When Did We Stop Listening?

13 July 2026

Over the past few months, I've noticed a trend.

In around half the organisations I contact, I'm told that the HR executive "doesn't take external calls."

Perhaps that's the right policy. Perhaps they receive too many sales calls. I understand that.
But it has left me wondering about something much bigger.

Who, in your organisation, is actively looking for better ways to improve the organisation?
Not just managing today's priorities.
Not just responding to problems.
Not just approving the annual training budget.

Who is responsible for asking, "There must be a better way. Let's go and find it."

Every organisation wants to grow revenue, reduce costs, improve productivity and manage risk.
Some of the best ideas come from inside the business.
Some come from customers.
Some come from suppliers.
Some come from people you've never met before.

If every unsolicited conversation is filtered out, how do the genuinely valuable ideas ever find their way to the right person?
This isn't a criticism of HR. It's a question about organisational design.

Has your organisation created a process that protects executives from interruptions...
...or one that also protects them from opportunity?

I'd be interested to hear how other organisations handle this.

 

If you would like to talk to me, please call me on +27 82 465 5481 or email me on mark@meritbusiness.com

 

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