Innovating and responding to current needs is a pretty good way to stay in business. I'm sure the folks at The People Group in Tulsa, Oklahoma will tell you the same thing; I'm sure the phone is ringing off the hook for their new jerk elimination program.
In fact, I was tempted to pick up the phone, but then I saw that jerks were being retrained and not put out the door with a foot up their backside. So I put the phone down.
In today's workplace, things are hardly celebratory. Sure, in some sectors, things are getting better, but most of us work in places that could likely use a helping hand with staying positive. Of course, where there's a problem, there's a dollar to be made, so it's not surprising to see all these companies popping up offering to help you work on teamwork, especially when it comes to staying on the sunny side of life (or work).
While it's probably a good idea to try and renew the professional ties that bind, I have to wonder what qualifications many of these companies have to actually help improve morale. I wonder what their own employees would say if they were anonymously queried about their own workplace.
Even in brighter times, I would marvel at these consulting companies (that likely charge an arm and a leg) and offer motivational seminars. I'm often left to wonder where they found these people; were they once crackheads?
It's like watching movies set in the 1800s where two con men come to town selling a miracle tonic that will change your life. Of course, they've taken the cash and hit the next town by the time the duped clients realize they've been had.
In short, I guess I'm staying that staying positive and jerk-free is a worthy goal, just don't push your company into bankruptcy to get there!