The other night I had a bizarre dream I feel compelled to share with you. Though it was a bit strange, I thought relaying the key parts of my dream would stimulate some thoughts on how a stranger to our world's approach might view our priorities and work life.
The dream started out innocently. I was enjoying a warm summer evening, watching the sunset from my back deck when all of a sudden I was startled by what I thought was a shooting star. It was quite beautiful and filled the night sky with brilliant light.
But suddenly, it headed straight for our house and, in a flash, exploded in my backyard.
Scared to death, I approached the burning object and soon discovered an alien aircraft. In a split second, the door opened and out popped a young "man." He smiled, extended his hand and introduced himself as Jack. Instinctively, yet with some hesitancy, I reciprocated with a handshake and smile.
I just stood there in awe, with my jaw dropped to the floor as Jack began to explain that he was simply the equivalent of an Earth college student. He was visiting our planet to complete a research paper on Earth's workplaces for a course he was taking back home. However, he feared he might fail the class, as he was leaving without answers to his research questions necessary to complete the assignment. I quickly assured him that with my HR background I could provide the answers he needed so he could get on his way.
"Great, earthling!" Jack happily responded. "I appreciate your interest in helping me. But I am not sure you can answer these questions. I have searched for them but cannot find logical explanations."
"Just trust me," I said confidently.
"OK, earthling. Here we go!" stated an eager Jack, who then proceeded to rattle off his questions:
• "Why do your managers in your planet's organizations continue to complete annual performance reviews if they hate the process?"
• "Why do so many earthlings go to places called ‘work' unhappily every day?"
• "Why are new employees put on ‘probation?' Did they do something wrong?"
• "Why are your planet's professional athletes paid and praised more than earthlings that save lives, find cures for diseases or teach your offspring?"
• "Why do some organizations have candy and chips in their vending machines, but get upset about their rising health-insurance costs?"
• "Why do some companies have a policy that stipulates workers can take bereavement leave only for the people on a sanctioned list? Are your earthlings not permitted to mourn the passing of those not on the list?"
• "Why do they call it a ‘work/life balance' if your workers still spend more time at the office than with their families?"
"Jack, enough," I pleaded. "I'm not sure I want to answer your questions."
Jack just stared at me. He sheepishly grinned and replied, "I didn't think so."
He extended his hand and thanked me for my time. He wished me well as he climbed back into his ship. And with that, the cockpit door closed and his ship shot up into the night sky. I remember the earth shaking terribly when it took off. But as it turned out, it was actually my wife waking me up.
My dream got me thinking that perhaps it's time that we each step back, pretend we are "Jack" and look at our companies from a stranger's perspective. A new and different angle can painfully point out that changing old habits and/or some priorities is not an option but a condition of continued success.
If your workplace policies and programs are in need of change, develop a sound game plan to create enhancements. Otherwise, trying to attract and retain top performers in the short and long term will increasingly become a real nightmare.
Incidentally, can you imagine if there really are aliens out there? And what if they came to our planet and observed our workplaces? My guess is they would head back to their planet (quickly) and inform their colleagues that Earth is a great place to visit, but not a place they would want to work.
Pat Perry is president of ERC, Northeast Ohio's largest organization dedicated to HR and workplace programs, practices, training and consulting. For more information, visit www.ercnet.org.