Is Your Boss a Banyan Tree? What to Do?

What a question? Does not look to be objective one? Am I biased towards the Banyan tree? Banyan tree, after all is the towering figure that can be so protective (?) towards all underneath and it does not allow anybody else to grow. We do see so many of this kind in every organization and at every level.

I am taking you to the corporate context. In all the good companies, one is supposed to train his next in line. Some do it but most of the breed is so insecure that they will do everything but to put the second in command in lime light.

Banyan tree does not allow any body to grow underneath it. The CEO, I am talking about will not allow any body to grow to the extent that he is prepared to take over. He will do it on the pretext of expectation management or providing protection but in reality, will not allow the gentleman to grow and will project himself to be indispensable. He will ensure that his vulnerability remained confidential and he continues to look omniscient and omnipotent.

You are lucky if you don’t get a Banyan tree on your head. Make the best use of the opportunity and grow together. Prepare the scope of your CEO to take over the next assignment so that your road is also smooth.

What to do if that does not happen? The Banyan tree on your head is the face of the organization and he is as good as indispensable with so much authority and influence at his command. First of all, identify the type of personality, complement his skill set and be on his side. Don’t let the organization down under any circumstances because organization is not at fault, Individual is! Learn as much as possible from him but never overshadow him. Now you are indispensable for his growth and psychological sustenance, other way round is not true if you have learnt the tricks of trade from him. The gentleman will not like you to go but allow only limited growth or no growth to you. In the situation, you must come out of the comfort zone and look for the opportunity outside.

Have you ever analysed why does this happen? The most probable answer is that gentleman is either political animal or insecure or both. You ought to understand the correct reason and help out your BOSS. Try to supplement his skill gap, if any? Make him comfortable with your inputs and expect him to help you out with his strong points (Pygmalion effect). Still, I will not suggest you to expect much in terms of your growth so your plan to move must take shape.

Timing to quit is very crucial, neither a day more nor a day less! Both are detrimental for your career.

How do you like the situation if you have to come back to the same organization as CEO? I have seen it happening. Remember once you are out of present organization, your value increases especially when you have contributed significantly.

Let us put the record straight. I am not a political person but could Gandhi family allow anybody to grow to take over even if it wanted to? Sonia Gandhi allowed and ensured Man Mohan Singh to become a lame duck PM. Could Cyrus Mistry grow under Ratan Tata? All these are the examples that one cannot grow under a banyan tree so one should move out to run his own destiny.

Can you apply the same analogy in families? Ask Mukesh and Anil Ambani! Don’t miss out Abhishek Bachchan? Everybody is running his own destiny, by design or by default.

@Allthingsbrightandbeutiful @lifeisgood