This is a question which has agitated the thought and imagination of many a good mind and teased some. The answers are nearly as many as the answering respondents. The key to understanding this seemingly baffling question lies in thinking about it at the micro level.
What do we look for in a person whom we want to employ as a helper – either home or in the office? If we honestly and sincerely ask ourselves this simple question, we would come with the following that we seek in the helper /made servant:-
1. Honesty.
2 Commitment.
3. Loyalty.
4. Experience.
5. Enthusiasm.
6. Orderliness.
7. Punctuality.
8. Deportment.
9. Deference.
To this list could be added a number of more because we have infinite expectations from others especially if we engage one for work for payment. Our list could go on with any number of adjectives via. Obedience, Calm tempers, smiling looks, cleanliness, admirable habits, and so on and so forth. If any of our expectations are not fulfilled, we feel disgusted.
What is good for individuals is good for groups, communities, societies and nations. Human nature being fundamentally the same, this is universal.
Now let us in the backdrop of this, reconsider our question: What does an employer look for in an employee. By far the answer will be the same especially, since he is the paymaster. His expectations are identical. He too will insist on integrity, dignified conduct, loyalty, subordination orderliness and sincere commitment. Not only this, as we would expect our helper/maid to speak good of us elsewhere, the employer too would like the employee to behave as his brand ambassador.
Does it, therefore, imply that an employee should behave as meekly, as the helper. The answer is a positive No. neither should he nor should the employee have that expectation. The reason being that employment, in the context in which we are discussing is organized and is governed by certain rules, traditions and customs. An employee has some privileges, which he can avail & which he is allowed to avail. The only care that needs to be exercised is that with all the privileges, the employee does not cease to be in the employ. Which mean that he/she has to not only stand committed but should be seen to be so. The employer has all the expectations within the framework of rules and traditions and wants the employee to rise up to them
Beside these general expectations, there are some which are peculiar to the nature of the job. They include:-
- Quality of talent.
- Teamwork skills.
- Leadership/motivation.
- Initiative/ imagination.
- Work ethics.
- Computer savvy.
- Organizational skills.
This details list of expectations should not be taken to be scary. The details are intended only to understand what we expect from others and what do others expect from us. It is a pity that it is a general human nature that while we expect a lot from others, we don’t think nor react the same way when others have expectations from us.
Our saints and sages have aptly said that Adhara is doing unto others what we expect others to do unto us. If this principle is applied & translated into practice, we will be driven aright in our behavior and will not require any text books nor sermons on the subject.
In conclusion we can sum up that besides the requirements the exact nature of job, what is universally expected of an employee in a human organization is:-
- Honesty and sincerity. On this, perhaps, no employer will compromise.
- A Balanced approach and admirable work ethics together with work culture.
- Dignified conduct and a temperament that appreciates cooperative approach.
- A disposition which does not press a partisan advantage to its better end.
- Reasonable flexibility and adaptability except in respect of honesty and dignity.
- A genuine commitment.
- A good communication both verbal and written
If we look at the above list from (a) to (g), we will find on a little careful consideration that, these are expectations nearly from all relationships and not merely in employer-employee one. And they are not restricted to a particular region but are all pervading.
The cardinal fact which needs to be absorbed is that whatever sustains one association broadly sustains any other as for as human relationship are concerned.
An honest and sincere approach is enough to sustain a relationship and make it last too. When these sentiments are reciprocal, the association becomes symbiotic.
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