December 18, 2003

Self-management is a tremendous morale boosting cure, writes Erum Ahmed

Self-management is the proposed way at the workplace which includes work under autocratic management as well as work under laissez-faire, but there’s nothing like taking responsibility for oneself that aids both in learning and growth.

Take the basic example of a classroom. What comes to mind is education, formality, cheerfulness, friendship, strictness and freedom plus lots of books, teachers, the principal and classmates.

The workers or students in the workplace or school need to be explained their side of the terms by the teacher/manager or the principal. They would fail if they do not abide by the same — this is explicable too. One isn’t against pampering since that may be necessary for some, or is needed by others.

It is the harsh strictness or another thought-control that is worrisome. There are many other options, but we are not going to ponder over them as much as we are over self-responsibility.

What is self-responsibility? This is the management of oneself in the place of work. If a student fails, he/she would have to repeat the course. If a worker does not pull off as expected, he/she faces disciplinary action. Why shouldn’t we then supervise ourselves so that others do not have to over-manage us as it is embarrassing to be told what we did wrong, right?

Why not then control ourselves so that we can perform to the best of our abilities and yet be human? To be human means to have human rights, be able to achieve what one sets out to, meet our requirements as best as we can and to take care of what we’re there for in the best possible way.

We know ourselves very well. The time we spend in front of the mirror each day and when we strive to meet our wants, we know all the time that we are one of the best. Sometimes, only we ourselves understand, whereas in other situations, people around us inform us of our good attributes, that we’ve done very well and are capable of doing much more.

Then we feel reassured. How about reassuring yourselves every time when you’re not in a state in which others would appreciate your worth? How about knowing your own merit like the palm of your hands? Then we could struggle to also accomplish what’s best for us, i.e., nobody wants to be ridiculed or be unsuccessful.

Why not then make it our area of responsibility so that even if we fall short when we can’t complete our obligations, we are able to be answerable? As a result we would be able to make a greater effort perhaps to improve our performance.

Once we know we fell down and broke our crown because of our own fault, we might ensure ourselves against possible disappointments in the future. We are afraid to not be up to par. A psychologist asks, “Why do you think in the first place that you will fail?” Be realistic, be balanced, but try to work hard as we all believe that this has its rewards.

Why would the rewards be denied to us if we work properly? One might think: “But I know some people who withheld my wages.” So what? Rewards are never wasted. The next person might reward you if you’ve been let down in the past.

Having grasped this, you may reinforce yourself for being responsible. When you know you’ve done a great job, admit it to yourself before waiting for others to tell you that you have. Only then will you know how much satisfaction and peace of mind you will have for being self-responsible.

In a classroom, once, a teacher beat a student. The others watched and learnt a lesson — they must not conduct themselves in a manner that will result in them being punished this way. They also formed a little team to go to the principal and complain about the brutal beating of their classmate.

In due course the instructor was fired and replaced by one who did not strike the students. Now consider a manager who tells a subordinate that the latter will be dismissed if he grumbles to the person in command. What is the duty of the employee in this instance? Should he keep silent if the manager is ignoring human rights?

We are accountable for ourselves in and out of the office. We know whom to be friendly with, whom to overlook and who is beneficial for us. We know we have to toil or we’re breaking our own mold of self-respect. We are also aware that we ought to be recompensed for a job well done.

Sounding off for no reason is not wise, but, if an injustice is done, we must speak against it. That’s fine as long as we recognize we are not going to jump over the edge and say what’s incorrect or not true.

It is important to be able to fight to survive, and to grasp that since we aren’t cannibals we don’t have to crush each other in order to ensure our existence. We have to work together and succeed.

Yes, you should mind your own business but if you have to help others as well you should still be sensible. Mind your own labour before you try to direct others. Even if you take responsibility for your own self alone and prove that you’re unqualified to discharge duties for others, (like being charitable), you may do fine after all.

On the other hand you have to first have a healthy sense of self-esteem, self-respect and with these you’ve got to contribute in order to find your way to continue in the best feasible way.

There were two men: the first, a bum who returned with no business when his master sent him out to find some; the second always brought back work to the firm. Imagine that the employer of these two gentlemen is their father who cannot fire his sons. In this situation should both men work or not? The one who contributes would surely be seen as reliable, diligent and faithful, a good man, even though both the fellows are the offspring of their master who loves them.

But, perhaps the gentleman who does work earns more respect and self-respect through his efforts. It is useless to squander our mental and physical resources. We have to build up both in due time.

Physical resources are regularly developed through food and exercise; mental resources through physical resources, exertion and knowledge. What’s the point of sitting at home when you can go outside and earn your way to liberty, to find the solution to some of your problems?

We all have a lot. Self-responsibility is about doing your job when no other person’s observing you, knowing that he or she is constantly watching. Then would an employee be most dependable? Then would he/she not steal? Then would he/she work conscientiously?

When we know that we’re being scrutinized by our manager or teacher in our office or classroom, even if our supervisor or principal is watching through his video camera in the bureau, it shouldn’t be disconcerting for us at all — if we’re self-responsible. After all, we knew we were doing the right thing and giving it our best. Even if we are held accountable we can be answerable for ourselves with complete conviction.

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