Water Cooler Conversations

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

Only in America!  How many times have you uttered those words or heard them in response to the great freedoms we enjoy in this country.  I for one feel incredibly fortunate to have opportunities that would not be afforded to me and my family in most other countries on this good earth. Our Constitution continues to be challenged, but has stood the test of time well. Our forefathers certainly had great vision for the future.

The beauty of our freedom in America is the opportunity to control our destiny.  For instance, how we earn a living is a choice.  I have yet to meet someone who is truly being forced to work in a certain occupation or stay at a company or be satisfied with their compensation.  Unfortunately over the past 29 plus years serving in human resources related jobs I have met hundreds of people who act as if a gun were pointed at their head forcing them to serve a "life sentence" of job dissatisfaction. 

I remain perplexed as to why people stay in jobs they hate.  "Living" for the weekend and only enjoying two out of every seven days is a tough road. 

Retirement is often "sold" to us as the time of our lives when we are truly free to enjoy life. Let's see if I understand this concept.  I'll trudge through life until I have enough money to get out of the "rat race".  Then I can really enjoy every day.  So let's see - if I work forty years and am fortunate to live a full retirement (about 25 years on average) I can look back an tell my grandchildren how great life was for about 2/5 of my adult life.  Yea, right.  I would not wish this on anyone.

Why not retire today (if you hate your job)!  I propose to folks that they should not put off retirement from jobs where they are unhappy.  When people are dissatisfied with their jobs, they suffer, their company, friends and family also suffer.  Unbelievably, people even get killed over job dissatisfaction.

There is an interesting irony in our American culture.  We publicize and encourage people to follow their dreams in this land of opportunity.  On the other hand, our culture also encourages people to focus on the day when they don't have to do what they supposedly like to do anymore.  

An ideal situation for many folks is to follow a path that allows them to live out their lives in a way that supports their passion.  From people who love to lay brick to those who put out fires to those who buy and sell companies, a common denominator of their happiness is that their work is their passion.  I am sure you have heard the saying, "love to work at work you love".

What a country!

If you bought sparklers for your July 4th celebration, you should light one up tonight.  Either celebrate the fact that you are free from job dissatisfaction or make today your Independence Day!  Perhaps one day you can look back and see the foresight you once had to enjoy the great freedom this land has to offer.  What a finale!

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

Over the past few weeks our country lost two individuals who made a profound impact on our country - Tim Russert and George Carlin.  Very different people with dramatically different styles, perspectives and occupations. One reverent, respectful thoughtful and religious...the other...quite the opposite.  One tried to keep people honest, the other brutally honest to the point of being offensive to some.

Though they were very different people they shared some commonalities - they were both admired by their peers, won industry awards and were best selling authors.  Most importantly, they both made us think about ourselves, our country and our cultures.   

They used their minds, researched their topics and reached out to Americans to send a similar message in different ways - challenge the status quo. Our country will miss both as they kept us and others on their toes. 

Rest in peace gentlemen...job well done.

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

Look out Ohio...there appears to be a pretty good chance that the Ohio Health Families Act will be on the November ballot...this is the proposed state of Ohio law that would require businesses with at least 25 employees to earn 7 paid sick days per year.  Add the administrative burden underlying this proposed law and you have another dagger in the back of small and mid size businesses.

There is no doubt that some businesses still need to get on the "bus" relative to providing fair and consistent paid time off benefits for full and part-time employees.  But, this is no reason to punish the rest of the organizations out there who are providing meaningful, fair compensation, benefits and paid time off to their workforce. 

I am afraid that this proposed law is gaining momentum to be on the November Ballot and the "polls" indicate that if it does, there is a pretty good likelihood that it will pass.  This will be a sad day in Ohio.  Small and mid-size businesses are the backbone of our state's economy.  Those voting "Yes" to the proposed law may think they will be winning the battle but will find out they lost the war and possibly their jobs.  Yep - this will hurt jobs and job creation.

We encourage you to educate your employees as we approach the November election - it is not too soon to start.

This is one Act we can afford to miss.

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

In the movie Polar Express there is a wonderful scene between the conductor of the Polar Express and the main child character.  The scene involves a discussion between the conductor and the child relative to the existence of Santa Claus.  The conductor mentions to the boy that sometimes "it's the things we cannot see that are the most real".  How true.

I was recently in conversation with the top marketing person for a very large professional service organization.  He was mentioning that he would not pursue any form of advertisement unless he could show upper management the "ROI" resulting from the advertisement and new sales.  I cringed.  Radio, billboards and television were certainly out as there would be no way to provide an exact correlation between any new sales and the advertisement.  Perhaps the marketing person never heard of the power of branding.  I'll bet if I looked in his medicine chest, it would be filled with all name-brand advertised products.

