Monday 22 October 2012

Employee in Knots

On the way to the airport
the FM radio blared- a tamil song.....
"having caught a koel and put in a cage
you order it to sing
Having tied the legs of a peacock
you order it to dance......"

the lines caught my attention
so true, so true-was this song
written for the corporate situation ?
but how did the poet know the plight
of the corporate employee-the employee in knots.

when he joins he is all energy- excitement
chest jutting out- raring to go
within a few days- he is put in his place
immediate colleagues themselves are vary
don't want him to be 'too smart' & a threat

so give him half information- no job clarity
delay assigning the table chair
the system & other resources...
soon enough he caves in
 is cut down to size and  now
fits in to our way of life

Deadly mix of insecurity and Ego
play havoc with the lives of the average employee
he is tied up in knots-
one knot initiated by insecurity
the next one by the Ego
followed by insecurity
and then the Ego

Later, even those with fancy designations
are given subtle hints- that their power is limited
they need to follow rather than set the trend
subtle hints aplenty- not invited to this meeting
not invited to speak in that - polished rebuke to the one
who won't take the hint...
soon most fall in line- Man does live for bread
whatever the theorists might say
dignity and self respect sacrificed
at the alter of necessity

Having tied them in  knots
having removed the teeth of the tiger
you complain when it suits you
 that you have harmless cats without drive
when all the while you never wanted tigers
just cats that will do your bidding
purr when you want it to

yet how much more powerful
and wonderful it would be
if all of us were tigers
acknowledging and respecting each other
giving our best- pepped up with enthusiasm
working in unison  for the cause of our mother....
our organisation!

Monday 1 October 2012

Corporate Meetings

I have to go to another meeting
yes,another periodic meeting
I dread it , he dreads it, we all dread it

yet ,like the charge of the light brigade...
Ours not to object, ours not to  reason why  
Ours but to do and die
into the valley of death
rode six hundred then, we a smaller number
do it every week, over and over again

But why do you protest so, you ask
at an opportunity to learn and share
to be a part of decision making

What decision making... There is more of fault finding there
I would be happy to come out of it unscathed -to live another day
until next time when I die, to live again

Often times,the one presiding couldn't care less
whether all get to speak-express their views
It is only a few who get to speak
others are diffident- they fear ridicule and blame

Sometimes,the one presiding can curtly cut to size
those speaking unconventionally or being 'too clever'
new comers speak in the beginning but become wise very soon
"speak only if you have to- it is safe and sure"

At other  times, with a  weak one presiding
It is a slanging match- a free for all
need to defend my department - at all costs
How dare he ...
find fault with me and my department?

But surely there is a better way-
Have meetings  with a purpose
attended by the relevant few
all speak for the purpose- nothing more nothing less
all speak for the whole and not for the  parts

Egos pocketed 
ideas   lovingly shared
as the  aim,  not to win
 but to understand and be  understood
and collectively decide
in the interest of your mother- your organization!