Question-Answer

Are you frustrated-fed up?
quipped a reader
so much of critique
in your poems on corporates....

No, no I protest
can you give up on your family
just because everything
isn't perfect?

yet, you don't pretend
that everything is fine
give smiles that do not
reach your eyes
and sweep everything
under the carpet

you point out flaws
so improvement happens -yes,
you don't give up on families
nor do you give up
on the source of your bread

you don't give up on a source
which can still be a haven in a hapless world
providing possibilities
for fulfilling your aspirations!

Climate in a Team

Scorching summer, heavy rains elsewhere
the climate in a team is always  one of
openness-  to be able to
tell each other including seniors
of what one thinks without fear,without constraints

Complimenting not competing with each other
one filling up for what is lacking in another
together completing all needs & aim of the team

Presence of a leader so it becomes a team
from  a  mere group
A leader to guide,coach & motivate towards goals

The climate in a team is that of trust
where everyone is comfortable with each other
and excited working together
excitement in the journey, not destination
in the journey of continuous improvement!

Let them be

In an office situation, corporate situation
there will always be a few
who make the right noises
to project themselves, keep a leg
for you to trip and fall

The few who focus more
on what impresses bosses
and less on the work itself
or what's good in the long run....

Never mind them, let them be...
no resistance, no confrontation-
just go above their frequencies
with a clear vision of
what you want, don't want...


Don't envy their success
or seeming importance
many have climbed ladders
reached the top, to realize
the ladder was against
the wrong wall!

When you have your vision
bright and clear
just move on that path with confidence
unmindful of the few
let them be.....

Insecurity

"water water everywhere, not a drop to drink"
 said the great poet
insecurity,insecurity everywhere, not a beam of light
at the end of the tunnel Say I , of the corporate scene

Keeping long hours out of insecurity-not love
Praising  boss,peer, junior out of insecurity- not from the heart
By passing your reportee, keeping him in the dark
 and regularly interacting with juniors
out of insecurity.......

yet this policy has its gains say some
"It is the paranoids who survive" say others
but is it enough to survive?
Don't we need to be alive-
liveliness in everything we do
sincerity in everything we do
authenticity in everything we do

only then would insecurity drop
secure in the knowledge that we are safe
that another person's win is not our loss
that the win is so much more sweeter
nurturing and sustaining....
when we are all in it together!

Ego

Someone said that when we let in Ego
we are edging  God out
Our thoughts get clouded....
judgements become faulty
effectiveness & best interests
get  sacrificed
at the alter of
seemingly self interest

yet no interest, not even self interest
is served in the long run by ego

Older the company, bigger the company
bigger the problem of inflated egos
why should I go to him?
Let him come to me
Why should I smile at him?
Let him smile first
This appears funny, trivial & petty
were we to see it on celluloid
yet it is played out everyday in corporate circles

So much more could be achieved- so many more gains
If only we pocketed Egos & did'nt care much
 as  to who gets the credit- the limelight

So much more could be achieved by man & mankind
If only  we listened to our hearts more
and  to our heads less.

If we plotted & planned less
but  simply gave in to the flow of life-
To the feelings of being alive
To the feelings of being one with
Our organization & everyone in it.
yes,so much more could be achieved by man
and mankind!

Expectations

I am vexed ....
lamented a team leader
too many attritions-too much expectations
the youngsters today- can't understand them...
want to stretch their  legs
even before they have sat down
I nodded sympathetically.....

one of my guys is leaving next week
I have no idea how to retain him
I like my job- he tells me
no issues with job content or you 
just want a change-  to move on..

Another guy left me -the week before..
He was just about getting into the groove
understanding  the nuances of the job
when he learnt that his classmate at college
had got a promotion in his company

He began to become restless, uncomfortable
and now expected a promotion
not  because of  his contribution  here
but elevation of a friend
in another company!

I tried to soothe the ruffled feathers
after all times have changed..I pointed out
But the leader remained emotional
It is not as if we haven't changed with the times
In our times we could not
meet eye to eye  with the boss
Today, I treat my guys more as friends


yet, they aren't satisfied
feel offended if  I so much as correct their work
or raise my voice
I am in a dilemna- whether to correct
and coach them for the future
or remain silent and tolerant .....
so that they don't leave.
I go about my job like the circus artist
doing a tightrope act
balancing each step - as
one  wrong  step can mean disaster

Why have things come to such a pass ? I asked myself
If only we share our feelings
the boss with the juniors
the juniors with the boss
the husband & wife to each other
students to  teachers
and teachers to students-

Appreciating the others needs and views
and toning down our  own expectations
for the common good -
for the good of our organization
we would then  have     -
more of understanding..
less of expectation - and
More of contribution!

interview

Many years ago I attended an interview
a corporate interview
three wise men on one side of the table
me on the other side of the table

They asked me a question
but were not listening to my answer
one stared in intimidation, the other looked bored
and the third emitted sheer indifference

in desperation I looked behind them
there was this blank wall
which gave no cues of encouragement
but atleast no discouragement-as from  the wise three men

so I looked at the wall neutral , and continued my answer
I could atleast  retain the flow of my speech
without intimidation without discouragement

why do we do this? I asked myself-
meeting candidates as if a favour to them
using interview not to know and understand their fit
but exhibiting  our own  importance
exhibit our knowledge as being more than theirs
 and generally belittle the hapless victim

Is it because in India
we have so many people ?
if not one then another one ?
'my whim',  influence or money determines selction
correct fit is just for the books!

Has anything changed over the years
methods, approach or styles of interview ?
Has awareness changed in the globalised era ?
Sadly  not much- hardly at all in manufacturing

There is  still the feeling
" giving my time for this is a favour"
 too much time
 waste of time!

The other day I organized- 
for  frequently interviewing , senior leaders
a training program on interviewing skills

but there were few takers...
many never turned up
even the ones who came
felt one day was too long-
half a day is the maximum time
that one can spare from a busy schedule

others were aghast and felt it a  blasphemy
to be told  they need training
for the  mere role of interviewing!
After all what was their experience ?
 What was their stature?

Oh when will corporate leaders realize
that recruiting is serious business
that  recruiting right is the key.....
an antidote to future heartburns


If only we cared for people
right from the beginning
we would have happy candidates at the interview stage
happy employees at a later stage
 contributing fully zestfully

 for they were selected  by diligent leaders
sincere and responsible leaders
carefully for their worth-  for their fit
they sit pretty and comfortable in their roles
they are not square pegs in round holes!