Author: Pranay Reddy, plugHR Pro
Remember
Oliver Kahn, who stood like Colossus of Rhodes bestriding German goalpost
during the FIFA ’02. Oliver single handedly enabled Germany’s progression into
the finals against a star studded Brazil. His awesome goal keeping played an
essential part in his team’s victory against much famed oppositions. He didn’t even
concede a single goal in the seven games leading to the final, where his sole
mistake in the entire tournament not only cost him the coveted “world Champ
title” but his captaincy and eventually his place in the senior side. It was
also for his pyro techniques Kahn was honored with the ‘Golden Ball’ a rare
occurrence among the goalies.
In football,
Pundits have often said and I’ll repeat, “The goalkeeping, no matter how good
you are, you should must be aware that what you’re doing is a ‘Thankless’ job”.
Try to recall your childhood football icons, and figure out how many were
actually goal keepers? Shocked, the answer is a big fat ZERO. We are cult
followers, and the goalkeepers on almost all occasions are the ones who’re
unable to create any cult around; simply because they’re not involved in
scoring any goals and thus are not the ones who’ve halo around their heads.
An HR manger
is also not involved in creating any value in a business, directly. How many
times, have you ever patted the back of your HR when your appraisals were done
on time? On the other hand you’ve grumbled almost every week, as you were
marked absent, just because the funny biometric was being too funny? Now I am
just interested in asking some rhetorical, as all readers are well versed with
answers. My purpose is to set in a though process, so that people start
contemplating.
In football
you cannot win a game if your Goalie is weak, because the opponent will score
more goals than you, similarly if you’re HR is not strong in engaging and
training, your workforce will find it difficult to stick to your organization,
and you’ll see your folks entering the premises of your competitors. Bingo!
Your opponent has scored a goal over you, by poaching your priceless talent.
Contrary to that, if you’ve a strong and a competent HR, your people will not
only stick but will create awesome values for your venture and you’ll score a
goal over a goal over your competitor.
In football,
Goalkeeper is the only player well positioned, who can analyze the strategy of
the opponents and hence play a key role in catalyzing positive outcomes. This
is possible because atop a football pitch, he is the only person who can mark
the movements of his teammates. Another question to tickle your brain; who is
the only manager in your organization who alike a goalkeeper can chart the
progress and trajectories of your employees. You need not think furiously as
you already have your answer.
When
pressure mounts on the captain, or when he feels there is a need to call in a
substitution, skipper always look forward to a valuable advice from his
goalkeeper, whenever he has to make a quick decision. Rhetoric again, in an
organization, who is the go-to person for a CEO, when he is in a dilemma,
whether he need to ask some people to leave or on occasions when he needs some
new talent to be pumped in the ecosystem of the workplace full of vibrant
energy.
