Transitioning has become a routine for all levels of professionals in the global business world. Add to this the flavor of eastern work philosophy with the western business structure [Reference 2]. This may be the recipe for chaos at the work place.
It is common for leaders to set false schedules and priorities for their teams to achieve high performance on projects. The priorities set for their teams may not truly reflect their or their clients' priorities. When this approach is taken too often, regular work at the organization turns into a struggle for performance. This could also result in burn-out of the team members. Leaders need to take quick measures to regain normal work routines and environment when teams work in graveyard shifts to oblige their leaders and clients.
Leaders and followers tend to forget that both sides are transitioning in their day to day operations [Reference 1]. It matters for everyone to have goals to achieve and schedules to adhere to. It is not astounding that leaders do have their own goals towards their success. In their ardent desire for quick success, they cause chaos to their followers with their view points and decisions. They tend to forget often that their success depends on the success of their followers in most situations. Change and chaos have become synonyms mostly because of this rapid success paradox in global professional services firms. This unhealthy trend needs to be addressed.
It is common for leaders to set false schedules and priorities for their teams to achieve high performance on projects. The priorities set for their teams may not truly reflect their or their clients' priorities. When this approach is taken too often, regular work at the organization turns into a struggle for performance. This could also result in burn-out of the team members. Leaders need to take quick measures to regain normal work routines and environment when teams work in graveyard shifts to oblige their leaders and clients.
I hear that some of the IS/IT professional services firms at Hyderabad are preparing to address such situations. One of the measures seems to be timely vacations instead of the cash option for vacation especially towards the end of the year for the employees. This is a good change to start with to regain normalcy.
To avoid chaos, leaders must be deliberately empathetic towards their followers. Leaders must self reflect regularly as to what their leadership means to their followers. Otherwise, ugly consequences could result when job responsibilities and work ethics cross boundaries. In a global business world, the individual's work life can become quite complex with unforeseen changes due to people and their processes. It matters much to address such issues that arise at the workplace with care and attention to detail.
The eastern work philosophy, confusions about work ethics and job responsibilities require attention in global organizations - big and small. The adaptability and flexibility of followers to become self organized professionals at the workplace is a more complex and bigger topic. They are separate discussion topics for another post.
The eastern work philosophy, confusions about work ethics and job responsibilities require attention in global organizations - big and small. The adaptability and flexibility of followers to become self organized professionals at the workplace is a more complex and bigger topic. They are separate discussion topics for another post.
References:
1. Van Buren, M. E., & Safferstone, T. (2009). THE Quick Wins Paradox. Harvard Business Review, 87(1), 54-61.
2. Office Tigers, Documentary Review
3. Is Something Wrong with the way we work?
1. Van Buren, M. E., & Safferstone, T. (2009). THE Quick Wins Paradox. Harvard Business Review, 87(1), 54-61.
2. Office Tigers, Documentary Review
3. Is Something Wrong with the way we work?
