BOSSES …BARKING…. BITING…

The word BOSS is used only in title of this article. Many senior managers, administrators dislike themselves to be called as BOSS for obvious reasons. An effort is made here to understand various managerial styles at different levels.

Before understanding the BARK+BITE matrix, let us first understand, who is a Manager? Anyone who is responsible for the job done by others is  manager is the simplest definition of  manager. This means managers exist at various levels, in different organizations- small-big-medium; profit making, non-profit making etc. Educational institutions, religious organizations such as temples and churches are excluded in this discussion.

BARK stands for threatening subordinates either in one-to-one interaction or in front of subordinates. It may be verbal to ensure instant reaction or in written form when reaction from the victim is deliberately delayed. However, verbal or written threat is not converted into concrete action and hence termed as Bark.

BITE means either conversion of earlier threat into action or simply a disciplinary action without any warning. The later is dangerous because it catches employees off guard. Biting takes many forms and ranges from simple show cause notice at one end to termination of employment and stopping of retirement and other benefits to other extreme.

BARK- BITE MATRIX

3- BARKS + BITES	4-DOES NOT BARK + DOES NOT BITE
-                          1-BARKS+ DOES NOT BITE:-	2-  DOES NOT BARK + BITES

 One more point  we have to understand- THE BOSS ALSO HAS A BOSS. Once this aspect is understood and accepted, may be, few of us can empathize with the superior and his whims and fancies.

Secondly, a manager cannot be stamped or put in one quadrant for lifetime. He may move from one quadrant to other depending upon his age, qualifications, years left for retirement, situations such as strikes in organization, nature of subordinates, and arrival of new superior and so on. He is identified with one style which is prominent throughout his tenure as a manager. Managers, administrators of both sexes are included here.

1- BARKS+ DOES NOT BITE: - Managers, falling in this category, are in the truest sense humane. In cases of majority, this is their natural managerial style. In case of few others, style is developed after working in an organization and facing negative consequences of biting subordinates. Managers using this style always have larger picture in their mind (family of subordinate) before barking and not biting.

Barking is effective provided barking is loud enough! In addition, the effectiveness of barking depends upon quality of subordinates. If subordinates are amicable, motivated, then one finds this style suitable. Barking includes- warnings of strict action, threat of transfer to far off places, cancellation of earlier sanctioned leave, assignment of less important job etc. This style is partially suitable in case of female dominated offices.

Barking in some cases has a multiplier effect. Barking at one employee in front of others gives them  signal. Barking should be regular. The release of anger should be regular; only then barking is harmless.

Disadvantage of this style is- once the subordinates know that superior only barks and does not bite, they tend to take things for granted. The subordinates at newly transferred office also learn quickly about new manager’s style from earlier office.

Note of caution-This style is not ideal for managers at start of their career.

2- DOES NOT BARK + BITES- In vernacular language, the manager is nicknamed MEETHI CHHURI. This style is suitable and commonly found for those managerial jobs, which have less accountability, have lot of power and nuisance value. Barring few exceptions, this is not natural managerial style and lot of efforts are made to acquire and practice this style. An important reason for adoption of this style is, the manager himself may have been victim of biting by his superior and hence decides to adopt this style.

In some cases (where facts and figures speak loudly), there is no need to bark. In other cases, introvert managers commonly use this style. They do not believe their subordinates and have a tendency to crosscheck from other subordinates or from external sources. Managers using this style insists on written word and use records and technology before preparing ground for biting. They collect lot of information/evidence against the victim. They also are well aware of the legal hassles involved, possible consequences, likely reaction from subordinate and from others who are not directly affected.

Biting is a special skill. Intensity of bite depends upon the situation, earlier history, hostile unions, etc.

This style is not suitable where female subordinates are in large number, when retirement is around corner.

3- BARKS + BITES- This style is common for managers who-

Work in large organizations.

Jobs are transferable.

Are confident about their decisions.

Not worried about consequences and also enjoys confidence of their superiors

Can differentiate between performing and non-performing employees.

Managers face heat in case of extremely competitive market scenario and are under pressure to perform. Time dimension is crucial and hence both biting and barking is rampant. Subordinates are always on toes because they know that the threat may convert into action any time. The only issue in this style is- every bark should not convert into bite. There should be exceptions; else life for both the manager and his subordinates becomes miserable. The intensity increases at the end of financial year when pressure of reaching targets is very high. In case of mergers & Acquisitions, this style can be commonly found when employees from two ( earlier) organizations are treated differentially.

4- DOES NOT BARK + DOES NOT BITE- The managerial philosophy behind this style is –LIVE AND LET LIVE!

