Words of Wisdom, Quotes From Jack Welch

An Update from the 2009 SHRM Annual Conference & Exposition

Once a year HR professionals gather for the world’s largest HR conference to network with participants from over 140 countries, including prominent business, policy, and HR thought-leaders.  This year in New Orleans, SHRM’s (Society of Human Resource Management) annual conference  attendees acquired tools, got questions answered, and participated in more than 150 learning sessions.

This year’s keynote speaker was the infamous, and Forbes’ CEO of the Century, Mr. Jack Welch. Through an interview style dialogue format, Mr. Welch spoke on the mandate for HR, the economy, and business strategies.  Jack Welch reiterated the message that strong HR is absolutely vital to the success of any organization in the new economy.

Jack Welch’s Words of Wisdom (quotes not translated word for word, but the general idea and meanings expressed below):

• HR’s role in the organization: “Right alongside the CFO.”
• “HR equals constant upgrading.  100% transparency into performance. Take care of the best and move up the averages, much like a GM/ player personnel director in sports. The only way to win is to have a great team.”
• “Get out of the picnics, birthdays, insurance form business. Nobody wants to see some crazy HR cheerleader in there while [the organization] is leaking. Making a company informal is a very big deal.”
• On Management: “Layers of bureaucracy… that game is over.”
• On Performance Improvement: “I guarantee you that your compensation plan is stale. You get the behavior you measure and reward. Well thought, long-term focused comp. programs work.”
• “Longer-term compensation will be a great outcome from this economy. It’s all about getting the best team.”
• On Effective Management for these turbulent times:  “Over-communicate, and communicate like hell to improve performance.
• On ramifications of the recent economic woes on: [Many workers are now looking to become entrepreneurs as they believe] “The hell with corporate America. That change is real.”
• For job seekers: “Pick the job that turns your crank. Don’t pick by industry.”
• One Trend: “Online education is the real deal.” (Jack and his wife have started an “online MBA”)
• On the economy: “Enormous chance [for businesses] to change and reset, but takes a culture of innovation. The one thing you have to do in a time like this is communicate like hell… so your people know every move that is going on. You don’t go in and just slash positions and they don’t know why. HR defines a company in bad times.”

For more Human Capital and HR Best Practices checkout the official 2009 SHRM Annual Conference Blog.

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[mekesha pryer]

“The lips of the wise scatter knowledge,

But the heart of fool is not so.”