes in creative ways!
“Finding ways to work with the wrong (or old) equipment can be a boost to your creativity!” (GREAT TED TALKS, Tom May, 2020)
Did you ever want to just throw your computer out the window when you push the wrong button and the screen goes blank?? Or maybe it took you 40 minutes to type the “perfect” paragraph and suddenly the battery power in your computer is gone and you effectively lose some important information? It is at these moments that Mr. May’s quote pushes me not to always rely on what a computer can do for me on “ITS” terms… but rather find a way to get more out of technology on my own creativity terms!
I describe my challenges with computer usage as a lead-in to this week’s TRIPLE III TIME message: Using The Wrong Equipment =’s Creativity! It is a real-time example of taking a little extra time… reinforcing patience… lessening the need for “perfection” and taking an alternative techno-approach to motivate innovation. Did the experiences I described make me try a little harder on improving my initiative and focus better to complete my project… yes it did. Was computer technology for me the wrong equipment for what I was attempting to write… yes. But did it challenge my creativity to make it work for me in a different fashion… YES!
The goal of this week’s message is to help everyone consider different forms of “wrong equipment” that you experience (more Marv examples: foam brushes, sledgehammer, virtual meetings, hand saw, cell phone, online book and pest sprays) and consider the creativity capacities it may ignite. Think about:
Repurposing equipment/tools to invent an alternative purpose for them.
Using wrong equipment in a totally different manner (especially computers) to get more out of them.
Lessen traditional stereotypes regarding wrong/old equipment and tools and realize: “They ain’t as bad as I thought”.
And/or in a unique kind of way…think about applying the Using The Wrong Equipment =’s Creativity message with regard to people you work with/employ. Maybe someone is the “wrong equipment” for one job…but may be absolutely great in another employment area. Creativity…right?!
Tom May offered a great, thoughtful quote. Make it work for you!
It is always extra special to prepare the November 15th Inspiring Innovations, Inc. Learning Moments Podcast! Whether it’s because of my hunting blind recording location or just remembering some of my Dad‘s traditions, the messages I prioritize just seem a little more personally important.
“Positioning” Through Innovation & Entrepreneurship is a professional activity that will make a positive difference no matter your employment responsibilities. Scheduling time to consider: Customers Then – Customers Now, Communication (2 Elephants in the Room), Partnering In & Across Boundaries, Creating An Idea Mill, Building Non-Traditional Products/Services and using PROFESSIONAL DISCOMFORT via Continuous Improvement… are all priority “Positioning” categories to consider!
Have a fun listen and we will discuss more next month.
Today one of the most important points I have continued to experience more and more in my consultant role is: Realizing What People “Don’t Know”! Now don’t start thinking that I am claiming to be smarter than everyone else. No…not at all. Instead I am learning and experiencing more often the fact that it is very difficult to simplify the tasks assigned to every job today…thereby creating challenging knowledge gaps.
Think about it. Think about the injection of all kinds of technology, social media, new internet-related terms, workplace location issues and online deal-making processes that impact EVERY job. These multiple factors of new-age understanding may be referenced in updated job descriptions…but how they appear and operate in ones everyday world-of-work will not show-up as basic nor simple.
Also there is the growing problem of “two-way-assuming”. What do I mean by “two-way-assuming.”? By “two-way-assuming”…first I BELIEVE the individual or group I am working with fully understands what I am talking about when I describe something like “intrapreneurship”. Then at the same time THEY BELIEVE…(i.e. assume) they know what the learning message is? The end result is that because a “two-way assuming” situation has been introduced…there are one, two or more knowledge gaps that result in poor performance or mis-guided agency action.
What’s the remedy?
My long-term college professor and mentor has reminded me more than once “that to be effective as a consultant…don’t assume anything”. For me this advice has always pushed me to take extra professional moments to ensure I am Realizing What People “Don’t Know”!…so that my efforts to help them go forward are better focused and thereby more effective. Likewise always providing strong two-way communication…even on things some people see as simple…may make the difference between good products/services…and GREAT ones!
This quarter I took a more direct non-traditional, innovative approach in writing my American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) article. As you can guess from reading the articles title: A U.S. Constitution: Volume II… I offer a number of strategic updates and thereby recommend an expansion of the Founding Fathers original document rather than a series of amendments.
In the article, I briefly share my purpose and rationale for the need for A U.S. Constitution: Volume II and the target areas I believe require the most significant upgrades. Do I get political… some would say “kind of”. Instead, I would say that as a career, long public servant, I believe a restatement or a New Century’s Declaration of Responsibilities for the US government was more my professional goal for the article.
I will admit the topic is “heavier” than most of my ASPA contributed articles. However, our times and positioning as a country… easily drive my idea.
As a career-long public administration/public service professional, the U.S. Constitution has been a consistent point of reference and organizational stability. Even prior to assuming the role of community college American Government & Politics course instructor, my relationship with the Constitution was one of continuous respect and righteous rule making whenever needed. And although the initial document has understandably been amended twenty-seven (27) times over the last 250 years, its principles have honorably “stood-the-test-of-time” no matter the challenges.
Now it is the year 2025 and it has been only recently that I have felt that the country needs “A U.S. Constitution: Volume II”. I believe this need is driven by the ever-growing number of non-traditional interpretations of what the Founding Fathers meant and believed. These mis-interpretations have negatively impacted States rights, the true role of the federal government and caused the highest level of political division our country has experienced. Additionally on an international level, foreign neighbors have been placed in an unnecessary “competition” position where money…not peaceful existence is the operational priority.
