To Ragnar,
I don't know if Richard will think this joke appropriate to distribute but
it makes a good point about recruitment without being either rude or
crass!
It will not give you any solutions, but it sure helps to identify what is
often a major recuitment problem - the reality of organisational life as
opposed to the ideal model we have communicated.
Philip
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
One day while walking down the street a highly successful HR Director was
tragically hit by a bus and she died. Her soul arrived up in heaven where
she was met at the Pearly Gates by St. Peter himself.
Welcome to Heaven," said St. Peter. "Before you get settled in though, it
seems we have a problem. You see, strangely enough, we've never once had a
Human Resources Director make it this far and we're not really sure what
to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in," said the woman.
"Well, I'd like to, but I have higher orders. What we're going to do is
let you have a day in Hell and a day in Heaven and then you can choose
whichever one you want to spend an eternity in."
"Actually, I think I've made up my mind, I prefer to stay in Heaven", said
the woman.
"Sorry, we have rules..." And with that St. Peter put the executive in an
elevator and it went down-down-down to hell. The doors opened and she
found herself stepping out onto the putting green of a beautiful golf
course. In the distance was a country club and standing in front of her
were all her friends - fellow executives that she had worked with and they
were all dressed in evening gowns and cheering for her. They ran up and
kissed her on both cheeks and they talked about old times.
They played an excellent round of golf and at night went to the country
club where she enjoyed an excellent steak and lobster dinner. She met the
Devil who was actually a really nice guy (kinda cute) and she had a great
time telling jokes and dancing. She was having such a good time that
before she knew it; it was time to leave. Everybody shook her hand and
waved good- bye as she got on the elevator. The elevator went up-up-up and
opened back up at the Pearly Gates and she found St. Peter waiting for
her.
"Now it's time to spend a day in heaven," he said. So she spent the next
24 hours lounging around on clouds and playing the harp and singing. She
had a great time and before she knew it her 24 hours were up and St Peter
came and got her. So, you've spent a day in hell and you've spent a day in
heaven. Now you must choose your eternity," he said.
The woman paused for a second and then replied, "Well, I never thought I'd
say this, I mean, Heaven has been really great and all, but I think I had
a better time in Hell."
So St. Peter escorted her to the elevator and again she went
down-down-down back to Hell. When the doors of the elevator opened she
found herself standing in a desolate wasteland covered in garbage and
filth. She saw her friends were dressed in rags and were picking up the
garbage and putting it in sacks. The Devil came up to her and put his arm
around her. "I don't understand," stammered the woman, "yesterday I was
here and there was a golf course and a country club and we ate lobster and
we danced and had a great time. Now all there is a wasteland of garbage
and all my friends look miserable."
The Devil looked at her and smiled. "Yesterday we were recruiting you,
today you're staff..."
Philip Pogson
Leadership Development Strategy Consultant
Staff Development Branch
University of Technology Sydney NSW 2007
Australia
ph: +61 2 9514 2934(w)
fax: +61 2 9514 2930(w)
ph/fax: +61 2 9809 5185 (h)
mobile: +61 0412 459156
"The new heresy for the organisational renewal movement to espouse is that
when we build organisations that act upon this world we must not do so
with the intent to exploit, pollute and plunder but to renew the life of
the planet and ourselves."
-Dexter Dunphy
--Philip Pogson <ppogson@uts.EDU.AU>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>