Pride in prejudice
ARE you member of the protected class, the select few who get the plum assignments, get to go on free junkets abroad, are part of the core team that can generally get away with murder? If you are one of those few `lucky' ones, then know that there is a name for it-- workplace favouritism--and you could be one of its perpetrators.
Discrimination, favouritism call it what you will is a painful reality that afflicts all workplaces. But when there is a blatant and deliberate display of prejudice or discrimination, a relationship that was earlier built on trust, fairness and candour can take a beating.
Managers have often been condemned for suffering from selective amnesia as they are seen to remember and favour only those who can be of some use to them and benefit their cause.
Of course, this is a cynical generalisation but every time one turns around one sees evidence of people taking short cuts to get ahead.
Favouritism and discrimination can be easily identified. You will know soon enough if you belong to the `unfavoured' category. Managers who play favourites should be aware that there are few things that employees resent more than being prejudiced against.
It could be a nerve-wracking experience for those who are not part of the `elite clique'. The fact that who you know (or what references you have come with) decides whether or not you will get promoted is not easy to digest. It is very likely that employees will just throw up their hands and decide `why bother' to struggle when their work is not going to be acknowledged or appreciated.
A team, which worked smoothly like a dream, will gradually morph into a group that couldn't care less about giving their best.
If you are a manager you are duty bound to make sure that prejudice and favouritism do not rear their ugly head in your team. Do not let personal relations come in the way of good management.
Management gurus often feel that employees should draw a distinct line between professional and personal relationships the overriding feeling being that personal relationships at work often give rise to prejudices and favouritism.
If you want to be known as a leader who leads by example remember to play fair. And this is how:
Managers have to continually motivate their staff by creating enthusiasm in the team members. This can only be done when you do not discriminate in the time and resources invested in the various projects.
Any move to pay special attention to your pet project and turn an indifferent eye to the one that doesn't interest you, will surely boomerang on you. If needed, be on the vanguard of both; if you cannot, then desist from doing so. Or else you may be caught by surprise when one of your trusted lieutenants decides to part company midway
If you want to bond with your teammates, go ahead and do so but don't single out one or two people to do the bonding with. This can have a negative impact on the team. You may have your reasons to collude with one person and keep the others in the dark. But your team will see this as betrayal.
From a knock out team, you will have a team that is completely knocked out by your deliberate deceit. Don't make playing favourites your leadership style
Do not make the cardinal mistake of giving undue importance to employees who do not deserve it. Let everyone's work speak for itself rather then you promoting their cause. Do it right as a manager--it is up to you to see that all your team members fulfil their potential and not just the favoured few. You will soon know what your people think of you when they start `Operation Desert'
Do not be a miser when it comes to handing out acknowledgements and rewards. Know that integrity matters for a manager. Unmerited praise can cause as much heartburn to others as not getting the deserved kudos. This is one sure way to lower the morale of your people.
Don't force your team to take sides for and against you. They can do so very easily if you show you are favoured in or against them. Once you have lost the trust of your employees, there is no getting back on to the pedestal Favouritism at workplace is one sure shot way to ruin healthy work relationships. Give it a rest and see how you have your people with you all the time.
PADMA
padma.hyd@cnkonline.com
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