Beyond Camouflage – A HR Message for Chameleon People in Corporate

If we ever admit the reptile – Chameleon to be also one of the most successful animals in nature, what would be the most noteworthy reason for its success? Most of us will often say that chameleon can quickly and perfectly change its colour to that of its environment and thereby it camouflages its identity and that is how it is successful. Similarly, the people who can change their character, affiliations and opinion etc., quickly according to the corporate situations, will also find success. Further such people will be always revered as ‘the most accepted’ people by all because they play tune to every bodies song. Such people are the perfect ‘yes boss people’ or ‘sycophants’ in most corporate.

Nature sends another deep management truth to the corporate from its creation, the chameleon. Chameleon does not find its success greatly from its superb ability to camouflage. It does so definitely to conceal its identity i.e., not get seen by others. But its success comes from the movable eyes it has. With the help of the movable eyes, the animal locates its prey easily as it can see greater areas around it without moving its head or neck. Further it also has long sticky tongue. The chameleon smartly throws its sticky tongue at the prey and swallows it.

Management message for the corporate is clear. Most people employ the trait of camouflage and its siblings (sycophancy, yes boss syndrome etc.,) for success. Unfortunately, most of such people use only such techniques to find their success and nothing else. This unfortunate system/style will certainly upsets the corporate culture as most corporate knowingly and unknowingly encourage and support such culture and such people. The corporate that are directly run by the entrepreneur are the one that harbor such culture.

When the corporate people happen to see or pass a comment about chameleon, must remember that the reptile largely uses only its capabilities like movable eyes and long sticky tongue to find its success and not the ability of its camouflaging. Similarly, the people also must discover their real strength and capabilities while engaged in camouflage. If at all, they desired to use camouflage trait, they should never forget the fact that they can reap their real success only from their capabilities and not just from camouflage.

What one makes others to believe or think or perceive about the self is different from what one really is. The first one can only create an opportunity but to convert an opportunity to success, one has to use the ability and capability and nothing else. But unfortunately, most people think that if they could make their boss feel or believe that they are doing a wonderful job is enough. Truth will come to light one day and the truth will be known that they do not have any capabilities and uniqueness except camouflage.

Imagine if the chameleon has only one trait and that is camouflage, the animal would not have been as successful as it is. It is successful because it uses its other advantages and capabilities as well.

Message of the nature to the corporate is that learn to use your capabilities and be successful and not by making others believe about you something which is not true. That will never last long.

Dr S Ranganathan