Dear all,
I'm facing tough situation in my current organization where I have joined 2 months back. To add to the worse, I'm the only HR in my organization. Previously there was no HR in this organization. So people are always trying to crate problems in my path. Though my boss is very supportive, since I have to deal with the employees at the workplace who are very uncooperative, I feel very stressed out at times.
Nobody talks to me unless there is some need. Would like to mention here that my mothertongue is bengali, whereas I am working in Faridabad. I'm not sure whether this problem is due to culture difference.
Seniors please please advice me how to overcome this type of stressful situation.
From India, Delhi
4I'm facing tough situation in my current organization where I have joined 2 months back. To add to the worse, I'm the only HR in my organization. Previously there was no HR in this organization. So people are always trying to crate problems in my path. Though my boss is very supportive, since I have to deal with the employees at the workplace who are very uncooperative, I feel very stressed out at times.
Nobody talks to me unless there is some need. Would like to mention here that my mothertongue is bengali, whereas I am working in Faridabad. I'm not sure whether this problem is due to culture difference.
Seniors please please advice me how to overcome this type of stressful situation.
From India, Delhi
Dear Indrani,
Bengalis are known for their rich culture & behavior.
Try to 'positively influence' the people around you.You may not be successful in one day, but ultimately u'll win. Mouth to ear campaign will follow among people about you.Your boss is supportive, that will add value in your endaeveour.Start smiling, listen to them & good music.People generally are afraid of HR person, thus initially they are avoiding you. Try to win them with your service & good behaviour.Your good intention will be known soon & people will start respecting YOU !
With regards !
=Lahiri, Kolkata
From India, Calcutta
Bengalis are known for their rich culture & behavior.
Try to 'positively influence' the people around you.You may not be successful in one day, but ultimately u'll win. Mouth to ear campaign will follow among people about you.Your boss is supportive, that will add value in your endaeveour.Start smiling, listen to them & good music.People generally are afraid of HR person, thus initially they are avoiding you. Try to win them with your service & good behaviour.Your good intention will be known soon & people will start respecting YOU !
With regards !
=Lahiri, Kolkata
From India, Calcutta
Dear Indrani,
As you have mentioned that your boss is supportive so kindly make discuss with him/her to hire some one for your support, due to more work pressure, heavy pending issues. To look over whole employees HR aspect of organisation is very complex task and it will naturally create job-stress. Although you have joined the organisation two months ago and so haven't you idea about each & every employees behaviour, attitude. Also you have less in-touch with every body. So, you will get in-touch with other as you grew old in organisation. So don't get fear and tensed. Lets handle the situation of employees with cool mind and courtesy behaviour. The role of HR person is too complex, you should require to get ability to solve the problem of your employee who have already been in problem so that's why sometime they giving pressure to you to do complete his/her tasks as early as possible. If as a HR you will get stress more then how will you solve the other problem of big aspect of your employees. You should always need to be strategic idea & thought with other. You fix the time of completion of task related to field/subject of employee's requirement and give them a time line for completion of their work. Talk to those employees also who disrespect you courteously, and gentally follow his/her problem. If anyone more uncooperating, creating problem for you then don't get tensed and talk to them. If again they do the same behavior just make neglect to those such, and do your job with cool mind with strategic though. You may also talk to your senior if matter is serious.
I think language problem would be less effective if you understand local language and able to communication in the same. If any one making biasness with you about yourself Bengali, just avoid those. Just do your work patiently and honestly whatever you does. I think your problem will soon get end. If situation is so alarming then you should try to look other job regarding Ur subject line of preference.
Thanks & Best Regards:
From India, Hyderabad
As you have mentioned that your boss is supportive so kindly make discuss with him/her to hire some one for your support, due to more work pressure, heavy pending issues. To look over whole employees HR aspect of organisation is very complex task and it will naturally create job-stress. Although you have joined the organisation two months ago and so haven't you idea about each & every employees behaviour, attitude. Also you have less in-touch with every body. So, you will get in-touch with other as you grew old in organisation. So don't get fear and tensed. Lets handle the situation of employees with cool mind and courtesy behaviour. The role of HR person is too complex, you should require to get ability to solve the problem of your employee who have already been in problem so that's why sometime they giving pressure to you to do complete his/her tasks as early as possible. If as a HR you will get stress more then how will you solve the other problem of big aspect of your employees. You should always need to be strategic idea & thought with other. You fix the time of completion of task related to field/subject of employee's requirement and give them a time line for completion of their work. Talk to those employees also who disrespect you courteously, and gentally follow his/her problem. If anyone more uncooperating, creating problem for you then don't get tensed and talk to them. If again they do the same behavior just make neglect to those such, and do your job with cool mind with strategic though. You may also talk to your senior if matter is serious.
