How to develop a subordinate ?

Many times we have a problem of having a subordinate who is just not showing any interest in the work and has been spoiled by somebody who was heading the group earlier. Question is why shall somebody spoil his or her subordinate?

We shall discuss this in my blog https://akapoor-experience-learning.blogspot.com/2022/04/

In Indian contact, especially in government sector ,it may happen. Here we have got so many regional, cast and many other considerations because of which sometimes a senior person takes lenient view and a new, unexperienced employee starts taking work very casually. As a result sometimes he or she badly suffers once the previous boss leaves the scene.

Here we shall take this case of an engineer who was head of a very important work centre but was not showing any interest. Let me set the contest , without naming any body.

I was working in a manufacturing plant and doing electrical motors. There were some six different groups with me doing different activities relating to winding . As we all know winding is called the heart of the machine and no quality deficiency can be allowed.

We were into the last quarter of the financial year. In this set up, there was one section which was having a group head who was not at all showing any interest. The shift used to start at seven , this boy will also be available in the section at 7:30 AM . I shall reach this section in daily routine by 7:30 or so as I had other work areas too. This section had a very dedicated senior supervisor and other 2 junior supervisors to assist him. Generally, the team was respectable.

When I was in the section, we shall be discussing and planning days’ activities in full and shall also be preparing for B and C shifts. Depending on the urgency and importance of work, I had the habit of going to different section quite often. But, I always noticed that this gentleman will be available in the morning meeting, but shall not be available during my subsequent visits, same thing would happen in the second half. He will leave at 4 PM without planning any thing for B and C shift.

It was disturbing because we had a lot work too and there was an A C job which this group was going to do for the first time and that too in large quantity. I could ill afford any friction in the group. I did not want to take any action to make the boy feel humiliated as tomorrow it will be very difficult for him to settle down and get the work from the same set of people.

I though over it and decided my action plan. I started ignoring this boy totally, as if he did not exist. I would go to the work centre even if he is there I shall call for the senior supervisor and discuss all issues in detail with him and assign responsibility to him e.g. inform me when it is done etc. This boy was not able to say anything and then as usual was missing. My work was not affected though I had to do a little extra.

This continued for 2-3 days. Then one day during my shop visit he came to me and said that he wanted to talk to me. He sought an appointment. I immediately agreed . I took him to my office and listened to him .He said – “ I am in charge of the section , but you are not talking to me and are passing on all the instructions to my subordinate”.

Without taking any offence, I patiently listened to him and explained my point. I told him – “ Look , in connection with work , I have to visit the shop many times and every time some important information is exchanged. I have seen that it will not be possible with you because you may be available during my first visit but not during my subsequent visits. So the whole process will be stuck.” I also made it clear to him that as an engineer, I would love to interact with him, but job requirement and his non- availability don’t allow me to take that risk. I did not lose my composer even for a second.

With this, I left him in my office and went for other duties. I don’t know what happened afterwards. He was not there even in the afternoon. I understand, without showing any disrespect to him, I conveyed what I needed to .

I was surprised to see him in the shop floor at 4 PM. He was sorry and agreed that he was not doing what he was supposed to do. He said that now on for a few days he will be working in the B shift. I welcomed his decision because it will give him take some decisions in the absence of seniors. Next day he came at 1 PM and continued in B shift that used to be up to 00:30 hours. I did not interfere as I wanted him to decide for himself how he wants to get inputs for successfully controlling B shift operations. After 2-3 days he settled down. He was coming at about 3: 30 PM as morning shift was closing at 4 PM. He was able to deliver and started enjoying his work and could earn respect for himself.

Today , almost 25 years down the line , he is considered  a very good and efficient executive. Of course this gives me pleasure too.

The very purpose of narrating this story (true story) is that we should not be impatient and judgemental with our sub-ordinates. In such matters ,patience plays a big role.