In a recent addition of Fortune magazine, I read an interesting advertisement by the Manpower Group. It was titled, “The Most Coveted Asset.” According to the Manpower Group’s Chairman, Jeffrey A. Joerres, “As talentism is the new capitalism, employers must manage their workforce as the greatest asset, and that involves aligning their business and workforce development strategies.
As the new work takes shape, employers will compete in talent wars for the most contemporary but hard-to-find skills that enable them to win in increasingly volatile markets.” Thus, the dawn of the Human Age, in which leaders need to consider the relationship between the Information Age that we live in and the need to maximize the human potential – the "Human Age.”
“The one thing we can be sure of is the world that will emerge from the present rearrangement of values, beliefs, social and economic structures, of political concepts and systems, of world views, will be different from anything today.” – Peter Drucker, Post Capitalist Society
As the future unfolds, it is not information or even technology that will produce unprecedented change, but the balance and ability of leaders to integrate the Information Age with the Human Age.
We all need information. Richard Saldato offers a word of caution, “You must have information and the wisdom to know its truth or not!”
How do we relate to each other in the Information Age? Are we hiding behind technology rather than embracing the Human Age? Are face-to-face conversations a dying art?
We need the human touch as much as we need sunlight, water and food. It affects our mood and smile.
I contend that computers or robots will not take over for the power of the human spirit, intelligence, passion and creativity.
The companies with the most talent will win in the long run (the Human Age).
What distinguishes your organization from your competition is the talent of your employees – the true differentiation!
According to Manpower’s Chairman and CEO Jorres, “The human potential has now become the major agent of economic growth. In the past, it was a war for talent, now it’s a war for talents,” said Jorres. He further states, “Margins have been squeezed to such a point of tension that every role matters, every role must be productive and efficient as it can be – in roles ranging from the CEO to the janitor.”
We can all relate to this.
The Human Age is aware of the linkage between quality employee performance and customer loyalty. Your company value proposition is directly influenced by engaged, productive, talented and satisfied employees. Employees’ behavior is influenced by their ability to grow, learn and develop.
Talented employees are a premium in the human age, and as such may seek to establish terms of employment, location, hours and more flexible working conditions. Think about companies like Starbucks, AT&T and Wrigley. They are focused on both the CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and ERM (Employee Relationship Management).
The Human Age will require not only listening to the voice of your customer, but also listening to the voice of your employees!
Of course, technology can enhance productivity for all employees. By providing accessible technology, an organization can facilitate collaboration and communication, and teamwork among employers. The web has made us more connected than ever, but ironically we usually do so while sitting alone somewhere staring at a screen! There is nothing like the spark of the human-to-human connection!
Marrying the Information Age (technology) and the Human Age is anchored in using computers as a “tool,” while unleashing the power of human potential and providing a corporate culture in which employee contribution, motivation and involvement are all its foundation!
The question is, are you ready for the Human Age? Do you have the hardware (leadership) and the software (people skills)?
