What management lessons from “Kashmir The Story”?

On one side, workplace politics can be ruthless, mentally draining, and destructive. On the other side, it can be a powerful instrument to create opportunities for making things better for everyone. In my opinion, it is best to be aware of workplace politics and prevent it, before it spreads!

Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of my current or previous employers.

Reference “Kashmir The Story”

If you’ve not watched it, I suggest watching this documentary on Amazon Prime: Kashmir The Story

Though this story is about Kashmir, observation of the events and the way the leaders handled it does teach a lot. Anyone can apply those lessons learned to understand and tackle workplace challenges and prevent them.

Lessons from “Kashmir The Story”

• Eliminate ambiguities: When workplace expectations are not well defined, anyone can assume anything and operate as though, they are in control. Leadership must define and set expectations at every level. Everyone is in the business to make it successful, not to build their portfolios. Even if individuals want to own a large part of the business, what good are they, if they are unable to work as a team? Why should businesses have unclear objectives that put their people into a power struggle?
• Eliminate bias: Everyone has a role to play, and each of them is necessary for the business's success. Look at business needs objectively, not subjectively, because the vested interest of people creates a rift. When ambiguities exist, perceptions are created to keep the bias afloat.
• Accountable ownerships: Businesses must define who is accountable for what, and reward them appropriately. Leadership must assess what works and does not from time to time, coach its employees for success early, and correct course when things go wrong.
• Know the distractions: When certain leadership creates distractions, be vigilant about the actions and the long-term repercussions. The distractions do not occur without reasons and intentions. When ignored, those distractions can bring down business by creating inefficiencies. The longer one lets distractions exist, the worse it gets.
• Escalation pathways: Leadership must be open to listening to anyone, investigate the challenges, and swiftly create pathways to make the business run.
• Decide: Actions can be good or bad, but decisions must be made. Staying undecided in ambiguous situations leads to long-term consequences. Know when to bring in a mediator, and when to avoid one.
• Alignment: People are powerful, and they can strongly impact the business go any direction. When people are not aligned with business goals, the loss is tremendous. The business will feel that pain as it scales up.

Summary

Whether it is w.r.t Kashmir The Story or another place, challenges exist everywhere. Where there are challenges, there are opportunities to get things done better. Being aware of situations, seeing the right connections, and making data-driven decisions will keep the business running longer. Businesses thrive because of their people, and keeping the matter of the good one for a strong culture and the long run!