Should organizations follow suit and dump bell curve?

Organizations are built to serve a purpose and employees at all levels are entrusted to live that purpose. An effective Performance Management System is a must to translate effort to performance. How performance should be assessed has been an important and sensitive topic ever since organizations came into existence. The recent decision of dumping bell curve by organizations such as Infosys, IBM, TCS, Accenture is another effort to foster performance. While some organizations have gone the new way, many organizations are still contemplating what is right for them.

Whether one should follow the fad really depends on what purpose we expect our performance management system to serve. If promoting competition by comparison is an expectation then bell curve is just the right tool for it. It is an effective tool to look at the misaligned lot annually and bid them goodbye. It also helps in differentiating performance between high and average performers. However this is the tricky part and this is where it creates maximum dissatisfaction amongst employees. In this fast pace world where employees are expected to be involved 24 * 7 in their work, a relative system of performance often demotivates employees who have performed really well on their goals but are penalized for working with people who are considered smarter than them. The problem compounds when employees suspect that performance appraisal is biased. The employees then feel that they are not respected by the organization. This creates disloyal employees and increases the attrition rate of organization. Thus for any organization which uses bell curve it becomes very crucial to considerably reduce the subjectivity that is built around this process. This is certainly easier said than done. Multi-rater feedback system, use of technology can reduce the biases to some extent however they introduce other challenges in the process. It would not be wrong to conclude that a fair appraisal is highly dependent on the fairness of the manager conducting the appraisal. Any influential manager can easily play with tools to suit his ambitions. Bell curve thus becomes very difficult to manage. While we started with the hypothesis that it serves as an effective tool, in depth understanding of the process nullifies our hypothesis. Given the amount of subjectivity managing bell curve introduces and the cost involved if it is not used wisely, it is better to look for an easier system of appraisal.

Mr Jack Welch in defense of the bell curve has said that evaluating people on values of team work will ensure that people cooperate with each other. To begin with, a lot of organizations do not assess employees on values and even when they do, a combination of bell curve and evaluation on team work value at best calls for selective team work. The purpose of performance management system also depends on the culture where it is being used. Indian culture is a relationship oriented culture. A lot of work gets done informally through relationship. Big giants such as Reliance have grown using this as one of their key strengths.

Looking at it from a different perspective, why do we need to wait for an annual process to examine the misaligned lot? Why not set goals clearly with employees and provide continuous formal / informal developmental feedback to them? This of course calls for training managers to give feedback constructively lest this will become another devil ready to stifle effective performance. The process ofcourse should not end at giving feedback rather this should be the first step towards employees’ development. There needs to be a commitment towards development for them to remain aligned to organization goals. Continuous feedback should also entail continuous recognition to keep the employees motivated.

An absolute system of assessing performance is also not free of subjectivity but is an easier system to manage. Accompanied by continuous feedback process, focus on development it will serve as an effective performance management system. Also from a spiritual perspective, it is unfair to compare any too persons as each person has his / her own karmic (actions) account and life story. The best we can do to motivate employees is to respect them for their current “karma” and set them in the right direction.

Enjoying the right way

Speeding cars killing people, policing horse beaten to severe injuries, President rule in Uttrakhand - The newspaper is full of such stories of people misusing their power. Such incidents are not just limited to our country or our society but is a worldwide concern.

The young man driving the premium car is thrilled by speed. The MLA beating the policing horse during a protest by his party is venting his anger on an animal. Centre acting hastily on the slightest opportunity to increase their reign is leveraging the opportunity at hand. But did the young man think that his thrill can bring darkness to lives of bereaved and that he will never be able to make up for it? His conscience will be tainted forever even if he manages to escape punishment. Did the lawmaker not think of his responsibility towards his people while giving in to his frustration? And what about the Centre? With great power comes great responsibility, will the Centre act wisely only when they are pushed against the wall by High Court?

Unfortunately we have lost the inclination to sense other's position today. We are so lost in instant gratification that we jeopardize our own dreams forget about respecting other's point of view. Ironically we lose our inner strength the more we give in to such gratifications. Life can be interesting even when led responsibly but do we have the zeal to discover this for ourselves? Probably when life will push us against the wall. 

