Oh dear. I didn't sleep too well last night. I had a terrible vision... 

...it had to do with shrinking pools – and the vision that flashed up was one I had seen on television in one of those fascinating nature programmes that both amaze and worry you.

There was a drought coming – the waters were receding, and in the deeper pools the shallower channels that connected them to the main flow were approaching dangerously low levels – effectively cutting them off.

Some of the cleverer little fish spotted what was happening, put on their metaphoric pumps and with a deft flick of their tails “legged” it across the channel in the style of Indiana Jones. They made it to a deeper pool and eventually out to the main stream – scary, but surprisingly invigorating!

The older, more “experienced” fish expected to “sit” it out in their old pond despite the diminishing amount of water (and therefore oxygen) and determined to carry on regardless. They accepted that it was good for those upstarts to leave and make more room for the serious boys in the good old pond.

What Goes Around...

What do you think? Are we in for a double-dip recession? Seems to me that the economic pundits are waffling hard on this topic. In a Bnet article, Margaret Heffernan seems to think so, but she offers great advice for what to do in a double-dip – grow! Click over to read her case study of Timken and how they, “Invest when times are tough so we can capitalise on those investments in the good times.”

A Towers Watson survey found many US and Canadian companies are following this advice, at least in terms of their investment in “talent/performance systems,” citing these as the most critical HR Service delivery issues in 2010 (quoting):

• Talent/performance management systems (42% versus 35% in 2009)
• Streamlining processes/systems (35% — unchanged from 2009)
• Increased involvement in strategic business-driven issues (27% versus 23% in 2009)

Strategic Employee Recognition: by Derek Irvine

I hear a lot of talk about the importance of visible leadership, I expect you do too. My experience shows me that's about as far as it goes. I don't see much of it. Talk visible, be invisible. Leave it to someone else. What can we do to encourage more leaders to come out. To meet and talk with people. To be seen and heard. Here's a short note you can copy, personalise and send to a senior leader in your organisation. I'm trying it out on a few people, and have had some positive reactions and some silence so far, will let you know what more happens when it does. It would be great if you use this and share any feedback with us.

What Goes Around...

I picked up the phone yesterday and it was a recorded message and included the words “do not hang up” which of course I did. Which reminded me of a friend who regularly stayed in a hotel with signs in the bathroom saying “have you forgotten anything” and she regularly did forget to take things home with her there too.

These are both examples of how easy it is to become hypnotised ie our unconscious picks up on the cues and takes action accordingly. I’m not sure the phone message intends us to hang up but that’s certainly what they’re saying to our unconscious. I wonder how many times my friend had to read the note for her unconscious to pick up she should forget something?

Paddle Finding with Alison Smith