Archive for Management

Parasitic Culture: another Catch-22

August 29, 2008 at 3:57 pm · Filed under Management, workplace ·Tagged , , , , , , , ,

 

Parasitic workplaces are kind of Catch-22, at least for the hosts of parasites. Here host–according to the biological definition–is one who harmed by a prolonged, close association with the parasite, who is benefitted. As per Wiktionary, a parasite is “A useless person who always relies on other people’s work and gives nothing back”. Host, one who actually works for her employer, adding value but shares the credit with the parasite and unfortunately sometimes handovers the lion’s share.

 

Here I refer it a Catch-22 because at these workplaces, usually the hosts cannot get rid of the parasites unless they withdraws from their jobs. Increment in hosts’ efforts also strengthen their parasites. Their efforts are viewed as average performance of the team; a team comprise of hosts and parasites. Even sometimes the parasites get more than their hosts as the hosts struggle to increase the productivity while the parasites struggle to get the credit.

 

Usually in starting few months the host tries to perform more in hope of getting appreciation but it doesn’t help, instead it increases the average productivity and she finds her parasite being appreciated for it.

 

Having good ethical behavior, it doesn’t instantly bother hosts to share their credit with others. But when it becomes the norm, it sucks. The host which are the actual producers, start demotivating. Then they become divided in two different groups: the optimists and the pessimists.

 

 

The Optimists

Only few of them become optimist who still believe in performance, they try to bypass the glass ceilings to show the actual picture to senior management, who are too busy in their out-of-the-box matters. Again most of them fail to adapt such kind of behaviour that is, to put efforts to present what you have done instead of doing more, which doesn’t comply with their job description. Again Catch-22, they cannot rid of their sense of duty.

 

The Pessimists

Pessimists realize that they have been caught by Catch-22. This realization and the awareness that the lack in their performance will also weaken their parasites kill their enthusiasm, ruin their motivation and decrease their productivity. This situation helps in very rare cases when this decline in team performance could disturb the management and convince them to look into the matter.

 

 

 

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Don’t let them leave, don’t get them changed

May 26, 2008 at 12:20 pm · Filed under Management ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

I don’ t know whether it’s a common phenomena or not and whether it has been written in HR books or not. Having being hunted by this problem during my early days, when I got the first chance to lead people, I started observing people silently. Without showing any reaction, letting them be more and more exposed.

I collected events and behaviors, analyzed and discussed these behaviors, concluded the results, and to make the decision making process complete and fool proof, I started getting feedback. The results were positive.

So being a line manager, are you able to identify some precious resources under your supervision who seem to be ordinary?

Common characteristics of these resources

  • These people are often too shy to communicate
  • They often seek opportunity to add any value to their company, even if they are not satisfied
  • They do not show unusual efficiency in the presence of their seniors because of their honesty
  • Often they seek for a chance to help their colleagues without expecting any return
  • You may find them helping others even if they have their own tough time lines
  • If they respect you, they would not tell you, instead they’ll work for you harder
  • They’ll contradict you , in your own interest
  • Sometimes they fail to meet the time lines because they do not want to compromise on hidden quality, while others do
  • They utilize their leisure time in solving some other problems your company may face
  • Sometime they silently solve some potential problems which can become a disaster for you in future


How to deal with them

- If their responsibilities are some back office or technical tasks, their weaknesses may be in your favor along with their strengths

- Most probably they would not ask you for appreciation and incentive. You have to identify their micro achievements which may have resolved some macro problems; appreciate them

- Don’t let them get rid of innocence and honesty, appreciate these characteristics

- Be aware of some smart asses under you who can exploit these innocents by taking their credit

- When they lose they time lines because they were helping others, don’t criticize them for it. Just appreciate them and tell them:

  • To prioritize the criticality
  • To prioritize their own task, if criticality is same
  • Or to discuss it with you (supervisor)

Being a line manager, you are not necessarily dealing with managed people. They may lack some skills while having some others. You have to study your resources thoroughly and closely. Identify their actual value instead of the perceived value. May be you would have a different perception after this practice.

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