The balance of this American Society for Public Administration article will be dedicated to discussing some of the most appropriate and timely U.S. Constitution: Volume II review and upgrades. The intent of the improvements would be to assist in maintaining a quality Checks & Balance/Separation of Powers operational system within our government as envisioned by the Founding Fathers and assumed by the citizens of the United States. These upgrades would not take the form of an Amendment to the Constitution. Rather it would be prepared as a Volume II document…as an “expansion” of the original. Driven by the many geographic, technological, historical, scientific and humanitarian accomplished changes in our world.
First let’s consider the upgrades that would be appropriate to forbid the U.S. from ever allowing the country to accumulate over $30 trillion dollars of debt. This situation would never have been perceived nor allowed by our Founding Fathers. Fiscal integrity and minimal/simple federal expenditures would have been the presumption. Hence, one Constitution: Volume II upgrades (which would not require any retractions from the original document) should target qualified improvements that would downsize U.S. government spending and hopefully slowly decrease the national debt we have encumbered. Painful…yes…possible…yes. Additionally Constitution: Volume II adjustments would indicate that no single branch of government could take action that would impact more than 10% of any Department’s service activity. Fiscal integrity would require a more integrated decision-making practice and thereby limit over-action by a single person or single branch.
A review and upgrade of the Constitution’s current language regarding separation of States rights and the rights assigned to the federal government would also be a priority. Although the Constitution goes to great lengths to ensure “who can do what”…we have had a Civil War and current challenging times seem to almost encourage some form of similar action in the future. Minutia-style interpretation of the Constitution’s assignment of power and responsibilities has in so many ways weakened the historic principles of the Founding Father’s hopes for continuous collaboration of government at all levels. Whether the challenge is police powers or international trade…a common sense, interpretation-resistant Constitution: Volume II upgrade seems to be a correct systems improvement action.
Immigration is another national policy area that is in immediate need of Constitutional “re-writes”. I don’t believe our Founding Fathers could have ever envisioned our country’s expansion, diversification and honor from other country’s citizens to want to be part of our United States! These “growing-pains” have again left our Constitutional system open to periodic “re-interpretations” of what the best laws/policies should be…without modern-day upgrades. A Constitution: Volume II upgrade would/could provide the necessary commonization of immigration advancements to be made and then be enforced in a strong limited fashion.
Technology and science in general are two additional major reasons to engage in “A.U.S. Constitution Volume II review and upgrade! I can’t nor couldn’t identify all of the various factors that in some way appropriately accentuate the need to pause and modernize our Constitution. The technological advances that are occurring not only in the United States but all over the world is a progressive continuous improvement reason to review and upgrade segments of our Constitution. Simple communication processes are no longer simple nor “saddled” with multiple delays. As a result, adjustments to the Constitution that reflects technology as an ever-improving tool for governmental operation, would improve/modernize our country’s position world-wide.
Unlike so many governmental reform actions that are/have been taken across the United States, this Constitution: Volume II concept in no way recommends “erasing” any part of our past. Instead it is intended to progressively recognize our growth. One-by-one Amendments to our Constitution would not perform the necessary strengthening upgrades we need to make as a whole. Population growth and diversity, technological advancements in every field of service, strengthening of fiscal responsibility and correct reinforcement of our shared governance between the three branches of our democracy…all are factors that would demonstrate: A U.S. Constitution: Volume II as a great step forward.
Coming up with new, non-traditional and/or innovative ideas… has never been a problem in my professional world. However, when the time came and I was trying to figure out the best and most promising way to get the concept moving… very often I “hit” a roadblock. And I am not talking about money or even staffing… rather it was a matter of surrounding myself with common-minded people anxious to do something new.
So with that thought in mind, I want to toss out a solid, fun progress TRIPLE III TIME action: Try “Crowdsourcing” Your Idea. And just to get everyone on the same page… the definition of Crowdsourcing is:
“The practice of obtaining information or input into a task or project by enlisting the services of a large number of people, either paid or unpaid, typically via the internet.” (Oxford Dictionary)
Today, Crowdsourcing your ideas is not just an imagination-spreading way of garnering support for your project/plan, but an additional way of “testing” its support-ability in the public or private business sectors.
While in my Inspiring Innovations consultant role, I have spent additional customer time stressing that no one achieves progress alone… even during the project development stage. Idea-blending, market-targeting and customer-attracting are all Crowdsourcing activities that can make or break your new hopeful creation. Whether in-person or online, by Crowdsourcing your idea, the potential for gaining extra, unique, manageable information as you move forward will have real high-value impact.
Bottomline: If you have not considered it before: Try “Crowdsourcing” Your Idea. Or if you have only tried it on a small scale… give it a larger try! With the complexity of today’s product/service markets… having a group of interested, caring minds willing to contribute… is a great opportunity you don’t want to pass up.
The balance of this American Society for Public Administration article will be dedicated to discussing some of the most appropriate and timely U.S. Constitution: Volume II review and upgrades. The intent of the improvements would be to assist in maintaining a quality Checks & Balance/Separation of Powers operational system within our government as envisioned by the Founding Fathers and assumed by the citizens of the United States. These upgrades would not take the form of an Amendment to the Constitution. Rather it would be prepared as a Volume II document…as an “expansion” of the original. Driven by the many geographic, technological, historical, scientific and humanitarian accomplished changes in our world.
Inspiring Innovations, Inc. 