When they installed a ‘Suggestion Box’ in the newsroom at the Hartford Business Journal, I slipped in a recommendation that the publication be renamed ‘Greater Hartford Casino and Adult Entertainment Journal,’ on the theory that happy readers are better than sad readers — and the alternative was writing depressing stories about commercial real estate in Downtown Hartford.
Of course, no one paid any attention to my suggestion, which made me just another sullen, rebellious, bitter employee who hates being ignored by The Boss.
I gave a speech many years ago to The Conference Board in New York City, warning human resources types against such things as employee surveys, if, in fact, you weren’t necessarily interested in responding to the wants and needs of the employees. Better not to raise expectations at all than to solicit the suggestions — and then run from the room screaming.
Of course, the dream is fueled by that occasional anecdote about some guy on the assembly line who suggests turning the screws left instead of right, somehow saving the company $47 trillion. More likely, of course, the employees will recommend the installation of a champagne fountain in the cafeteria and paid leave to care for ailing pet kittens.
Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy has been a suggestion-ingesting machine, soliciting ideas not only from state employees, but also business leaders ranging from corporate types to the technology geeks to the butcher, baker and candlestick maker.
The challenge of receiving advice from business groups (in this case a ‘working group’) is the enthusiasm often generates conflicting philosophies of how the world should work. For instance, the 20 business and policy types suggested a moratorium on regulations — a Libertarian-flavored plea for freedom and flexibility — while at the same time, calling for more ‘public-private partnerships’ to use taxpayer money to prop up projects and industries that might not fly in the real world.
The state employees suggested whacking the management ranks (bosses, much like editors, are easily dispensed with) and dumping some leased buildings (the state has a long history of leasing unnecessary space from political friends). Of course, the employees aren’t going to recommend a massive privatization effort; that would strike a little too close to home.
The best suggestions in such a solicitation process are often the most mundane — which is to say, ideas that can be accomplished with marginal angst and understandable objectives. One employee suggested staggering lunch periods, so everyone isn’t standing in line at the same time.
It’s appealing to receive advice ‘from the trenches’; in this case, the businesses and state employees who muck around on the Connecticut landscape. But, the best advice often comes from wise sages that have survived the test of time — whether or not they have a Connecticut mailing address.
If Governor Malloy asked the great boxer Joe Louis what all the political fuss was about, since the Democrats control the legislative process, Joe would tell him. “Every man’s got to figure to get beat sometime.”
The governor already shows signs of Obama Disease — the instinct to grab the microphone, go on and on about how smart you are and suck all the oxygen out of the room before other folks in his administration have a chance to speak and think. A bit of advice from old English wisdom: “If you have a dog, don’t bark yourself.”
The comedian Henny Youngman has the best piece of advice for Malloy, as he ponders what to do about a state bonding and budgeting system that pretends long-term debt doesn’t count.
“I had plastic surgery last week,” Youngman said. “I cut up my credit cards.”
Laurence D. Cohen is a freelance writer.
