fEAR fACTOR --> Office Phobia

On 2 August, 2005 there was some enthusiasm when I withdrew money from a Citibank ATM. Since then Rs 500 note is seized in my wallet as remembrance of my first salary. It has been 3 long years working since then; however the circumstances have changed and I had preferred to avoid office for the week of 2 August, 2008

Help!!!! I Am Suffering from the Fear Factor -->> Office Phobia

Office phobia for me means willingness to stay at home on weekdays and avoid going to office. I am though assured it’s not the escape from work … but … still there are BIG REASONS for such weird behavior. In this dilemma, I read a published article in Mint - “Knowing when it’s time for you to leave”. The article set out four questions which I answered based on my work experience.

Do you want to go to work every morning? Does the work feel interesting and meaningful or are you just going through the motions to pull a pay cheque?

Money is important, but it is not the only thing. One cannot spend regular hours in office following the daily routine as an obligation only for a salary. Lack of flexibility, most awful working environment, absence of ownership, autocratic leadership are few reasons which may no longer encourage you at workplace. Few thoughts that buzz when there is reluctance while going to office are:

• Monday – ‘Oh no!!! 5 more days to go for another weekend’ …
• Wednesday – ‘Good … 2 days passed…2 still to go…’
• Friday – ‘At last…….. this countdown ends…’
• Sunday – ‘Aahh … another week ahead’

When you’re working only for a job, it’s time to explore other possibilities. However it’s not easy for everyone to quit the job at once because of some responsibilities and dare to face the Indian society.

Second, do you enjoy spending time with your co-workers or do they generally bug the living daylights out of you?

If you enjoy working and respect your peers with whom you generally spend 8-10 hours a day then you feel more responsible for the work. However if there is no companionable between peers, people tend to become more egocentric and these so called ‘negative vibrations’ are toxic. In such circumstances …. ‘Doing good work is like wetting your pants in dark suit. You get a warm feeling, but no one else will notice’

Your manager plays the most essential role in your project analogous to a woman at home i.e. there will be either delight or distress. One who manages the priority of work, understand willingness of the team, dislike sycophants, provides encouraging ambiance following the simple rule – ‘Live and let others Live’ are a pleasure to work with. There are also managers who mismanage resources, desire to gain self importance, artificially inflate issues and make absolute chaos within team. It is sensible to avoid argument with such managers – ‘Don’t fight with pigs. Both get dirty and the pig enjoys it’

Generally female employees (not every single one) are more egoistic and while male (except a few) are altruistic and easy going. (……Based on my work experience till date)

Third, does your company help you fulfill your personal mission?

A company has its own purpose and vision. Not every individual in a company can have similar career graph. It all depends upon the available opportunities within the company and the effort to take hold of them. A worthy employee cannot be always kept away from his rewards for long…..sometimes it is just a matter of time. If an individual’s personal goals are not getting fulfilled for a long duration, its time for him to move ahead at a different path.

Fourth, how you picture yourself in your company after one year

I asked this same question to one of my friend. The answer was – ‘my missing picture in the photo frame’. It’s true for a person who has switched thrice in his 3 years of long career. Generally factors of your sustainability are pay package, preference of location and work. If one has planned to stay in the company for long then ‘Designation’ is of prime importance.

I am still oblivious about my plans and growth goals...… Let me hunt for them.

Currently the prime target is to battle the phobia and demolish the FEAR fACTOR. For now -It's Sunday today and '...Another week ahead.....'