Have Employees Who Belong?

How companies can motivate their employees to think beyond their job descriptions.

- Dr Smita Dabholkar Singh

 Mrunal, who had just completed PGDM HR, received a campus placement offer from MYSTYLE, a company in the beauty and wellness sector. Initially, she was not too keen on it—the remuneration was lower than that of her batchmates and she would also have to relocate to a tier 2 city. However, after going through the job description, she was fascinated by the scope it offered. She was also impressed by the behaviour and manners Mr Vinod, the firm’s managing director, showcased during the interview; he treated co-panelists and interviewees with respect and dignity. Mrunal’s interview went smooth and she was selected. She decided to join the firm.

MYSTYLE was a subsidiary of STYLE, a three decade-old company manufacturing beauty and wellness products. Although it leveraged the brand image of the parent company, it was now struggling to create its own unique identity in the sector. This meant that human resources personnel would be required to start afresh and be willing to take responsibilities beyond their job description. Mrunal’s go-getter attitude made her the perfect choice in the given scenario.

In a short span of two months, Mrunal managed to build a rapport with other members in the organisation. During her initial days, she realised there were many minor and major areas that needed improvement to strengthen bonding among the members. She initiated events such as birthday celebrations (the family of the employee was invited to the plant) and creating a ‘wall of fame’ (achievements of various employees and that of the organisation were showcase on it periodically). Mr Vinod appreciated her zest and encouraged her to do more. His feedback was constructive and any modifications he suggested were put forth positively.