Inefficiency versus Productivity…

When we work, doing any kind of work, we tend to derive some satisfaction out of a job well done. But there lies the key, doesn’t it? Job well done. But what if the job is not done as ‘properly’ as it should be done? Is it still ok?

It shouldn’t be is what one would think.

What I think is that an organization has at any given point of time two kinds of workers. One set is a self motivated, performer, happy to be in the job. They are a kind of employee that is though not ideal, but are productive and tries to find solutions to problems and tries to grow with every step they take while keeping in line with the organizations’ goals and objectives.

Then there is a second set of employees that is also thriving in the same organization. They are not motivated to work, are full of constant cribbing, are not able to do the one job they are responsible for, have problem for every solution and yet want the best for themselves.

I think somewhere it is the question of realizing and perceiving the self worth. The sense of not contributing to the organization yet being a part of every gratification that the organization offers is a classic case of having a very high opinion on one’s contribution. There is also a point where the actual contributor who takes pride in the jobs that they do are left flabbergasted because the gratification for them them reduces.

How?

If say ‘A’ employee is not serious about the work they do. ‘A’, when does something has to be re-done by say, ‘B’ and is probably done right if not better. The contribution of ‘B’ is larger than ‘A’ putting in longer hours wherein the output is near low. However, the recognition for the work done is near equal for both ‘A’ and ‘B’, where does this leave ‘B’???

It is not only the material gains that are on the line here. It is the quality of work being done and the satisfaction and happiness that is being derived from a job well done. A lot of management theories, especially Hertzberg two factor theory points that employees do not necessarily look at needs of lower order but also take cognizance of the recognition meted out, responsibilities given and so on.

What eludes me is that how can two different individuals be given similar appreciation when someone is clearly performing a role better than the other. In no way does it mean that the other person may not be a recipient of the appreciation they deserve, but then equality does not always mean justice. The key, I think would be ‘deserving’.

This may go on to make the organization unproductive as the inefficient carry on their ways because they know it does not matter or even if it does matter, they are not being told so and the efficient one’s to whom this indifference does matter may lose their will to perform because clearly inefficiency does not ‘not pay’.

Be Careful What You Wish For…..

Never settle for less!

Go for the best!

Do your best!

The best never rests.

Familiar??

Aren’t these but a few inspirational lines we have been hearing and imparting to those in need of upliftment encouragement. But as we grow up, we realise that we don’t always have to have the best. Sometimes mediocre is all we need. No. Not settle for mediocre, but find the joys of it instead of being restless about something that is out of our hands.

I understand how this can be misconstrued for low self esteem or not living up to one’s potential. But I think sometimes being happy and content is more important than achieving something that in its process is anyway making us miserable. Sometimes what we need is very different from what we want. Sometimes, the universe can be left to judge what is it that this organism requires.

Having said that, I don’t think that the role of a human being in the universe is minuscule. No, nothing is achievable if the human being completely relies on the universe or a greater power than himself to fulfil wishes. One cannot sit back and urge the universe to keep doing its thing. We have to give inputs that the universe can make sense out of.

But don’t we all have wishes gone wrong? We did wish for something. Worked for it too. Oh, worked so hard towards it. But the result was not something we anticipated. I know I have had many such instances.
Sometimes, we can neither be happy about the situation nor be sad. Because, ultimately we did wish for it to happen. We did work towards it. We did want it. It is at that time do we realise we cannot get what we want, but get what we need.

So…Be careful what you wish for….

Your’s Regretfully

I admire the people who do not regret the choices they make. I admire those who think thoroughly when the decisions need to be made. I admire those who do not waste their time over thinking the minutest details of their lives.
But, then reflecting on the decisions made helps us understand what made us take it. It makes us understand why we did what we did. How could it be done differently?
But then, why do we feel the uneasiness after taking a decision which by all rational accounts is the right one to take at the moment.
The decisions that we think to be in congruence with the situation at hand may or may not be in line with our thought process. We and only we can feel the hesitation that precedes the decision. We are the ones left mulling over the pros and cons of what could be, could have been, would not be or would not have been.
It’s weak to remain in the past, but it teaches us so much. We know what decisions we cannot repeat due to their disastrous implications in the past, and we know what decisions are to be repeated even if they did not give the results desired.
Can we not take the decisions and move on. Do we have to keep thinking about it so much?