The same belief is unfortunately held by some CEOs who feel that investment in employee training must have an ROI to be approved.  I cringe again.  The "we'll train them and then they will leave" syndrome is still alive in some organizations.  Interestingly what will most likely happen in these organizations is that good people will leave if they are not provided training and career development opportunities.

Last but not least I was very impressed by a comment that Dr. Richard Lang of the Cleveland Clinic's Executive Health program mentioned at a program this week relative to executive physicals - with all the challenges besetting organizations this year, it seems that some organizations are considering cutting expenses relative to health, wellness and executive exams - at a time when these programs are probably needed more than ever given the stresses related to the challenges business are facing this year.

Time and time again, some organizations seem to stub their toe during tough times.  There tends to be knee jerk reactions relative to expense reductions which sometime have long -term impacts to the organization as a whole.

"Tug" McGraw was a pitcher for the 1973 New York Mets.  He coined a phrase during the Met's title run that year - "Ya Gotta Believe".  No ROI mentioned - just a plea to the team and the fans that seemed to move an entire City and team. 

Sometimes Ya Gotta Believe. 

I agree with the Polar Express' conductor's view on believing.  It's a great "train" to be on.  There are things you just know work - TV ads, employee training and wellness are just three examples of initiatives that work.

Time to get on the train, otherwise your company may be waiting at the station a long time for the next journey to success.

All aboard!

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

Over the past few years it has become striking to me the incredible amount of duplication of business services, products and web sites in American business.   We have gone from 33 flavors to vanilla in about 10 years.  

Seems like organizations that take the risks and pioneer new ideas, products and services are often copied.  Some might say that copying is the highest form of flattery.   I say poop to that.

Today, organizations that take the easy route and copy others differentiate themselves with marketing versus products/services.

Since when has it become stylish to follow the leaders?  It used to be that some organizations looked for best practices and then spent time, energy and research on going a step beyond the competition.  Apparently in these challenging economic times we have become a risk adverse business community where staying close to innovators is in vogue.

Maybe it's not the times at all.  Perhaps it is some of my fellow baby-boomers who quit taking chances as they see the dawn of retirement glimmering off in the horizon.  I hope not, for if that is true, these members of my generation are blowing the race before the finish line. 

I see company after company content to "trade" clients with competitors...lose one/gain one appears to be the mantra of the day.  A look back on business success for these organizations will reveal time spent walking in circles.  And, the circle is shrinking thanks to regionalization, globalization and technology.

On the other hand, there are some shining stars out there - caring less about the competition and focusing their energies on their existing customers.  They listen to their clients, go back to the drawing board and then come back with innovative products, services and solutions.  These are the organizations that are rocking and moving their organization and Northeast Ohio forward.

They are the organizations we read about, hear about and where legendary performance is being played out right in front of our eyes.  Instead of copying the great ones, let's get inspired by them.  They create jobs, new ideas and are making a difference.  Oh yea, they are also making a boat load of cash.

Hats off to the innovators in town - you are truly history in the making.

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

Last week two of my family members were in the hospital for surgery.  Fortunately they both did very well and are recovering nicely.  I spent quite a bit of time in the surgery waiting room last Wednesday and Friday.  The waiting area was very pleasant, roomy and comfortable.

On Friday, I had a few hunger pains mid afternoon and eyed a few vending machines.  I was hopeful that the selections would be healthy, as this hospital really promotes itself as one of the area's foremost authorities on wellness and health education.  Well, you guessed it - the only food choice that appeared to be a healthy selection were bags of roasted peanuts. The rest of the selections ranged from Milky Way bars to Kit Kats. 

So I went for the peanut bag which was selection E7.  Thank goodness the bag did not get stuck on the way down the machine, as my other option was to get in the car and go down the street in search of a healthy snack as the hospital's cafeteria was not open until late afternoon.  As I enjoyed my peanuts with bottled water I wondered if the folks at the hospital in charge of wellness and health education were aware of the irony of the vending machine selection in their waiting rooms.  I placed several calls to that area of the hospital with no return call as of yet.  I'm not planning on going back there any time soon (I hope) but wish the hospital can offer a few more options in their vending machines for the healthy conscious.  Imagine; they could have more than E7 being the only healthy letter/number combination.  Now that would be a winner.

Bingo!

