The Corporate Storyteller

Many business sages predict that there will be a huge wave of job hopping when the economy improves. This prediction is based on the assumption that even the go-getters are hanging onto whatever position they have until it feels safe to take a leap and look for better opportunities.

With the pressures of declining revenues and uncertainty in the marketplace, I wonder how many organizational leaders are taking steps to learn what their best, brightest and most productive employees want and need--and doing their best to keep them happy so they will remain committed to the company. And I wonder how many leaders are clearly communicating their commitment to employees.

I love the story about Thomas J. Watson, the late president and chairman of the board of IBM, who was asked if he was going to fire an employee who had made a mistake that cost the company $600,000. Watson replied, "No, I just spent $600,000 training him. Why would I want somebody to hire his experience?"