Society and the individual are both living in a symbiotic relationship from the first date of each other existence and it’s impossible to disassociate one from another fully, leaving this possibility alive just for a separate actions interpretation. Dependence forms are comprehensively explored by B.Weiner in his attribution theory. Where people’s behavior in the society are evaluated by different success and failure projections and very often an important assumption of a positive self-image is taken into consideration. Our real economy prosperity plan is showing more evidences of a changing complementary relationship between a person and a collective to one sided dictatorship from the society side.
Current economic development and growth very firmly and precisely are dictating collective employer’s requirements for individuals to select precise professions and develop selectively most required skills which would bring the most benefit to the economic prosperity. And that sounds as a reasonable employers request for the salary which the individual earns.
This request in such global environment begins to transform not only the relationship of the employee and the employer but also the individual itself. Seems like a society side in this symbiotic relationship is gaining an abstract of the overwhelming parasite in all sections of the life. Demands from all social surrounding including work, government, family and friends begin to broadcast almost similar messages of life actions such as: to produce and consume more, to give all possible efforts for a growth and a development of personal and together common fortune, to dedicate all possible time to economic machinery in the way you are requested. The same model is adopted to all areas of the life. The only difference is the promoted motive but actions remain the same. If it’s a work, the object is the company success which will be transformed into a personal fortune. If it’s a government, the object is your country. If it’s a family, the object is your family members. If it’s your friends, the object – your status. This clever combination provides good tools for creating an army of “robots” with predictable needs of power. It’s easier to control them when you control the power supply.
Humanity in the past had different forms all full individual dedication for one common good pushed together by governments, employer, friends and family. Typically we face these situations in the times of crisis periods such as wars, swift ideological changes or strengthening religion influence periods. And now our new crusade is becoming an economic growth, a business prosperity and the consumption cult. All individuals step by step are forced to comply with a new ideology.
From the start of our social interactions path at kindergartens we are taught the same things as everyone else, to think in the same direction, to admire the same achievements, to value and to aim for same things. When we listen to most influential businesses heads as Jack Ma, Tim Cook, Mark Zuckerberg and many others, they will always have an opinions what future professions should look like and what competences people should strive for to be successful. Simply everyone around us knows very well future success matrices and pushes us to take paths that are firstly good for the economy growth and companies and secondly might secure material base for an enough decent survival. But will we feel individually satisfied with the work we do? That’s probably doesn’t matter.
Employees following rules and needs of the employers without any doubt are bringing a lot of benefit for the country and its economy. On the other hand personal self-fulfillment is injured most of the times. If the gap between individual and society needs is substantial, we might face all forms of different personal misery conditions that will be reflected on people around us.
The side of dedication in the conflict between the employee and the employer could be evaluated by the individual added value to the economy measure. Person’s dedication to the work he’s doing without any individual interest compared with the work, as expression of his passion. We can all agree that the difference in results might be rigorous. On the other hand we will face more and more people, who are absolutely fascinated by the consumption religion without any doubt of its divinity, and they will happily give all their efforts to any work they do, just get the holiest sacrament in the form of car, yacht or any other expression of self-value. If the number of these individuals becomes an absolute majority – the goal of governments and business leaders is reached.
Tendency of business models where companies are becoming more global and bigger with more complex activities are requiring even more specialized workers. Experts of thin fields will be less interest to abstraction. “Correct” western corporate behavior model is being adopted very quickly all around the world. This model tries to sack all creativity and honest dedication of the people just for the corporate environment. Wildly spread engagement to the employer strategies are interfering into areas which historically used to be left for the individual.
Geert Hofstede with a data collected for several decades emphasized that most developed countries have a well advanced individualistic culture at a working place.
It suggests that western corporate culture is succeeding by leaving individualism for each individual. His individualism is described by actions as taking care of yourself, making decisions based on individual needs, emphasizing individual achievements.
Hofstede’s individualism is perfectly absorbed by corporate culture and is highly explored to convince people that this economy growth model based on large multinational conglomerates isn’t infringing into personal individualism but contrary is benefiting from the individual behavior.
The main catch here comes with the interpretation of the individualism. As corporate culture managed to change a meaning of it and link individualism with an ability to satisfy societies infused materialistic wishes. That is more or less achieved as Zygmunt Bauman would say with transformation of human relationships to connections. The relationship between individual and society changed concept of an identity where the individuality is becoming meaningless. The individualism shifted from something personal to being a good consumer and a competitive good. It no longer belongs to our inside but described through the prism of our ability to consume more freely.
Our identity’s description by consumption and competitiveness is perfectly explored and influenced by western corporate culture. Leaving at least temporal satisfaction of a frictional individuality for each of us.
Returning back to the relationship between employer and employee, this transformation of a concept of an individualism isn’t somehow forced. It is more grown in our heads as regular circumstances. A corporate culture always shows appreciation to its employees and will bravely guide them to the understanding what is good and bad. It will never ignore a personal egocentrism but will show employees clearly the right path where future jobs and competences lie. And very thoughtfully managers will constantly remind the employees about their future choices if they want to keep their very individualistic lives.
Thank you, all components of the society, for your guidance how exclusively not to think by my own any more.