Transforming Human Capital & Human Resources to Human Kind

I just read something that referred to the workforce as “Human Capital”.  When we do this we reinforce previous outdated beliefs about the lazy uneducated workforce that require managing and motivating.  The terminology “capital” and “resources” imply that people are there for productivity and are thus objectified and dehumanized.   

In order to really make change and increase productivity we need to have compassion and be Mindful about ourselves, others, our interactions and the situation.  Making money and being successful can, contrary to come opinions, be possible without exploiting others. 

What are your beliefs about money?  What did your parents/carers express about money when you were a child?  If they were discussing money, what would they be saying?  What feelings would you be picking up about their situation at that time?  What are the phrases you heard from them about money?  

For many of us these phrases may well be negative or self-negating.  We pick up messages such as “People like us won’t be able to be rich”, “There’s an ‘us’ and ‘them’ and ‘they’ have and ‘we’ don’t/won’t have”, “Life is hard, and we have to fight it” etc.  These messages go into our sub-conscious, remain there and we unknowingly live by them.   

Imagine this picture: You are highly successful and go to see your parents.  They notice your new car and ask you about it.  What do their facial expressions say?  What do you pick up from them about success and wealth?  For example we might keep ourselves from being successful in order to belong in a family that might not accept us if we were successful. 

Alternatively, some people are financially independent and have been acculturated into success and do see others as “Human Capital” or “Human Resources” and treat other people accordingly.  These people can then reinforce any negative frames of reference we have about wealth and success.  They appear arrogant, controlling and selfish.  However, not everyone who has money and who is successful is this way.  We tend to notice those people who reinforce our negative beliefs and this can keep us stuck. 

·    Who could you look to that would give you positive permissions to be wealthy and successful? 

·    If you believed you could be successful how would you behave?

·    How would this effect your creativity and ideas about what was possible and what was not?

·    How would this affect your levels of confidence and self-worth?

·    How would this affect your view of life in general? 

So, explore your beliefs and check how they affect you today.  Are you actually really being Mindful, i.e. in the present moment, or are you operating from out-dated past messages? In short, be “Human Kind”, be compassionate to self and others - and productivity is still likely to increase! 

Check out our website for our open workshops on Transactional Analysis.  Contact us now about courses, coaching and supervision.  Buy our latest book, “Working Together, Organizational Transactional Analysis and Business Performance”.  Book Anita Mountain as a speaker for your next event.