SAGE Publications India Pvt. Ltd - Soft Skills for Workplace Success

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A must-have in your business library

Copyright SAGE Publications India Pvt. Ltd, 2021

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

First published in 2021 by

SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd

B1/I-1 Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area

Mathura Road, New Delhi 110 044, India

www.sagepub.in

Published by Vivek Mehra for SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd. Typeset in 11/14 pt Sabon by Fidus Design Pvt Ltd, Chandigarh.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021941121

ISBN: 978-93-91138-68-4 (ePub)

ANJANA SEN

Professional ego is the extra gleam on the Superman suit which comes from the extra tightness of growing knowledge, successive achievements and self-worth. The suit is constantly buffed with experience and gleams even with the wisdom derived from failure, as with recognition and success. Add style, dependability and efficiency to capability and you have a jewel which makes the shiniest brass nameplate and designation seem pale.

Knowledge, know-how and skills increase the weight of one's personal attributes and cannot be taken away. On the other hand, power and influence wielded from an official position or chair pass on from predecessor to successor.

The ego-suit encompasses both knowledge and power. As we gain knowledge and accept positions of higher authority, the ego fabric stretches to accommodate the bulging package. The expansion is, as always, a sweet sensation. It is hard not to allow it to go to one's head.

The professional ego ensures quality of work and performance. The inner glow felt after a job well done is due to the release of feel-good chemicals. We need not wait for applause or accolades, which sometimes never come. A private celebration, a pumped fist, a momentous entry in a log book may be enough to start a love affair with one's work. The sweet state of flow when the brain and body glide effortlessly at maximum efficiency, actually renewing energy instead of using it up, is sought ardently by anyone who has once experienced it. This is the professional cruising speed and has a host of physiological benefits, most notably high energy, better immunity and protection from the adverse effects of stress. Psychologically, the flow State is the most fulfilling experience and results in pure happiness of a limited duration. Feel-good chemicals are our own reward system. They spur us on to higher achievements without external motivation.

Professional ego

Why the flow state is addictive

Like personal ego, professional ego boundaries should not be delusional and over-expanded.

Once a man hung holy pictures on the sides of his donkey and paraded it through the village. Everyone who passed dipped his head and some even folded their hands. Some people put coins in the saddlebags. The donkey thought he was the object of their reverence and began to swagger and prance. The pictures fell to the ground and the donkey got the hiding of his life. Silly donkey!

It would be wise to always bear in mind the difference between personal abilities, expertise and managerial skills and the power package and perks which come with the chair, lest one begins to prance around like the donkey.

In order to be effective, it is essential to educate oneself on the extent of the power and influence that one can wield in a particular position. The inability or unwillingness to utilize the power of a position is a shameful waste which can render an organization inefficient, just as Samson was rendered incompetent as long as he was wearing an ego-suit, which was many sizes too small.

Experience in a certain position results in an increase in personal knowledge and experience. This growth of the individual is permanent, and he gains many admirers. Yet there are retinues of flatterers who bow devoutly before the rising sun. It is easy to mistake a flatterer for an admirer. The acid test comes late, as we see them smoothly excuse themselves from the presence of the boss when he is on the brink of retirement. Even when forewarned, the constriction of the ego brought on by desertion by the retinue is felt acutely, sometimes with a pang of betrayal, best expressed by Caesar with his dying words: Et tu Brute?

Boy oh boy!

We may tend to typecast people according to their profession or believe that money is their sole motivating factor. There is a tendency to think that women do not really need to work if their families are reasonably well-off, and that they just come to office to pass their time and get additional money to spend. Our words and actions reek of these presumptions and cause us to clumsily tread on people's ego-toes. Oops! we exclaim innocently at the extreme negative reaction we invoke, What's biting him/her? I was only being nice!

Abu was often mystified by people reacting unexpectedly during interactions. He tried to put himself in their shoes to find out why people behaved the way they did so he could understand them better.