Which is worse, a jinxing albatross or a floating deadweight? Judging from precedence, the Ancient Mariner did manage to remove the albatross from around his neck, got freed from his stagnating jinx and thus was able to continue on his journey. A floating deadweight, on the other hand, constitutes a far more severe problem as it represents a self-perpetuating, negatively retarding force. A jinx or graha, as defined in Hindu culture, is a difficult period of time that arises from the effects of past karma, planetary alignment or coming into contact with a negatively malignant force field; singly or in combination.
It lasts for a period of time and its effects can be mitigated or removed by directed, constructive action and a positive attitude. A graha can thus be viewed as a passive or stationary problem that is amenable to solution. A floating deadweight, on the other hand, resists resolution. Who is a floating deadweight you ask? A massively incompetent individual who holds an important position in an organisation and who has parachuted into that position, over many more competent and deserving individuals, on the winds of corruption and nepotism and who is kept afloat by plagiarising the work of subordinates, coupled with protection from high-level source/s within the organisation.
Naturally, floating deadweights are thoroughly and reflexively hostile to attempts at removal and are such deadly "klingons" that even the great and powerful Spock (of Star Trek fame) might think twice before attempting any action. A floating deadweight or FD is different from "a square peg in a round hole," who is merely an incompetent. The FD is a super-jinx; a malignant, cancerous organisation blight that poses a serious risk to the wellbeing, efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation. Precious and important organisational resources are thus expended in not only doing the work for the floating deadweight, but also in undoing the negative impacts that result from his/her mistakes.
As birds of a feather flock together, the forces of organisation attraction between deadweights and incompetents have a survival motive as they band together. Once such a fellowship has evolved, it becomes very difficult to reform or restructure the organisation. Why you enquire? Well, for one, they are quite organised, for obvious reasons, and possess a strong sense of loyalty to each other. They are characterised by a very strong sense of self-worth, not born of any performance criteria but strongly rooted in a belief of entitlement, and are masters of smooth-talking conmanship characterised by a liberal use of fashionable buzz words.
To the uniformed and naïve, they appear...well, as aptly described by the saying "one-eyed Jack is king in blind man country."
The supreme danger that deadweights pose is to be found in transitional situations, particularly when the ship changes shift. As the new crew requires organisational continuity and memory, they look to retain some personnel.
This situation presents the deadweights and their disciples a golden opportunity to ingratiate themselves on the new management.
As they are well dressed, well spoken and pushy, they are the first ones the captain meets. As to be expected, they proceed to dispense lavish praise and deftly paint a negative picture of the competent ones. As they focus simply on self-survival and self-promotion they say whatever is required. They are not handicapped by issues of truth and performance. Inexperienced and or uninformed new leadership will fail to recognise the guiles of the floating deadweights and so they are either retained or promoted.
Those who point out the facts based on objective evidence are so maligned by the FDs that they are quickly sidelined as competence and performance are no longer the guiding principles.
When this happens then, no real change can be effected as those with the vested interests of status quo win over those who are pushing for performance and improvement. The culture of apathy, non-performance and existence for the sake of existence sets in more deeply. No country in which institutions, state and otherwise, are characterised by the floating deadweights can progress or become prosperous. The floating deadweights must be jettisoned for positive change that would lead to forward movement, prosperity and progress.
Happy Indian Arrival Day to T&T.
Prakash Persad
is the director of Swaha Inc