Switching sides

With actor-politician Mithun Chakraborty quitting TMC to join rival camp BJP, an executive coach cautions about factors to keep in mind when you jump ship in the corporate world to join the competitor

When Bengal’s beloved Mithun da, or actor-politician Mithun Chakraborty likened himself to a cobra last Sunday, he wasn’t kidding. The Disco King had, after all, slithered his way from the extreme Left in his youth to a Rajya Sabha membership on an All India Trinamool Congress ticket; his final chhobol (Bengali, for snakebite) was joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the upcoming West Bengal state elections. He’s definitely not the first, or the last people’s leader to switch between opposing camps. From swap-overs in politics — remember Congress’ Jyotiraditya Scindia joining the BJP last year — to recurring poaching wars in the IT, retail, telecom, banking, insurance and other sectors, there’s much to be learned from these moves.

Chakraborty with TMC chief Mamata Banerjee. Pic/PTI

But how do you navigate the tricky terrain of contrasting ethics and work culture once you make the switch? And is it possible to not burn bridges with your previous employer? Vandana Shah, an executive coach and founder, Chrrysallis, which provides customised corporate coaching programmes, suggests one weigh the following factors when joining a competitor.

Reasons to quit: Figure out your reasons for leaving — is it a momentary reason, like a salary hike, or has your learning stopped? If you look at the IT sector, Microsoft’s work culture changed dramatically when Satya Nadella came on board as its CEO. Its rival companies are lagging in this aspect, which is why their employees will be happy to quit as soon as they find a better prospect. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a bigger role or challenge, then explain the same to your senior or your HR, before taking a call. 

Face the existing challenge: If you are avoiding a challenging situation — such as a difficult co-worker/boss, or if you feel that you’re not seen or valued — then keep in mind that such obstacles can arise anywhere and you can’t keep running away. Use the opportunity to scale up your skills to handle such challenges. 

Avoid leaving on a bad note: If the number of players in your sector is limited and you keep switching jobs to join competitors, chances are, you’re shutting too many doors for yourself. For example, Chakraborty has a history of shifting political allegiances. What happens if he wants to shift again; will the other parties welcome him back?

Vandana Shah

Making the switch: Once you have joined the competitor, chances are, that their work culture, ethos and style might be different or in stark contrast to your former organisation’s. Start observing your environment, soak in the new culture and listen to the people around you, because how your co-workers conduct themselves, displays the company’s culture. Based on this, start adapting yourself to the new surroundings. You should not think of changing their culture overnight. Instead, think of how you can be a part of what’s meant for you. 

Building trust: When you join an organisation after quitting a rival company, you are likely to find two kinds of people — one set that will welcome you, and the other that might be apprehensive of you. You need to make the latter feel comfortable, and be open and receptive. Then, they’ll start seeing you as their one of their own. That’s how you can build relationships grounded in trust, 
rather than transactional ones.

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