Generating more profit from the people in their organizations; that’s the core message to the masses in Mobilizing Minds: Creating Wealth from Talent in the 21st Century Organization. In this well researched book, two McKinsey consultants draw on a decade of research and front line experience with Fortune 100 companies.
What struck me as most interesting is the writers clear appreciation for the value of Human Capital. As this blog often focuses on worklife issues, this book is perfect for examining how worklife issues are manifesting in corporate American. Mobilizing Minds takes the managing strategies of the workforce to a new level of understanding. The book argues that in today’s organization, in order to retain workers who disdain the stereotypical running of corporate America, return on investment per employee will be more based on human skills, “the value of their minds, the ideas they develop and the decisions they make; and from the intangible by-products of that work, such as knowledge, reputations and relationships they create.”
This is a refreshing approach. The authors offer nine strategic ideas that can be used to re-design organizations and derive greater wealth from their talent. They also acknowledge that we are well beyond the Industrial or Technology Age as we have been transported into an era of Knowledge. Computers can spout out knowledge and stats, but humanoids experience it and can grow from it.
We are operating in a global digital economy, but according to this book, the surest path to conquering the biggest market share is to increase the ROI on employees, hold on to those workers, and to multiply their numbers while keeping them loyal and happy.
