Managing personnel: What works best – autonomy or autocracy?

STAFF MATTER

Post By : IJ News Service On 01 April 2023 1:53 PM

In order to get the best out of their employees, companies have to decide whether they need to follow an autocratic style of functioning, or a democratic style. Suneeta Kaul talks to a cross-section of retailers to figure out what they think is the best way to deal with their employees and teams

Managing a team, ensuring work gets done and day-to-day activities run smoothly is a challenging job for any company. It is even more so in a sector like retail jewellery, which is mostly a family-run business. Issues such as a flexible organizational structure, involvement of multiple generations, the cyclical nature of the business, and so forth, add an extra layer of difficulty to the management process. In such a situation, what kind of a management style works best for companies -- should the proprietors keep a hawk eye on their teams and personnel, or let them function as they see best? In other words, do companies get better results if they follow an autocratic style of functioning, or a democratic style? Expectedly, there is no unanimity on this, with sections of retailers opting for the ‘tight leash’ method, and others preferring the ‘cut them some slack’ style.

KEEP AN EYE ON THEM!

Several retailers feel structure and processes are important in order to ensure the business runs properly. Says Shubham Gupta, Manohar Lal Sarraf and Sons Jewellers, Meerut, “A well-structured operational system is essential for work to be carried out smoothly. Unless the owners create a sense of discipline, and ensure that everyone is answerable for his/her actions, there will be chaos. At the same time, too much control is also not good. What we strive for is a balanced approach. Ultimately, both the team and the management have to work for the betterment of the company.” It is a no-brainer that keeping a watch on the company personnel is essential. But the subjective aspect is this: how close a watch is essential? Mahender Khurana, Sunder Jewellers, Chandigarh, has some insights. “There should be a hierarchy. Otherwise things will not work properly. There has to be a system, some rules, a Standard Operating Procedure,” he explains, adding, “For day-to-day activities, it is necessary to have a routine. “A structure enables all employees to know what is expected of them, and saves time, both for the staff and for the owners. However, the management cannot involve itself with daily activities, it has to delegate work to team leaders, who can instruct those below them. But, 100% power cannot be given to the team managers. A degree of control over them as well is essential.”

A well-structured operational system is essential for work to
be carried out smoothly. Unless the owners create a sense of
discipline, and ensure that everyone is answerable for his/her
actions, there will be chaos. At the same time, too much control
is also not good. What we strive for is a balanced approach.-SHUBHAM GUPTA, Manohar Lal Sarraf and Sons Jewellers, Meerut

LETTING THEM DO THEIR OWN THING

Then there are those who are of the opinion that giving the company personnel the freedom to operate, and letting them handle the business on their own is what will work. “I am a great advocate of allowing my teams, my people to function as they see best. You have to give freedom to employees so that they can realize their full potential. Otherwise one might as well do everything oneself! We can benefit from the ideas, talent and merit of our employees, and it is best to give them a free hand so that they can put their ideas to test. Most jewellery businesses are family-owned, they don’t have a corporate structure. Autonomy is what will work in such a set-up,” opines Rajesh Sanghi, L Bajrang Pershad Jewellers, Hyderabad. Letting the teams handle the work as they see fit does have an upside to it. It enables the company to get

You have to give freedom to employees so that they can realize their full potential. Otherwise one might as well do everything oneself! We can benefit from the ideas, talent and merit of our employees, and it is best to give them a free hand so that they can put their ideas to test.RAJESH SANGHI, L Bajrang Pershad Jewellers, Hyderabad

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