Your company doesn’t exist

December 2, 2010

A company is just a legal entity. A concept. That’s all. I’m sure it feels real to you. But what exactly about it is real?

I submit, that when it comes down to it, there is only one thing about it that is real – people. Your company is people. The company doesn’t do anything, people do things. The company doesn’t make great (or bad) products, its people do. The company doesn’t engender good (or bad) will amongst customers and communities, people do.

Why is this important?

Because if you insist on thinking and speaking about work as if it is done by non-human entities, you will be helping to create a non-human experience for all of your coworkers, employees and superiors. Work in the modern corporation has become nearly entirely dehumanized to the detriment of us all. Dehumanized companies do not inspire their employees to seek greatness. They do not help people feel more fulfilled. They do not create better citizens. Dehumanized companies create only anomie.

It’s time to turn this around. To redefine work. From a definition that derogates people as cogs in a machine to a definition that elevates people as sentient soulful beings that long for and are capable of nobility, excellence and beauty. There is really no reason that work must be dehumanizing. That is something people have created. And now it is time to uncreate it and replace it with a more human model of work.

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