Easier said than done

Shakti and Revati were sipping Jaljeera in a hot summer afternoon and enjoying the cool air of the desert cooler. Temperature was soaring high outside and pollutant levels were much above the permissable levels. However, inside it was cool and airy. They were enjoying each other's company watching television.

Ishrat Jahan was again making headlines. The young lady was murdered in a fake encounter case during Congress regime in 2009. Since then she has been in news time and again. She was alleged of conspiring to kill our current Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. Further investigation had suggested that Central Government was aware that she had LeT tie-ups. However ministry as prominent as the Home Ministry had tried to suppress her background. In a way abetting in the conspiracy to murder the emerging leader from the opposition party.

The spicy Jaljeera and Politics were startling both taste buds and mind. "It is really surprising how the Home Minister claimed a few months back that he does not know anything about Ishrat's involvement in LeT" , said Shakti pouring some more Jaljeera from the glossy pitcher which was gifted to her by her best friend Dhara. "Now that there is proof against him, thanks to the RTI filed by Times Now, look at how he is dodging questions", said Revati.

"How conveniently can one say that he needs to go back and see how his signatures are present in the first affidavit as well? Don't we as professionals come prepared with some basic checks before talking to the media? Didn't he check this when he was quizzed in February this year before refuting any awareness about her LeT involvement.", added Shakti.

"There is an even more moot point to be pondered over. Will we as citizens just discuss such issues over our lunch & dinner and then forget it? Do we remain as mere observers when no one takes the accountability? How then will we assure that we have a strong governance?", argued Revati

The deliberation was going on. Both their tummy and mind were hungry. Shakti went to the kitchen to arrange for lunch. Revati wanted to take her mind off the serious discussion they had and was looking for the remote around the sofa. Just then she accidentally hit the pitcher by her elbow and it fell down shattering to pieces. Shakti came inside the room running to find her pitcher strewed over the floor.

Revati gave a nervous smile and told Shakti how the pitcher fell because of the strong circulation of air from the cooler. Shakti was stunned and thought to herself that probably this is the reason why we will never be able to go beyond discussing such issues over lunch and dinner.

Pursuit of happiness

It was drizzling outside and Shakti had opened the window to feel the cool breeze. She was listening to sitar and feeling so light. Much happier than what she felt while shopping or watching a movie. It is so true that some of the best things in the world come for free.

Today, we are living in a different India from what it used to be a generation before. There are more opportunities and choices available with us. The focus is more on living for today than saving for future. More restaurants, different dining experiences, more movies, there is more of everything. The world is becoming a smaller place and tourism is not restricted to within the country. Technology has made things more accessible and we can watch videos, play games, catch up on news through our mobile. News has also grown from mundane updates to breaking news to infotainment. With more and more use of data on mobile and push notifications, we learn about remote happenings almost instantly. The recent boom in e-commerce has not just created an on-line marketplace but also made things affordable through attractive offers. There is no lack of options if we want to pursue any hobby. To sum it up, if we have deep wallets we can get what we want and when we want them.

Yet we see that there is more and more stress today. Our attention span has decreased, relationships are becoming more virtual and temporary, life is becoming more discrete. Probably desires can only create choice, money can only buy comfort, technology can only increase convenience. However happiness comes by positivity - positivity in intent, thoughts and action. It comes by sharing and caring. It comes by being oneself and it stays with a person who wants to live in present, who is determined to focus on good in all situations and all persons. 

Pratyusha's untimely end

I first saw the Ballika Vadhu girl closely in Big Boss show and thought that she was a young, sweet girl who was easily influenced by people. She had no game plan in her mind and came across as a person who was pampered by early success in life.

As per whatever was in public eye she had a good life so it was really shocking to learn about her suicide. If you read her last Instagram posts, it is difficult to believe that she can take such a step. Though one can deduce that she is going through some tough time but she seems to be a fighter who is trying to see things positively. Unfortunately, what this tell us is that the kind of life people portray on social networking sites is not real. It is either fabricated or at best selective.

Yet people today spend so much time virtually and ignore meeting others face to face. We knowingly live in a world of perception and get attached to images. We also live in a world of aspirations and the digital world is just the ideal place to create the myth of a beautiful life.

