Ownership

We all know
there is no parallel
for employees who interact
and work as if they are the owners

Managements therefore underscore
during speeches and in corporate communications
the importance of ownership

 Yet treat them as 'mere'employees
in day to day situations
on the little  occasions
that matter a lot...

not trusting, ignoring suggestions
closely monitoring the  'unreliable' employees
and generally putting them in their place
reminding often as to who the real boss is!

As action speaks louder than words
the overriding message  being very clear
it's no wonder that 
people stick to doing
this mucn and no more!

Business Reality

At a HR conference that I attended
the practitioners spoke like professors
the professor on the other hand
was down to earth
and summed up the
business reality simply and  beautifully

In the initial years, during infancy
the sole purpose of business was seen as
to make money, save money. reduce risks
to protect the interests of the owner or share holder

Later the focus turned
to customer and customer delight
he was held 'King'
for if he doesn't buy
there's no business!

In the next phase focus
was on the employees
for if employees aren't happy
they wouldn't produce
the best they can

Now the focus has shifted
to the society around your industry
with the buzz word being 'Sustainability'
protecting the interests of society
and the environment

It's not one over the other
all the four along with the suppliers
are equally important

concluded the professor

Wise words, simple yet profound words
that corporates would do well
to imbibe and follow
for a long time growth
a balanced growth!

Right Vs Right Dilemma

HR conclave at a premium institution

Speakers from prominent corporates

One of them spoke

about the dilemma of choosing

between Right and Right….

She then gave an example

of a real life situation

an incident from her own company

The hero was highly accomplished

an IIT pass out

with proven track record

An epitome of success

he was poised to sign

on behalf of company

a multi-million deal

Then, in a weak moment

he casually remarked

that he had got in to IIT

attending coaching classes

and that in fact

he hadn’t passed SSLC.

Walls they say, have ears

someone made a formal complaint

and then the dilemma began for HR & the management

That the hero hadn’t passed SSLC

and concealed the fact to move ahead, wasn’t right

Yet, he was good enough to pass from IIT

and contributing effectively thus far

now, after so many years going after him

Wasn’t right either?

This was the dilemma, concluded the speaker

To my mind it was not about Right Vs Right

It was clearly between right and wrong

“It all depend on your core values!”

Shouted I from the audience

the words had escaped my lips

Involuntarily, beyond my control….

The story made clear one thing

that there are no dilemmas

many of them so called are created

by admin themselves from their own

Inconsistencies and lack of clarity!


PS:     IIT refers to the Indian institute of technology, a premier institute in India.

Dressing up not Enough

Dressing up the performance
and profitabilty figures
in time for the annual general body meeting
may seem very clever and shrewd achievement

But what about the sagging
body language of employees
getting it upwards and soaring
with  confidence and enthusiasm
is perhaps the real and bigger  challenge
often overlooked...

Two sides of the Same Coin

Union or management
the ultimate aim of both
is and should be the same...

After all both aspire
for helping people
Management,its employees
Union,its members
to contribute and recognize their greatness

In turn, this results in
the well being of the mother
the  organization that feeds us
Yes, together union and management are invincible
they are simply two sides of the same coin!

Professionalism

Professionalism is the hallmark of any organization
In my long corporate  innings
I have come across a few leaders
and many more in leadership positions

From the ones who could be called 'Leaders'
perhaps one or two could be called 'Professional'
in the strictest sense of the term
the ones who retain the purity of quality
refusing to mix the professional with the personal

So, you may be a very dear disciple
yet,  rest assured that you will receive
no favours or compromises
from him for  you
at the time of  promotion

Similarly, the professional
may dislike a person of  poor  reputation
but does not allow that
to influence decision
on a genuine request of the employee

Contrast that with the 'Non professional'
 at the other end of the bar
who takes decisions not at the office
consulting the entire team
but in a resort or a bar in the evening
with cronies whose biggest contributions
are  drinking,clapping ,smiling
when he would like them to...

Yes, professionalism is the hallmark of any organization
yet, do we give this 'line' it's due
while choosing people for a position
for that matter, even leadership positions?

Legacy

What legacy  do you leave behind
after a career of 25 to 30 years
Have you left behind followers
sharing your values, conviction and drive?

Or is your legacy one
in which everything
falls like a pack of cards
the moment you are gone?

Is it possible that you are the victim
of a conspiracy that does not allow a legacy
with everything being dismantled
all traces removed by the new person
who would like to create his own legacy?