Asset? Really?

When did we start referring to people as assets? It’s clearly better than seeing them as liabilities, but is that really the choice?

A fork lift truck is an asset. A flip chart stand is an asset. Neither of these is likely to think for itself, nor to answer back. And before you suggest it, no, it is not a shame that the same can’t be said for employees. Employees are people. We lose sight of their indviduality at our cost. It is the particular combination of individualities, foibles, talents, that makes your organisation what it is.

Your people aren’t just the most important asset in your business. They are your business. Let’s ban the use of impersonal balance sheet terminology to describe the life-blood of your organisation.