Perhaps we need to spend more time meeting people, understanding them and creating some lifelong memories.

Read Pratyusha's last instagram posts:
(http://www.filmymonkey.com/tellybuzz/2016/04/01/read-the-last-messages-posted-on-instagram-by-pratyusha-banerjee/)

Finally! Found you..

It was already 7 PM on that fateful Sunday evening when Shakti was almost done with her grocery shopping for the week. She was only left with buying prawns so she decided to keep everything in her car before she went to her favourite fish vendor. Shakti and her whole family enjoyed home cooked prawns with rice every Sunday dinner. 

The shop was very crowded as is expected on a Sunday evening. As she was making the payment, Shakti saw a familiar face in the crowd. She stopped to look closer when the shopkeeper asked her to hurry up as there was a long queue behind her. She searched for change in her purse and quickly cleared her bill. When she hurriedly looked around she found that the face had disappeared. She rummaged around in the crowd but to no avail. 

Destiny had brought her childhood friend in front of her after 20 long years. She had lost all her contact with her childhood friend Dhara but she had still not forgotten their innocent friendship. Shakti had many a times tried to look for her on social networking sites but all in vain. Today all of a sudden, she met her but alas she was lost in crowd once again.

Shakti had not learnt to give up so easily in life especially when it came to someone very close to her heart. So many years had passed and she had so many things to share with her friend. Her marriage, her kids, her social life, her professional life and her personal life.... just so many things... Flashback of all her old memories was in front of her .. as she noticed a droplet of tear falling from her face on her hand. It was time to sleep.

Next morning, her hectic life had begun once again. Sending kids to school, getting ready for her office..But in her spare time she kept thinking how she could meet her friend once again. Days passed and it was Sunday once again. Somewhere she knew what she had to do. She went for her weekly shopping a little early that day and stood near the door of the fish shop keeping an eye on the passer-bys. 

 

She clearly remembered how Dhara and Shakti enjoyed eating fish and invited each other on dinner when fish was served. She just hoped that she finds her friend again. She had waited for 20 long years but it was difficult to wait for these few moments. She did not know whether she will come but she prayed that she does. "Shraddha and Saburi" (Belief and Patience) she remembered the words of the saint and tried to calm herself down. 

She felt a strange sensation in her body and she closed her eyes to gain control. Her eyes opened when she heard her name in a soft, emotional voice. It was Dhara's...

Am I Successful?

Once when I was flying down to Delhi from Hyderabad, I met a gentleman in the plane. He seemed very friendly and we soon started talking. He started sharing why he thinks earning lots of money is very important and being rich is the panacea for everything. He told me that he works with many young minds like me and helps them in becoming successful. Becoming an investor and encouraging others to become one was his secret sauce. Although I could not debunk his idea of being successful I was uncomfortable in using it for being successful on my own.

Only the other day another gentlemen wrote to me explaining why I should not trade-off my time for money. That being successful meant creating systems and selecting the right people to run them. He was encouraging me to be an entrepreneur. This made me wonder once again if this is what success meant to me.

Yesterday, while I was waiting for my turn to see the doctor, I called up my old friend to check how is life treating him. He told me how busy his corporate life was keeping him and that he had reserved weekends and holidays for himself to enjoy the hefty package his organization was giving him. Though sometimes his weekend was also taken away by his demanding job. He had compartmentalized his life into work and leisure days and tried to manage his stress by pursuing leisure sporadically. I started pondering if we really worked hard in our childhood to get this as reward.

While I was lost in my thoughts, the receptionist softly reminded me that it was my turn to go. After the routine check up, I asked my doctor who was a private consultant if she was happy in her job. She told me she had got used to her hectic life. She missed enjoying small things in her life but her profession left her with very little time.

I came back and started finishing the story I had left midway. I felt so light and content penning down my thoughts. It is then that I realised that success is all about meeting your own expectations. It does not necessarily mean living upto the yardstick which society has laid down. It means pursuing a career of your interest, finding time for your hobbies and taking positively whatever comes in your stride. Life is not a bed of roses and there are always some tough experiences which will come your way. Those experiences help in building your character and success is all about learning from these experiences and moving ahead in life.