Too many funerals

The aftermath of "Brain Drain"
Too many funerals

Frank approached his college professor two days before his final exam. “I'm sorry I have a funeral Friday. Is it possible for me
to make up the exam next week?”

The professor compassionately told Frank it would not be a problem to make up the exam the following Wednesday.

sorry that another funeral on Wednesday. I hate to ask but is it
possible to postpone the exam again?”

“We can move it to Friday, Frank, but I can't keep postponing
it,” said the professor less compassionately.

“Okay,” said Frank, “hopefully nobody else will die this week.”

The professor was perplexed. “How unfortunate that two
people you knew passed away so close together.”

“Oh, I didn't know them,” shared Frank.

“I'm the only gravedigger in town.”

This anecdotal story points out a real problem in many
companies following a downsizing. It also occurs in companies
using attrition to cut their ranks.

There's a huge risk when we have key functions handled by a
single person. This story uses the gravedigger to symbolize the
potential death of a process that may be a key to our continued
operation.

I've written before about the problems the Pentagon is having
with the US nuclear arsenal. Retirements and cutbacks have
left the military without the resources to maintain the aging
weaponry.

Every manager needs to review his or her brain trust and
process documentation to ensure long-term health, vitality, and
productivity is not hindered by insufficient resources.

Max Impact is a strategy and leadership development company
based in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Products and services
connect teams to a shared vision of success in a troubled or
rebounding economy.

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