This is one of the trigger for initiating the hierarchical environments at the workplace. This continuously reminds us that the hierarchy is not dead, but it has merely changed its form. Whenever I hear employees call their bosses(managers/leads) "sir" or see the employee being subservient while addressing seniors in the company, I see barriers in the communication, indirectly is a barrier to the growth of an organization. This is just one of the many hierarchical practices that are holding back the attitude growth. It is bold given that in India this represents the culture in nearly 90 percent of the companies, despite many IT companies having dropped this formality for years.
Hierarchical work environments are now outdated in IT industry. If an organization wants to grow their business rapidly, they need to create such an environment where everyone is respected and treated equally, rather than just letting people boasting themselves or their seniors instead of the core business. They need to work for themselves not for anyone, ie, work for yourself and work with everyone. This has been discussed enough in the previous post already, so moving on.
This SIR-ing continued despite of me requesting them not to do so. This continued from a car driver to a colleague in the office. Some listened to my request and tried to implement, but that effort lasted only like a minority government of a democratic country, since they were demanded to SIR in the other areas of the organization. It is one of the practice which should be avoided when the teams are built in India, considering the demands of the traditional social environment.
Why SIR? What is the reason behind SIR? thinking about it, it was mostly used to respect people. People's designation, job, money, financial status or age. Saying so, the respect for a person should be based on their values, not by anything else. Very importantly, this respect should be earned, and not demanded.
How to stop this? this habit was tattooed deeply in many minds by the traditional hierarchical structure, this has almost mixed in their blood, hence it is not easy to unplug them from this habit. So, how to stop this? I jokingly started calling my colleagues "sir" as well, in return to their call. Yes, if "sir" was used to respect people, let us respect each other by calling everyone "sir". After all, we should treat everyone equally with respect and obviously we only hire people with good values, so everyone deserves that respect. This counter strike shocked them, but as time went by all got used to it. At one point everyone in the organization called each other "sir". Well, what does SIR mean now?
"By calling everyone as SIR, We all respect each other, we treat everyone as Equal"
or
"If everyone is a SIR, there is no meaning for SIR, the meaning of SIR is negated"
Either way, the goal was achieved by counter striking the SIR (like, shutting down the fire with a counter fire). Calling "sir" and having a flat structure might sound contradictory, but it for sure broke few barriers and the risk of the hierarchical fear. Most importantly, respect for all the employees regardless of the role or title is critical and we could able to promote an environment to challenge anyone's (including the management) views regardless of the title or seniority.
So, Enjoy SIRing with proud (only as a counter fire to shutdown the SIR fire) and without being paranoid about creating a hierarchical environment.
9 comments:
What an idea SIRji :-)
SIR Syndrome ..nice topic to discuss about.
Its not completely agreeable ,"SIR" is being used among the Corporate world ,at least in the so Called "BIG" Corporates . Well as far as smaller organization is concerned i feel we still use "SIR" as we are not used to the BIG Work environment or culture (i would call here it is because of lack of exposure )
Next about the hierarchical Environment .. Hierarchy is for managing the people ,it becomes difficult to manage in a industry with 60000 people . but , the gap between team and the leader should be minimal ,where there is absolutely no place for bossism .Unfortunately in India hierarchy comes with Bossism .. May be because everyone tries to promote themselves or everyone trying to Find a place for themselves in this big world with the opportunity they get.
Finally you calling others "SIR" is equivalent to your saying "If everyone is a SIR, there is no meaning for SIR, the meaning of SIR is negated"
Rather ,make a change in your organization ,dont be a change
Yes. 'Sir' is a word meaning 'respect'. It may be possible in IT / other industries where more or less same age group of people work. But in Corporates like mine, OMG! I am unable to imagine working here without using 'SIR'...
But more than 90% of people will go at a stretch on superannuation before 2011. New recruits began. I will try to impose a ban on using SIR in the new group.
Thank you (Mr.?) Kari Maple for the valuable and noble idea.
True Respect comes from the heart which indeed earned by other person.
Many people use this in different context. SIR...... Some areas this is adopted as added word for name for all elder/big people. Some uses SIR to quench the superiority. sometimes it is used sarcastically. some people use this work as it doesn't have deep phonation when compare with other languages words which represent respect. Words itself doesn't have any meening unless you give a meening to it.
Same SIR can be meant as respect, sarcastic, superiority.
--Rama
Very nice topic anna.
Initial days in IT industry, it was difficult for just out of college people to call everyone by name. We were taught for 18 yrs of studies to call elder people as sir, but the first lesson for us when we enter into corporate is to call everyone by name. Which we are used to within a week. The major reason for this change in mindset are our seniors who insist us to call by name. So its all depends on our them.
What is followed in ur company anna? :)
Hey I love this post... Its very relavent to me as well. In my earlier days of my career, I worked for traditional company (Tata tea). Every one call their manager as "SIR". and through out the organisation. There is a Bossy rule in the company.
When I shift myself to bangalore. I was the only person calling every one as "SIR". One day my project manager came to me and said "Hey Arun, I am not that old to call me SIR" :). Here its a different view, people want to be young. But later realised, its a culture, where the environment, keep everyone equal and achieve the organisation goal.
Elakki, we follow everything ;-).
- Sometimes we call by name
- Sometimes we call everyone Sir
- Sometimes we call everyone Boss
But the team knows why we use that, and as said, everyone is SIR, BOSS and as they are ;-), at the end, everyone is equal.
It is a very useful one post.but,this culture mixed in our blood.so,we will try to change.but,that one based on office environment.
It is a very useful post to all.this "SIR" culture mixed in our blood.so,we will try to change that culture.but,that one is based our office environment.
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