Episode 296 - "I will make an offer he cannot refuse"

A manager's diary-

Day 1: Had to break the news to the team. They seemed to take it well. My manager kept reassuring them that the team's performance is not to blame and that the project is returning to Europe because of business decisions.

Day 2: Operation Salvage has begun. Each manager in the division is trying to woo my reportees to their team. I don't mind as long as the lead stays under me. Have to find out what he thinks about it.

Day 3: Looks like no one wants to work under me! Have to think of something. Will speak to the lead and assure him I will take care of his career growth.

Day 4: Two out of three seem to be close to making a decision, except the lead. Works for me as long as he doesn't choose to move out. Must call him to reassure I can take care of everything.

Day 5: So two are moving to another team. The lead is still holding out. Hmm... I'll have to make an offer he cannot refuse.

Day 6: Spoke to the lead again today. Assured him I'll take care of everything- career growth, salary package, every thing. He says he wants time. Do I have to beg now?

Day 7: Must end this deadlock today. Will dangle the carrot today and tell him I need to know if he is continuing so that I can budget for the next year.

An employee's diary-

Day 7: Been holding out for so long, don't know what to do now. Manager is promising the moon, almost. So I said yes. Hoping everything falls into place.

Day 9: I am screwed!

* * * * *

After hearing promises for a whole week, the result failed to match expectations. A technicality prevents me from moving up the ladder. It is agonising that, in spite of all these years, I am still moved around like a pawn in the game of organisational chess.

'It will only take another 6 months, don't get disheartened' I am told. I waited for over 4 years with no clear direction for most part of it, I say. There are a lot of things I wanted to say, but I want to see how the appraisal works out. It is not that I still trust them; I want to see what they do next.

I see happy, smiling faces around me. They are the ones who have moved up. And some of them are folks who were a level below me when I first started here. I don't grudge their happiness. But it rankles that after almost 5 years I am still at the same place where I started. It does little to quell the rage that builds within me.

My salvation lies in immersing myself in work. The irony is stark- I have to immerse myself in the very work that I will be handing out next month. What I do now, or not do, will not make a difference to the organisation.

What it will do, is shield me from every thing else here. Hopefully the rage will help me focus on where I want to go next year.