I have been reflecting on why it is important to hold people accountable for their growth as the issue is central to Leadership through Care and Growth.
Holding people accountable for their growth, whether they are at the top or at the bottom of the organizational hierarchy, shows that you care enough about them to do what is in their best interest.
Sometimes we forget this when it comes to auxiliary staff.
I’d like to explain with an example.
You know of an auxiliary staff; a peon or an office boy, who has a tendency to inflate receipts to make a little bit of money. In fact, everyone knows about it in the organization and the implication is that this happens and it is ok. If the issue of financial misappropriations is brought to the attention of the management, they ignore it, saying that the focus of managers should be on bigger problems and not on “petty issues”. Again, the implication is that it happens and it’s too much trouble to try and stop something so petty, so it’s ok.
As I reflect upon this common occurrence in many organizations, I think there were several reasons for not dealing with this issue appropriately. One, obviously is the “let’s not witch-hunt syndrome”, another could be that you don’t want to appear “petty” to your colleagues.
A third reason is that you don’t care enough about the peon to devote your full attention and significant time to the bills and receipts he presents for payment. In other words, you say, “I don’t care about the little thefts you engage in because I don’t care about YOU. I have bigger and better things to do with my time, like chase the outcomes of projects and proposals that make me appear important and successful.” In this sense, therefore, growth appears to be a subset of care.
And the most troubling and really cynical implication of the acceptance of “petty theft” is “Why waste time and energy on this little peon? He is not capable of rising above his greed for a few extra rupees.” It is this last implication that is particularly disturbing. It is demeaning to the human spirit and very destructive to the organization and to individuals.
Comments
4 responses to “On Holding People Accountable for Growth”
Dear Shahbano Aliani:
This blog is very close to my experience. I worked in a company where issues related to lower staff were ignored, just for showing that they are not important for the growth of a company. But leaving petty financial corruption at lower level sometime leads towards big financial corruptions. Because when you don’t give importance to them, lower staff start feeling that their relation with the company is quite selfish in nature and so they don’t feel any emotional attachments with their work. And at some point of time feeling of disrespect motivate them to go for one step further in making corruptions.
Regards
Azfer
I thought about this years ago while employed in government service. The lower staff formations too have expenses to meet like daily travel to work,daily meals in office, paying rent,looking after their family and misc socializing & emergent expenses.
With meagre salaries in the govt setup, they may not be able to keep up with the expenses and inflation, hence overlooked these small embezzlement occurences. Not to say that it is right but I dont think the state and society pays them sufficently to take care of themselves and their familes? The British allocated unregistered agricultural lands to government employees like Deputy Commissioners in the past, the sale proceeds from the produce enabled them to meet the expenses of maintianing their official residences. The land is still there in most districts, its just people dont disclose or acknowledge it and quietly utilize the monies. But how would employees of lower formations survive?
We must devise a better economic system for all our people so that they dont have to engage in such petty crimes.
Dear SS,
Just because someone is poor does not mean it is alright for them to be dishonest. If you truly want to help such people, it would be useful to put your attention on your circle of influence instead of your circle of concern. The accountability of earning additional income should lie with the person himself. This is what we mean by “transforming victims into masters.”
All criminality is based on victimhood, on the notion that “What I have is not enough.” It is disabling to make excuses for immoral or unethical behavior on the part of poor people because it reinforces their victimhood, where they remain stuck.
Thanks for the response.
I do agree with transforming victims to masters. People should develop themselves and explore other avenues as well. But I always felt the need for a better economic system which would enable people to meet their personal and social needs plus coaching by consultants who could guide the poor class on how to manage their lives and financial affairs.