PURPOSE, not merely tasks

"This is not what is expected out of me. I am not made for this. I will find some other way of living and earning." desperately uttered by Mohan and he went back to his chair, kept mum and got lost in his ocean of thoughts.?

Ankit, Mohan's manager elaborated the tasks conspicuously to each and every team member and ascertained that all the tasks must be completed in due time and before the deadline. All the teammates went back to their respective assignments and got engaged in generating various ideas to do their bits for better outcomes.

?Ankit discerned Mohan's disappointment and slyly approached Mohan, sat beside him and tried to learn what is making the latter so much worried and dismal. Mohan expressed him feeling to Ankit saying that he does not feel any motivated to perform the basic tasks he has been doing for long and now he has got much adept in doing that it feels him just a routine job. Mohan has nothing much to learn from the projects assigned to him as he quite easily and speedily does all the works due in the project.

Since Ankit being a newly appointed manager and faced such situation for the first time, could not understand how to handle such sensitive emotions of his teammates. Ankit called his leadership mentor and tried to fathom the expressions of Mohan. He Elucidated the happenings to his mentor and asked for guidance. ?

After understanding the situation, the mentor asked Ankit whether he has spent enough time with Mohan in last few months after he took over as a manager. Ankit honestly accepted that he did not do it. The mentor explained Ankit “Mohan is suffering from the lack of his purpose behind the tasks done. The latter is not being guided well for his existence in the organization. He is well accustomed in your organization and has also seemed to put his efforts to get through with all the requirements and skills in him. Now he is not finding any way ahead. He is more interested in some challenges that will give him the needed satisfaction to stay enthusiastic. Mohan is lacking the sense of purpose. He has to be reminded of the same. And you are failing to help him find his purpose at this job. He is quite adept in his work but his further vision seems to be obscure to him. You have to clear the air for him.”

?Ankit, now enlightened, met Mohan as the first personal next day in the office. He called Mohan in his cabin and had a cup of coffee with him. Ankit asked Mohan of what he wants to achieve out of this job. He spent enough time to understand Mohan’s thought process and his inner crusade with himself. Post discussion Ankit facilitated Mohan in deciphering that his current skills are the strong foundation of his robust career ahead and with little patience and persistence he will soon be recognized by the management and will surely be give higher position where he can lead a team to excellence with his knowledge and prowess gleaned till now. For the time being Ankit also saddled some minor responsibilities to supervise his team mates and help them complete their assignments rather than just finishing his own and getting bored and worried about future. ?

With a little initiative taken by Ankit, Mohan started taking interest in his colleagues pending project work, after finishing his own part. Slowly in a span on 6 months Mohan, with the help of Ankit, developed some qualitative leadership skills, which were discerned by management and bolstered by Ankit. Soon Mohan got promoted, he found his new purpose of developing his team and upskilling them to be valuable assets for his organization.

Had Ankit focused on tasks only, he could have easily appreciated Mohan and could have cornered him. This would have been resulted in a loss of a good employee over a period of time. After giving a thoughtful look into Mohan’s situation he took pro-active step, counselled him and was successful to create a leader out of a good employee.

If you, as a leader, focus only on tasks you still will be successful but will not necessarily be able to create leaders in your department or organization. Purpose drives people and push them to move forward in order to make something bigger, better and more significant for themselves. Leaders can play most important role in sailing their teammates through tough times by making them purpose oriented rather than task cantered.

What type of Leader you are or want to become.

Watching your Smiling, Alokk Joshi

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