"Bosses prefer satisfaction to money or power "-- really . . .

This, from The Globe and Mail, is worth a thought for a few minutes on at least three levels. Here's one quotation from the very short item:

Three-fourths (76 per cent) of global executives would prefer more satisfaction from their job over money (18 per cent) or power (6 per cent), according to research today by executive recruitment firm, Korn/Ferry International.

Are we asking people with more than "satisfactory levels of money and power" whether they want "money and power" or "satisfaction." Maslow had a theory about this. Duh!

In the second bit of statistics it notes that 34% of those polled found their senior management "competent" and a further found them "fairly competent." Now, I'm no statistician, but this says to me that one in three CEOs thinks his/her senior management are sub-par, and fully two-thirds are admitting that they think their people are MEDIOCRE. [That's gotta hurt! ed.] So, only 1 in 3 senior managers is better than "competent." At least it's not the Lake Wobegon Corporation where "90% of the people are above average."

Finally, only(!) 48% of these CEOs believe advancement at their company is fair and based on merit. [At least they're not hypocrites -- when they're anonymous. ed.] Even better: 41% "still believe it is based on favouritism and posturing."

I'm sure if you give it a minute or two, you can come up with even more questions or observations.

What exactly is the point of the MBA HR courses (and the resultant corporate people)?

Posted by Grayson at January 28, 2004 08:09 AM