Organization growth and your own agenda

Every employee, when he starts work at a place has his or her own plans for the future. After the initial few months or years they review their goals, modify or reaffirm their beliefs. Such actions have many common threads one of which is continuity and growth at the chosen place This is the accepted norm in the families of middle and upper middle class of working parents. The fresher or junior aspires to reach the levels of their mentor or the top post through diligent and dedicated work.

Growth in itself is gradual and graded. Definition of growth is difficult as it has different notations for each individual. For some it is synonymous with the best that has happened to their peers in other organizations. For some others growth it is to meet their cash needs caused by events at the personal front. May be it is due to life style changes or additions in the family, sudden expenses etc. The most successful career persons are those who do not fall into such traps and stay at the job which they like and manage their expenditure to the extent permitted by the salaries.

There is flip side to this. Management may take such individuals for granted and may try to deny their due. This is rare occurrence in progressive organization, but it will help for one to be vigilant about it.

The organization culture is another important aspect. If it is Multinational Organization, their agenda with respect to the country where you are serving is very important. If they are just willing to push the product manufactured elsewhere, without developing or manufacturing the products locally, it is time you moved on. As a professional one needs to have the larger picture in mind, when they devote their entire life to an organization.

If it is a national organization, owner driven, we need to see for professionalism exhibited in the key decisions taken by them, the consistency in their policies, tuning of the policies with times, and aligning the HR policies in line with the market trends. Lack of any one element is a concern, but manageable. Over time if it is not corrected or more unacceptable practices become the norm, then it is better to look at other better options.

The challenge for organizations, is to stay focussed and be responsive to the employees needs at all levels. Growth in the organization, will bring in many new additions and faces at all levels. While this opportunity will be used by the employer to weed out the non performing elements, the employee needs to be aware of the impact of such additions and additionally qualify himself or work harder or improve the functioning to deliver improved results.

Organisations move in directions in which its key persons direct it. Hence the top management are responsible for steering it propoerly for the benefit of all. Where it gets difficult is when there are major changes in the top management itself. It is at these times, one needs to stay and take a view of the changes (which percolate down due to the change) and then decide. There will be heart burns and individual loyalties which are challenged. But one should not allow such emotions to cloud one's decision.