Work Culture-1 (Let us belong to the idea and let us be!)

"I will never go to an interview dressed up formally."

"But why…?"

"Because I don't like this system of being formal, why can't I be natural in front of these people, just express myself, if they like me, and if I like the company and the concept, we can strike a deal!"

"Dude, may be you should at least wear a tie or something."

"No. No chance, I am going in jeans and T-shirt."

That is the kind of mentality and attitude that our modern education cultivates inside us. We just want to be natural everywhere, wherever we go, whomsoever we speak with, whichever audience we address, howsoever important the occasion is. At least that was the case with me and some of my close buddies in IIT. And when after establishing my own company and working on various projects after that for almost 6 years, I re-question this temperament, I fail to find arguments against it. I love being natural and I really like people who express themselves completely at the respective work places. Yes, there might be some restrictions based on the kind of business we are in, for example, we don't expect a teacher to come in shorts in front of a 10th grade kids when they are not ready to understand the casual environment. But why at these so called "Corporate Hubs" we follow such a formal culture. People are bound to so many things. Since the time they sit for the first interview, they are made to feel that the people across the cursed table are Gods of the industry and you better watch out. And so begins a journey of pretention which really becomes hard to end. 

Why can't we just accept a person as he is and discuss the idea of working together with him? Why can't we be very frank about certain things that really do matter right from the word go? Why can't two people, whatsoever hierarchy they belong to, enjoy working on an idea together and share a very critical part of Life? Sounds idealistic in today's world of hidden treasures and pseudo cultures, isn't it? But just think about it, a team bound by an idea and no other restrictions. The people in the team spend the majority of their Lives with each other, if they can really live it, if they can breath an idea, give it words, shape and execute it on ground together, why can't they grow together? 

Why do we have to create a culture where there is a forced hierarchy? Are we afraid that the young generation will take over and we will be left crawling behind if we open up too much? If we are, then w were never good enough for the idea. If we have faith in the idea that we are working on and if we have given it profound thought, no one can disrespect us come what may, they would love to collaborate and own the idea with us and that really is the foundation of a joyful team and conducive work environment. 

Whenever I ask people in Interviews or general interaction: "What kind of work environment do you like?" The answers are like a playlist which is put on repeat and contains only one song. But a song which is good to listen to, tough to sing yourself. Youngsters of today entering professional lives are a lot different from the older generations. They give weightage to the words like freedom, flexibility, flatness, growth, ownership and transparency and when they do, they mean it. So for the people who are creating a company or those who are joining a young company, its a moral responsibility to create a environment which facilitates the application of these words. These words are close to everyone's heart. For a test, ask yourself, which of these words you hate? Whats the answer? When we talk idealistically we utter all kinds of falls promises, when it comes to the real execution we are rendered impotent due to lack of faith. 

Coming back to the core of discussion, if anyone wants to build a company where work does't feel like "work", rather its a way of Life, then we will have to break shackles and go against the established norms. Even just for the heck of it, we can do it from very basic things like dress codes, cubicles, eatables and drinkables, why not? But yes, even after doing all this, if our people get alienated from the core idea of why we are together, everything will come crashing down. It has to be an amalgamation of the two. 

For the people who are entangled in the typical corporate lives, just ask yourself these questions:

1. Do you buy the idea of working in the company?

2. Do you feel you can breath fresh air while sitting in your cubicles?

3. Do you feel like: "this is life, I want to live it?"

4. Do you feel like you own the idea and you are allowed to work freely?

5. Do you feel like you can just be and be accepted whole heartedly?

6. Do you feel like work is not work, its something I enjoy?

7. Do you try and respect other people for what they are?

8. Do you try and spread love and happiness all around?

9. Do you convey the faults of the system to people who may rectify them?

If the answers are yes mostly, Good. If No, do something my friend, life is short, at least try and live it. 

And for the people who have initiated an idea which they expect to bloom into an awesome product or service, here are a few questions:

1. Do you have profound faith in your own idea?

2. Do you feel you are able to express yourself completely through the idea?

3. Do you believe in a working environment driven by output, not hours?

4. Do you believe in giving freedom to youngsters at work place?

5. Do you try and transfer the importance of idea regularly into the young minds around you?

6. Do you feel that you belong to the idea and your people?

7. Do you trust people with work?

8. Do you motivate them to lead well balanced lives and stay happy?

9. Are you happy and at peace with yourself?

If Yes, then go on and build a beautiful company and an environment to cherish. If No, question yourself again, you need more maturity and belief! Because only an amalgamation of the above two categories who say Yes to these questions will lead to creation of beautiful concepts and worlds! And yes, don't blame anyone else, either stay satisfied in an environment, if not, try and change it, if you fail in doing so, leave the environment. 

Lets try and change the way things are. People are like prisoners in companies, they wait for the weekends like its a break from the jail. They talk about the seniors as if they are speaking about the jailers. If this continues then I am afraid, we are heading towards hell and not heaven. Its in our hands what we create, whether we have initiated an idea or we are following one. Life is one, and work is an inherent part of it. If we are not at peace with it, we will lose whatever peace we have elsewhere. 

Lets try and build a strong and balanced working environment wherever we are. Let us belong to the idea and let us be!

[Will continue this topic with more specific experiences and thoughts]