Being The New Guy
INDIANS have always been known for their hospitality. We are, with some exceptions, a friendly bunch of people. Our tradition of friendliness dates back to ancient times. Yes, we did have a few wars here and there and our history is dotted with the odd incident of resistance against foreign invaders, but by and large, we still remain hospitable to outsiders. Especially to outsiders. It's an inherent characteristic. There is nothing like a wide-eyed tourist with a map in his hand and dollars in his purse to rouse the strongest maternal (material?) instincts in most of us.
However, as was said earlier, there are exceptions. Two to be exact. As the wide-eyed tourist would know, the first is an autorickshaw driver in some parts of the country. The wide-eyed tourist would find himself wider-eyed and lighter-pursed by the end of the journey. The second is a group of employees who have just been told that an outsider will be their new boss. This man truly deserves our sympathy. To begin with, he faces the same challenges any new recruit would face. He is a lot like a new bride; unsure of himself, unsure of the people around him, unsure of the new environment, and unsure of the customs and conventions of the new place. In short, he is just plain unsure.
As if that weren't enough, he has people studying and watching his every move, waiting for him to trip somewhere in the garbled mess of wires that snake across the work floor. And as much unbridled joy and amusement as he can afford to give to the employees by physically tripping on those wires, he knows that what the employees really want is for him to do this metaphorically by bungling on an assignment or project.
Employees want this for a number of reasons. The new boss of course, is almost always aware of this, which makes his problem worse. The first few weeks are consequently a turbulent time for him. It's what you call a baptism by fire, a burn or vaporise situation. The only way he can get around it is by performing. By performing what, you ask? By performing a miracle. Not the one of birth, but the one of bearing. Bearing the burden of responsibility for everything wrong that is likely to, and inevitably will happen in the first few weeks of his appointment and then adapting to the new situation. The first few weeks are the acid test. As always, it is up to the new guy to prove his mettle. The new boss must show leadership. He must, by his actions and words, establish that he is the right man for the job. But perhaps the first step is earning the trust and respect of his subordinates. And that can be a tricky thing because they usually have none.
So what does the new boss do to keep the wolves at bay? Here's what:
a. Socialise: Few bonds are as strong as those that are cemented over cups of steaming beverage or glasses of foaming beer. If you are the new boss, try and get to know your subordinates on a personal level. It helps create some of that trust thing we were talking about earlier.
b. Be assertive: Not aggressive. Good communication skills are necessary. When you want something done, be clear, precise and to-the-point. Make sure your body language is right when you give out instructions. Oh, and always remember to smile at the end. It works in almost all cases except when you have just fired somebody.
c. Get them to co-operate: This can be a Herculean task if you are not careful. When you are talking to your employees, seek their co-operation, not obedience. Be open to new ideas and make room for your employees' opinions.
d. Get all heads together: Take the initiative to convene team meetings. If you are making plans or formulating a strategy, it helps to have someone who knows the office policies better than you do.
e. Think first, act next: This simple precept has been misused too often, but you can set that right. Go over the pros and cons before you commit yourself to anything. But finally, make sure you do act on it.
One last word of advice. . Do not push it. Your subordinates are colleagues who are also trying to adjust to your foibles and it is going to take some time before they do. But you can console yourself with the fact that they eventually will.
They have to. The hospitable Indian in them will make sure of that. If you still can't find peace, hop into an autorickshaw and you are bound to feel better for a while.
ARJUN SENGUPTA
arjuns.hyd@cnkonline.com
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