To the tune of Folsom Prison Blues, with thanks to the late great Johnny Cash
Dodgy acoustics, one take!
I hear the survey comin’, It’s rolling round the bend
And I ain’t seen the output since I don’t know when,
I’m in engagement prison, and time keeps draggin’ on
But that survey keeps a rollin’ on down to San Antone..
When I was just a baby my mama told me. Son,
If you take part in a survey, make sure there’s action done
So I listened and encouraged, I hoped to make them try
But all they do is measure, they never ask folks why..
I bet there’s rich folks eating in a fancy dining car
While employees are still suffrin, the gap between them is too far
Well they should question and take action, Good listening comes for free
But too often there’s just talkin’, And that’s what tortures me…
Well if they freed us from this prison, If that engagement train was mine
I bet we’d move it on a little farther down the line
We’d listen and take action, a little more each day
And we’d let that lonesome whistle blow our blues away..
I love the fact that I can almost hear Mr Cash Singing it.
Hi Dave – thanks! Maybe I should record it and put it on the site…? Think I’ve got a black shirt somewhere that’ll look the part 🙂
Fantastic Doug! Bit more like a Mr Cash under the effects of helium!
He he – it ain’t pretty! I’ll try n keep it lower next time
You is the man. But next time remember black shirt.
Thanks Morris 🙂
Attitude Matters!! (Thought for the day)
Father: “I want you to marry a girl of my choice”
Son: “I will choose my own bride!”
Father: “But the girl is Bill Gate’s daughter.”
Son: “Well, in that case…OK”
Next – Father approaches Bill Gates.
Father: “I have a husband for your daughter.”
Bill Gates: “But my daughter is too young to marry!”
Father: “But this young man is a vice-president of the World Bank.”
Bill Gates: “Ah, in that case…OK”
Finally Father goes to see the president of the World Bank.
Father: “I have a young man to be recommended as a vice-president.”
President: “But I already have more vice- presidents than I need!”
Father: “But this young man is Bill Gate’s son-in-law.”
President: “Ah, in that case OK”
This is how business is done!!
MORAL: “Even If you have nothing, you can get anything. But your attitude should be positive”.
So, THINK +++++++VE………………
Brilliant, simply brilliant! And your action highlight one of the challenges to current engagement research – we have gotten so serious about the measurement of engagement that we often lose the sense of fun that can come with it as well. Yes we conduct surveys and use that to charter action teams, AND at group meetings we also have teams compete to see who can describe the most compelling examples of fostering engagement at work. The simple ground rule is that the story has to be something that was done and could be replicated by another team in another location if they so desired. And of course everyone wins — it’s a good laugh with your colleagues at the creativity they bring to work; and people come away with a few ideas they can use themselves.
Keep singing, Doug!
Thanks Mark – lovely reply which includes some very useful feedback and ideas. Really appreciate you popping by.
Hmmm, started something interesting here. First Johnny Cash, now Rabbie Burns, courtesy of Sean Trainor – good work!
http://bit.ly/6hFOTR
Great stuff Doug. Well done.
Hey Doug, thanks for stopping by my blog and linking this up! Good stuff, I enjoyed the lyrics =)
“But too often there’s just talkin’, And that’s what tortures me…”
Indeed!
My pleasure Karen, let’s all get some action going and dial out the torture a bit eh?
What a great post mastered in 12 bars. You are my John Lee Hooker of HR.
All in the name of #HRTemplars and their quest.
Peter
Hiya Peter – thanks for your support. The #HRTemplars rock!