Every team has a Panneerselvam waiting to be provoked

The sudden rise of Panneerselvam last night surprised many. A Chief Minister, who was being ridiculed on social media for being the “night watchman”, the “puppet” or even the innocent disciple, rose from his perceived back-seat to become one of Tamil Nadu’s over-night heroes.

It wasn’t a surprise, when Rajnikant, their superstar tweeted in support of OPS today (short form for Mr. Panneerselvam). The reel hero, who has saved the city from dangers of bad men in many super hit movies, giving his thumbs up to the real hero who was till now being touted as a character artist!

Honestly, I have not followed Tamil Nadu politics as much as I have ever since Ms. Jayalalitha passed away. All the historical references to MGR, how he formed AIADMK, the rise of Jayalalitha, the split in AIADMK when MGR died, and the struggle of Amma to make AIADMK a strong regional party had been quite overwhelming. Like many Amma supporters, I felt sorry for the things she didn’t get in her personal life, and how the vacuum was filled by Sasikala (Chinnamma as she is fondly called now). When Chinnamma did the last rites for Amma, no one was surprised, she had stood by her for 30 years and took care of Amma’s house, when Amma was busy building her empire.

The dissent of OPS has been surprising on two counts majorly, one no one expected someone would have the courage to raise voice against the supremo’s shadow and second, no one expected the otherwise quiet OPS to be that voice.

That’s what happens when a hardworking, sincere and dedicated individual is subjected to unfair treatment by the seniors. There’s a limit to which you can take shit, and for OPS the limit had been reached. Twice he became CM as a step-in for Amma, and knowing fully well that it was only an interim arrangement, had not even got the name plate on his residence to read as CM. When he was asked to step aside, he did as he was told, because basically he seems like a nice guy! But then (whatever happened), he emerged the rebel TN so wanted!

His actions yesterday reminded me of so many oppressed employees who suffer under the hands of bad bosses. Bosses who can’t assess performance fairly and promote individuals not on performance but on co-circular activities exhibited. The honest, hardworking and sincere team members of such bosses work out the whole year for a decent raise, rating and even a promotion, and when they don’t get it, they either voice it out openly or become a shell. Such bosses are also quite capable for churning out another year of good performance from such employees and when again these employees see someone else getting the laurels, they feel cheated and call the system unfair. Some quit to move to other pastures- you know, what’s the point in talking when the boss won’t understand. And some, stay there, in the hope that next year would be better.

Next year could in fact turn out to be better, because these bosses are not assessing performance basis the work done, but basis a rolling game. I gave you a good rating last year, this time it’s going to be him.

Sadly, that’s where HR has also not been able to build its capability & credibility as the custodian of the appraisal process. The term Performance Appraisal is so dreaded and even ridiculed among employees that it’s lost all its value of how and why it was first put in place.  Employees just keep hoping that this year they are ahead in the rolling game, that it’s an expected norm now to be satisfied with a good rating & increment in one year, and be quiet for the next two years.

But now, being side-lined or mis-treated for no apparent fault, is something most employees won’t tolerate, and wouldn’t mind making that obvious to you! You prove it that I don’t deserve what I am asking for, and I will leave this room satisfied, but being thrown out of a job or being ignored for a level up, just because of your whims & fancies is not acceptable!

While the assessment process in organizations, needs a complete overhaul, and in the hope that it will, here are three cheers to Mr. O. P. Panneerselvam for being the voice to many of those silent workers, who just wish to be treated fairly for their efforts. Caution all managers, every team has a Panneerselvam , who is just waiting to be provoked.