A Tale of Two Workforces

A Tale of Two Cities of course was written by Charles Dickens. This historical novel was set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in the Bastille in Paris, and his release to live in London with his daughter Lucie whom he had never met. The story is set against the conditions that led up to the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. The novel explores themes of love, sacrifice, redemption, and the power of the human spirit.

Today's workforce is really a Tale of Two Workforces set against the conditions of Skill versus the attitude of the Will. The common denominator between the Tale of Two Cities and the Tale of Two Workforces is people and the human spirit. Whatever the heart loves, the will chooses, and the mind justifies.

Our fictitious novel is set in Business, USA and Small Business, USA. These cities may not be as romantic as London and Paris but still appropriate comparisons. The Workforce novel tells the story of One Business USA seemingly driven more by the Skill of their workforce and Small Business USA seems to be driven more by the will of their leadership. In other words, One Business focuses on the return on their investment and seems to be driven by the end game, the process, and the skill rather than the will. Small Business, USA can change directions, processes, and systems much more quickly than Business USA can. But Small Business focuses on their workforce. They give their people weigh-in. This is a city that puts the will ahead of the skill.

Of course businesses need to make money. But at the root of every business are the people, the employees and the customers. We need employees to make the product or provide the service. Then we need people who will buy our products and services. This all takes place prior to producing any revenue. You could say the system really is people before revenue. Any Business, USA is to focus on the human spirit and include all of the workforce in the process. Making money keeps the doors open but the will drives us where money cannot go, winning the the heart of our people. If skill is your focus you will accomplish only that which your skills allow. If you are driven by the human will or spirit you will have a workforce that takes ownership. It is in the will of your people that expectations will be exceeded and the skills will be honed and improved that will produce a solid and healthy workforce. It is not the skill it is the will that makes this happen.

Do you have the heart to show and demonstrate both the Care and Candor of the will? Remember it is a matter of the will not of the skill. If you struggle finding or retaining people in your workforce the Tale of Your Workforce may be that you are missing one or both of the ingredients to a better workforce, Care and Candor. Candor without Caring produces distant relationships and Caring without Candor produces dysfunctional relationships. Its when you bring the two together in authenticity that you will have a healthier workforce. It's the will not the skill. The healthier the workforce the healthier the will. Whatever the heart loves, the will chooses, and the mind justifies. What does your heart love, the skill or the will? Once you enact the will and unleash the human spirit and stop worrying about the skill you will be able to write your own workforce classic, the Tale of a Healthy, Strong, Effective and Vibrant Workplace.