Sacking or surrendering - making a smooth transition

At a time when talks around mental and emotional health are doing the rounds, one cannot negate how the work atmosphere, where an employee spends most of his day, could be directly proportional to his/her mental state. 

 

The pandemic fuelled this phenomenon, with employees complaining against their employers for not extending enough empathy when the world was grappling with loss, fear and much more.

 

Just as the pandemic was improving, came the layoffs which have been growing across industries and surely must be altering the mentality of an employee.

 

Whether a layoff or a voluntary choice of switching jobs, Campaign India aims to decode the impact a transition can have on a person’s morale. 

 

Company loyalty 

 

Experts share that loyalty towards a company depends on several factors, including the nature of an employee and the culture of a company. 

 

While most have agreed that loyalty towards one’s work is necessary, they also highlighted that it is not advisable to be loyal beyond a point. 

 

Speaking for himself, Nikhil Narayanan, head of creative, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) stated that being emotionally attached to a company does not work for him. “The couple of times I did that, I’ve been burnt badly. However, some companies value loyalty and as long as it’s a two-way street, it should be fine,” he said. 

 

However, he also added that he’s been privy to people who found it difficult to leave a company despite being exploited. 

 

For this, Divya Dixit, business growth and strategy advisor suggests that people need to be logically dispassionate at the workplace. She added, “A balanced EQ with IQ will always lead to better employee mental health.”

 

Now, we cannot unsee the fact that the creative business doesn’t fit into the regular 9-5 bracket. Creative geniuses agree that work tends to become an extension of an employee’s personality. 

 

Malvika Mehra, independent creative director and brand strategist, envies folks who can be detached and treat work like a job just paying the bills. “I tend to be overly invested emotionally towards my work and hence the company. While it’s worked for me mostly, I do think it’s important to set some healthy boundaries,” she shared.

 

Contrary to most opinions, Abhik Santara, director and CEO ^ a t o m, believes that loyal employees are happy employees. 

 

He said, “A loyal employee is more trusted with crucial mandates, which leads to faster learnings and monetary gains, over someone who looks detached. The metrics of loyalty are beyond just the years and have many different factors like rising to the occasion, spreading a positive word of mouth, matching hunger etc.” 

 

Bobby Pawar, chairman and chief creative officer, Havas Group, reveals that many people think he’s got his priorities backwards. Defending that, he said, “They are wrong. A person’s loyalty towards his mission and vision comes first and being loyal to your people comes second. Your clients come third, followed by your company. If your mission, people and clients succeed, your company does too.” 

 

Impact of a move 

 

When asked how the transition of a person to a different place could impact creativity, experts point out again that it's a subjective phenomenon.

 

Any new joiners take a while to focus on multiple things, understand new people, new brands, etc., and so the flare at output takes time to come through. 

 

Analysing both the company as well as the employee, Pawar highlights that if an agency does not have a strong creative culture, even the brightest minds will find it hard to make an impact. “Conversely, if the person is not a go-getter, she/he will have a harder time finding their shine even in a place that is all about great work,” he added. 

 

In an existing company, there’s sort of a familiarity that a person builds with the client. Speaking of the trust factor that drives most relationships, Narayanan said, “When you’re selling an idea to somebody who trusts you, there’s credibility which adds weight to your idea. When you go to a new place, it won’t affect your productivity as such, but it might take a little longer to take your ideas across and familiarise yourself with the brand.”

 

However, Dixit believed that since one is beginning on a fresh note, fresh ideas and creativity may flow rather smoothly, allowing one to think outside the box, and offering a fresh perspective.

 

Comparing creativity to riding a bike, Mehra shares that she finds it exciting to discover newer facets of her creativity. “There will be some awesome days and on some days, no matter what, you will end up with a flat tire. The point is to change it quickly and move on.” 

 

Getting to the facts of the matter, Santara points out that probations exist for a reason.  

 

He said, “While we keep saying that creative thinking can never be type-casted, the truth is that most agencies have a distinct school of creative appreciation. Depending on the matching skill sets, someone can either adapt, change or leapfrog from the new relationship.” 

 

Layoffs 

 

Layoffs are increasing, and while advertising is yet to feel the force of it, tech companies are facing the brunt. Experts stated that layoffs aren't about a particular employee succeeding or failing but more about the company that has not been able to achieve what it set out to. Creative professionals share that it is only rarely an indication of the person’s performance and capability.

 

However, losing a job in any way can be disheartening and corrode one’s morale.

 

“Whether you are a rookie or a CEO, losing a job sucks. It sucks harder when you have a family to support. Also, it shakes your confidence in yourself, your skills. It can cause anxiety attacks and even lead to depression. Do you think I am exaggerating? I’ve seen it happen,” Pawar added. 

 

Looking at the brighter side, Narayanan states that it all depends on how the person is received at the new job. “The reporting manager sees if the employee comes with a blemish on his profile. This might trigger some negative feelings, but it’s more to do with how he’s perceived than the knowledge of how he was let go,” he said. 

 

Mehra doesn’t feel that layoffs are a blot on one’s career anymore. She said, “Folks are now announcing being sacked openly on platforms like Linkedin and Facebook. If one is genuinely confident of one’s skills, has been a good worker and built a good reputation this far, the layoff situation need not be challenging.” 

 

Santara states while loyalty to a company is required, no one is out there to commit a life-long to one company. 

 

"Unless one is a partner in the company, loyalty is a misplaced expectation from both sides. The employee-employer relationship is based on mutual growth and success, and when that stops for either, separation is possibly the best way out,” he added. 

 

A piece of advice for the grappling 

 

For those who have had the misfortune of losing a job, industry professionals pen down some tips that could help them overcome the mental laceration. 

 

Pawar: “Become relentless about proving your doubters wrong. A bit of righteous anger, if channelled correctly, can propel you to your goals.”

 

Mehra: “Instead of letting low morale override every other emotion, first use the cool-off time between jobs as a blessing in disguise for some solid introspection.”

 

Santara: “Depending on the agency's culture, one’s weakness can become a strength in another agency and vis-e-versa. I will advise everyone to prioritise cultural fit over short-term monetary benefits, unless of course one is in a position to dictate and drive their own culture."

 

In the end, it’s all about moving on. As the saying goes, ‘change is the only constant.’