Some time ago, I was doing an online zoom chat session with students of an MBA class. It was more of a sixty-minute brainstorming session where they could ask questions or talk about anything that they wished to ask about the corporate world and the world of international business.
One student was visibly bothered about the mass layoffs, some of which have been happening with greater frequency, even on zoom meetings in the West. Many are happening without any formal hand-holding, counselling or exit interviews to understand issues or discuss the reasons.
My explanation was that the new generation will have to gear up with more and frequent such upheavals in their working careers. I also emphasized that across the world, there are many good organizations which have really good, capable HR, hiring and downsizing processes when situations demand. These organizations explain the reasons for the layoffs, do proper exit interviews, handhold and even assist those retrenched to continue on their payrolls for reasonably long durations while the company HR assists in linking up retrenched candidates with search and hiring consultants to help them find suitable other options. I have worked with and continue to be in touch with several such really good companies.
I also explained the other kind of companies which do a rather shoddy job.
In order to explain this other category in a simpler fashion, I decided to narrate this story to them…….
THE STORY OF THE HORSE AND THE TURKEY
There was a farmer who had a horse and a turkey.
One day, the horse became ill and the farmer called in the veterinary doctor. The Vet said:
“Well, your horse has a strange virus. He must take this medicine for three days. I will come back on the fourth day and if he’s not better, we’re going to have to put him down.”
Nearby, the turkey listened closely to their conversation.
On day one, the Veterinary doctor gave the horse the medicine and left.
The turkey, in wanting to be a help and support, approached the horse and said:
“Be strong, my friend. Get up or else they’re going to put you to sleep!”
On the second day, again the Vet gave him the medicine and left.
The turkey came back again and said:
“Come on buddy, get up or else you’re going to die! Come on, I’ll help you get up. Let’s go! One, two, three …”
And again, the horse could not muster up the courage, coupled with the fact that he did not feel any such action would be taken against him.
On the third day, when the Vet came to give him the medicine, he said:
“Unfortunately, we’re going to have to put him down tomorrow. Otherwise, the virus might spread and infect the other horses.”
After they left, the turkey immediately approached the horse and said:
“Listen pal, it’s now or never! Get up, come on! Have courage! Come on! Get up! Get up! That’s it, slowly! Great! Come on, one, two, three … Good, good. Now faster, come on … Fantastic! Run, run more! Yes! Yay! Yes! You did it, you’re a champion!”
All of a sudden, the owner came back, saw the horse running in the field and began shouting:
“It’s a miracle! It’s a miracle. My horse is cured! For this, we must have a grand party. And for the party we need to sacrifice the turkey!”
And that turned out to be the turkey’s last day.
The reality is that in life as well as in the corporate world, because of the way information flows, the way informal group dynamics and informal grapevines work, there are many at the top who are too busy attending to bigger issues and are unaware of who actually deserves the merit of success, or who’s actually contributing the necessary support to make things happen, to pack the company’s various parachutes on a daily basis.
The students were able to better understand similarities in the corporate world between who was the equivalent of the farmer, the horse, the turkey, the virus and the medicine. The students were also trying to figure out why the turkey, who was genuinely trying to help and support, was made the sacrificial lamb.
As mentors and trainers, we need to inculcate in the newer generation that it’s not about which side is the right one. It’s about being aware that both sides make the coin what it actually is. We need to stop playing the role of judge and juror.
Effort and luck can land many of us the right seeds in our lap. Like many of our generation, the newer generation will also have to persevere to grow them. There are no ready-made gardens. All of us need to play the role of good gardeners……and these good gardeners will need to ensure that they make the process easier for their own and for generations down the line.