The Art of Praise in the Workplace
“Managers in the office can easily recognize when someone is trying to flatter them. They are not stupid. They just don’t want them to stop because in their hearts of hearts they like being praised”. Long time back Vijay, one of my seniors, told me a not so hidden office secret about “praising” the senior.
Its a farewell party and its our teams seated together in a Gurgaon restaurant.
I ask Das, another super senior. “How do I ensure that I am not doing it absolutely wrong and yet not lose speed”. He says, “Keep your manager informed. Take him into trust.”
These two anecdotes have lived with me.
I have enjoyed freedom in the way I do the work with occasional feedback and advise from managers. Similarly I have delegated as much as I can to my teams.
Something caught my attention recently. An essay by Paul Graham.
He refers to Brian Chesky, Airbnb founder, talk about the importance of founders need to getting involved deep in the companies they founded. “They are the biological parent”. “They have the permission to rebrand, recreate, love with passion….. their company. Which a professional manager cannot”.
Immediately my mind went to Amitabh Bachchan’s role in the Hindi movie Mohabbatein. His possessiveness led to loss of life of his daughter. Shahrukh Khan tells him in one scene “Aap zindagi ki har jung jeette chale aaye, par zindagi ke saare sahaare haarte chale gaye.” (You went on winning all battles of life, but kept on losing all the loved ones”).
Back to the essay. Paul Graham, Investor summarized “hire good people and give them room to do their jobs.” is a very bad idea in most cases. Airbnb flourished when this bad idea was dumped. Taking a leaf out of how Steve Jobs ran Apple. Its not enough to be involved in Idea or concept but run it to implementation through the process. The article even got a thumps up from Elon Musk.
It brings back the topic of micro management vs delegation into focus.
What does biology say? Earlier it was believed that in the animal kingdom among baboons the “Alpha” male lead the hunts, disciplined the children, defended everyone against the lions. He knows everything. Everyone follows him.
Modern studies have shown instead, everyone follows the old females who know. Hunts are disorganized, free for all.
Studies among humans, in political elections across the world, though have shown in war time more authoritative, masculine faces are preferred. In times of peace, more feminine faces.
The last study or word has not been spoken on this topic.
Do share which according to you is better suited to creating value and outcome?
Image: Screen grab Courtesy Hindi Movie “Mohabbatein” Year 2000.