Gratitude@Work - An Oxymoron...

The business of business is business. That's how the famous quote on business goes. Business is run to make money and not for charity. Human beings are referred to as “Resources”, passionate work is “Job Description” or “Roles and Responsibilities.” So, were does a feeling such as gratitude pop up in an office devoid of sentiments?

The knowledge, skills, and attitude of a prospective candidate is analyzed by written tests and several rounds of interviews. Personal life is also questioned. Only after ensuring that the candidate will bring profit to a company does the candidate become a resource or employee of the business unit.

Now, say the resource has to go to a client place. The resource has to again go through another round of written tests and interviews. And only when the resource is found suitable does the travel opportunity or helmsmanship fall into the lap of the skilled resource.

Now what is the role of the colleagues of the skilled resource who gets a “Spark Award” or “A Foreign Trip chance” ? Quoting the words of my husband's lead at office, “We are just facilitators for you (resources) to carry out your duties. The ultimate responsibility and ownership of your success is yours. “

However, there are few noble gestures at office that deserve gratitude. One of my friends told her senior that her husband has a drinking problem. The senior immediately purchased a book on rehabilitation of alcohol addicts and gave it to my friend. Now, my friend is surely indebted and has to be grateful to the senior for her life. Since he moved beyond the call of his duty or business interest and helped my friend.

Any company does not hesitate to give you the pink slip, the moment they sense you are a liability rather than an asset. Sometimes the entrepreneur who built the company or service unit brick-by-brick may be asked to leave. So, only a personal interest or a personal vendetta proceeds or expects gratitude outside the office space. Otherwise, inside the office, you play your role and I will play mine.



Peter Drucker, the management guru professes that “An employer has no business with a man's personality. Employment is a specific contract for a specific purpose. An employee owes no love, no loyalty, no attitudes. An employee owes performance and nothing else.”