31st august 2008
Ego’s and communication – time to change.
History
The meltdown in this morning’s General body meeting was just the latest albeit most shameful episode of a form of getting together to communicate that has just not worked. For the record let me recount the results that this has achieved in the past –
1999 or thereabout - Mr Swaran Singh’s being embarrassed in a residents meet by an irate resident. That was an unprecedented lowering of civil threshold in the complex, but thankfully it did not recur for 6 years.
2005 -Wing Commander Bali’s and Rear Admiral Sharma —two very wise and civil gentlemen – unceremoniously resigning from the original governing body.
2006 – Mr Mukherjee’s being humiliated in a general body meeting and an actual physical altercation taking place in that.
2007 - Mr Jain and Mr Lal’s resignations from the Heights and Rakshak governing body last year, when faced with completely uncivil standards of language and behaviour.
2007 - Major Usman’s resignation in disgust from the President ship of the association when faced with uncivil behaviour.
2007-2008 – a continuously confrontational relationship between the governing bodies of the buildings and the club committee, and the resignation of Mr Bhashyam in disgust from all association work when he was faced with the colossal wastes of his energy, effort and good intentions. There was stalemate in all work by the club committee , and finally whatever work did get done is still facing questions on the lack of procedural propriety.
Isn’t it time to change?
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I was not present at the time of the meltdown of today’s GBM – reaching there a few minutes late.
Some of the reactions that I got from shocked residents after the disrupted meeting were .
All senior residents should resign from executive association work, and remain in advisory capacity.
This governing body has failed -- time to nominate new governing body members.
Let the associations be separated.
There is no question of working together in this atmosphere.
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That the governing body had failed was true.
Instead of developing internal communications so that a united front could be forged to tackle our problems jointly – there has been a total breakdown of communications. Workers are drifting without direction.
The good work – monies that had been collected to start the common areas work – has now all been put in suspense.
Lets proceed with the good work anyway, Lets not stop that is one refrain. But in the absence of any decorum and consensus of approach – those cheques are now not going to be deposited into the Common Account.
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Yet the need to communicate will not stop. Whether we amalgamate into one association or break up into 2 or 3 pieces ---- the problems of administration of the club and the common areas will remain. Whether we like it or not the club and the common areas will remain where they are.
Whether we like it or not we will have to communicate and co-ordinate.
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ANSWER --
A WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS FORUM ESPECIALLY BETWEEN ALL SENIOR RESIDENTS AND ALL CONCERNED RESIDENTS WHO FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT ANY ISSUE.(This will involve thought , so remove emotions and ego’s).
THIS WOULD BE IN THE FORM OF A REGISTER KEPT IN THE CUSTODY OF THE COMMON AREA’S CO-ORDINATOR AND TREASURER , USUALLY IN THE CLUB.
AND THIS WOULD BE CONFIDENTIAL TO ONLY THE RESIDENTS.
I AS A MEMBER WILL GUARANTEE THAT EACH ISSUE OF CONCERN THAT IS MENTIONED BY ANY OF THE RESIDENTS WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE ADDRESSED --- CALMLY AND THOUGHTFULLY -- BY THE CONCERNED COMMON AREAS OFFICE BEARER , OR BY THE GOVERNING BODY AS A WHOLE.
IT IS REQUESTED THAT YOU PLEASE MAKE USE OF IT TO PEN DOWN EACH ONE OF YOUR CONCERNS, THOUGHTS AND POINTS OF VIEW ON ANY MATTER OR ISSUE OF COMMON INTEREST.
IT WOULD HELP IF ONLY CIVIL LANGUAGE IS USED SO AS TO ARRIVE AT A POSITIVE SOLUTION.
ALL OUR RESIDENTS ARE RESPECTABLE AND IT IS REQUESTED THAT RESPECT BE MAINTAINED FOR ALL OTHER RESIDENTS IN THOUGHT AND SPEECH AND ALL COMMUNICATIONS.
IT IS REQUESTED THAT YOU MAKE FREQUENT USE OF THIS FORUM TO REGISTER YOUR THOUGHTS TO ELIMINATE THE FORMATION OF SEPARATE GROUPS WITH DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS WHICH DON’T EVER MEET EXCEPT IN SUCH EMOTION RIDDEN AND EXPLOSIVE MEETINGS.
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FOR THOSE WHO ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE INTERNET – I WILL START A BLOG AND REQUEST YOURSELVES TO PARTICIPATE IN IT AS FREQUENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
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OUR ASSOCIATIONS ARE ELECTED BODIES – AND NEITHER A MILITARISTIC NOR A CORPORATE KIND OF AUTOCRACY CAN HAVE ANY CHANCE OF SUCCESS. THE APPROACH HAS TO BE ONE OF ARRIVING AT A CONSENSUS.
THE AIM WILL NEED TO BE TO CONSULT AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE BEFORE TAKING A DECISION . TO EVOLVE A CONSENSUS ON ALL ISSUES AND ELIMINATE ALL FORMS OF ARBITRARINESS IN DECISION MAKING.
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STARTING WITH THIS ISSUE PLEASE PEN DOWN YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE LEFT SIDE PAGES OF THE BOOK. THE RIGHT SIDE IS FOR OFFICE BEARERS RECORDED RESPONSE.
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Many thanks, Sincerely
Pradyot Joshi
Member GBM , RAOA
