Wednesday, November 11, 2015

5 Must Avoid Temptations at Workplace


While Wishing You a Happy Diwali, I thought it prudent to pick up one subject and pen down for Self-Introspection.

Temptations at times can lead to distress


Temptations - the word itself conjures up a whole lot of images in our mind. Temptation to own a villa, to buy a new car, go on an overseas trip, become a CEO of a company…the list can range from small to mammoth. This reminds me of Irish author Oscar Wilde’s words –“I can resist anything except temptation”.  For many of us this statement may be true but according to me resisting temptation should become an inherent strength of every individual as temptation can lead to frustration and unhappiness. 

There are various kinds of temptations that engulf us at different stages of our lives. Let’s start with the temptations in the professional world. Being ambitious to scale the career ladder is quite common but a temptation to achieve this at a supersonic speed can become sinister.  The last 3 decades in my professional life has taught me many things which include observing people around me and learning from them. I shall begin this blog series on temptation by listing down some of my observations of temptations at workplace:

 
Temptation # 1 - To pass the buck 

Deadlines are not met, team leader is not happy with the first quarter results? What do you do? Simple. Just pass the buck. Blame it on your colleague for things going wrong at your workplace. The temptation to pass the buck is quite common but refrain from doing so as it doesn’t send the right message to your employee and also reflects badly on you.

Temptation # 2- Be popular rather than responsible

Who wouldn’t want to be the most popular person in the office? But popularity should be earned through hard work, perseverance and by gaining the trust of your colleagues.  The temptation to be popular but not responsible is an easier route to take but it’s unlikely to last long as people will  quickly see through your façade. Always remember that popularity and accountability goes hand in hand.

Temptation #3- To indulge in gossip 

The temptation to chit chat or gossip is one of the biggest bane that imperil workplace environment.  A person who succumbs to this temptation will come across as someone who is deceitful and idle. Office politics can adversely affect performance, team spirit and integrity.

Temptation #4- Compromise on ethics and morals

By being dishonest or unfaithful, you are not only cheating your conscience but jeopardizing the trust placed by the organization in you. I have often seen that people compromise on personal ethics to please their bosses and get fringe benefits. For instance, agreeing to a HR policy or a financial policy that is unethical just because it is proposed by the top management is a fine example of the aforesaid temptation.

Honesty, integrity, hard work and responsibility are sure to usher in success and accolades at work place. The moment you compromise on these tenets, you are less likely to see success and in all probability may invite brickbat and trouble.

Temptation #5 – Rest on your laurels

I am sure you must have heard of the famous quote - There is no end to learning. If you are tempted to rest on your laurels or be happy with whatever little you have achieved, it indicates that you are consciously putting a full stop to your learning process and career progression.  Experiencing a sense of accomplishment is fine but this feeling should be transitory. Look inward, introspect and motivate yourself and reach for the stars!
These are simple time tested methods to combat temptations at workplace. I will be happy if this will help you in your professional life.

“Accomplish but do not boast, accomplish without show, accomplish without arrogance, accomplish without grabbing, accomplish without forcing.”
Lao Tzu

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