Workplace Robots and the Human Factor
Hiring a robot may be a smart choice. Hiring humans to serve as workplace robots has some challenges.
What do you need from your workforce?
It seems that work always trickles down. An entrepreneur starts by doing it all, or at least, most of it. If she is successful, she starts to delegate the easier assignments.
Most organizations are structured in a similar manner. Labor intensive or low interest, repetitive tasks get shoved off to the lower levels.
Not that this doesn’t make sense, it does. However, what are employees or contractors expecting?
Gig Economy Workers
Many gig economy workers expect something for their thoughts or creative talents. Design and develop a website, create a new brand logo, or serve as a social media expert. Help us with marketing and sales, use your talents, and delight the customer.
What about part time or full-time employees? What are their expectations?
Many businesses face cultural challenges. The job opportunities that they have or require are often not attractive to job seekers.
When the organization needs someone to put something inside the box and seal it with tape and nothing more is required what do you get?
If you replace the word someone with a robot you have a solution.
Workplace Robots
Organizations sometimes wonder why they have a difficult time with on-boarding.
Society has suggested that people should do what they love.
Use your brain they said. Do something creative they said. Follow your heart they said.
One company won’t change society, yet one company can change its culture.
When the culture suggests that human beings should show up and do only the minimum requirements that are expected, then that is what they’ll get.
You’re not paid to think, you’re paid to put the product in the box and seal it with tape.
It often creates the feeling of, the company doesn’t care about me so I don’t care about the company.
Robots have a place, don’t expect humans to be robots.
-DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
