New Delhi: Personal relationships at the work place are bound to cause complications. When it's business, there's no place for emotions.
And therefore, there is one solid mantra - at work place, maintain only professional relationships and say no to personal bonding.
The following case study clearly shows the mess one can get into if emotions are involved at work.
After doing night shifts for eight months, call centre executive Akansha Kumar found that her boss never noticed the hard work.
"I will quit," she told her friend and colleague Ritu.
Just then a new boss joined the company and promised employees that the office would be depoliticised and all of them would get opportunities.
"Emotions and profession must be kept apart. In the world of competition, nobody appreciates emotions."
Encouraged by these words, Akansha decided to stay back and started to work harder than ever before. She was to be disappointed again-this time by her friend, Ritu.
Ritu cosied up to the new boss and his wife too. She stole Akansha’s projects and ideas and presented them to the boss as her own.
Akansha talked to her boss and he gave her a chance to lead a project. But Ritu was miffed and used her personal rapport with the boss to force Akansha to quit.
Akansha must not have sought friends in office, say Aruna Broota, psychologist, and Sanjay Salooja, corporate philosopher and growth strategist.
In teleserial Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi, a plain jane secretary Jassi's life is made miserable by her bosses
Expertspeak
Aruna Broota, psychologist
The whole incident had to happen. When Akanksha saw Ritu taking credit for her projects, she should have immediately ended the friendship.
Emotions and profession must be kept apart. In the world of competition, nobody appreciates emotions. Colleagues will shy away or take advantage if you are emotional.
Friends are found in school, college and neighbourhood but never in offices. Instead of feeling depressed, Akanksha should learn from the experience and get on with her life.
What happened between Ritu, Akanksha and the boss was fun for the office. People love gossip and both Ritu and Ankanksha gave material to talk about.
This does not mean that Akanksha should have flattered the boss, but she should have dissociated from Ritu long back.
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In Yes Boss, Shah Rukh Khan has to suffer Aditya Pancholi, a manipulative boss
Sanjay Salooja, corporate philosopher and growth strategist
If people try to take credit for your work and play dirty politics, prevention is better than cure. If a co-worker or boss starts taking the credit for your work and you let it go on even for a while, it is hard to avoid being a victim.
Promote yourself
Always keep documentary proof of your achievements and your work. Set up review meetings with supervisors to ensure that they are always aware of what you are doing. Document and mail it to relevant people as a part of review plan.
"In all meetings, let seniors know what you and your team have achieved. You can do these by telling superiors that you are looking for their 'feedback.'"
In all meetings, let seniors know what you and your team have achieved. You can do these by telling superiors that you are looking for their "feedback".
Ensure your strengths get recognised not only because you talk about it but because they are also visible to all around you.
Laugh it out
Humour lightens up a tense situation and allows people to know about your views. Here ensure that the tone, body language and the words are chosen carefully. I have seen that people can get away by giving the nastiest feedback to others without offending them because they get the above three right.
Get emotions in check
Have people on your side. Stay balanced about the situation(s). Remind your self that you cannot help the way you feel about the situation but you can certainly help the way you think and act. This will help you to deal with the emotion much better.
Communicate assertively
If humour doesn’t work, then handle the situation by being direct and assertive. Let it be known what you stand for and what you are willing to accept and what behaviour are unacceptable to you. Ensure you do this by using right body language, tone and words.
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In Chetan Bhagat's book One Night at the Call Center, a call center manager steals credit for a website made by his subordinates
Do visible, important tasks
Take initiative in front of others and your supervisors to do important tasks. Work hard and once you meet expectations; send a report to your boss asking for comments. Ensure that nobody steals credit for your work.
Personal vs professional
The work place feels uncomfortable when a few employees develop personal relationships with the boss.
Other employees feel, rightly or wrongly, that the boss favouring is his friends and is turning a blind eye to their mistakes or inefficiency. How should colleagues of such 'favoured' employees deal with the situation?
"Ignore the boss's favourites and don't gossip about them. Be cautious with the issue."
Be restrained: Ignore the boss’s favourites and don’t gossip about them. Be cautious with the issue.
Be professional: Concentrate on your work and avoid getting involved in office politics. Try not to be associated with factions.
Be transparent: Make it clear that you are not interested in office politics and you are not on any side. Choose you words right without offending anyone.
Take Action: Act on you own if you have strong feeling that asking for permission might help people play politics and hinder crucial tasks. You can apologise later for not asking permission but it will satisfy you and also let your superiors notice the important work you have accomplished.
But this step can be quite risky especially if your immediate superior starts pointing out faults in it. So choose this as a last option and carefully plan your steps.
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