Now is the time to prepare...

This last week I attended the ASTD Chapter Leader Conference in Washington DC. (ALC)  It was a fantastic opportunity to bring knowledge back to my Chapter as well as to network with others and see how they implement successful programs and initiatives in their locales.  Perhaps my favorite part was getting to make new friends and reignite the relationships of legacy friends that I hadn't seen in a while.  We got to share, laugh, giggle, and relate some of our challenges.  Those times helped remind me that I'm not alone in my challenges to move my Chapter forward and work with my Board to help grow and develop the workplace learning and performance professionals in the community.

Las Vegas has been decimated in many of the training arenas.  Because much of what we do is either taken for granted or misunderstood, it was the first to go when funds had to be cut.  So many companies are going to be left with mediocre talent at best when things turn around.  From many of the conversations I had while in DC, things are beginning to get better elsewhere.  It's going to take a while here in LV, yet I don't think that is going to stop people from leaving once they can get what they paid for out of their homes.  I'm really nervous that talent management is not being taken seriously because it's all about financial capital and not about human capital.

I'm certainly not advocating bankruptcy in lieu of making payroll.  It's interesting when you look at the financials of some of the publicly traded companies that have shed so many positions--they have not lost money, it's just their profit margins are not where they should be, so they cut the first thing that is easiest to cut, and that's labor.  So then where does all of that intellectual property go?  Somewhere else, which is detrimental to any organization. 

That's where the Conference comes in.  Many messages talked about the need to recognize the contributions of our volunteer Members to thank them for giving of their spare time and energy to better our organization.  Many of them do not get any recognition at work, so we should not be found guilty of the same offense.  A simple thank you, a card, donuts, anything to say we recognize what they do and the impact that it has.  People will stay, put down roots, grow with us, and stick it out through the hard times if they feel a part of what is going on.  Failure to do so only hurries them out the door.

Revenge is evil for evil; ingratitude is evil for good.  Thank people who have made a contribution and deserve it and see how they give and give and give.