Over the holiday break, my wife and I went to see the latest George Clooney film “Up in the Air”.  While the film does a wonderful job exploring how the level of connection and intimacy we have with those around us affects our sense of happiness, it also puts a stark face to those layoff numbers we’ve been hearing about all too often in these troubling economic times.

The movie centers on corporate downsizing expert Ryan Bingham (featuring a great performance by George Clooney) whose hired by various companies to do their dirty work in firing their employees.  At one point in the film, when Bingham brings along his company’s new efficiency expert Natalie Keener to show her the process of firing someone, Keener makes the comment to one of the people she just fired that “it’s nothing personal.  It’s just business”.  Although it’s a statement that’s regularly spoken regarding business and the workplace, watching this scene brought to light how misguided this notion really is.

I’m sure many of us have been told at one point in our careers how it’s important to Click here to continue reading »”It’s Time to Make Work Personal Again”