Your employee is not an asset!

M. Gautham Machaiah

Corporations today have derived different euphemisms to describe their employees. Some treat them as assets; others refer to them as human capital, while most stick to the time-tested description of human resource.

But how many companies look at their employees as simple human beings? Do you view your employee as a machine which needs to be overhauled and oiled periodically in the form of increments, or as a living being with emotions, mood swings, joys, sorrows, pleasure and pain?

Your employee might be a resource, capital or an asset, but remember, he is first a human being.

A person spends a major part of his life at work, away from his family, which is why it is important that he looks forward to attending office and enjoys spending time with his colleagues. As a boss, this is in your hands.

You treat your employee like a machine and he will respond mechanically. He will perform because you incentivise him with increments and bonuses, not because he shares an emotional bond with the company. Such workers, who perform from the level of their body and mind, without giving their heart and soul to their work, can often prove to be a liability.

Only a good boss can fire the passion in an employee. And who is a good boss? Somebody who has business acumen, leadership qualities and marketing skills? All this, and more. You can never be a good boss unless you are first a good human being.

As you read this, sit back for a while and ponder: Do your employees respect you because you are a tough boss, or because you are a decent human being? And if your answer is the former, you have some soul searching to do.

All of us carry personal and professional baggage with us. Our personal lives reflect on our work and vice-versa. As a boss you have no control over your employee’s personal life, but you can at least ensure that he carries a happy baggage home. After all, he spends a better part of his life with you.

Many a time you would have pulled up an employee for under performance on a particular day, but have you ever given a thought to what could be running in his mind. It could be as simple as a domestic fight or something as serious as his father’s illness. But have you offered him solace?

How many times has your employee felt comfortable to sit across the table and discuss his personal life with you? Does he see you just as a boss or as a friend, philosopher and guide? Does he trust you enough to share his problems with you? And if he does, do you give him a patient hearing?

It is not just sorrows that your employee would like to unburden. As the boss, are you among the first to know about a joyous event at home, like a new arrival or the purchase of a car? Or, do you remain distanced from the personal life of your employee?

It is the small things of life that matter. How many times have you taken time off to have a one-on-one discussion with your employees on their personal lives—their parents, wife, children or even their problems. Is your relationship with your employee confined only to business or do you genuinely care for his well being too?

Little gestures can often go a long way in winning over your employee’s trust, confidence, respect, and above all love. All you have to do is show that you care.

When was the last time you visited an employee’s parent who was hospitalised? When was the last time you attended a puja in your team member’s house? When was the last time you bothered about how your employee reached home from office late in the night? Or, when was the last time you remembered and personally wished your employee on his birthday?

This does not mean you should forever mollycoddle your employees. Be firm when needed, but be reasonable. As a boss you too are human and may be given to bouts of temper. You may sometimes give him a shelling, but do not forget to make up.

One question you should never forget to ask yourself every evening is: “Has my employee gone back home today with a smile on his face?”

Employees do not despise tough bosses, what they hate is bosses without a heart.

Several studies have indicated that when a person quits his job, it is not because he is unhappy with the company, but because he is dissatisfied with his boss. Such people separate with a bad taste in the mouth and hold the company in utter contempt through out their lives—all because you were a bad boss.

Yet, there are instances where people quit their jobs with happy memories and remain in contact with their former bosses for years to come. A good boss does not merely develop a working rapport with the employee, but a relationship for life.

As Russel H Eving said: "A boss creates fear, a leader confidence. A boss fixes blame, a leader corrects mistakes. A boss knows all, a leader asks questions. A boss makes work drudgery, a leader makes it interesting."

So, what are you? A boss or a leader?

COMMENTS

(This article was also posted on MSN. Some of the responses received are reproduced below)

The fact of the matter is whether you call people as resources, assets or capital, none of them in business are treated like humans. A machine gets respected;, if it gets heated it is switched off, dusted and greased as per schedule. Plant maintenance has a scheduled check-up and downtime? But how many times has your boss/company insisted you go on leave once every six months? Only when they want to reduce costs not when they want to improve performance.

Essentially, I mean even machines are treated with respect and maintained to improve performance. Men are lectured by glib and swanky managers who do not recognise you when you are waiting for a bus, never have they asked if you could be dropped someplace, but that half-hour of pepping is expected to better your performance by leaps or bounds.

