Creating an Ownership Culture: The Poem
NCEO founder and senior staff member
An ongoing mantra of the NCEO is that employee involvement does not happen because a company allows it (think of all the "open doors" of management yet to be darkened by an employee with an idea) but because it structures it. We have tried over the years to find ways to express this idea forcefully and have, at long last, been driven to extremes: a poem.
An Employee Owner's Lament
Corey Rosen
Employees are owners of our corporation,
But sadly, our culture is just "torpor nation."
The ESOP means nothing to all of us here.
Thank goodness our vesting is soon coming near.
"But wait," says our boss. "I really do care.
I want your opinions; my ear's always there.
My door's always open to listen and learn.
The more effort you make, the more that you'll earn.
"I've hired a lawyer to explain this great plan.
He says he'll use English; he thinks that he can.
We've sent you all booklets in plain legalese.
We sent it by e-mail; we need to save trees.
"And once every year, we'll send you a statement.
The numbers you see will bring you elatement.
As your ownership grows, you'll get very rich.
So stop your complaining; you've no reason to ..."
"Now wait just a minute," I rudely retort.
"We really do need more than just a report.
Your door may be open; you may be sincere.
You may try to listen, but here's what we fear.
"So we just leave our jobs to walk in that door?
Just put down our tools and stroll off the floor?
And once we are there, can we really explain?
Expressing ideas can be quite a strain.
"And what if you say, 'I'll give it some thought.'
So we wait for your feedback, but get it? Not.
Or maybe you give it the thought that it's due.
Then claim the idea came directly from you.
"An open door is fine, as far as it goes.
But just how to use it, it seems no one knows.
It's just not enough to make ownership real.
You want our ideas? Well here is the deal.
"We need some good numbers so goals can be set.
We need some rewards if targets are met.
We need a clear structure, a way we can meet.
Teams, groups, committees-they all would be neat.
"You want us to act like we really are owners?
Then give us some power to be more than moaners.
Ownership's more than a piece of a trust.
For ownership culture, trust us you must."