How Human Resources Exploits Us!
The term “human resources” is an anachronism. It goes back to the way military language was first used to describe position and responsibility in the dark satanic mills of the industrial revolution. Even today we use the term “officer” to reinforce hierarchical rank in government and private enterprise organisations. In the post-pandemic ways of working the term now looks as ridiculous as a beached boat after the tide has gone out. It may have sailed once. But it has lost its buoyancy. Why?
To be human is to embrace the richness, diversity, and paradoxical elements of living as a human being. We share an anthropological history with our fellow homo sapiens. We experience our own unique inner world, and we observe and interpret the puzzling behaviours of those around us. We are at once the centre of our own stories and a participant in the cultural stories we belong to.
The term “resource” refers to materials available in the environment which are technologically accessible, and economically feasible to satisfy needs and wants. Like oil and gas, timber and minerals, money and assets. A resource is something to be extracted and refined, made ready for consumption. Food and water are resources which the human body converts into energy. And that’s exactly the point. Resources are things to be harnessed.
But somewhere we’ve got the idea that humans are also resources to be controlled and made ready for consumption. You might as well claim that the purpose of mining iron ore is to produce more iron ore, rather than be used in the production of iron. Human beings are not a “resource”. They are resourceful because they find and make use of the environment in which they find themselves. Human resourcefulness is a correct description of what people do. Ingenuity and inventiveness are clever ways entrepreneurs, scientists, and investors find or create resources to meet the demands of the moment and grow opportunities. However, they are not themselves, “resources”.
We need new language to describe what we do and how we collaborate with each other. You are a human “being”, not just a human “doing”. This has become starkly evident in the wave of trauma, isolation, and anxiety washing through the community in the post-pandemic era. We need to take better care of each other. Whatever work we do we are in service of the communities we serve. No decision can ever again carry the tagline, “it’s not personal, it’s just business”. We are the shareholders of the businesses and government agencies we work in. And our stakeholders are local, national, and international human communities. Resources serve humans, not the other way around.
Perhaps a more accurate term to use now is “human resourcing”. This reinforces the idea of humans receiving resources whether they are at home or in the workplace. It puts the focus on human creativity, collaboration, and contribution. And removes the antiquated and misleading perception that we humans are a resource for the industrial machine.
It’s a subtle but significant change. The HR (Human Resources) department is now replaced by the HR (Human Resourcing) department. Will you make the shift?
Buy the book which outlines an alternative way of working here: (insert the code s3t2021 at checkout for a 20% discount)
Have a conversation with me about how we can make the change together here: