Working for Your Boss or Working for the Organization?

Often we fool ourselves into believing that we are working for a bright career. As organizational imperatives and demands start growing, an employee is stuck in the ambiguity of whether he is working for his boss, the organization, himself or better still just money.  I have profiled the characters of people who try to fit themselves into any of these self limiting enclosures

 Working for the Boss

Those who work for their boss are blinded by their ability to suck up to their boss and limited by creativity and potential of their boss. They dare not to rise above or confront with better ideas due to the fear of risking an increment or worse losing their job. The Boss here becomes the organization’s goal as well as the employees’ only sacrament.

 Working for the Organization

The dedicated employee who strives for the betterment of his organization and proudly thinks of his workplace to be his second home is loved by all to the top of the hierarchy. He is passionate and finds a high sense of ownership and accountability to his organization’s performance. In some cases job security holds the key to his dedication, in other cases his comfort level with others in the organization. His organizational goals rise far higher than his personal goals many a times at the cost of his personal life. If not careful others can take such people for a ride.

 Working for Oneself

This is a breed of people in whom the ethical mix plays a critical role on how far one could go in dispensing ones responsibility. The organization, welfare for people, society or team members plays a secondary role if any. To work with the Boss or co-workers having an approach of working for oneself could be a challenge in itself. They feel high when they are drunk with power and a sense of being indispensible.  Not to say that people who work for their own self are the most hated lot. The compatibility with is clearly defined by the extent of importance they give to their secondary goals. Clearly, a person with his self interest only in mind has team dynamics that would give rise to office politics, elevated competition between team members and a sense of insecurity at all times. These people are generally kept in the organization if the skill they bring to the table far exceeds the damage they do to the staff.

Working for Money

There is this fourth set of people who are purely interested in the money.  The monetary imperative is so strong that they would go to any extent beyond what their own interests and motivations, the interest of the organizations and co-workers or the customer. These individuals are often seen jumping organizations like changing coats in the quest for more money. The mind keeps working like a on a treasure hunt mission at all times with other organizational and personal agenda trailing behind.

To cut a long story short

So what then is the ideal approach to working to one’s satisfaction? There are no absolute answers.  A lot has to do with a person’s background what would he work for. Also, working for one of the categories doesn’t quite mean a complete neglect of the others. An ideal individual while working for his own goals keeps the interest of his team members as well as the organization at large well alive. A key point to remember here is that aspects of an individual’s persona are adopted by his co-workers and subordinates. What traits and character are you willing to inculcate in the people you work with.