CLINTON WINGROVE

"Futurist Pragmatist and Passionator"

I believe passionately in the importance of HR in contemporary organizations.  But, I also believe that, in HR we need to:

• be more pragmatic - line managers and, more importantly, the boards who have given us seats at their tables want practical and effective solutions.  They are tired of repackaging, qwerky terminology, latest fads, cult following of populist books, .... valuable though some of these may be.

Executives want actions from us that will impact results in a demonstrable, measurable, way.  And, they know that our ability to measure is directly proportional to our desire to do so; not limited by the fact that "We deal with people and they are difficult to measure."  We will have to prove our case.

• learn from the past and not forget those lessons that proved valuable AND we need to look to the future.  Our role is to create a more impactful future through new methods that address cultural, social, economic and technological change .  We have a responsibility not merely to copy mediocrity (and make it sound more important than it is by calling it "Best Practice") but to use our experience, research, intellect and creativity to build a better future.  Nobody ever achieved acclaim by copying others. We must design "best-fit" solutions for our organizations and evolve these continuously as circumstances and demands change.

• fight for what is right.  For too long we have hidden behind Focus Groups, Empowerment, and "We should not police things."  These all have their place but, if we are to be respected for being Human Resource Professionals, then we had better start acting like them. 

We have a duty, having recommended the most appropriate practices, achieved buy-in or acceptance, and launched or implemented them to make sure that they happen.  Great processes that are not implemented achieve nothing.  Great processes that are only followed by the best managers do nothing to address the others (for whom they were probably designed).

If we believe in what we have designed, we may have to take actions, hopefully only short to medium term, to ensuree that it is implemented.  As someone once said, "Life is sometimes about being made to do what you did not want to do and then being glad afterwards that you were made to."  Our job is to know when that time is!

I explore cutting edge and highly effective means to accelerate personal development and to enhance individual performance. 

I believe in the power of the individual to be as great as he/she wants to be.  I believe that stunningly mediocre individuals can still aspire to and achieve greatness; sometimes, exceeding the achievements of those with greater knowledge, skill and aptitude.  The power of personal desire and belief can be awe inspiring.  NEVER let anyone tell you that you cannot be what you want to be – TRY!!!!!