This style is ideal for those managers nearing retirement. Some use this style by default and few clever ones by design. The later ones are those who want to enter consultancy line after retirement in same office and would like to use today’s subordinates as future contacts.

Those who are frequently transferred out of punishment by their superiors follow this style.(A small minority in spite of transfers keep on barking and biting).

They are the first choice of their subordinates.

The flop side is- on many occasions, they cannot take firm stand on some crucial issues- an essential quality for managers. They keep issues pending for successor. They take extraordinarily long time for decision making. They have tough time during subordinates’ appraisal. They do not create a coterie of their own nor are interested in getting information on what is happening in organization. On time dimension, they are poor performers. Subordinates, once clear on the trait of their superior, use very creative tactics  to their advantage. If the manager is tech-poor, his subordinates take undue advantage of his disadvantage.

To conclude, a manager may be in any one of the quadrant but may move to other depending upon situation in an organization.

INDIANS FROM LENS OF WESTERNERS (FLOP SIDE)

Westerners, who visit India or interact with educated, well-heeled Indians or relatively less educated blue-collar workers in their own country, have FAQs about Indians. Those Indians who have settled in USA or Europe are excluded here! Westerners, who have traveled to different parts of globe, are mature enough not to straight away stamp Indians as wrong; they say- they are different! However, they cannot understand some general traits found with Indians, which are difficult to explain during personal observation. In spite of mentally prepared to face a cultural shock after entering the third world in general and India in particular- few things are beyond their understanding! The flop and flip side are discussed in two separate blogs. Why they cannot get wine in a wine shop? Why in spite of clear written instruction- No separate queue for women, there is a different line of women near ticket counter? Why MAY I HELP YOU counter at public places is without I? Following are FAQs about Indians.

1-      First question that is often raised by them is- Why Indians, when visiting Rome, Paris cannot be a Roman or a Parisian for few days.  In today’s connected world, it is not that an Indian visiting these places has a shock due to lack of knowledge. Enough information is available on net and he is expected to understand the culture backdrop there.

2-      With due respect to vegetarian habits of many of Indians, question asked is- barring few exceptions, why Indians do not experiment with local cuisine which is vegetarian? They are comfortable with chocolates, ice creams, bakery products; but what about other items on the main course. Indians on a short stay of 3/5 days on luxury cruise ask for Indian food only. Many Indians carry with them frozen food packets during their Europe or US tour. However, when given a chance, why do not they experiment with local cuisine?

3-      Why Indians (barring Sikh & Parsee community) in general cannot laugh at themselves.

4-      A strong comment on lack of discipline in a queue. Letter Q is missing in Indian English.

5-      During important business meetings or even in friendly social conversation, if an Indian has not understood a point raised by his western counterpart- either due to pronunciation or due to technical jargon, why he just nods and not ask to clarify.

6-      Westerners always express concern over human safety in India. Be it wearing of helmet, or putting a belt while driving a car, why Indians generally do not follow the simple rules. Why a scooter rider with helmet on removes it after crossing Delhi border?

7-      Indians’ priority to education is respected throughout the world. In fact, Indian Professors today can be found throughout world. What worries them is- poor priority given to sports? The question raised by them is –Why Indians have this or that (education or sports) instead of this + that?

8-      In spite of detailed information available on LED display, announcements, maps available, why Indians need a human interface? Tourists visiting Dubai Mall get a free Map in different languages at all entry gates. Why Indians after picking the map and pocketing it, start asking questions about directions to strangers?

9-      Indians largely depend upon two Gs. One is God and second is Government. The issue raised by westerners is- why Indians bring every now and then Government in discussion. India is a democratic society and Indians only have chosen the government; then how are they different from it?

10-   Are Indians a very busy lot who are always in a hurry? If chaos at a square after traffic signal getting green is any indication, they must be!  This is contradictory to respecting time of appointment.

11-   Barring metros and larger cities, why foreigners in general and white skin tourists in particular are stared as if they are from a different planet?

12-   In a group with different nationalities and languages, why two Indians talk to each other in Hindi and not in English?

13-   On a tour to U S A or Europe, why well-to-do Indians also go for mental calculation of Indian Rupee to Dollar in case of minor purchases ?

14-   Why doors of a car, gate of a lift, receiver of a landline phone are banged harshly.

15-   Indians are a sentimental lot is accepted throughout world. Question raised is- why Indians cannot control emotions while condoling death.

The other ( flip) side shall be discussed in next blog.