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I had quite a number of comments (mostly verbal) from my blog last week regarding our local airport.  Here are two that seem to capture the spirit of discontent regarding the city's International Airport:

1 - "If you fly out of concourse A it is like you have a terminal disease. The last time I flew out of there, I went to the Great Lakes Brewing Co. "bar". Sorry out of Dortmunder, sorry out of Burning River, we do have Conway's Irish Ale (decent) and the porter. Asked why they were out, the response was, "everyone here is too lazy to bring the supplies to concourse A. By the way, do you want a shot with that for $3?" No, I don't want a shot, except maybe to the head."

2 - "Adding to the ambience (not!) is the ugly Allegra Concrete plant looming over the Metroparks and spoiling the view, either from the air or along 480. The south edge of the airport is now a demilitarized zone, even outside the fence. The areas which had homes, now torn down, are all posted no trespassing. Is there anything else we can do to create a worst first impression?"

A recent article in the PD expanded on a J.D. Power and Associates survey of U.S. airports. "The flying public found less to like at Cleveland Hopkins International over the past year. Travelers' opinions of the airport nose-dived, dropping it nine spots to 13th place in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 North American Airport Satisfaction Study being released today. Hopkins placed fourth the two previous years. The rankings are in their eighth year. The survey separates small, medium and large airports and gives them overall satisfaction ratings based on airport accessibility, baggage claim, check-in/baggage check process, terminal facilities, security check, and food and retail services. "

Wow...what a surprise.  Not.

Let's take a look at each of these categories...

• airport accessibility - actually not too bad unless you are dropping people off for a flight and/or picking them up. 
• baggage claim - the only claims made here are that it is ugly, poorly lit, loud and confusing.  Nothing like having four carousels empty and one handling three flights at one time.
• check-in/baggage check process - this is pretty good if you check in online. 
• terminal facilities - friendly, bright and welcoming...oh...I made a mistake, I was describing the Fort Meyers airport.
• security check - the TSA does their job, but the wait is a joke.  Can you imagine Hopkins' system in Orlando during spring break?
• food and retail services - horrendous, especially if your flight comes in after 7 pm - nothing is open. I wonder if horrendous was a choice in the survey.  

This story was a prelude to another "breaking story" I heard  on the radio about a proposed site for a convention center.  Holy cow, I forgot that someone is still thinking that is a good idea.  We can't even welcome travelers here well.  If I was a visitor and had a few hour layover in Cleveland it would affirm all the negative press about our region.  Something needs to change at the airport fast...every day conditions that the airport remain the same and business as usual transpires we are taking another step backwards.

What's it going to take to make an investment in that plot of land with landing strips?  Changing the name from Hopkins to CLE with a slick marketing campaign is not going to do the trick.  Doesn't look like that has worked too well either as J.D. Powers and Associates still refers to the airport using the old name.

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

Ever been on vacation and strike up a conversation with a fellow vacationer?  

One of the first questions in the conversation typically is; where are you from?  When that question comes up, how do you feel?  Are you ready to boastfully share your city of origin or are you sheepishly squeaking out...I'm from Cleveland. And, if you live in one of Cleveland's suburbs do you still say you're from Cleveland or mention the name of the suburb?

The answers to those questions can tell you a lot about how you really feel about the major city of our region.

When asked, I merely mention I am from the Cleveland area.  The replies and looks I receive are all over the board ranging from "You're kidding" to "Really?"  It has been my experience that people tend to identify us with our sports teams, that we are the poorest city in America and/or the old Cleveland jokes.  If you want to get a gauge on our region's brand, just ask someone not from the area.  There first response is often quite telling.

I am not sure we have helped matters.  When you look at the myriad of names attached to the area, you have to wonder if anyone really knows who the heck we are, as it appears as though we are having a hard time figuring that out ourselves.

Here is a sampling...

City of Cleveland

Greater Cleveland

Greater Cleveland Metropolitan Area

Cleveland Hopkins (oops I forgot that this one does not exist anymore)

CLE

Positively Cleveland

Cleveland Plus (someone forgot the entire east and west side on this one since it only includes Akron, Canton and Youngstown)

Northeast Ohio

NEO

Team NEO

I have lived in this region for over 50 years.  And, for a good part of my adult life the area was referred to as the Cleveland Metropolitan Area or Northeast Ohio - pretty simple to remember. 

We seem to be acting like someone in the witness protection program that keeps screwing up - just keep creating new names/identities until we they get it right.

Let's try and stick with one name.  Then let's quit the complaining and move forward, make progress and start standing proud.

The next time you are on vacation work a little.  On our good name.

