Movieclips Monday: Transforming your temporary workforce into a classic

Posted by: Joel Capperella

What makes a classic a classic? Is it the associated notoriety? The fact that it is exemplary of success in the category? Or is it, perhaps, that its existence has established a certain degree of measurability against which others will forever be compared?

Ultimately, the question is probably rhetorical in nature, and a definitive answer will likely prove forever elusive.

But it is the notion of the classic that partly inspired this edition of Movieclips Monday. A film’s claim of membership to the classic fraternity is typically universally agreed upon. At the very least, it begins a conversation about what is both right and wrong with the claim.

Where am I headed with this? First, check out this clip from one of the all-time American classic films, “Duck Soup.”

In this clip, Chico and Groucho demonstrate comic brilliance. But not only that, the scene is shot in such a way as to underscore the timing and humor of the exchange.

The clip is fundamentally brilliant, and herein lies the connection to The Seamless Workforce. Fundamental brilliance is essential to drive from good to great, to transform from operationally consistent to strategically classic.

The Marx brothers mastered timing, cadence, irony, and slapstick on the stage in the late teens and twenties, and were able to successfully transition that mastery onto film in a way that elicits laughs even today.

The question for us then becomes, what fundamentals are we mastering that will ensure that an operationally tactical temporary workforce is transformed into an all-time classic of our strategic workforce plan?

Get your timing down. This scene doesn’t work if there is even the slightest misstep in the banter between Chico and brother Harpo. The word play between abject and object, and elephant and irrelevant are rendered meaningless if the timing is not there. The same is true when injecting temporary professional talent into the workforce mix. Seeing the need in advance and insisting your professional services provider is sourcing talent ahead of that need can be the make-or-break difference in how well a temporary staff member can help drive objectives forward.

Essence must drive tangibility. The Marx brothers sharpened their skills on stage, but the essence of their live performance was forever captured in film. The temporary part of our workforce must never be looked upon merely as a commodity that serves only to satisfy an immediate demand. It must be considered for the essence that the talent brings with it. More importantly, it must be considered in a way that does not require constant hand-wringing over process and cost redundancy or efficiency, but that measures the desired input of the skill against the value that is expected from the contribution.

Master the medium. Chico and Groucho embody the complete satire of their roles in this clip. The supporting actors serve to underscore the frivolity of the exchange. Your professional staffing services provider needs to understand the nature of each “scene” they are contributing to, as well as what supporting roles are required to reinforce and underscore the successful completion of the task at hand.

P.S. — In case there is a dispute over whether or not “Duck Soup” is an all-time American classic, check out this list.