FALL IN LINE

FALL  IN   LINE

43 years back I attended one lecture of noted management expert and teacher , Professor Sharu Rangnekar and later  read his  one small and wonderful   book titled " In the wonderland of Indian Mangers".I honestly feel that no one has described  management style and work culture of  Indian Industries better than professor Rangnekar.

Since then I have been a silent observer of the people I have met in various industries. RANGNEKAR described  in the book how people avoid work in the systematic manner.He also mentioned  about 90 /10  formulae stating that  in almost all Indian  industries and offices 90 percent work is done by 10 percent of the employees and balance 10 percent work is done by 90 percent of the employees .When I observe people I try to place them in either 90 percent or 10 percent category .

In most Indian industries the basic  management style continues to be " Either you fall in line OR .........."...In other words ," Better you do what is told OR .....   f**k  off  " ......which is a typical age old autocratic style. Junior level employees of staff or management category are taught all sorts of stories of TQM or TEAM BUILDING or SGA (small group activities)Lot of money is spent on their training  and with all that "Drama" some employees  start believing that their company management style is professional and different  and they start living in the fool's' paradise !

In reality, barring a few truly professional companies , in say 90 percent of the companies management style is '" Or ...Else" style of management. Either you do what is told or ........There will be all sort of suger coatings but at the end of the day remember the rule number 1 " Boss is always right" .

To survive in the industry then becomes a challenge  if one cannot tune himself in 
 " yes sir " mode.   Even if you don't agree at least learn  to show, you are open  to try idea of Boss. Learn how and when to say no !

In one of my  earlier companies in 1985 ,my boss was N BalaSundaram,truly charsmatic personality .  We used to refer him NB . NB was the great man in his era  and was a task master.His 'aura ' was different ....and he used to dislike the word " No".

 Once  NB called me  and one of my colleagues and asked us to do some experiment and show him results immediately after Lunch.

 My colleague had not tuned himself to " yes sir" mode and started arguing but whenever I used to meet NB, (and I used to meet him quite often) I used to be permanently in the 
" yes Sir " mode and agree to all the absurd  ideas of Boss !  In fact like my associate I too had immediately understood that the idea of Boss was stupid but I knew rule number 1 
" The Boss is always right " .....so I agreed to him.

When we came out my friend started cursing  NB and asked me what are you going  to try.? ....I calmed him and told him let us go out . We went to a nearby place for a cup of  tea ...and returned just before the lunch . After Lunch I chatted with other associates and after half an hour went to the Boss with the same colleague. 

In the sweetest possible tone  I started the  communication............ " Sir we tried your idea but we found sir that it perhaps cannot work ."......I calmly explained to the boss why the idea could not work ......and Boss himself reacted   " Oh ...you are right...how come I didnot realize it......it's really stupid   "

 I was  extremely pleased to liston to that but I did not show my happiness.
I then told Boss  the solution and added that I suddenly got the solution  because of Boss's yesterday's suggestion.
 I gave all the credit to Boss.

My friend was aghast ! He was 
wondering when  and where did we try NB's  idea? 

Nevertheless he learned how to say no.

So whenever Boss talks non sense remember rule number 1 and after some time Boss himself will realize he was wrong. 

To err is everyone's right. So the boss has also right to be wrong ! 

 If one ignores ' rule number 1' more often, and doesn't fall in line then soon he or she  will have to change the job !.
    --------   Rajendra Phansalkar
....

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