New expert recruits gaining acceptance
Managing envy and jealousy among employees
As expectations on companies grow rapidly, there is a strong perceived need to churn out products and services as quickly as possible. Cut-throat competition in the market is impacting the time-to market and quality of products. The most affected are the employees of the organization.
The pressure from the top also results in competition among employees. With new high-performers entering the organization, the old ones feel threatened. Leaders are torn between old employees and fresh talent. Often a perfect match is recruited with much enthusiasm but to gain acceptability for that recruit within the organization is tough, especially if it is a new supervisor or boss.
If the new expert does not gain the acceptability of other employees, should he or she be let go? Is talent more important than acceptability? What could happen when the super-performing new comer is sent away? How to handle envious employees.
There is so much to learn from tales of animals. Here is a story about a jackal and tiger *. The jackal lived in a cemetry and led a pure life without harming other beings. A tiger that observed the behavior of the jackal invited the jackal to govern the kingdom along with him. The jackal refused to take up the position mentioning that the tiger had a group of ministers to advice and parents to take care of his well-being. He is contended wherever he is and does not wish to come with the tiger. The jackal also added that he is very skilled and has never served under another. He would also not be willing to seek advice from other employees as he is self-reliant. He added that this could lead to confusion in the tiger’s kingdom and hence he does not wish to join the tiger. A long conversation follows and the tiger convinces the jackal.
The existing ministers of the Tiger tried all mean to take the jackal on their side. They gave him gifts, spoke sweet words and tried to bribe him. Nothing seem to distract the jackal.
One day when the tiger came back hungry, he found his meat missing. This was an opportune moment for the ministers. The ministers did everything to convince the tiger that the jackal had stolen the meat. The tiger too was convinced. The mother of the tiger pitched in and reminded how the jackal never had meat offered to him by anyone in the kingdom. She reminded how even the best of people have enemies and people get jealous of those that excel. The tiger realised its mistake. The jackal who was observing this all through walked away in disappointment. It would be impossible to work again with the tiger. The mother reminded how when experts are disrespected and they leave, they could easily join hands with competitors. Lack of understanding leads to confusion.
Leaders need to be mindful of the attitude of old employees towards new expert recruits. With proper conversations jealousy and ill-will can be avoided. A sense of insecurity creeps in when new recruits out-perform old ones. Sensitizing employees to accommodate diversity of expertise will go a long way in avoiding such situations. A mentor-mentee relationship can be established which harnesses the expertise of all members.
Not all experts are approachable. Some are so focused that it is difficult for them to relate with the ups and downs that others go through to deliver simple things. These experts seem to be arrogant. Understanding when and how to approach them is a useful skill than getting envious of them. After all, everyone is working towards the growth of the organization and with the right enablement these new expert recruits can accelerate growth.
Mahabharata Reference
This story and message appears in the Section 110 of the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata. In a series of questions and answers, King Yudhisthira asks Bhishma, who is on the bed of arrow, for advice on understanding people and retaining them for which Bhishma narrates this story.
