A Story on Conflict Management

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I received a call from Sarfaraz Butt my division head this morning, he was informing me about one of my subordinate that he is going to transfer him to the other sales team.

He was “informing” not “asking”!

I replied, “Okay!” but inside I was exploding with anger. This is the third time in the current session, that Butt has shifted one of my trained personnel from my team for someone else to adopt it. I am not a fool, to spend several months in training my team member and others will ripe the fruits.  This was certainly a big distress for me, how can Butt taking away my best man one by one, and still question on my performance in monthly target meetings, “This is it, I cant bear this anymore!” I thought in my mind.

Later I cooled up my mind but still thinking what can be done in this way, I know all my men are being transferred to the sales team of Ahmed Ali, one of the team leaders in our company, my internal competitor as well. Just because of his good relations with Butt and his better communication techniques he is able to take away my boys. I thought this is the time I should personally approach to Ahmed and talk on the issue.

I dialed his number, as I waited for the beep I thought that when he will receive my call he will be ashamed of what he did, etc. “Hey! Its Imran”, I started the conversation, readily coming to the topic, I said, “Ahmed! You are taking all my expert men one by one, don’t you think this is causing problem for me to perform my duties?” “Pardon me! What are you talking about dear?” Ahmed said in an innocent tone. Here we got a different situation, this innocent guy didn’t even aware of what trouble he is causing me. Is the divisional head is transferring all men on his own will? I was confused a bit. I explain him about all the situation, how in the same session I am losing my third men, which is being shifted to his team by the orders of the divisional head, while my team now contain only some new entrants, which are not capable of bringing such a massive business, yet I still fear if I trained one more, it might be shifted to Ahmed’s team again.

I discussed the whole situation with Ahmed, and hopefully he understood, he said, “Imran! I didn’t know that how much trouble I caused you, I just demanded some experienced sales persons from Sarfaraz, I thought he might convinced you before taking your boys, but we can both formulate something which is beneficial for each other”. This was the best part, at least he understand and offering his support in the issue.

“So at what time tomorrow you will be available?” I asked Ahmed, “Let me see my calendar.. hmmm.. 4:00 pm okay for you?” Ahmed said in a questioning tone

“It will be awesome.” I am relaxed somehow.

The next day on the planned time we met, together we did a brain storming session and formulate some points, and agreed to follow on it:

1. We are working for the same organization, we should think about the benefit of organization as a whole rather than just thinking about the personal benefit or just team.
2. Before taking a member from other team, first the team leader will be convinced
3. If the team leader think that this is OKAY, he will pass the approval to the division head
4. If it is not suitable for the team leader, and one team is having loss in shifting his personnel, both the teams respect this decision and retreat
5. No one will approach the division head on it own on the subject of shifting of employees

“Ahmed! In our knowledge the points we agreed are awesome, but if they create some more issues, will you take out some time to review them together?” I asked.

“Why not Imran, of course, I will do whatever it takes for the benefit of the organization”

“I think our meeting is successful” I cheerfully shook hand with Ahmed

“Obviously! In case of any problem, don’t ever hesitate to approach me”. He pressed my hand with anticipation.

Free-media, fruit of the poisonous tree!

In the present era, the media campaign against Pakistan to show only its negative points is at its peak, the positive face of Pakistan is crushed. But the regretting part is our own media is also following the footsteps of the international media.
A media is the country's face to the outside world; it is able to show bad or good face.
If we watch a Pakistani news channel for a minute you can see 80% news which is negative. Now compare with the international media, we can rarely see negative news about UK, USA or any other European country on BBC, CNN, etc. Are those countries without any negativity? Are they free of corruption and crimes? The answer is a big NO. No country is perfect and no country is free from corruption, crimes, wars, hate and tragedies. The only thing is how their media presents it!
Seems like the whole international media is in search of negative news and reports about Pakistan and as soon as they got news, even small, they project it as the headline. No wonder, media is biased and everyone knows that media is under strict control and monitoring, the slogans of Free Media are indeed fake. Ever wonder why some of the biggest ever conventions are not given that much publicity as some other conventions of the same strength. How a press conference on a non-issue matter covered more than 3 hours and a press conference on a burning issue is covered in a 10 second report at the end of the news.
The mistake is ours, we take media as Idol, and we think that we can not achieve our targets or can not get public if media do not cover us, but the fact is that, the most influential movements of the world gone successful without the media support. If we are heading a campaign or a movement, we should focus our heads towards our target and goal. We might have mistakenly thinking that our goal is to get more media coverage, despite that we should be working for our actual goal and target; the media will come behind us one day. Don't make media our need, we should realize that media need report and issues, if our issue is strong enough, then no need to beg and plead media for coverage, they will come behind us and cover!
Media should act responsibly & maturely, without biasing, show the truth, rather than mold the truth! It is the responsibility of the journalists, photographers and reporters to make the media go their way, rather than follow the rules set by the stakeholders of media. If media did not correct their direction, then the day is not far when people will turn away from fake TV media and turn towards other medias (social, etc) as time passes!