Friends as co-workers
Do very close friends necessarily make great co-workers on a project? I’d say not necessarily.
It is one thing to talk for hours together with a friend about all the things under the roof while having dinner. But it’s quite another when the friend tries to talk as if he is Jack Welch and you are one Ramarajan.
In theory it is very easy to say no to such situations. But then in theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice, there is 
There are friends who would make dream partners and co-workers, along with some who are an absolute nightmare.
December 15th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
December 16th, 2011 at 10:43 pm
Sometimes work and life is a long journey which has to be traveled alone. When the lonely voyager looks back, he is amazed at the distance covered by him like the chronicles of this blog.
This video best illustrates the fact: http://youtu.be/g7NoREhqzAA
December 20th, 2011 at 3:54 am
I keep telling one of my friends that IT friendships with rare exceptions are for the most part like “Rail Sneham”. More than middle managers or at least to an equal extent, it’s colleagues who’re the kavuthufiers (at least in software dev). I’ve never worked in any Indian group with genuinely friendly people; it’s either (a) victims of the same kind grouping up against mgmt or another peer group. The victims want someone for shoulder support aka polambal support. or (b) fakesters — politicians. It’s very important to have a healthy non-IT circle of friends … or one ends up becoming a city based country-bum. Instead of maadu kannu pottuchu, you will discussing real estate or some inconsequential IT manager. I’ll end with a non-IT story of 2 kanakku pillais - they worked together for 15-20 yrs together with Mr.B faithfully following Mr.A to whichever company he went. A couple of years back Mr.A was instrumental in booting Mr.B out a company (true story) and Mr.B remains a mental wreck to this day and has lost all interest in finding a job. Office friendships = Rail Sneham.
December 20th, 2011 at 10:44 am
LOL very interesting perspective
December 21st, 2011 at 2:49 am
I totally second BNB!!!! I can count the number of friends that continue from my past work. The only friendships that sustain through time are those that we forge outside of work…more so from school and college.
December 21st, 2011 at 9:57 am
Ramya,
I understand. Am I the norm (non work because we did not work together in a project? Or did we) or an exception? (work/ same office but still in touch)
December 21st, 2011 at 10:03 am
BNB,
You have a fair point. There are some exceptions for me.
But I am glad things go smooth at least till end of journey. Sila samayam we get into nasty ‘biscuit kollayar Kai varisai’ situations.
But I doubt it’s only the IT industry specialty. My father was in government service, worked in same city/ same dept for 25 years, yet when he passed away post retirement, hardly bothered.
I theorize that as we get older, we turn more cynical, selfish and life gets more end goal focussed ( what is in it for me? )
December 21st, 2011 at 10:05 am
Surya, sorry , missed your comment in moderation, somehow got it now.
Seriously true!
December 22nd, 2011 at 12:41 am
Prabhu: The example that I gave was non-IT accountants though they did work a lot in IT companies and I ended by saying “Office friendships = Rail Sneham”. And the example you gave of your own father is non-IT probably. I completely agree that this is just human behaviour, but since we are up to our necks in this IT thing it seems much more prominent. I think you’re right about cynicism increasing with age. That’s why it’s so difficult to spot beautiful old people. Eppayume kadu-kadu sidu-sidu’nnu dhaan mukkavasi perusugal kaanapaduginrana. And the ones that are more cheerful, are invariably more mentally developed primarily via non-family non-work related interests.
ramyanisha: Thanks. These days I am starting to feel like a ‘mental’ due to unpopular opinions that I hold.
December 22nd, 2011 at 6:28 pm
@PK
“Touch-wood” is all I have to say
@BNB
:)You are not alone there!!!