“I Wish I Was 55,” Updated to “It Is What It Is”

In 2007, I wrote how people at one company often said, “I wish I was 55, because I can get my pension and other retirement benefits.”   In 2009, the company and many companies have eliminated some retirement benefits, such as health insurance, and reduced salaries, 401K contributions, and other compensation.   Now employees are saying they will have to work till they are 65.

I wonder what leaders of companies believe is accomplished by aggravating and discouraging employees.  When employees respond to all these changes by saying, “It is what it is;”  how does that contribute to achieving excellence.

On a positive note, I interviewed some pipeline controllers at a natural gas pipeline company last week.  They said their company provides excellent support for their job and the management appreciates the work of controllers.   That is wonderful!

Posted June 15th, 2009 in Leadership, Operational Excellence

A Training Course for Pipeline Controllers

Our company completed two months of training for liquids pipeline controllers from PetroChina.  While we emphasized professional pipeline operations, we devoted attention to human factors subjects, leadership, teamwork, and communication.

I emphasized that controllers have to know, do, and be. Each person developed a personal operations philosophy for an ideal controller.

Course Introduction

Posted June 14th, 2009 in Human Factors, Operational Excellence

The Difficulties of Team Building

Since I’ve been working with teams for many years, it is no surprise that team building is difficult. I think it is becoming more difficult. Some of my recent reading reminded me of what makes team building hard work for leaders. (more…)

Posted August 27th, 2007 in Leadership, Operational Excellence