Words of Merit

What's your reputation worth?

A challenging question for businesses because it is so difficult to measure "reputation's" impact on the bottom line — until something goes very wrong.

I participated in a Webinar a number of weeks ago, part of DNA Global Network's global citizenship series, where the topic of Tech Savvy was covered and the importance of using technology to connect, communicate and collaborate was pointed out as critical to global leadership.

I've written recently about creating sound footings for your business that make sustainability possible. Risk management is another one of those tenets or principles that serve to protect your opportunities for succeeding by helping you avoid unnecessary liabilities that can rob your bottom line. Liabilities that can affect either the physical, fiscal or cultural aspects of your business and brand.

The heartbreaking stories from the devastating earthquakes across the globe recently — Haiti, Chile and China — invariably talked about the increased destruction and loss associated with poorly constructed commercial buildings, schools and dwellings. Absent well-designed and constructed foundations and infrastructure, these structures collapsed or at a minimum experienced far greater damage than the rest. A clarion call for building structures securely in the first place and for avoiding the misery that can ensue otherwise.

I think this is a great metaphor for businesses.

A strategic move today for some companies that are anticipating more aggressive business levels as the recovery progresses is proactive use of mentoring programs to enhance the development of current talent and enrich jobs.

We have talked about "flexible staffing" as a business concept for years — primarily because we are in the talent management business and have long understood the blend of contract, temporary, regular fulltime positions and use of consultants to be one of the most powerful and efficient approaches businesses can take to fill human capital requirements for business strategy and goal attainment.

Change when it comes suddenly and uninvited is often quite difficult for most of us.

At the same time, life becomes more difficult than it needs to be when change is overdue.

Throughout history the lack of clear understanding has led to many things going very wrong. Wars have been started, relationships have been ruined, business deals lost and customers have been alienated forever.

A number of companies have been keeping a close eye on recent events and attitudes surrounding job satisfaction and the activities of employed workers who are beginning to explore other work possibilities.

A recent article in Workforce Management, entitled "Downturn Puts New Emphasis on Engagement," points out that employee engagement — their commitment to their work and the connection they feel to their company — has never been more important.