People Management !!

People, people all around. One day i felt lost, the other day i felt at home. Life is such an amazing puzzle. I was born in a home and those were the first human faces i saw. I grew up imitating my parents and brother. I trusted them because as a blank minded kid whenever i opened by eyes, one of them was there to hold me and make funny faces to make me smile. I was taught how to walk, talk and they were the only ones who could understand my language to start with.
Oops!! There is a shift. Now my world is bigger. I am spending more time with people i dont know, who dont love me, who can kill me if i come in between their selfish goals. Its people, people all around. I am exploring. Some of those people are my "Friends" because they dont hurt me, they love me. Some are "acquaintances" because i am not so sure if they matter. Some are "colleagues", we share a working relation, who is better than whom is a constant question. Then there is someone you love called "Boy Friend" because you think that you can trust him enough to spend rest of your life with.
Phew! The point is, its the PEOPLE who are most critical in life. They say you can learn finance and economics in books, but if you fail to handle people, you are doomed. I agree completely. May be because i work in people intensive industry or may be because i believe in people. I think its the "Human" by the end of the day which operates machines. "Value" can not be generated without his will, its his brain.
My journey with people has not been long, but some things i learned are very very dear to me. First training, there is a project group, 4 people do not work, not because they cant, but more than their success, its the failure of the person who has been topping for last 2 months. Hmm, the job has to be the best, with or without you. I dont hate you, you are an average human, you will rise in an average curve. OK, nothing stops, we are with you. Fine, team is formed, there is a synergy. I made mistakes, but when i look back, i know i have learned something.
#1 Learning- Never start a battle when others want to. Start it when you want to.

New team. You learn things fast, you like to show some attitude, you also bypass almost 80% of the crowd who has been slogging like hell. You are immatured, you show off. Nope, your work is your work. No one can take it away from you. Keep your attitude in your pocket and showcase on right people. For people whose peace you have disturbed, be understanding.
#2 Learning- If you are better, open up and share with people. They should respect you for what you are and not hate you for what they are not.

You enter into a team where everyone is 7 years exp. You were liked by organization with one year experience. You are hired at same level as they are. No, not because you are good, but because they accepted a lower profile for money or brand. People dont like you. Suddenly their choice is wrong for them because you made a better one. BUT, you perform. People know you above the 7 yrs. Cool, a hundred thousand issues. You know that everyone is unique, his frustration is ok. Smile, let some things go off, give some credit, take some.
#3 Learning- You can not keep people happy at your cost. You cant bring your level down because everyone around wants to walk, when you are keen to run. So, let them settle themselves. Either perform and prove or keep wasting your energies, i am not here to make you feel better, should be the mantra.

Phew!! This is consulting scene, mind you guys, it could be very very tricky if you work with four people who are experts in four different fields, are extremely independent thinkers and you are the only connecting dot. There are more issues at ego level, everyone is right, you own the piece of work and indirectly each one knows whose perspective it is. Sometimes fight could be over color of ppt. :D
#4 Learning- Pick your own color and declare that it has evolved out of best colors that you had ever dreamt of. Take a stand and just hold on to it. Let them fight, you dont have to be a prey to personal competitions. Your job was to understand, evolve and move.

Working with a control freak conservative boss while you report to a highly dynamic and freedom lover one who reports to conservative. Nothing can get worse than this. One asks you to jump, other wants you to sit in a corner. One is level one appraiser, other is level two appraiser. In the end, work for yourself. Let the two fight like dogs. Pick your strategy, modulate the two stands, if it suffocates, diverge your portfolio to do more of what you want and more and more.
#5 Learning- Being stubborn helps. Know what you want. Make it clear. Show how you will balance risk and non risks while goals are being set. Shift the focus more and more towards what you want to do. If they say a word in appraisal, show them the previous goals and throw it on their face. They have given you the right to be your way in written, damn it! BUT no, never react. Calm and peaceful. NEGOTIATE!

Very very nice peers. How is day? How are you? I have my work, but i like your work more. Its not my work, its your better work which bothers me. I will be very very nice to boss, will call day , night if it is required and will be very very nice to you too. My words- Stay away. Be very very nice to such people. But never tell what you are upto. Poisonous people. Irritate subtly, so that their true color comes out.
#6 Learning- People who kill you from behind. Be very rational. Remain neutral but never fall prey to their tactics. Never engage in long discussions. Talk about all the movies and leave it at where work starts. Give a clear message-" THIS IS MY DOMAIN. Stay away, or you will perish. Do not mess up with me. " Such people dont have guts to face you.

When among 50 fools.
#6 Learning- Be irrational, illogical and adamant, when you know that you have done enough of your homework and you want somethings to happen. Organizational dynamics give in to strong stand when you have very very strong points. Most of the time people blabber, so know who is talking sense and who is not.

Team is critical for any kind of work. Know yourself, know what kind of work you do. Know what kind of people will fit in and form a team. A team of 80 sincere idiots for an innovative work is useless. A team of 20 over smart people for a routine work is useless as well.
#7 Learning- People are born with some basic talents. Never try to suppress them. Help them evolve. When you deal with juniors, see their aspirations an their dreams. For them growth and dreams are more important.

#8 Learning- If you want to grow, associate with better, positive and honest people. One will get honest feedback and suggestions. Respect all. Learn from all. Balance egos.

#9 Learning- When angry. Step back. Evaluate the options. Speak out in such a way that person infront does not understand when he/she is angry, but unerstands when its over.

#10 Learning- Like people for what they are. Try to handle issues on moment. Try to clean memory. By the end of the day, its human reacting. Have patience and give another chance.

When i look back, i see thousands of mistakes i must have done and i also feel that major part of life and work is people. If i have to succeed, i have to detach emotions, handle objectively and efficiently. I had a set of learnings. Most important being, i learned from almost everyone i met.

Thank You People!! I will keep this journey on for rest of my life. They call it Organizational Behaviour and they say it cant be taught in class, so i have to keep meeting. :)