Move on,when your time is up……………

My father was a Government officer under the Administrative service.His retirement age was 58 years.He was seemingly pretty young when he retired.He was already into his writings,and he got involved in it.These days,people retire mostly at 65 years.A clean 7 years more. Now,let us talk of people like me,who have invested last 30+ years into building,creating,developing,failing,re-building,growing,stabilising,……an enterprise,in a truthful,professional manner,and given it all you could.The enterprise over all these years,has grown manifold and diverse. More difficult still in my case,as both my sons,joined my business,and I had to do several things,like,their roles,responsibilities,reporting structure,positioning,work ethics,culture,relationship with people,and accountability,among others. All these take time,energy,astuteness,understanding,and make things happen in a manner which becomes acceptable to most,by and large.When in my Dad’s time,the retirement age was 58 years,it was not without reason.I kept thinking on these,as I was going thru that period in my life.We use a word loosely “generation gap”,which I have used with my Dad’s thinking against mine,and now with my son’s thinking against mine.I have now realised,those situations happen,as over several years you have learnt to do things in a particular way,and you have been hugely successful.So, maybe you continue to do the same way over years.In business,at times it is also not possible to disassociate with everything you do,so there will be interventions,overlaps,mostly at some stages in decision making.There is also this issue of “over exposure” in all matters with your sons,which in modern day’s jargon,looks fine with the concept of a horizontal structure,but that comes in the way,particularly when there are issues of personal interest.A family business enterprise has one major strength,which also is its main weakness,as well,because apart from professional understandings, “emotions” come into play in addition,and that is very difficult to address.Particularly, a combination of professional issues,getting mixed with emotions,creates complexities in decision making and deliberation processes.This at times,can take serious proportions as days go by,but it is also the emotional bonds,which tell you to forget and forgive,and go on with it.But it leaves a taste which maynot be palatable or digestable always.This is perhaps the single most reason it was felt,perhaps there should be a transition at 58 years,and now 65 years. It is a good thing to exit from all generational gap points as early as possible.Particularly for families which is also working in the same environment.What is the reason? the work data points have changed.The organisational structure has changed.Priorities have also changed.So, the organisation which has this mix comes under attack on priorities,and ways of doing work.The work culture,the relationship dynamics at work,all have changed,and both the generations keep making adjustments to be together at work,with one single policy for employees,but there will be ocassions,and situations where there bound to be a different approach,at times very different.The new generation has a future.They are looking ahead in life.Atleast they are expected to.So, they must get the priority. So, whenever the earlier generation feels,that this is happenning at a regular interval,and is creating professional approach disonance,and we are giving different names to it,the earlier generation must QUIT.Quit gracefully,properly,with dignity,and genuinely handing over all decision making responsibility,financial responsibility,collaborative responsibilities, all forms of administrative responsibilities,to the next generation,and even not be around,if possible.Create a new,different vista,for self,and move on.
Possible? Ofcourse it is.Difficult? Sure,it is.But that is the right way. MOVE ON WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP…………