A hand shake is quite a powerful expression. To me, it represents an expression of trust. We don’t just shake hands with anyone, they are usually friends, family or colleagues. It also represents reserve, ensuring a measure of distance between two people. Lean in, shake, smile, eye contact, trust.
I like shaking hands, it means something to me. However recently, it has become apparent that it doesn’t mean something to all of us. A lot of people do it as a form of greeting. Maybe it is, but when I shake hands with someone, it is because I trust our intentions. That we are engaged and when engaged, we have an obligation to do the right thing by each other.
As a corporation, it is easy to stand in front of the companies people and tell them it is all about them. That without them, they can not achieve. It is very true. They can’t. Then why is it so many large organizations have the difficult task of retaining talent? Sure they have great managers, great honest people, but real talent. Not always.
Talent sits at the pointy end of the organization. The people who lead, really lead are the initiators, the innovators and the people who are not afraid to question to the status quo. Leading by example with ethical and powerful initiative to create opportunities for the future.
Want to retain talent. Then create trust by “walking the talk”. We start with a hand shake and the position of trust. We don’t hug our new employer as we like the measure of distance between us. We shake, we make eye contact and we have very good intentions to create something amazing.
Over time, the hard sell corporate organization, who tells the people it is all about them, and does not deliver fails. They fail the people, the business and the partners. Fail with the message, lose the trust of the people.
The organization will quickly recede from a postion of hope to untrustworthy. More often than not, run by untrustworthy humans (this starts from the CEO and flows down). It is ok for the organization, they have people who will stick by them. The people who play it safe, stay and deliver. These are good managers and critical and the business knows that. The talent, moves on.
The corporation does it all right until they make a promise they cant deliver. Talent gone.
About the Author: Ben Rennie is founder and creator of uncluttered white spaces and the Director for transitionXY. You can comment on Ben’s post via the comment box or send him an email ben@transitionxy.com
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