People Are Not Resources

in Management by Emily Snell

People Are Not Resources

People Are Not Resources

Wheezing from exhaustion is the outdated view that people are resources. The prevailing view of people is one rooted in finances. Resources – money, stocks and other assets – are finite and have an expiration date. People’s capabilities and ideas, however, are infinite. And by the prevailing use of the term resources in business, people are not resources.

The prevailing view of people is one rooted in finances

As human beings, we can draw on an infinite amount of possibilities, ideas and apply them through our always-unfolding experiences learned from life. We use our intellect, our collaborative natures to tease out nuances in new business ideas or revolutionize markets through a new product offering. It is silly to say this, but necessary for the point, but money, stocks or other finite assets cannot revolutionize markets.

People revolutionize markets. Assets are merely a means to such an end. Money without people is useless.

The 20th century viewpoint that believes people are a means to an end has run its course. We are seeing employees refusing to play by the tired rules from the previous century. They are leaving jobs to start their own work. They are leaving companies that treat them as a finite asset in hopes of finding someplace where they are valued.

The 20th century viewpoint that believes people are a means to an end has run its course.

Sure CEOs and their counterparts are slow to acknowledge this. Too many are chasing finite resources for short-term gain. We will, however, see alarmed faces and panicked actions from decision makers when they cannot get the talent they want because of arcane policies that treat people as finite resources.

The organizations who want to tap into the infinite possibilities that exist between each of our two ears will find a more willing collaborator in employees.

The nuance in such a change is that a relationship exists between manager and employee unlike what is familiar and broken today: boss tells employee what to do; employee complies. Or worse, employee shares ideas and manager takes credit or smothers ideas.

People are not resources. People are who turn resources into more resources. It is people who transform markets or turn businesses into sensations. People are not a means to an end. That is merely short-termed thinking that has soured capitalism, poisoned too many corporate cultures, and lured decision-makers into abandoning their humanity and ethics for the promise of riches.

 It is people who transform markets or turn businesses into sensations

People are not resources. Today we have companies showing us how to collaborate with employees in a manner that sparks ideas that turn into profit. Companies like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Morning Star and a host of other corporate giants who believe that through people and purpose profit will follow.

Collaborate with employees in a manner that sparks ideas that turn into profit

So, what do you, dear reader, do with this information? I have a few suggestions.

  • Get mad and do something. Begin the internal inquiry into what you can personally change that would place greater value on the value your people create.
  • Identify and write down your values. Are you managing and leading in line with them? Let your team know what your values are. If you manage your biases, you’ll find this exercise enriching.
  • Find others who are interested in switching to the shift highlighted in this post. Don’t limit your search to just your company.

This is a transition period of shedding outdated management and leadership views that minimize the value of people into a finite resource. It is up to you to choose to make effective use of this period.

About the Author

Emily Snell

Emily is a contributing marketing author at ChamberofCommerce.com where she regularly consults on content strategy and overall topic focus. Emily has spent the last 12 years helping hyper growth startups and well-known brands create content that positions products and services as the solution to a customer's problem.

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