The Significance of Titles: Understanding Indian Culture in the Workplace

In India, the workplace isn’t just about jobs and tasks—it’s intertwined with the rich tapestry of family and social structures. As an Employer of Record (EOR) in India, I’ve had the opportunity to work with clients from across the globe, helping them build tech teams that are not only skilled but also deeply rooted in Indian cultural values. Over the years, I’ve encountered situations that have highlighted just how important it is for foreign managers to understand these values, especially when it comes to family bonds and the significance of titles.

One day, an elderly gentleman arrived at our office, requesting to meet with me. He was insistent but wouldn’t disclose the reason for his visit to our reception staff. Curious and slightly concerned, I decided to meet him. When he walked into my office, I could see that he was well-educated and polite, but his demeanor suggested a personal matter.

After exchanging greetings, he apologized for not revealing the purpose of his visit earlier. “The reason I wanted to meet you is a bit personal,” he began, handing me a photograph. It was a picture of one of our employees. Thoughts raced through my mind—was something wrong? But the elderly man quickly put me at ease.

“We are considering this boy for my daughter,” he explained. In India, arranged marriages are still a common practice, where families play a significant role in selecting a spouse for their children. The gentleman had come to inquire about the employee’s prospects within our company.

I assured him that the young man was smart, hardworking, and doing a good job. While this seemed to satisfy him to some extent, he wasn’t completely convinced. He pressed on, asking, “Then why is his designation just ‘Member of Technical Staff’? Why isn’t he a manager?”

It was a moment of realization for me. Despite our company’s flat hierarchy and emphasis on skills over titles, this father saw his prospective son-in-law’s worth through the lens of his job title. I had to explain the nature of our organizational structure, but it was clear that in his eyes, a title carried significant weight—not just in the workplace, but in society at large.

This wasn’t the only time I encountered the importance of titles in India. During an appraisal meeting with another employee, after discussing his performance and future goals, he made a simple yet revealing request: “Sir, I’m happy with everything, but please change my designation to ‘Executive.’”

Puzzled, I asked him why this mattered so much. He was honest and blunt. “Sir, with the title of ‘Software Engineer,’ I’m getting rejected. In services companies, every two years, people get a designation change, unlike our software product industry.”

This was another eye-opener. In India, titles or designations aren’t just labels—they are markers of status, both professionally and socially. They influence how individuals are perceived in the job market, within their families, and in society. A title can impact a marriage proposal, or determine whether someone’s job application is even considered.

Whenever I work with foreign clients who are looking to build teams in India, I share these stories with them. I emphasize the need to be mindful when assigning titles to employees, because in India, these titles carry a much larger societal meaning than they might elsewhere.

Building a successful team in India isn’t just about finding the right technical skills—it’s about understanding and respecting the cultural fabric that binds us. It’s about recognizing that in India, the workplace extends beyond the office walls and into the homes and lives of employees. And it’s about appreciating the deep significance that titles hold in shaping one’s identity and worth in society.