Account, ability & accountability
(They rise to the occasion, but only till leader catches their rise. They apply rules only till leader keeps an eye. They hide their inabilities behind their raised voice. They rely on leader for royalty in exchange of their loyalty.)
Henchmen start briefing newcomers about the kind of approach they need to adapt to in order to survive in the organisation. To make their point clear, they cite themselves as an example of being an exceptional soldier. "It took me number of efforts to reach where I am today", one henchman declares. As the leader fulfils henchmen's demand of more heads to get the work done, henchmen start creating a coterie out of newly available heads. The competitive henchmen start taking competition as a challenge to show the leader that they are committed to further his agenda. Competition between henchmen takes centre stage. As the coterie will be constituted by picking people from the newly available lot, every henchman tells newcomers that they should be strictly following his/her orders. Every henchman seeks maximum out of the new lot. They even start identifying people from the new lot who could win them some points over other henchman.
Some Individuals from the newcomers do not wish to follow what they are being dictated. Not even through with their introduction to the work and environment, they find becoming a part of henchmen's coterie unnecessary. They refuse to choose sides. That creates opportunity for these competitive henchmen to create coterie within the coterie. Those, who choose to stay neutral in the henchman versus henchman battle, are implicated in artificial controversies. Creation of artificial controversy is the easiest job for henchmen. They are the masters of this game. Disgruntled newcomers, thinking about immediate relief, knowing that they have to be part of some coterie to survive, choose to go with least troublesome henchmen.
An assigned task, which the leader hails as the most important part of the duty, falls on henchmen who, at the first place, were never eligible to carry out such a task. As the henchmen are the ones who have been promoted to perform this 'most important' duty, start complaining about non-cooperation by people other than their coteries. They start telling leader about the non-cooperation being the only reason for the objective lying unfinished. They even convince leader that how his orders can't be implemented due to non-cooperation by these 'other' people. "It is only because of them that your vision is hampered", they reason. Henchmen's dislike for these 'others' starts soaring. They now identify names, to be implicated, when leader demands answers for not following the standards set by him. When leader starts accountability business, henchmen do not hesitate in naming people. Henchmen hate these 'others' more as these 'others' are the ones who point out their mistakes in the presence of newcomers and the leader.
When leader starts accountability business, he points only to the people other than his henchmen & their coteries. Fearing that he may lose loyal henchmen, he holds only 'others' accountable.
To satisfy henchmen, leader, raising his voice, defines objectives again. He re-issues already issued order about following his objectives. The leader publicly declares that those who are not co-operating (with his henchmen) will be taken to task. He doesn't listen to others' side. He knows listening to “others” will mean taking action against his henchmen. He also knows that once henchmen are accused of wrongdoing, his leadership will be questioned too. As the drama unfolds, 'others' once again become victim of public humiliation.
First coteries are formed. People who refuse to take side or who just wish to focus on work are implicated whenever the opportunity knocks. Leader, least interested in looking into the whole saga, appoints most loyal henchman to deal with other henchmen. This person, who is expected to clean the mess, creates more mess by creating one more coterie of people who become his eyes and ears. Enjoying the proximity to the leader, this person becomes self-appointed leader of all henchmen.
Leader, on the behest of loyal henchmen, holds everyone other than henchmen & co responsible for failure. He asserts how he has been let down by 'others'.
Witnessing this game, the whole population loses hope in leader's ability in dealing with this mess. Leader even forgets the very principles he fervently propounded two weeks earlier. He even refuses to acknowledge the hard work done by people other than his henchmen & co.
Principles forgotten, people ignored. Leader even cuts down his connection with these henchmen on daily basis as the voice of foul cry grows. He does not want to be seen declaring his henchmen idiot. He finds another way of balancing the situation. He gives henchmen power of attorney. "These attorneys, with power in their hands, plead for themselves".
First they dictate, second they run, third they start taking decisions, fourth they start ruling.