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

My guess is that there were plenty of people in Northeast Ohio rooting against the CAVS the other night when they beat the Washington Wizards to advance to the Eastern Conference semi-finals.  And, interestingly they are all probably diehard CAVS fans!

Who are these people?  Well, one of them is me.

I was hoping for a game seven in Northeast Ohio.  That is the one I wanted the CAVS to win. And, I'll bet all the folks downtown Cleveland who benefit from our sports' teams home games were quietly rooting that the CAVS would have to play one more game in that series at the Q.

By winning game six, our region lost millions of dollars - the revenue generated locally for a game seven would have been great.  I think our area could use the money.

To me it's about our sports teams getting in the playoffs and playing as many games at home as possible.  It's fun to see our teams win...it's more fun when we know that the dollars generated make a difference for the hotels, restaurants, etc.

The Boston Celtics are up next for the CAVS.  They have home court advantage.  So like all of you, I will be hoping the CAVS win...but hoping they don't do it too soon.  Let's max-out on the possible home dates.  

That would make a big "DIF".

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

If you are a regular grocery shopper like me, perhaps you will appreciate some of my observations about our fellow shoppers. Over the years, I have observed three general types of grocery shoppers: the "racer," the "saver" and the "scientist." There are combinations of these stereotypical shoppers, which given the right blend, can yield terrific results. And, there are some great comparisons to how businesses "shop" for talented employees.  But first, let's take a moment to explore each:

The Racer. This person is all about speed. From the moment they pull into the food store's parking lot, they are focused on beating their previous best shopping time. Once the cart is in hand, the Racer eyes the competition (other shoppers that might get in the way) and skillfully travels through food aisles with the grace, speed and power of an NFL tailback. If this person sees someone familiar (like a neighbor), they go into stealth mode avoiding a time consuming conversation, even if it is just an obligatory hello. The Racer is efficient but may finish shopping without saving money (coupons slow you down at checkout) and sacrificing quality (buy the food in easy reach without looking at the nutrition labels).

The Saver. This person puts Sherlock Holmes to shame. Armed with a stack of coupons, the Saver meticulously seeks out the best bargains of the day. In addition, the Saver's ears are tuned into announcements regarding daily specials. At the checkout line, this person is a cashier's nightmare as each item electronically scanned is double checked by the Saver on the checkout screen to ensure fair and proper pricing. The Saver is great at saving money but perhaps inefficient, and like the Racer may have ignored the quality of the food just to save a couple of bucks.

The Scientist. The Scientist is consumed with the contents of the food items purchased. Labels and expiration dates are everything to this person. This Scientist is easy to identify in a food store, as they study the nutritional contents of the food item as if the label was under a microscope. Cost of the item and time taken to select the "right" product" are typically irrelevant.

When it comes to shopping for top business talent, many corporate recruiters fall into similar categories. Some focus on getting in candidates as fast as possible. Others look to save a few recruiting dollars. And those who key on finding the candidate with perfect "ingredients." Typically, these one-dimensional approaches to recruiting top performers seldom result in great hires.

If your organization is determined to identify and recruit top performers then consider some of the following shopping tips:

Speed is important. Sometimes making the buying decision is tougher than the shopping experience. If you find an ideal candidate, try not to drag the person through weeks and weeks of endless and poorly planned interviews. Have an efficient and professional recruitment process to enable top candidates to move through the system in a timely fashion.

Prepare your shoppers. Any individual in your organization that will be interviewing candidates should be prepared for interviews. Poor planning and inexperienced interviewers can ruin the chances of recruiting top candidates.

Know what you're seeking. This may seem overly simplistic, but know what you are looking for before you go out recruiting talent. Have an updated written job description and performance expectations completed ahead of time. Think of these instruments as your shopping list.

Occasionally use professional shoppers. There are certainly times when some recruiting should be outsourced to recruiting- and retained-search professionals. Do your homework to identify firms that have industry experience, excellent references and willing to work with you on fees. And, by all means look to use local firms first before going outside of Northeast Ohio.

Store your purchases. Think of top performers like perishable food items. If you don't take care of them properly, your purchases will not last. Establish and maintain a top-notch on-boarding program and great workplace so that when you bring in that wonderful candidate they are thrilled with their new home.

Recruiting top performers is an art and science. It is a blend of speed, quality, efficiency and preparedness.

Oh, and about those ingredients; ensure that your candidates can provide the following necessary daily requirements in your workplace: initiative, creativity, teamwork, job knowledge, passion and results. Use good selection tools to improve the possibility that your candidate can bring these attributes to the table. Remember, most of your employees do not come with a money back guarantee, so shop smart.