I think language problem would be less effective if you understand local language and able to communication in the same. If any one making biasness with you about yourself Bengali, just avoid those. Just do your work patiently and honestly whatever you does. I think your problem will soon get end. If situation is so alarming then you should try to look other job regarding Ur subject line of preference.
Thanks & Best Regards:
From India, Hyderabad
Dear Ms. Indrani,
We just had exchanged our views recently, which gave me an opportunity to study about your perception level. The problem lies at your end. Since i do counselling, kindly allow me to solve your queries....Kindly do pay attention to my queries and do free your mind from NEGATIVE THOUGHTS before you start read one after the another...
A) Have you ever discussed your current issues at workplace with your BOSS who found to be supportive?
1) If yes, what was his reply?
2) If NO, why haven't you approached him yet?
B) Identify your weakness for getting irritated or disturbed or stressed, whenever you are troubled by your coworkers.
C) Why are you giving preference to a PROBLEM AS A HURDLE/OBSTACLE in your professional life rather consider the same as CHALLENGER OR OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE YOURSELF? Think from a different angle
D) Kindly don't ASSUME anything. At workplace, except PROFESSIONAL WORK CULTURE(ETHICS) no other work culture(let it be BENGALI or UP or anything), neither can be given importance nor promoted/supported.
E) You are NEW to your current organisation. Henceforth, kindly spend time to study your employee PSYCHOLOGY/MENTALITY. Be an observer, don't take anything personal and don't even try to spoil your health by worrying about your current company practices because there is something called TOP MANAGEMENT who are held responsible for everything. Understand your role and do submit your REPORTS/INPUTS to your BOSS and seek his guidance.
With profound regards
From India, Chennai
We just had exchanged our views recently, which gave me an opportunity to study about your perception level. The problem lies at your end. Since i do counselling, kindly allow me to solve your queries....Kindly do pay attention to my queries and do free your mind from NEGATIVE THOUGHTS before you start read one after the another...
A) Have you ever discussed your current issues at workplace with your BOSS who found to be supportive?
1) If yes, what was his reply?
2) If NO, why haven't you approached him yet?
B) Identify your weakness for getting irritated or disturbed or stressed, whenever you are troubled by your coworkers.
C) Why are you giving preference to a PROBLEM AS A HURDLE/OBSTACLE in your professional life rather consider the same as CHALLENGER OR OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE YOURSELF? Think from a different angle
D) Kindly don't ASSUME anything. At workplace, except PROFESSIONAL WORK CULTURE(ETHICS) no other work culture(let it be BENGALI or UP or anything), neither can be given importance nor promoted/supported.
E) You are NEW to your current organisation. Henceforth, kindly spend time to study your employee PSYCHOLOGY/MENTALITY. Be an observer, don't take anything personal and don't even try to spoil your health by worrying about your current company practices because there is something called TOP MANAGEMENT who are held responsible for everything. Understand your role and do submit your REPORTS/INPUTS to your BOSS and seek his guidance.
With profound regards
From India, Chennai
Hi Indrani,
Many of fellow HR professionals have come across similar things in their career, especially where HR department is in initial stages...
Whenever we try to bring some changes its a human tendency to resist, and more so in the case of HR department as it is still looked at as a hire and fire department..so such problems are bound to happen..we just need some measures to work on the acceptance part...
Seek support from your boss and devise some strategies/policies for the betterment of human resources in your organisation, it can be anything from leave encashment policy to some fun activities...this will create a belief in HR department.
2 months just goes in understanding the systems and culture, try and bring out changes one at a time with clear cut communication and open the channels from both sides...
If an employee comes to you for a problem,start a chit chat and try to know more about them..this way they will know more about you as well...:)
I agree with S. Lahiri also..in no time with your positive attitude and approach they will surely start respecting you..
All the best!
From India, Delhi
Many of fellow HR professionals have come across similar things in their career, especially where HR department is in initial stages...
Whenever we try to bring some changes its a human tendency to resist, and more so in the case of HR department as it is still looked at as a hire and fire department..so such problems are bound to happen..we just need some measures to work on the acceptance part...
Seek support from your boss and devise some strategies/policies for the betterment of human resources in your organisation, it can be anything from leave encashment policy to some fun activities...this will create a belief in HR department.
2 months just goes in understanding the systems and culture, try and bring out changes one at a time with clear cut communication and open the channels from both sides...
If an employee comes to you for a problem,start a chit chat and try to know more about them..this way they will know more about you as well...:)
I agree with S. Lahiri also..in no time with your positive attitude and approach they will surely start respecting you..
