From his early days as a sports columnist to his authorship of great books like ‘Tuesdays With Morrie’, Mitch Albom has always been one of my favorite writers. Last week he wrote an excellent column in the Detroit Free Press (http://bit.ly/etfXo1) that talks about employee engagement, the economic downturn and a corporate caste system that never seems to change. This column is another wake up call that we need to take control of our careers. My favorite quotes from the article include:
- Let’s face it. Corporations — especially big ones — saw a lot they liked in the economic downturn: They were able to shed workers, trim benefits, force a leaner, meaner company — all in the name of surviving the global market shrinkage.
- I’d like to say bosses need to wake up. I’d like to say some bubble will burst. But I fear the new reality may well be that the top guys do well, the middle guys have no life because of a stressed work load, and the bottom guys are expendable.
- A new study suggests that more than a third of Americans are hoping to leave their job to find a different one this year. A third? That same study suggests their bosses think the employees are satisfied. That spells a disconnect.
The out-of-touch executive is the weakest link of any company. Great entry, Duncan!