The Fallen Willow-November 2012

The wrath of Hurricane Sandy thankfully spared my family. Unlike many others who were without power for several days, experienced severe flooding and property damage and even loss of life, we escaped relatively unscathed. When the weather cleared, my wife and I wandered outside to survey the damage. Sadly, a forty foot weeping willow tree we planted many years ago had been uprooted by the strong winds and lay there in the yard with its severed root ball attached. We had planted several of these trees as saplings but this was the only one that survived. It had been on our property the better part of 20 years and we had seen it flourish and grow. The tree's demise reminded me of how, without continued support and a strong base to rely upon, even people and things that appear indestructible can topple like our willow tree. The fallen willow was also reminiscent of people I have seen hired who were believed to be the answer to a company's prayers. They were vigorously recruited for their perceived strength and expertise in the hope that they would somehow impart those qualities upon the existing employee base that was deemed lacking in skills and abilities. "We need to bring in outside talent" was, and continues to be, a common phrase bandied about during succession planning sessions. To me, that overused phrase is nothing more than a cop out that enables an executive team to abdicate their responsibility to develop and nurture the talent within. They labor under the misconception that it's easier to pin our hopes on the new person than exert the time and effort to cultivate what we already have. Unfortunately, more often than not the superstar candidates turn out to be much less than expected. Unless they are able to become rooted in the company culture and can build support among their co-workers, they simply won't last. They may still project the superficial image of the perfect candidate but ultimately they will leave the organization. Ironically, that same facade will help them secure a new position in another company that believes outside talent is the answer. If we can help you strengthen your employee" willow trees" or find a few new "saplings" to grow your company, give us a call at 610-287-1162 or email me at phil@hrsolutionsonline.com. From my family to yours, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving and please keep those still suffering from the effects of the storm in your thoughts and prayers.