SPG Blog

I think about the difference between maintenance and making the property “better.”  Occasionally we add something new or improve the property in some way.  This year I added some lovely flower boxes in all the windows.  One year we installed a larger hot water heater so we stopped running out of hot water.  Sometimes we don’t do anything to make the property better–like the year we went on sabbatical and didn’t do all the little projects we usually are do to make our home feel good.

But aren’t most of the tasks maintenance, really?  If we spend a year without doing any big projects even if I continue fixing or improving routine things, then the paint will be a year older, things will be a little more worn. No big projects means the house looks older and older, it just doesn’t stay the same.

I believe a similar reality applies to leadership and people development in organizations, too.  Taking a year away from developing people doesn’t leave you where you were, it takes you backward–just a little.  Skills that are a little less current, the dialogue in the organization is a little more stale, people are a little more distant from company values and purpose. Having learning projects engages staff, channels their energy and keeps them moving forward.

I know the philosophy for many in this economic downturn has been “all hands on deck.”  Focus has been on sales and marketing and on bringing in as much business as possible.  I hope the time has come to look around to see how to tend to the people in the organization.  How can their development support the bottom line? What are the projects your house needs to be a home?

What are the first challenges that need to be addressed?  What are the longer term projects that can create an environment to be proud of?

Sincerely,

Melanie Parish