TERA-MERA MATRIX

                                                             TERA-MERA MATRIX

A jingle from an advertisement of mobile service operator inspired to write this blog. The original lines were- JO TERA HAI WOH MERA; JO MERA HAI WOH TERA!

 In real life situation, we meet and interact with all kinds of people; some selfish to core, others with an attitude of a philanthropist. Day in day out, we interact with many either willingly or unwillingly. Majority of these transactions have a specific purpose to achieve. The moment word transaction comes in; we talk of two parties. In business transactions, the backdrop is different compared to those transactions where one is not necessarily a winner at cost of other party.

We observe four types of transactions, which are put into four different quadrants. They are-

1-      Start/standoff point:-Mine is mine – yours is yours ( mera woh mera; tera woh tera)

2-      Exchange after successful negotiation:- Mine is yours –yours is mine ( mera woh tera, tera woh mera)

3-      Donation:- Mine is yours – yours is yours ( mera woh tera, tera woh tera)

4-      Exploitation:- Mine is mine, yours is mine ( mera woh mera, tera woh mera)

The matrix developed  is as under:-

1-MERA WOH MERA        TERA WOH TERA ( STARTING POINT FOR NEGOTIATION OR STATUS QUO AFTER NEGOTIATIONS)	3- MERA WOH TERA       TERA WOH TERA (DONATION- OTHER PARTY HAS NOTHING TO OFFER EXCEPT GRATITUDE)
2- MERA WOH TERA ( PRODUCT)         TERA WOH MERA (MONEY /PURCHASING POWER) (  EXCHANGE AFTER SUCCESSFUL  NEGOTIATION)	4- MERA WOH MERA         TERA WOH MERA ( EXPLOITATION – UNDUE ADVANTAGE OF OTHER PARTY TO OUR BENEFIT)

1-MERA WOH MERA + TERA WOH TERA:- As mentioned earlier, this is starting point for negotiation or stage of status quo after unsuccessful  negotiation.

Initially, both parties have something to offer to other party, which is of value to other. The only issue is perception about monetary conversion of that value. When both parties have feeling that, what other party is offering is of value to them; there is likelihood of agreement and exchange. However, as mentioned earlier, when both parties think that they cannot reach an agreement, they reach to status quo. Back to square one- find out another party for offer and negotiation.

2- MERA WOH TERA (PRODUCT) + TERA WOH MERA (MONEY/PURCHASING POWER):-Both, in business and in non-business situations, any exchange between parties include money, goods or services normally. What both parties bring to table should always be of value to other party. The other party must translate your value proposition into monetary terms if you offer something abstract; only then, exchange is possible. Today, when prices of most commodities are not stable, one of the two parties is always unsatisfied in spite of successful negotiation and exchange. Competition plays an important role and there must be some parity in judging the value proposition offered by competitors. Those who understand the golden rule        - WHAT APPEARS CHEAP IN SHORT RUN MAY PROVE COSTLY IN LONG RUN normally take right decision. In exceptional cases of barter, what other party offers may not be money but goods/services.

3-TERA WOH TERA +MERA WOH TERA:- Donations from an individual or CSR activities from a business organization fall in this category. TERA- the other party has hardly anything to offer except good wishes. Reasons behind donations may be manifold- ranging from getting relief from income tax , earning PUNYA (Hindu Philosophy) to -be known even after death (condition of naming of school/college/institute in name of donor or his/her father/mother). Crucial aspect of donation is- it should go to deserving persons/organizations. Indian philosophy says that if the donation is anonymous, its value increases. Organizations and individuals both- should be proactive than reactive if they are falling in this quadrant. Many- who are really in need are tough/dogmatic enough not to approach anybody with a begging bowl. Countries suffering from natural calamities have refused help on humanitarian grounds from other nations.

4- TERA WOH MERA; MERA WOH MERA:- In real life, we do find this situation which clearly falls under category of exploitation. When this happens among family members, relations collapse. In business situation, this cannot be a permanent scenario today –thanks to liberalization, and globalization. However, the exploited party is wounded, unhappy; and waits for an opportunity to hit back at an opportune time. Once, a person has bitter experience with other person or with an organization, he is much more careful while dealing next time. Those – exploited in some cases migrate to other places. Organizations exploited by the might of a larger organization find other partners/buyers for their products. In some business contracts, where fine prints of terms and conditions are not read and interpreted properly, organization lands itself in such situation.

WEARING THE HAT OF YOUNGER GENERATION

                                          WEARING THE HAT OF YOUNGER GENERATION

A teacher or instructor has tough time handling class of 60 students for even an hour. The reasons can vary ranging from reducing attention span of students, dull subject, and disturbances from external environment and so on.

