How healthy is our corporate culture – Part II

Well, after my (new) experiences with the corporate culture of our present day multi-national companies for a couple of years, I moved on looking for better opportunities. I must say, it was pretty much the same in the new company too, but I wasn’t affected much by those anomalies that I came across in my first couple of jobs – essentially, I was able to better manage the situation, practice some politics, and things like that. Considering the fact that I spent more than two years in Western Europe, I was not entirely comfortable with certain things the new age multi-national companies in India practice.

The new party culture: the good and the bad

Though not a party animal, I love parties, and so do you. I like interacting with new people, and getting to spend time with your managers and colleagues in an informal way, and to exchange some ‘company’ jokes with them in a lighter vein. But, to many, parties are like – lots of beer, dance, and again lots of whiskeys, vodkas, colas and cocktails. An unwind center, literally! Nothing wrong in this attitude if everyone just ‘behaves’, which sadly doesn’t happen. I’ve been to a lot of disco clubs during my two-plus years in Europe, and have appreciated ‘those’ naughty (you know what) things while dancing. However, I do not appreciate doing the same with your colleagues. I’ve seen some of my colleagues going wild after a couple of pegs of vodka, and dancing ‘wild’ with their managers. The worst part of this party thing is that some managers do not know their limits, and they over-indulge in drinks beyond their capabilities and senses. You are not among a bunch of strangers – loss of basic etiquette! Call me conservative, you are thoroughly mistaken.

Moving up the corporate ladder

Nowadays, this is a very easy task if you are a dumbo. You say ‘Aye Aye Captain!’ to whatever your manager says, and just try and act to be proactive, there is a promotion awaiting you this mid-year!

I’ve come across innumerous examples where the person being promoted essentially has very little to exhibit of his credits – yet he/she happens to be the loyal slave, and that’s what his/her manager wants at the end of the day. Don’t ask me if some ‘wild’ dancing with your manager will act as a catalyst in you getting a promotion. A hard worker just needs to be equally cunning in this corporate world to see himself moving up the corporate ladder. Well, yeah, that’s what I’m doing right now.

The new form of favoritism at work: The girl effect

I’ve asked myself this question a million times, ‘why do managers sympathize with girls (also ladies)’? I know the opposite sex is always attractive, but the word manager is unisex. Most women at work get some kind of sympathy from their managers (both genders!!). When women talk about equal opportunity and equal representation in anything and everything, I see this ’sympathy’ feeling only from a bad angle. Do they exploit their manager’s sympathy-weakness? I become a male chauvinist if I say anything against women. Come on, gimme a break!

Finally, don’t get silhouetted: make some noise!

In such a utopian corporate culture, what good is to work hard and remain a mute spectator? Make some noise buddies – work hard, and make yourself heard louder. For what ever work you do, make an official communication to your manager, and always keep him in the loop for all good things. For any unforseen mistakes on your deliverable, resolve it silently, and just share the good things with your manager. Never ever give him a chance to take note of even the smallest thing that is ‘negative’ about you or your work output.

Hope we’d all make good managers and create a good corporate culture to nurture and appreciate talent.

Comments are welcome!

Tags: appreciate talent, corporate culture, corporate ladder, etiquette, ladies-preference, managers, multi-national companies, party

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