Today, people are not bothered about the company. As they are paid more and more, they seem to care less and less. Management as a subject is key to human development, as a practice it does not exist.
-Rajesh, Hyderabad

Dear Gautam, the managers of today are even afraid to appreciate good work. They are worried as to how then will they justify having denied a promotion or an increment later. In our country promotion is not based on performance; it is based in chamchagiri, caste, and religion. Professionalism is only in our words and not in actions.
-Bobby Sakariah, Jeddah

My case was different. I had horrible bosses in most of the companies I worked. I believed in hard work and sincerity, they believed in time pass and sadistic pleasures. I ended up being tortured. I still delivered and grew up the ladder.

The attitude of my bosses had an impact on my personal life and I lost my wife and kids to this turmoil. My bosses who were known for their regional bias, tampered with my career. I have found bosses to be scheming and political in their attitude. When I could not help it any longer, I moved on.
-Natarajan VG Iyer, Bangalore

Dear Natarajan, Do not be sore, it is not worth all the tension. No one in the IT industry is happy. How many bosses will you find with a smiling face? Do we have to become graduates, engineers and doctors to face such unhappiness at work. I have always felt that I am working among dead people. I even mentioned this to one of my bosses and he smiled!
-Rajesh, Hyderabad

Very interesting.
-UPOP, Mumbai

What a good article. It should be published in the newspapers.
-Lucky Charm, Kuwait

The concept of boss itself is a curse from the colonial British rule. The Indian way is partnership and mutual respect as a human being, which in my opinion yields better results. We should shun the boss system for our own progress.
-Karthik, Hyderabad

"You can never be a good boss unless you are first a good human being" Well said. Some deep thoughts for consideration. Thanks.
-Dr. Cajetan Coelho, Goa

This article is admirable. The boss should be balanced in his praise and criticism.
-Phani Krishna, Hyderabad

Fantastic content!
-Gnana, Chennai

A boss is a boss is a boss. He can never become your family member. It is unfortunate that you have to spend most of your time with him rather than with your family, because both you and your family are greedy for money.
-Bosskey, Chennai

I would like to speak from the perspective of a businessman. Initially, people join as salaried employees. They say any salary is fine with them. Slowly as time passes, they start a trade union. They start demanding a share in the company's profits.

As a businessman, I never recruited you saying you are my partner. I recruited you for a salary. So, if you have high expectations, that is not my problem. With regard to the boss, well, as a businessman, it is my duty to ensure that he/she as a boss is the right person for the right job. But unfortunately he/she is saddled with blunders that the juniors and subordinates have committed assuming that it will not been noticed.

You will be surprised that many employees who are not even managers, swindle the company’s money, indulge in sexual harassment etc. Business challenges are so huge that as salaried employees you do not understand it till you yourself become a businessman.
-S.S. Sharma, Bangalore

When I started my company ten years ago, I tried to be a friend to every employee. I extended them monetary help and was always around in their times of need. But what did I get in return? They indulged in theft and made me bankrupt. I was an emotional fool and gave them more than what they expected. But having learnt my lesson, I hardly speak to my workers and give them what they deserve. I do not extend any help to them. As a result my profit has begun soaring. Here I am, a boss with leadership qualities.
-S Salim Sarang, Mumbai

Hats off to Gautham. This article is really good.
-Shehensah, Bangalore

You are right, Gautham, not all bosses are the same and not all employees are the same. We have both types; some who discuss and want personal things be heard and some who do not care about anything except their work and the money they get. All they see and make sure is kill some time and go through the routine. You cannot help but be a moron sometimes.
-VB, Bangalore

It is interesting. I want to be a leader and not a boss. I have a small company where 25 employees are working with me
-Leela, Chennai

I was once a worker and now I am the boss of my own firm. It is 100 per cent true that what a leader can achieve, may not be achieved by a boss. If a boss is made up of leadership qualities then the whole team becomes a winning and productive organisation.
-Ragu, Johannesburg

Very good and useful.
-Prabhakhar Varma, Hyderabad

Enlightening!
-Anannd R.Kulkarnii, Thane

Good one Gautham. 'Resource' is a very commonly used word in the IT industry while referring to an employee. Eg : "I need a resource with good communication skills OR can you send that resource's profile across". I particularly get very irked when people do this and give it back to them irrespective of their designation at the work place.
-Kartik Krishnaswamy, Bangalore

That is exactly why Shruthi and I would want to work with you even today (given an opportunity). You are a great boss and a great human being. Thank you Gautham.
-Surabhi Shastry, Bangalore