4 Powerful Words

I was out for dinner with friends last night. Sid spent some time talking about his former boss who had just moved on to another company. His work experience over the past two years has been frustrating. Sid has well over twenty years experience in HR - mostly within the Organizational Development space.

He was hired for his experience.

He was hired for his expertise.

And in two years, his boss never once asked the question: "What do you think?"

I'm sure the irony was lost on his boss. Organizational Development is designed to improve the performance of individuals across the organization. Much of the time it means finding a way to allow everyone to contribute at a higher level. It means nurturing individuals' commitment to people, projects, strategies, operations, customers...

And all that starts by asking the question: "What do you think?".

Because until you're willing to ask the question (and listen to the answer), you're not going to organizationally develop anything.

Engagement begins with engaging.

Until you're ready to give people resonsibilities instead of defining jobs, you're not ready for Organization Development. Don't even start.

Because giving people responsibilities, means giving them a say. It means allowing them the freedom to achieve, to excel (and to fail and to learn and to grow).