Finally, At Work

We all were thrilled. After all, it was our first job. A lady walked up to us and announced that she is the HR manager and it was time for our induction and we will have to move to the conference hall and there we can have breakfast and lunch. Great company to work with. Free lunch and breakfast, which company takes care of its new employees like this. After a day-long induction, they sent us for medical checkups. Routine work you know. It’s very important after all employees should always be fit and fine so that they can give their 100%. Training started and went by. 

We were working on projects (trying to meet the deadlines), interacting with clients, and of course our Boss. Boss is everything. If your team is your world, then he is God. Boss is everywhere. You can not hide from his Google eyes. Getting a good boss is more important than anything else. Someone told me it’s really difficult to work if your boss is a perfectionist. They want what they ask. I thought it was all about perception. I will perform well and prove my mettle. So determined I was. But Pandora’s Box was yet to open.

Six months down the line and we were ready for our first appraisal. The big thing for everyone. In one day you will walk ahead of your colleagues with whom you have gossiped about your boss, super boss, and company as well. I heard from our seniors that I should take it seriously. Career ka sawal hai bhai. I was called and my appraisal was over in 5 minutes. It surprised me to hear that I will have to work harder and whatever I have done so far is part of my job profile so no chance of promotion. Well, the first thing I thought about was my boss. He used to be so nice but what happened to him in those few minutes. Sitting in my cubicle, I felt my dreams vaporizing.

I took on some additional responsibilities and do something extra to get a better rating in the next appraisal. I worked overtime. Stretched me beyond the limit and finally got what I was expecting in my next appraisal. Such a nice boss. May God bless every employee with such a boss. I was rewarded with a smile. So, finally, I proved myself. I was appreciated before the big bosses. What else one needs? People say that you should make yourself indispensable i

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n your organization then only you can earn some respect. My boss started consulting me and with every single day, I started dreaming of getting the position of my boss. Of course, for this to happen he also needed to be promoted but who dares to ask? I was achieving targets every time and was winning awards for my team too. I was pretty sure that this time I will hit the bull’s eye and get a promotion. My boss was also very happy. After all, I was the star performer.

Finally, the day came for which I waited so long. My third and crucial appraisal. 

I was thrilled and my colleagues were envious of me. After all, I was my boss’s favorite. I was called, and I went inside the room with a winning smile on my face. But the battle was yet to start. He asked me to rate myself. I did and rated myself “Exceptional” in all parameters. I felt that I have put in so much effort into getting business for my company and I deserve this. 

He looked at the appraisal form and smiled. I also smiled. He started with his questions and I was ready with my answers. I was trying not to let him down in any aspect. My answers were exactly what he wanted to hear. But wait that was one side of the coin. Another side was flipping, and I was getting grilled like a chicken. He was contradicting my every statement with a smile on his face. The appraisal went on for around an hour and finally; he announced that whatever I have done was just because of him. I was just implementing them and the result; I came out looking horrible and devastated. I could feel the hit of the hammer. 

Where did I go wrong? Was I acting too smart? Was there any lack in my performance? I was thinking and suddenly a wallpaper on one computer caught my attention. There was a quotation as wallpaper on the computer's screen. It said, “You can’t be promoted if you can’t be replaced”. Now I knew the reason for not getting the promotion. Then what should I do? Should I join some other organization and again start afresh and should I continue working at the same place with a determination to get promoted in the next appraisal. With some luck and the mercy of my Boss, I may also find a replacement. After all, it is a matter of 6 months.

So, what will you do?