There are
many behaviours and attitudes that are undesirable and best avoided at the
workplace. While some unpleasant traits like absenteeism or unethical dealings,
may have disastrous consequences for oneself, what I have put down here are
those where others are affected – perhaps psychologically also.
I would say
people who indulge in such unprofessional style of working, are toxic to the
organization itself, and though it may not hit them professionally – atleast
initially – it may impact their relationship and rapport with others and thus
impede their professional growth in the long run.
1.
Criticizing
in public
Dolly was not
just my senior by experience, she was much older than I and assisted none less
than the MD himself, who my manager reported to, also. Thus, we frequently
interacted with each other. Personally, I had immense respect for her – was almost
in awe of her –and looked up to her.
One day, the
situation demanded that I take immediate action but the people I asked to
support were taking a little too easy not realizing the resulting delay on my
work and the impact on my boss’ deliverables. I had but no option other than to
raise my voice and demand immediate attention to my requirement. I got the
desired results, but with a cost to it.
Just before I
was to leave for the day, Dolly came down and reprimanded me severely for being
so demanding and ruthless. I worked in a cubicle then, and her high-pitched
ranting invited unwanted attention from all my colleagues in that row. As if
that was not enough, she went right into my manager’s cabin and poured out her
deep anguish to him.
That was too
much for me to take. Firstly I revered Dolly a lot. Secondly, I had done what I
had, only to get work done for my manager, and lastly –also most importantly –
she had complained about me to my manager, the man who would evaluate and
appraise my performance and behavior, a few months down the line and I knew it
was not going to be good for me.
That evening,
I was an emotional freak. I knew I had handled a job assertively and got it
done, but couldn’t get myself to forget the way Dolly had lost her cool with me
and reported it to my manager as well.
Around
midnight, I got a call and woke up hurriedly to attend to it. I was surprised
to know it was from Dolly. She apologized profusely for her behavior, admitting
I had worked well, and it was she who had gone overboard by reporting to my
manager whose remarks mattered to me. I had no choice but utter some niceties
and hang up courteously. The next day, she even gave a stuffed toy to me, for
my daughter, in a desperate attempt to undo the damage she had done.
Message –
I strongly
feel Dolly didn’t behave well for a person working in a corporate setting. Whatever
be the reason, we ought not to put down another person, especially in an open office.
Mistakes happen, but they have to be dealt with on one-to-one basis, in private.
Dolly could have called me aside, and pointed out my folly. She could have
counseled me on how to handle issues going forward, with, if need be, instances
from her own professional life.
Fortunately
for me, my manager evaluated me wholly because he chose to put the incident
behind us for the good he saw in me. It may not be the case all the time or for
all. Dolly’s private apology didn’t help me a bit. But it taught me a precious
lesson indeed – that I should not do to anyone what she did to me.
2.
Blaming
people – especially without evidence
Mia came to
office and got working. Soon, she realized she couldn’t find the glue bottle in
her drawer. As she was wont to do, Mia raised a hue and cry about the missing glue
bottle and asked to see the Security supervisor, who promptly came and checked
on her. All the housekeeping staff and the Security personnel were
interrogated, as seriously as if something really valuable had gone missing.
All the time
Mia kept saying “these people can’t work hard, they take anything they can lay
their hand on. No hesitation, no manners” even as her colleague kept insisting
she look into her drawers and around the desktop on her table which was
slightly cluttered also.
It was a
matter of 2-3 hours when Mia during the course of her work, found the glue
bottle tucked in a corner inside her own drawer, and she heaved a sigh of
relief. Sadly though, she didn’t call the Security supervisor to take back her
complaint. Nor did she apologize for doubting and blaming his staff for
something they had not done.
Message –
Working in a
corporate involves the teamwork of several people of different genders, and from
varying societal backgrounds, who have come together with a common agenda. When
things go wrong, definitely we are eager to investigate to find out reason
behind the wrongdoing but casting aspersions when we are not sure shows our immaturity
and bias, needless to say we hit the morale of those who are doing their best,
some even working for long hours and less pay.
3.
Complacence
in performance
Ruia was not
on rolls when she joined the reputed garment Company. She joined as the
Receptionist and slowly moved into the Administration role both with her hard
work and to fill in when the existing help quit suddenly. Ruia quickly learnt
the ropes of her work assisting the Administration personnel; she got so
popular for going out of her way and helping people in need whatever time it
was, that she soon became the favourite go-to person for all employees.
When Ruia got
confirmed with a permanent job in the same role, everyone was happy for her,
and agreed that she deserved the job.
Then,
something happened. Ruia became complacent in her work. She no longer responded
to emails or messages, however urgent they were. She seemed to have no regrets
about the very obvious change in her attitude, even when confronted by those
who appreciated her earlier. Her complacence was noticed by many.
Message –
Performance
at the workplace is the only indicator of who we are inside, no matter what we
claim to be otherwise. A person may be rewarded with a role on the basis of her
performance, but her professional advancement will depend only on how she
continues to perform. Maintaining one’s integrity is must, and an attitude of complacence
is like termite in the wood, eating away at the performance aspect resulting in
working below the expectations of the very organization which trusted and
elevated the employee in the first place. This surely will not augur well for
an employee like Ruia.
4.
Working
half-heartedly
Yamini was
the very versatile front office assistant of the small computer institute that Jai
visited, to sign up for a course he wanted to take up very badly. During the
counselling session, however, Jai got to know that they were looking for a
faculty with a qualification he had then. Hurriedly he filled in the candidate
form and handed it to her, stressing the fact that he was extremely needy of a
job.
Yamini agreed
Jai was the candidate they were looking for and assured that she would call
back with the salary terms and conditions, and the date on which he could join
them, after discussing with her manager.
It was more
than a month since Jai had met Yamini and he was still jobless. So he dragged himself
to the institute to check what happened, and, was surprised to hear from Yamini
that she had kept his appointment letter ready but forgotten to call him to
come and collect it from her.
Message–
Time had been
really hard on Jai for he had not landed a job anywhere even after having done
academically well. Yamini’s half-hearted approach in the matter intrigued him,
for even the institute could not take in more students for want of a suitable
faculty. So in one action – or rather inaction – of hers, she had caused
suffering both to the institute and to Jai.
Ayan has
ruffled the feathers of many of his colleagues, with his sense of humour having
gone awry several times. Be it a different religion, another dialect, someone
climbing up the corporate ladder, or someone’s food or even online purchasing
habits, Ayan has a remark for everything and thinks it is funny. This has resulted
in many alienating themselves from him, for good.
Message –
Humour is all
well when it is enjoyed by all present, but even if ONE feels something is
degrading, then that is it. We may say it is perception, but perceptions are
real. Many times colleagues chatting during tea time, may unintentionally hurt one
of them, but this can be followed by a sincere apology and then it is business
as usual.
However, when
people like Ayan think they are entitled to belittle everyone around them and
not feel anything about it, that is
not humour. For, people like to be appreciated or atleast accepted, for what
they are. Being ridiculed hits the core of a person and the very basis of the
relationship, which can have long term implications on the office atmosphere.
I have listed
5 important things that are unpleasant in an office setting. These are not
exhaustive. None of these things is good elsewhere also, but when our rapport
outside office is good, some withdrawal from the emotional bank account is
tolerated. Not so in office where everyone has come together only to work and
therefore even a small lapse in interpersonal understanding can not only damage
the relationship irreparably but also affect the productivity that is expected
from the concerned employees.
Published in LinkedIn on 6th February 2020
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