HUMAN PRODUCTIVITY STIMULATES GROWTH AND WELL-BEING
HUMAN PRODUCTIVITY STIMULATES GROWTH AND WELL-BEING – BASIL SPRINGER COLUMN WHICH APPEARED IN THE BARBADOS ADVOCATE’S BUSINESS MONDAY ON JULY 4, 2016
“Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” – James 1:4
What is productivity? Productivity is a measure of efficiency and may be applied to any factor of production. Factors of production are the inputs that are used in the creation of goods or services to ultimately effect sustainable growth. These factors may include physical, natural, financial, spiritual, cultural, intellectual, entrepreneurship and human capital. The last five of these relate to people and we may argue that people are our greatest asset and we must develop them to the fullest thus achieving the best output we can from these resources.
Productivity may be simply stated as the level of output for a given unit of input. If we can continually increase our human productivity, then we are going to be ahead of the game.
Spiritually, we must practise patience and not seek outputs prematurely. Let patience do its work so you become mature and well-developed and not deficient in any way.
Culturally, we must exude the values, beliefs, behaviours, ideas, customs, and social behaviour of our particular people or society.
Intellectually, we must mobilize our brain power, knowledge, talent, software, networks, brands and protocols to create new ideas, and their corresponding innovations, so that we have a base from which to stimulate an entrepreneurship culture and explore uncharted waters and conquer new horizons.
We must utilize the physical strength, skills and experience of the work force to support all of the above.
How do we do this? We must apply the elements of the productivity mix to our human capital base as follows: (1) train people to enhance their range of skills and motivate them by a creative set of incentives; (2) provide state-of-the-art equipment and technology and train them in their use; (3) identify, analyze and improve existing business processes; and (4) manage the 24 hours per day that are available, to each and every one of us, to be as productive as possible because an hour lost today is gone forever.
As the Daily word states:
“PEACE of mind comes through trusting in God, through turning to Him in thought. I relax and am quiet. I let His peace fill me. Throughout this day I maintain this peace by keeping my heart and mind relaxed and trusting.
“With peace of mind, I develop patience of spirit. I am willing to let God’s good unfold in a right and orderly way. Patience gives me a calm spirit that neither chafes at delays nor doubts the power of God, even when I cannot see just how good is to be brought forth.
“Productivity is the natural result of a peaceful mind and a patient spirit. I am productive as I work in a positive attitude.”
Let us invest and celebrate small wins to unlock human potential.
(Dr. Basil Springer GCM is Change-Engine Consultant, Caribbean Business Enterprise Trust Inc. – CBET. His email address is basilgf57@gmail.com and his columns may be found at www.cbetmodel.org and www.nothingbeatsbusiness.com.)