They know nothing. They lack vital ingredients to operate at senior level. It is the henchmen who run the show now. If something goes wrong, it is because of these 'others'. If the show is a success story, it is because of leader's vision, henchmen's hard work, and coterie’s loyalty. Leader honours his henchmen, henchmen appreciate coteries.
It becomes daily business. Henchmen, in turn, become leader. Coterie, in turn, becomes henchmen.
Some Individuals from the newcomers do not wish to follow what they are being dictated. Not even through with their introduction to the work and environment, they find becoming a part of henchmen's coterie unnecessary. They refuse to choose sides. That creates opportunity for these competitive henchmen to create coterie within the coterie. Those, who choose to stay neutral in the henchman versus henchman battle, are implicated in artificial controversies. Creation of artificial controversy is the easiest job for henchmen. They are the masters of this game. Disgruntled newcomers, thinking about immediate relief, knowing that they have to be part of some coterie to survive, choose to go with least troublesome henchmen.
An assigned task, which the leader hails as the most important part of the duty, falls on henchmen who, at the first place, were never eligible to carry out such a task. As the henchmen are the ones who have been promoted to perform this 'most important' duty, start complaining about non-cooperation by people other than their coteries. They start telling leader about the non-cooperation being the only reason for the objective lying unfinished. They even convince leader that how his orders can't be implemented due to non-cooperation by these 'other' people. "It is only because of them that your vision is hampered", they reason. Henchmen's dislike for these 'others' starts soaring. They now identify names, to be implicated, when leader demands answers for not following the standards set by him. When leader starts accountability business, henchmen do not hesitate in naming people. Henchmen hate these 'others' more as these 'others' are the ones who point out their mistakes in the presence of newcomers and the leader.
When leader starts accountability business, he points only to the people other than his henchmen & their coteries. Fearing that he may lose loyal henchmen, he holds only 'others' accountable.
To satisfy henchmen, leader, raising his voice, defines objectives again. He re-issues already issued order about following his objectives. The leader publicly declares that those who are not co-operating (with his henchmen) will be taken to task. He doesn't listen to others' side. He knows listening to “others” will mean taking action against his henchmen. He also knows that once henchmen are accused of wrongdoing, his leadership will be questioned too. As the drama unfolds, 'others' once again become victim of public humiliation.
First coteries are formed. People who refuse to take side or who just wish to focus on work are implicated whenever the opportunity knocks. Leader, least interested in looking into the whole saga, appoints most loyal henchman to deal with other henchmen. This person, who is expected to clean the mess, creates more mess by creating one more coterie of people who become his eyes and ears. Enjoying the proximity to the leader, this person becomes self-appointed leader of all henchmen.
Leader, on the behest of loyal henchmen, holds everyone other than henchmen & co responsible for failure. He asserts how he has been let down by 'others'.
Witnessing this game, the whole population loses hope in leader's ability in dealing with this mess. Leader even forgets the very principles he fervently propounded two weeks earlier. He even refuses to acknowledge the hard work done by people other than his henchmen & co.
Principles forgotten, people ignored. Leader even cuts down his connection with these henchmen on daily basis as the voice of foul cry grows. He does not want to be seen declaring his henchmen idiot. He finds another way of balancing the situation. He gives henchmen power of attorney. "These attorneys, with power in their hands, plead for themselves".
First they dictate, second they run, third they start taking decisions, fourth they start ruling.
They know nothing. They lack vital ingredients to operate at senior level. It is the henchmen who run the show now. If something goes wrong, it is because of these 'others'. If the show is a success story, it is because of leader's vision, henchmen's hard work, and coterie’s loyalty. Leader honours his henchmen, henchmen appreciate coteries.
It becomes daily business. Henchmen, in turn, become leader. Coterie, in turn, becomes henchmen.
(Concluded).
"Henchmen, in turn, become leader. Coterie, in turn, becomes henchmen." Thats the moral of the story. I find resemblance in many situations. Well written.
ReplyDelete