I was somewhat idly reading a client document this morning and my eye was drawn to one particular point; the gist being ‘Our people are our greatest asset.’  And my reverie was broken…

Are people really assets?
 

What is an asset?  It’s an inanimate piece of equipment or property, something that we’ve spent money on to acquire and which will over time depreciate, until it is worn out and replaced.  And we’ll spend the minimum amount on it consistent with getting the maximum output.

On that basis I certainly don’t want to be viewed as an asset…

At the same time, I can see how those who do see people as assets can take a mechanistic, gears and cogs approach to the way they deal with their employees.  And hence to everything that flows from this viewpoint in terms of the ways they handle people, staff and customers.

Isn’t this the way for many decision makers and people in power?  Not what they say the do, but what they actually do?  And isn’t it what we observe they do?

Does it matter?  I mean, it does to me, because I believe they are wrong.  And I suspect it matters to many others.

If so, what can we do to raise consciousness about other perhaps more healthy ways to view people…as Asset Exploiters – energetic, exciting, value adding, creative, committed asset users, rather than as mere assets.

Love to read your thoughts?