Hitting or missing the chord?

Friday, December 18, 2009

Posted by Radhika

Workplace. A place where you spend most of your conscious time, the place that demands the most concentrated attention, place where you build new relationships and new pathways to your life. Should we then not take some time to jump the gun? Should we not seek better opportunities if the workplace doesn't excite you? Every person has their own idea of contentment based on which they prioritize factors. Further to this we make decisions, make choices. So why are we bothered about what the society "claims" as good or people call as "achievement?" We know what is important for us, then why do we confuse our paths by idealizing other's ideas?

"Before Sunrise" and "Before Sunset." Two absolutely fantastic movies. I was enchanted. Accolades to the director for being able to capture such nuances which are nothing short of intriguing. Moments, conversations, intangibles have always moved me - I would not need things to be flashed on my face or words stated clearly for me to understand the depth, emotions or circumstances. I just did. The fantastic part is that the two movies go on to show that life is really simple and it is we who make it complicated. It is we who choose to tread paths that are winding, twisting which lead to a series of miseries, trouble leaving that uncomfortable air that is bothersome.

Just like in the movie the wavelength among the couple matches so well; similarly in an organisation there will be a point when the wavelength will match, when you know that this is where you want to be now. When companies try and generalise the factors for retention, when they boast that they know what will work for their employees, sorry to say they will never hit a perfect success formulae. The reason is simple. People are varied and so are their priorities. So companies that align those priorities are the place to be. Why do some companies take so much effort in employee engagement and talent management programmes? Why do they provide such varied benefits? Are they naive or do they have too much to spend? Neither. They just understand that their workforce is unique and diverse, and that they need to hit that unique chord so that they stay..