See, see. The chatter quickly changes into contemptuous, gossipy eeks. It takes a few seconds, and it can be triggered off by the mere sight of a colleague talking to another. A conversation, and nothing more, in which one man happens to be a boss and the other his pretty subordinate.
Talking work, or sucking up?
The cutie is smiling, and the man is talking animatedly to her. Then her boss, grinning, brushes his hand across her shoulder. The office receptionist has seen them. She will tell her colleague — a junior executive she is friendly with, “I think that sir has a thing for her, and she is making the most of it.
He has even given her a prestigious assignment in London when you have been given an assignment in Chennai.” Hmm. She doesn’t seem to know the considerations — like competence or experience — for awarding assignments.
James Bonds and bonding!
Rajiv and Sanjiv work as a team. They come from the same state, speak the same language, and report to Sanjay who shares this background with them. They are out-performing others in the office, and don't hesitate to chat in their mother tongue during lunch breaks. No wonder their colleague Tom is annoyed. Performance because of community bonding? Three people from the same state could be together due to sheer chance.
The organisational staircase
That is the company, and on its topmost rung sits the boss, who’s the most powerful and the most vulnerable. People climb up the rungs because of his assessments, and the latter are mostly questioned when most people working under him do not perform well.
The organisational staircase
That is the company, and on its topmost rung sits the boss, who’s the most powerful and the most vulnerable. People climb up the rungs because of his assessments, and the latter are mostly questioned when most people working under him do not perform well.
Who is promoted, who receives how much increment, whether or not lovely girls or handsome men (depending on the boss's gender) have been favoured — these are questions that normally have no link with non-performance.
What does one do then?
Nothing. Just work and give it your best shot. Though easier said than done, avoid the temptation of taking part in gossip sessions.
It should not be one’s business to keep a tab on the office grapevine. It’s better to ignore the chit-chat as much as possible.