From a Knowledge Infusion standpoint, I have given 17 speeches in the past 30 days.  The one thing about speaking frequently, is that you often run into people and see things that make you smile.  Signs like this are quite rewarding.  Even with the latest in technology innovation, some things you still need a reminder about..

Submit your funniest signs here

Hmm.. Another infusion of knowledge...

Investors in People (IIP) recently published an interesting piece of research that caught the eyes of Knowledge Infusion.  We continually build Talent Management strategies for organizations that look at how the existing talent is feeling within an organization, how the outside world views an organization from an "employer of choice" standpoint and how the existing workforce is driving true business results.

The IIP study revealed some interesting highlights such as:

• De-motivation is highest within larger companies with 39% of people
             in organizations of 5,000 or more say that they are either not very or
             not at all motivated compared to 30% in organizations of between 50 and
             250 people.

• 43% of those surveyed are considering taking action and leaving
             their job in the next 12 months, with those that have been in their job
             for one to two years most likely to want to do so (48%).

• The top three de-motivating factors for employees were:
             unreasonable workload (18%), feeling underpaid (18%) and lack of clear
             career path (17%)

• For those that have been in their role for one to two years, lack
             of a clear career path (24%) was the most de-motivating factor, greater
             than workload (17%) or pay (16%).

These figures were even lower (or more depressing) for the public sector.  Even though these figures are from the UK, look for them to be similar or even greater in the United States.

Take a look at your overall talent management approach and what you are doing to drive your workforce.  Are you letting them build their own career paths?  Are you letting your workforce collaborate with each other to stay engaged?

Some things to think about..Click below for a link to the IIP...

Another infusion of knowledge...

Investors In People

At Knowledge Infusion, we frequently discuss and implement strategies to help organizations to deal with the Milenial population.  Remember, this is the population that most call "Digital Natives" and live and die by their computer.

Tonight, in the Atlanta Hartsfield airport, a true example of someone who couldn't think outside of their computer.  While checking in to a flight from Bermuda to Atlanta to Richmond, the gate agent said the following:

"Mr. Averbook, my computer shows that you are in Chicago.  The only way you will be able to get on this plane is if you buy a ticket from Atlanta to Richmond."  As you can imagine, a first reaction might be "well, I am not in Chicago, I am right here in front of you.", which is what I said.   After another glance at the computer the gate agent said:

"I am sorry, we show you flew from Bermuda to Chicago, therefore unable to use this ticket.  If you have further questions, please pick up the phone behind you and dial 1122."  Deep breath.  As I turned around to use the phone, slowly picked it up, dialing 1122 and I heard, "we are unable to help you since we are experiencing high call volume, you may hold or call back later."

What did I do, I held.  15 minutes till flight time.  Finally an answer on the phone, it was someone in India.  How did I know that, they told me they were in India after I was repremanded for not telling them that Richmond was in Virginia and Virginia was in the USA.   The agent on the phone said "I am in India, I don't know which Richmond you were speaking of."  After we got that straightened out, the agent in India told me again that I was in Chicago and I would have to find a way to get to Chicago to get my flight.

Clearly frustrated, I hung up the phone and walked back to customer service.  I was stopped by a nice woman, Jasmine, who said "you look frustrated."  She looked up my record, said "wow, someone made a real mistake" and she walked me on to the plane.  She was someone in her mid 50's that had clearly earned her stripes at the airline.

Why am I rambling about this - message is simple.  People, process and technology - a message we discuss continually at Knowledge Infusion.  The technology is only as good as the deployment and the use of it.  Without the knowledge and skills around customer service and a genuine care about others, technology is nothing.

Lets hope that this upcoming generation is truly more about togetherness than the generations past.  Afterall, most futurists say that the Milenials are a generation with a focus on "we" and "team".  Hopefully, that can be applied to customer service into the future.

I would love to hear your stories of dealing with someone who couldn't get away from their computer screen.

Another infusion of knowledge...

While speaking at a HR conference in Bermuda today for one of the largest hospitality organizations in the world, the theme of the event that was repeated over and over again was "think globally, act locally."

This theme is the theme that Knowledge Infusion uses on a daily basis when working with client whether operations solely in the US or whether a multi-national, global enterprise with locations all over the world.  Talent Management is a global function and continues to change the face of HR forever.  Whether dealing with regulations or local unions, HR for the most part has been able to focus on where the business does business.  This is no longer as organizations strive for any competitive advantage in recruiting talent from around the world.

On the SuccessFactors blog today, Erik Berggren does a good job of recapping this theme as well and a read for all looking at talent management and the impact that technology MUST have today for HR to be successful.

HR is a global operation and will be from this point forward.  It is an imperative to build your HR and talent management technology strategy in this way or you will lose competitive advantage very quickly.

Another infusion of knowledge...

Link to SuccessFactors blog entry today