In addition to needed training and retraining of unemployed workers, I urge corporate leaders, health care and business owners to invest in training and retraining their own executives and managers.

Financial woes notwithstanding, the malaise that ails General Motors ails all organizations, employees and customers alike. Behaviors desperately need to change. Executives must create and lead a customer-focused, accountable and employee-engaged organization.

Given eight years of self-aggrandizement and lack of investment in human capital, organizations were already in turmoil. Visionary executives must transform management immediately. Otherwise, they will be unlikely to have the leadership tools to reinvent themselves, avoid more layoffs or achieve any viable future growth.

Elaine Berke
Westport, Mass., March 7, 2009