One important reason is lack of understanding of young student community, which on many occasions is also misunderstood by their parents. In fact, some parents completely surrender to teacher or psychiatrist with those words- AB TUMHARE HAWALE….

 Common dialogue from both parents and teachers is- things were not like this during our time when we were students. Question is how can they be same over a generation? Can we as teachers/parents change our thinking hat and look to scenario from their point of view?

THEIR HAT

1-Bonsai looks good in drawing room. You can also have world’s smallest dog –Chihuahua as your pet. Nevertheless, do you want us to be growing like a Bonsai or Chihuahua? If the answer is NO, kindly let us have our own way and not your philosophy- EITHER MY WAY OR HIGHWAY!

2- Kindly let us know our status! Are we grown up or growing up or still kids. You as parents have different standards on various occasions. If a glass full of water is broken, you say- you have grown up but still cannot handle a simple glass of water. However, if we want to have a night out with friends at her residence, you stop immediately saying- you are not mature enough to stay out whole night!

3- You and your parents may have been educated in local/vernacular medium. Competition has forced education through English medium that we have accepted without any fuss. Now if we have global personalities as our Icons/hero/role-models, why so fuss about it. We can immediately connect with Bill Gates and J K Rowling than with Munshi Premchand and Subhadra kumari Chauhan.

4- All of us cannot have an IQ of Einstein. Giving hormone treatment to brain has its own limitations. It may move from 60 to 70 but not reach 110.

5- Why on this earth sports/music/hobby is treated as distractions from study. As long as we not choosing any of the above as our future profession, these activities act as refreshers from regular study routine.

6- Why our one time failure is not accepted with grace? We are to be blamed if we have a five-year plan to clear matriculation examination. However, one failure during only one or two subjects/practical is heavily criticized. WHY?

7- We cannot be a combination of APJ Abdul Kalam and Sachin Tendulkar or a mixture of Indra Nooyee and Mother Teressa. If we are good/mediocre at one particular area, kindly accept that.

8- Instead of touching feet of elders or relatives in a social function, we greet them with Hi. This does not mean that we are manner less!

9-We have grown in a net connected world! We understand well that information is not knowledge. However, appreciate the fact that your canvass is 35 mm while ours is 70 mm.

10- You grew listening to story with a morale- SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE! We are listening to a new rule of the game- BE 80% CORRECT AND FASTER RATHER THAN 100% CORRECT AND SLOWER!  In new story, the hare did not take a break and won race over tortoise.

11- For your generation protection of assets such as cash, ornaments was of prime importance. Now the problem is partially solved with availability of gold bonds and safe deposit vaults. For us it our privacy which is very important because there has been a change in our public private ratio. We protect our privacy by changing our FB profile, changing the password of e-mail and in extreme cases by closing our account also.

12- You claim you know value of money. Many of you are therefore in spending + save mode. We know present value of money we have through pocket money. Hence, we are in spending mode-maximizing value of little money we have. Saving from whatever little kitty we have would be unwise (not foolish).

13-Ocasssions- If alumni meet of 1980 batch of yours is important for you, we have our fresher’s party or valedictory function in school for the outgoing batch on top priority.

14- You follow philosophy of SST- Sasta, Sunder, Tikau ( Cheap, attractive, durable). We believe in Sasta Roye Baar Baar, Mahanga Roye Ek Bar.

15- If we are comfortable with different gadgets, it does not necessarily mean that we are genius. You suddenly raise your expectation after watching us working on laptop and then get disappointed.

16- You insist on dedicated parking for car while buying a flat or villa but park the car outside and earn by letting the garage. This is happening to us also in real life. In some cases, we do not find a dedicated place in your minds which has other priorities on top. We are referring to quality time to be spent with us.

17- You give us wings to fly and when we start flying on our own; you start giving us GYAN- Direction is more important than speed! We know both- in which direction are we going and at what speed.

18- Like you, we also believe in the God. However, the way you deal with him on transaction to transaction basis is unacceptable to us.

19- As long as we are current on information on latest happening, why criticize us for not reading newspaper? We get the same information faster and more authentic through news alerts.

20- While buying an asset for us  such as a mobile or a moped; please do your homework on both onetime capital cost and recurring expenses. Yes, our pocket money should be cut if mobile bill is extraordinarily high. Nevertheless, if it is within limit; why each month complain on receipt of bill?

Can we as parents or teachers listen to what they are trying to say? Not all, but may be few of the issues raised by them force us to rethink and mend our ways a bit.