All the best!
From India, Delhi
Thanks a lot seniors for your valuable advice and suggestions. Will surely follow them, and hopefully by following them patiently, will overcome these problems.
From India, Delhi
From India, Delhi
Dear skhadir,
I have not yet discussed this with my boss, reson being he is in top management, looking after so many issues in our organization. So I felt not to bring these small issues in front of him. Maybe he will think me immature enough to handle these issues myself.
I admit that maybe fault lies in my end that I get easily disturbed and hassled by these issues. But please give me suggestion how to overcome this behaviour of mine.
From now on I will try to think this problem as an opportunity rather than a hurdle.
I have this feeling that maybe people keep distance from me due to culture differnce is because there are few colleagues who openly crticise bengalis.
Lastly I would like to say that I am trying hard to focus on my job, so that I can grow in career rather than diverting my attention to these issues.]
But would like to understand 1 thing from you. Will I face these sort of problems throughout my career, wherever I join? I mean to say does these problems exist in all organizations? Will wait for your valuable insight.
Regards
Indrani
From India, Delhi
I have not yet discussed this with my boss, reson being he is in top management, looking after so many issues in our organization. So I felt not to bring these small issues in front of him. Maybe he will think me immature enough to handle these issues myself.
I admit that maybe fault lies in my end that I get easily disturbed and hassled by these issues. But please give me suggestion how to overcome this behaviour of mine.
From now on I will try to think this problem as an opportunity rather than a hurdle.
I have this feeling that maybe people keep distance from me due to culture differnce is because there are few colleagues who openly crticise bengalis.
Lastly I would like to say that I am trying hard to focus on my job, so that I can grow in career rather than diverting my attention to these issues.]
But would like to understand 1 thing from you. Will I face these sort of problems throughout my career, wherever I join? I mean to say does these problems exist in all organizations? Will wait for your valuable insight.
Regards
Indrani
From India, Delhi
Dear Ms. Indrani
Let me share my experience with you. Though i have more than a decade of experience in various domain, still i found problems in all those organisations where i had served, including my current organisation. Its because of employees only but not due to ORGANISATION which has NO LIFE.
Please understand the following -
A) POSITIVE MOTIVATION and NEGATIVE MOTIVATION
B) HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY/MENTALITY associated with ATTITUDE/BEHAVIOUR
C) HYPOCRISY and CRITICISM
1) At workplace, you will find different kind of employees having different PERCEPTION LEVEL and different ATTITUDE/BEHAVIOUR as well.
2) You will always find people(PESSIMISTIC/NARROW MINDED) who love to trouble others because its a kind of ATTITUDE/BEHAVIOUR which DE-MOTIVATES(negative) employees. Only those who fall prey to their dirty tactics, whoever lack BETTER PERCEPTION/INTERPRETATION LEVEL, FOCUS, CONCENTRATION, PATIENCE and WILL POWER.
3) To the contrary, you will find people who loves to SUPPORT, ENCOURAGE, OPTIMISTIC/OPEN MINDED and much more as they are considered as CATALYST for MOTIVATING(positive) INDIVIDUALS.
4) HYPOCRISY is a very BAD HABIT found in employees(who can't dare to speak facts - face to face) and CRITICISM(commenting) is also a DE-MOTIVATING TOOL or consider as one of the FACTORS for making employees to lose their CONCENTRATION/FOCUS, IRRITATE THEM, CAUSING FRUSTRATION, RAISE IN ANGER and MAKING THEM DEVIATE FROM THEIR ACTUAL PATH resulting in SELF-CREATED STRESS because one has taken such critics very seriously. This can even hamper one's career.
When you consider PROBLEMS as OPPORTUNITY/CHALLENGES and start gaining SELF-CONTROL, WILL POWER, FOCUS/CONCENTRATE ON YOUR GOALS, nothing can disturb/shake/irritate/confuse you. You will find yourself much stronger than before as you will develop more will power to LISTEN everything, whatever may come in your way, rather getting DEVIATED from your actual path.
Kindly remember always, NEVER IGNORE - SMALL ISSUES @ WORKPLACE as it can prove more DEADLIEST than BIG ISSUES. Learn to perceive them POSITIVELY and let them free who loves to create hurdles at workplace. Learn to handle risk as i love taking risk that made me much stronger(internally) than before. But the same RISK should be not a FACTOR for creating STRESS/PRESSURE and lot more.
My advice to you is that, you have to develop your PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP with your BOSS and keep updating him, periodically. He can help you to solve many issues because he is the DECISION MAKER.
