There is a burgeoning trend that I see, from diverse sources covering an even greater diversity of industries and disciplines - and that trend is to cultivate people power in a new way. Companies are focusing on everything from finance to product innovation and creativity to efficiency via the human model.

This emphasis is indicative of what I think needs to happen in business as a whole...that of emphasizing people development in all facets. We see this impact via our training and how we work with our clients, but it is an idea that is being advanced by a growing number of companies (beyond normal training and development measures or marketing-speak like "our most valuable assets") to yield compelling results...take a look at these stats.

•A recent survey by Bersin and Associates, found that coaching ranks at the top of the 22 processes that consistently drive the highest business impact. The analysis confirmed that coaching generated higher levels of engagement, leadership, flexibility and performance.

•Firms with the highest percentage of engaged employees collectively increased operating income 19% and earnings per share 28% year over year. (Towers Perrin)

What does this tell you?

It tells me that it has never been more important to capitalize on the way people communicate with one another and work together.

It tells me that engaged, committed employees and leaders create more solid and profitable organizations.

And…It tells me that there new paradigms in viewing financial success—it’s not always simply about the bottom line. Or, more accurately stated, the bottom line has expanded…an organization’s workforce is now integral to the way the bottom line works.