June 25, 2010

“We gave them a cafeteria.  What more could they want?”

The meeting started with a discussion topic not listed on the agenda.  Rarely, if ever, do such discussions prove fruitful.  On this day, it also proved painful.

As background, a premature and ill-advised decision by a senior executive and corporate officer caused our company to be locked into a long-term lease on an office building that was neither close to our current location nor conducive to the type of environment we needed.  In order to save face, the exec wanted to move to the new location and abandon our existing buildings. 

Such a decision meant employees would suffer major inconveniences.  One-time costs to cover moving, employee re-location, stay bonuses, and moving incentives were well into the millions.  Unwilling to commute the long distance or move, much talent would leave the company.  Pride ruled.  Pride won.  We moved.

Not long after the move to our new location, we met to review a large project.  Attending was the corporate officer who had directed the move.  Before the meeting started, our CFO commented that employee morale was falling off the charts.  The move had weighed heavily on everyone.  Its toll was felt and was now being expressed quite vocally. 

In spite of this concern, pride again ruled.  The executive demanded, “We gave them a cafeteria.  What more could they want?”  Obviously, motivation was not one of his talents.    

Most of us present understood that motivation is the activation of some type of goal-oriented behavior.  The only behavioral goal being energized by his comment and question was eating (and while essential, it isn’t exactly a key performance measurement for business). 

It was a sad and somewhat pitiful lack of understanding and concern; however, I must admit that the cafeteria salad bar was top notch.     

Craig Halsey

They Said It

June 25, 2010