questioning to find alternative solutions
or to see different opportunities. Take a
step back whenever possible, and look
from different perspectives and angles.
For example, watch the movie Yes Man.
Carl Allen, played by actor Jim Carrey,
initially has a negative outlook on life.
But after he hears a guru speak, Allen
completely changes his approach to life,
becomes inspired and begins to seize
every new opportunity that comes his
way. Tomorrow starts inside you.
LESSON #2: TOMORROW WILL
BE MORE GLOBAL
“The only things you learn are the things
you tame,” said the fox. “People haven’t time to
learn anything. They buy things ready-made
in stores. But since there are no stores where
you can buy friends, people no longer have
friends. If you want a friend, tame me!”
“What do I have to do?” asked the little
prince.
“You have to be very patient,” the fox
answered. “First you’ll sit down a little ways
away from me, over there, in the grass. I’ll
watch you out of the corner of my eye, and you
won’t say anything. Language is the source of
misunderstandings. But day by day, you’ll be
able to sit a little closer. …”
The more global that the world gets
and the more that economic power is
shifting toward new and developing
economies, the more prevalent that social
and cultural misunderstandings will
become. Keep a healthy sense of doubt
when dealing with global audiences,
and ask as many questions you can to
improve communication Languages are
not the only barrier; meanings are as well.
Important findings and insights sometimes
take time and require that you get to
know people at deep levels before they
feel comfortable sharing their thoughts.
To be better prepared for the global
arena, keep an open mind, be curious,
have doubts and be patient. Remember,
www.HRCI.org
knowing is a process; there has never
been so much to learn.
LESSON #3: TOMORROW WILL
BE EVIDENCE-BASED
“Grown-ups like numbers. When you
tell them about a new friend, they never ask
questions about what really matters. They
never ask: ‘What does his voice sound like?’
‘What games does he like best?’ ‘Does he collect
butterflies?’ They ask: ‘How old is he?’ ‘How
many brothers does he have?’ ‘How much does
he weigh?’ ‘How much money does his father
make?’ Only then do they think they know him.
If you tell grown-ups, ‘I saw a beautiful red
brick house, with geraniums at the windows
and doves on the roof …,’ they won’t be able to
imagine such a house. You have to tell them,
‘I saw a house worth a hundred thousand
francs.’ Then they exclaim, ‘What a pretty
house!’”
A more competitive global arena
requires an increased focus on evidencebased management. Evidence can include
both numbers and intangibles, and our
thinking needs to occasionally embrace
ambiguity. In fact, sometimes intangibles
can be transformed into numbers. As
the little prince suggests, we need to be
mindful to adapt our approach to our
work. Every profession, including human
resources, has to become more business
savvy. HR professionals need to speak the
global business language of numbers, facts
and data.
LESSON #4: TOMORROW ALSO
WILL BE ABOUT INTUITION
“People where you live,” the little prince
said, “grow five thousand roses in one garden
... yet they don’t find what they’re looking for.
...”
“They don’t find it,” I answered.
“And yet what they’re looking for could be
found in a single rose, or a little water. ...”
“Of course,” I answered.
And the little prince added, “But eyes are
2014: Volume I
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