We work at least eight hours a day, and for management staff an average of 12 hours is not uncommon or even more. That leaves us another 12 hours or less, of which seven to eight hours are for sleep. Driving to work and other errands will easily take up the remaning hours. So our colleagues can be considered people we have the most contact with, as in my working environment, students make up to be the next on the list, therefore it is important to cultivate friendship and camaraderie at work.
We probably spend more time with them than with our family members.
I have gone through both autocratic management styles and the opposite,
democratic management styles, and I'd like to share my views and experiences.
Autocratic systems may initially succeed in getting employees to work by instilling fear (of reprimand, being neglected for increment/promotion and termination) but it will definately backfire in ways like low morale, hatred, reluctance to accept responsibility, shifting blame and ultimately, job-hopping. Eventually the goals of the company and the employees will begin to see the organisation as a place for temporal employment and are resistant to giving their best.
Democratic systems are more effective in the long term and promote internal motivation within the worker. Each employee is an individual, each having needs. Our monthly salary satisfies physical needs but friendship, appreciation and warmth are something that we need too and it is important that we can find them in our workplace because we are there most of the time.
As part of management, I finally understood this after having worked for a number of companies in a decade. Work is not just about how efficient and capable you are but how you interact with and secure co-operation from your colleagues because we are all part of a team. It takes effort to build a good working relation and as you go along, you will come to a point where you go to work not just to earn a living but to meet your friends at work. And it's great to have a drink with your friends from the office at the end of the day or maybe planning an outing together can be rewarding.
Having said this, I realise the principle of "what you sow is what you reap" is so true. If you treat people around you well, you have less to worry about them scheming to harm you, bad mouth you or practise office politics. Your colleagues will probably be more forgiving and overlook your mistakes if you are the same towards them. I have come across situations where I ran out of ideas but my colleagues have bailed me out and vice versa. Truly a rich man is one who has many friends.
I have begun practising what I have said and I will continue doing it. I find that working at the office is much more bearable and I don't dread going to work. I am happy to know I have friends to help me and whom I can also help in return. There will be bad days at the office, but with friends working with you, life is much better and bearable like a bed of roses.
cheers ... kp priya ;-)
