7:50 AM, school crossing, I am looking at my watch, thinking same old anecdote “Reaching early to office marks good impression on boss”. But something is missing today. What? What? What?
I got it, my navigator is missing. From past 2 years every day, same time same place I used to meet my navigator, Ma’sir (my sir). 1 min talk with him, and an expressive thought for the day by Ma’sir depending on my mood by him always make me feel fresh and navigate me for the rest of my day. It was always my pleasure to listen to him. Not only me but so many others like the old lady, the pretty gal and the street vendor we all get were used to him.
It was not all same 2 years back when I first met Ma’sir. Chilly January morning I was running to my office and he looked at me and smiled. Who cares? I was late to attend a 8:00 clock meeting. So I just ignored. Next day same happened, I still rushed away. But I didn’t wait for that to happen and stopped by him on our third meet.
“I haven’t seen you here before? Who are you, and why are you standing near school?”
Ma’sir: “I live 3 blocks down from here and I am a retired person. Like to see kids in morning so just stop by here”
“All right, I live across the street. So just thought to check with you”
Ma’Sir: “ Thank you gentleman”
“Take care”
Ma’Sir: “You too and by the way try to smile today for any question you don’t understand”
I laughed “Thanks, I am good at my job”. My attitude J….And I left for office.
Next morning.
“So how do you like this place and what can I call you?”
Ma’sir: “It’s a beautiful place, I am loving it. Think I should buy a house across the street too”
“Sure, if you don’t have intention to kidnap kids and sell them, than you can, though its little costly” I was sarcastic. His looks were not that great.
Ma’Sir: “No young man, I can’t afford it. I am happy to hear the cheers from here. Hey how many times you smiled yesterday”
“Are you kidding me……..”
Ma’Sir: “Well just be calm to pressure situations today”
“Oh My god, it’s vain to stop and talk with you”. And I walked over.
I didn’t stop for next day. Friday night party. It ended by 7:00 AM. I was trying to sleep but no luck. To my utmost surprise he was still standing at the same place. I was shocked. I asked him why he came today as there is no school. He said he want to make it a routine so t hat he don’t forget it. But it sounds fishy.
Monday morning and same old rushing routing.
Ma’Sir: “Don’t you have some time today”
“Sir I have a job”
Ma’sir:” Respect the old man at job”
I just can’t help it. Then I thought lets try it.
4 of my seniors whom I used to think DUMB, I listened to them with the best patience I can gather. For first time it sounded to me so stupid. But later in course of day I found that they make more sense than anyone else on floor. I again listened to them and create a new proposal for my new project.
Tuesday, little late today but it works once in a blue moon. A pretty gal was talking with Ma’Sir. Wow, this guy has some charm. I went and stopped by him to say hi. He was smiling. The gal smiled too and then left.
Ma’Sir: “So how was listening to old chaps yesterday”
“It was good, they helped me a lot and they have some good ideas. Thanks for telling me that”
Ma’Sir: “My pleasure, good that you stopped by to say hi, I believe it was for me not for the pretty gal J”
We both were laughing.
“All right Sir, I need to leave, you have a good day”
Ma’Sir: “You too sir, and try to talk with confidence today”
What is this? What this guy wants to tell me. I am an MBA graduate from premier institute and manage the whole department of company and he advices me daily. Anyways what I am loosing. Be a Good manager, just listen and go.
First meeting of day, I was not that good. Second meeting and I thought we are anyways loosing this project lets leave it, but then thought lets try what he said.
I used the proposal made yesterday (looks good but not a great deal to sign) and used all my confidence. Evening 4:00 my boss calls you “Dude, you turned the stone down. We got the bid”.
I was scratching my head.
2 years from then, Ma’sir had taught me real management. Management is all about understanding others and giving them what they want rather than what you or your company wants. If people around are satisfied you will be satisfied and the company will be too. Its like chemical bond, if one link is weak it can create ions else it’s an element.
We all, old lady, pretty gal, street vendor are adapted to listen and talk to him every morning. But where is he today. We just know that he live few blocks away but where exactly nobody knows. What we can do is wait?
One week, no clue. I talked with other Ma’Sir alumni, and decided to seek police help. 4 more days L I am paralyzed, so do others.
Friday morning Ma’sir was there. I went to him with a big question mark on my face. Didn’t spoke a word? I know you have a question, but I had some other stuff.
“For the first time in 2 years, you should have told me I would have done that”
Ma’sir: “You can’t do that? You still have to learn a lot”
“Like What”
Old lady, Pretty gal and street vendor were all there.
Ma’sir: “I run a call centre, for the first time there was a mistake in that. Customer was complaining. So I need to revisit the things”
“And what is that?”
Ma’Sir: “I train my employees to guess people mood and revert back. All of then listen to customer from one ear, type the stuff from there hands and listen to what they have typed n other ear to validate that they have done it right or not”
“Why can’t they just look at monitor?”
Ma’sir: “ J They all are blind, and we learn to guess people’s mood and react to it, that’s where my daily advice to you guys comes from, all right back to work, its all fixed at my end so we will meet regularly.”
And then he pulls out his blind man stick and started walking across the street.
We all were stunned face looking towards him.
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