Last but not the least, Whats wrong with BENGALI'S and whats so special about UP GUYS? Its not the culture, its their PERCEPTION LEVEL and may be something more than that....
HR can control HUMAN ATTITUDE/BEHAVIOUR through PMS because PMS is very effective tool to control EMPLOYEES.
Do feel free to write to us, if you have more queries to be sorted out.
GOOD LUCK in all your endeavours
With profound regards
From India, Chennai
Let me share my experience with you. Though i have more than a decade of experience in various domain, still i found problems in all those organisations where i had served, including my current organisation. Its because of employees only but not due to ORGANISATION which has NO LIFE.
Please understand the following -
A) POSITIVE MOTIVATION and NEGATIVE MOTIVATION
B) HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY/MENTALITY associated with ATTITUDE/BEHAVIOUR
C) HYPOCRISY and CRITICISM
1) At workplace, you will find different kind of employees having different PERCEPTION LEVEL and different ATTITUDE/BEHAVIOUR as well.
2) You will always find people(PESSIMISTIC/NARROW MINDED) who love to trouble others because its a kind of ATTITUDE/BEHAVIOUR which DE-MOTIVATES(negative) employees. Only those who fall prey to their dirty tactics, whoever lack BETTER PERCEPTION/INTERPRETATION LEVEL, FOCUS, CONCENTRATION, PATIENCE and WILL POWER.
3) To the contrary, you will find people who loves to SUPPORT, ENCOURAGE, OPTIMISTIC/OPEN MINDED and much more as they are considered as CATALYST for MOTIVATING(positive) INDIVIDUALS.
4) HYPOCRISY is a very BAD HABIT found in employees(who can't dare to speak facts - face to face) and CRITICISM(commenting) is also a DE-MOTIVATING TOOL or consider as one of the FACTORS for making employees to lose their CONCENTRATION/FOCUS, IRRITATE THEM, CAUSING FRUSTRATION, RAISE IN ANGER and MAKING THEM DEVIATE FROM THEIR ACTUAL PATH resulting in SELF-CREATED STRESS because one has taken such critics very seriously. This can even hamper one's career.
When you consider PROBLEMS as OPPORTUNITY/CHALLENGES and start gaining SELF-CONTROL, WILL POWER, FOCUS/CONCENTRATE ON YOUR GOALS, nothing can disturb/shake/irritate/confuse you. You will find yourself much stronger than before as you will develop more will power to LISTEN everything, whatever may come in your way, rather getting DEVIATED from your actual path.
Kindly remember always, NEVER IGNORE - SMALL ISSUES @ WORKPLACE as it can prove more DEADLIEST than BIG ISSUES. Learn to perceive them POSITIVELY and let them free who loves to create hurdles at workplace. Learn to handle risk as i love taking risk that made me much stronger(internally) than before. But the same RISK should be not a FACTOR for creating STRESS/PRESSURE and lot more.
My advice to you is that, you have to develop your PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP with your BOSS and keep updating him, periodically. He can help you to solve many issues because he is the DECISION MAKER.
Last but not the least, Whats wrong with BENGALI'S and whats so special about UP GUYS? Its not the culture, its their PERCEPTION LEVEL and may be something more than that....
HR can control HUMAN ATTITUDE/BEHAVIOUR through PMS because PMS is very effective tool to control EMPLOYEES.
Do feel free to write to us, if you have more queries to be sorted out.
GOOD LUCK in all your endeavours
With profound regards
From India, Chennai
Dear Indrani,
Could you kindly throw some more light on the situation.
How large is the organisation? What prior experience do you have? Have you got a good command of Hindi? Are you the only Bengali working there?
Have you started to formualte HR Policies and implement them?
Have these changes been communicated to the workers? If so, how and by whom?
In my experience both in India and in the UK, whenever a new person is appointed that leads to change people resist change; and that resistence can be construed as resistance to the person. Just think about the reaction of employees of a firm in Bengal, if a Madrasi is appointed who has to bring about changes.
Have a nice day.
Simhan
A retired academic in the UK
From United Kingdom
Could you kindly throw some more light on the situation.
How large is the organisation? What prior experience do you have? Have you got a good command of Hindi? Are you the only Bengali working there?
Have you started to formualte HR Policies and implement them?
Have these changes been communicated to the workers? If so, how and by whom?
In my experience both in India and in the UK, whenever a new person is appointed that leads to change people resist change; and that resistence can be construed as resistance to the person. Just think about the reaction of employees of a firm in Bengal, if a Madrasi is appointed who has to bring about changes.
Have a nice day.
Simhan
A retired academic in the UK
From United Kingdom
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