The New Normal As 2009 draws to a close, there is increasing talk about "the new normal." The fundamental attribute of the new normal is the absence of excess. It is all about making due with less.
From an organizational perspective, the prospect of the new normal will likely sound miserable to some. For others it will sound more like an opportunity to create something truly new by generating value through more clever and thoughtful use of resources.
Both perspectives have some validity. But those organizations that consciously adopt the latter point of view will almost certainly fare better in 2010 and beyond than those that view the new normal as a miserable place to be.
Making the new normal a better path forward will largely boil down to two elements: (1) working smarter, and (2) learning (more, better, and differently). The combination of the two - learning at work - will be key.
Successful organizations (and individuals) will be the ones that master the art of leveraging their learning to create value in this demanding new environment.
Getting there will not be easy, even for the most ambitious organizations and employees. They will need to continually seek and discover new ways to work smarter, with more agility. CEOs will need to take ownership of leading talent. HR professionals will have to step up with new ways of thinking about and managing talent.
On the other hand, leaders who continue to rely on tired concepts will put their organizations in peril. One-size-fits-all tools for benchmarking "employee engagement" are a thing of the past. There are new and better alternatives available. We encourage you to learn about them.
And we wish you health and prosperity in the New Year. |
Want to Know More?Our new book entitled CEOs Leading HR, by Larry Costello and Laurie Bassi, discusses all of these issues in further detail. If you would like to receive a review copy of the manuscript, please send us an email at [email protected]. |