My Multinational Company in Pune took over a Valve Manufacturing Company in Kerala as a part of business expansion. As Head- HR, I was deputed for smooth transition, grade equivalence, salary band matches etc etc. I was greeted by the Owner. Stay arrangements at company guest house were comfortable. Sight seeing was organized, since it was my first visit to Kerala- God's own land. Then started the hectic routine. I was to finish the assignment in less than a week and return to Pune. I was taken care of with good hospitality, humble services. I finished my job, and informed my Dy. M. D. ( who was at Coimbatore). He came next day. The new appointment letters ( with new designations, new job profiles, new salary structure) were ready. My Dy. M. D. signed letters of senior team to be handed over to them. New Organizational Chart prepared by me was also approved. The senior team of Valve company was invited to Conference Hall. They were anxious. Now their future was tied up with a German Multinational. Diversity, politics, culture, policies all new for them. The knot was tied and they wanted to know- what after this change? Although the jobs were protected, but what next? How they will be received and accepted in new environment?
The owner was also in the audience. He was courteous during my week long stay, was curious to understand our ways of thinking and working, also was giving me some tips and hints. In short, he was travelling the distance with me.
After the formalities, my Dy. M. D. started distributing the appointment letters. He called the owner first (who incidentally had decided to take up a job, in new structure and hence I had prepared letter for him also, with new designation, pay package etc.)
He came on the Dias, received his letter, had a cursory glance at it and then he looked at me. His facial expressions, especially eyes were beyond description. Owner of yesterday, had become an employee of today. What a mental status transformation ? I could imagine, what was going on in his mind ! he might be tracking all the journey and milestones. The company which he owned so far, was no more 'HIS. The relationship now was new, Employer- Employee.
Unique experience for me. I was not able to look at him.
The owner was also in the audience. He was courteous during my week long stay, was curious to understand our ways of thinking and working, also was giving me some tips and hints. In short, he was travelling the distance with me.
After the formalities, my Dy. M. D. started distributing the appointment letters. He called the owner first (who incidentally had decided to take up a job, in new structure and hence I had prepared letter for him also, with new designation, pay package etc.)
He came on the Dias, received his letter, had a cursory glance at it and then he looked at me. His facial expressions, especially eyes were beyond description. Owner of yesterday, had become an employee of today. What a mental status transformation ? I could imagine, what was going on in his mind ! he might be tracking all the journey and milestones. The company which he owned so far, was no more 'HIS. The relationship now was new, Employer- Employee.
Unique experience for me. I was not able to look at him.
Guess there is no place for emotions specially at strategic management /top management level.So the owner must have already thought of this scenario.
ReplyDelete1) This was my assessment of him, based on his facial expressions.
Delete2) Emotions are there at all levels, even if not displayed in public. That rare moment I have captured here. This was not probably noticed by any one else.
After reading Jeffery Archer " To cut a long story short" where in a businessman decides on his successor and the reason he gives for his choice was the successor kept emotions out of business. So in this case I doubt your assessment unless the owner was not a businessman.
ReplyDeleteThe name of the Blog Series is HR DIMENSION. Hence this experience and my assessment of it is from HR point of view.
DeleteThank you sir for sharing your experiences..... Keep updating our knowledge with your writing.....
ReplyDeleteThank you very much ! Will be happy, if you find take away from this series.
DeleteI am sure the owners typically make millions in such sale and they have 2-3 years contractual obligation to stay. I don't get the emotional angle to the story. Everyone moves on.
ReplyDeleteNeither he told me nor did I ask him the reason/s behind the sale and what money he made. He continued for next eight years as GM and then retired. I look at this "DEAL" purely from HR perspective. We are human beings and not robots. ( whenever we take any online survey, the first question is " I am not robot." Unless we click and prove it, we cannot proceed.) I am typically concerned with journey from owner to employee. As employee, he was required now onward to report to Board of Directors, get some monthly salary as per my salary fixation, apply for leave, get appraised annually, have same canteen services with others and so on. Although as a professional he might have taken the decision, I am sure such emotional aspects must be at the back of his mind, which were reflected in a span of fraction of second, when he looked at me. He was not on the dais, but was called to receive his fresh appointment letter (signed by someone else). Till date, he may be the final authority of signing all appointment letters. Behind our mask, we have a bit of human left. I tried to unmask it. Thanks for giving me an opportunity to respond to your comment at length.
ReplyDelete