Water Cooler Conversations

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

This has certainly been an interesting year.  The Presidential campaign, gasoline prices, Black Monday, Russian invasions and the continuance of the wars in the middle east to name a few.  It would be no wonder if the average American is a little dazed and confused.  Wow…2008 is not the year I thought it might be…it had so much promise.

I was watching CNN the other evening and they were illustrating on a chart, the expansion of the
U.S. deficit with the so-called “bailout” to exceed $16 trillion.  The American public should be screaming.  The mess that has occurred over so many years is going to take a very long time to correct, even if the right measures are put into place. 

The deficit and the financial mess we are in are byproducts of a bigger problem in this country that has no signs of slowing down.  We are saddled with a leadership deficit, the likes of which may be the biggest in our nation’s history.   I think my generation blew it.  We had our chance.

I am hopeful that the upcoming generations look at the childish and gutless behaviors of our elected officials and corrupt CEOs and recognize that reform is a must.  It is not an option.  It’s going to take guts and determination.  But they will have their chance and here is one Boomer that is praying that my kids’ generation don’t follow our horrible lead. 

Shame on us.

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

Last week ERC recognized the NorthCoast 99 winners (www.northcoast99.org) at the annual awards dinner.  The 2008 winners represented organizations and industries throughout our region and share a common focus of attracting and retaining top performers. The theme of our event was Workplace Revolutions.  We believe that this past year and all previous 9 years that ERC has recognized great workplaces that winners revolutionize their workplaces – making small and large scale changes that differentiate their organization and most importantly make a difference in the lives of their employees.

We looked back over the past ten years of celebrating
Northeast Ohio workplaces and recognize that much has been accomplished by these extraordinary organizations.  To put things in perspective, our NorthCoast 99 winners have made the following impact to our region:

• ten years of better than average salary increases for thousands of employees throughout Northeast Ohio.
• ten years of increasingly robust career development, mentorship, and safety programs for those employees.  
• ten years of enhanced employee benefits including wellness, financial, and retirement planning education; onsite convenience services, and support programs.  
• ten years of expanding workplace flexibility, telecommuting options, compressed workweeks, and the slow but steady extinction of traditional and punitive policies.  
• ten years of increasingly open communication about company and individual performance and greater opportunities for employees to provide input into how to make those companies more successful.  
• ten years of leaders taking more active roles in interacting with all employees, recognizing performance, and participating in and promoting service and social responsibility efforts, and  
• ten years of an ever sharpening focus on the importance of attracting and retaining top talent in Northeast Ohio.

It means increasing opportunity.  It means showcasing our region as a great place to live and work.  It means new jobs – well over 100,000 – and that’s just in the last 5 years.

There is no better way to lead, than to lead by example.  NorthCoast 99 winners are doing just that.  Their ideas and actions in many ways are revolutionary.  It takes guts, innovation and a belief that creating great workplaces for top performers is the catalyst for organizational success. 

This is one revolution against the status quo that is worth fighting.

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

As we trudge through the rhetoric, name calling and media hype of the Presidential campaign, it occurred to me that most of us who plan to vote have very little criteria upon which to make our decision.  As with prior elections, the candidates are hopeful that we vote for them based upon factors that have very little to do with actually performing the President’s job.  The selection process for most elected offices, including the President of the
United States, is quite unlike anything used in the private sector.  We (the private sector) utilize job descriptions, rigorous interviews, psychological assessments and background investigations as tools to improve the odds of selecting the best candidate.  

Going one step further, can you imagine the results we would achieve with the U.S. President’s position if an executive search firm was retained to identify and help select qualified candidates for the position?  Incidentally, based upon the President’s annual compensation of $400,000 the search fee would be a paltry $132,000 compared to the hundred of millions spent on the modern day two party campaigns.  Imagine if you had the responsibility of recruiting for the position on the open job market!

Well, we did…and to help you better imagine the challenge it would be to recruit for the next U.S. President (based on what we know of the qualifications necessary to get elected) we thought it would be fun to present you with the following draft “job description” for the position.

As someone once said…if it wasn’t true it would actually be funny. 

Written by Pat Perry
President, ERC 

Northeast Ohiojust enjoyed another spectacular Labor Day weekend relative to the weather.  In stark contrast our fellow Americans in the south were bracing for Gustav and Hanna.

We might have a few snowstorms and a bit of wicked weather at times, but we are certainly blessed with moderate weather throughout the year.  On top of that we have the good fortune of the change of seasons. 

Maybe it is time that we promote our good weather and four seasons to potential out-of-town employment candidates and companies, instead of making apologies.  Sure, we have our fair share of cloudy skies but those clouds never send us evacuating entire municipalities, or cause us concern for loss of life.

It is hard to imagine the hardships that the good people of New Orleans and the surrounding regions have endured and are enduring.  I know that our collective hearts reach out to them – and I am sure that donations and volunteerism from Northeast Ohio will soon follow to help those in need.

So as we near the winter months, just remember that we have it pretty darn good.  And…that’s no snow job.