(Disclaimer: The names of the characters depicted in this article have been changed for protection of their privacy)
Today, after a long time, I got a surprise call from my ex. employee, Mr. Muthu.
His call made me to think about the interview discussion we had few years back.
"Rama, I met one poor guy at the Pondy Bazaar (in the heart of the Chennai city), he seemed very hardworking and sincere. I thought of helping him.. so, I gave him our office address and asked him to meet you tomorrow. If you like him, you can hire him...he may be useful in housekeeping related works."
My boss told me this news while I was leaving the office as usual at 9.30 pm ...It was not a shift work ...but I used to stay in the office after working hours to plan the next day and think about future developments. I am not workaholic but I love to work. But I never expect my subordinates to stay in the office after working hours.
My work style is Early to rise, Early to office.
I really appreciated my Boss’s helping attitude but in terms of business I thought that we should not compromise with the quality and fitness of the profile even though he is recommended by a Boss. That was the part I couldn't compromise on.
I am the firm believer of Valluva’s saying in Tamil ..Kural No: 517.
“இதனை இதனால் இவன்முடிக்கும் என்றாய்ந்து
அதனை அவன்கண் விடல்.” (517)
“Ithanai ithanal ivanmudikkum entrainthu
athanai avankan vidal”
Meaning:
“This man can accomplish this, by these means” having considered thus
Let (the king) leave the matter wholly in his servant’s hand.
The next morning that poor guy came into my office. He was wearing a black jeans and tight T-shirt of the colour which I am unable to explain...Tamil people could easily understand if I say that color is Ramarajan‘s shirt. (You don’t need to worry if you didn’t come across this brand ...yes, in fact it’s not a branded shirt like Sero , Peter England …but yes ..it is branded in Tamil film. Mr. Ramarajan is our Tamil film actor who chooses to wear some different colorful shirts. Better you search his name in Google and find his costume taste.)
That guy combed his oily curly hair differently, his foot were covered by bathroom slippers ... anyone can easily guess that he was from a rural side.
He stood in front of me with folded hands and slightly bowed head. I really hate this attitude, it makes me uncomfortable …
But we were taught by our elders to behave like this when meeting our seniors.
His attitude strengthen my ego which I really wanted to get rid of and make it disappear … ego please go go … if our “I “ goes ..ego will also fade away.
I asked him to take a seat. but he didn't .. I compelled him to sit there.
Finally he did, I guess he was not comfortable on that seat ...he was just floating on the tip of the seat.
I asked him, “How do you know my Boss?”
I raised this question not to analyze my Boss..but to really understand his reason for this meeting.
He smiled at me and told that my Boss was his customer in the shop where he works.
“Ok Muthu …can I have your Resume?"
“I don’t have anything like that with me, Sir”
Oh my God, this guy came here just to give me more troubles – I thought. I was a little worried.
Then I asked him: "Why did you come here?"
He answered: "I don’t know Sir, but I thought something good will happen to me."
“Ok ..good..what can you do…?”
"I can speak to the customers very well, Sir”. His language ascent indicated that he was from the most southern part of Tamil Nadu.
"What is your qualification?"
He looked at his feet and said: “B.A discontinued Sir…”
“Why?”
“I slapped my College Principal.”
I was surprised to hear this and I told myself that I should be careful with this guy while doing interview.
“Why ...? Didn't you feel that it was wrong?”
"Yes Sir, I made a mistake.”
“Then why did you slap him?”
"Sir , I didn’t want to..do… without examining he used a bad words against me and spoke wrongly about my family … I couldn’t control myself and slapped him in front of the huge crowd "
I could see the feeling of regret in his eyes…
“Hum ... now you are feeling sorry for your mistakes.”
“Yes sir .. now I am not short tempered anymore , I have changed myself a lot once I came here”
“Ok ...how much are you getting now?”
“Sir I get Rs.4000 /- rupees per month.”
“Is this enough for you ...how much do you spend on food?”
“Sir, food and accommodation is free for us . I used to send the entire amount to my mother to take care of my family.”
“Don’t you take some amount for your expenses..?”
“No sir, I wish to help my family, I am the elder son and the bread winner of my family. My father is a drunker and I have a younger brother and sister to take care of.”
“Oh .what is your brother doing?”
“He is studying Diploma ...I am sending money for his studies too.”
“Thats good ..”
Now my opinion for this guy has changed. I have also changed my style of questioning..
“If I offer you a job here, how much do you want?”
“I dont know Sir, you please tell me, how much can you give me?”
“Rs.5000/-”
“Ok Sir...will you provide me food and accommodation?”
“Food? Sorry boss. for that you have to take care on your own...you are getting a wonderful opportunity to work in a corporate sector ...you have to seize this opportunity to become a big man.”
“Sir, as I said earlier if you provide me at least a free accommodation I can save some money which will be helpful for my sister’s marriage.”
Being an HR Manager I should deal with people empathically and sympathetically..
I understood his commitments and feelings.
“I am not sure about your accommodation...but I will try the best.”
“What kind of job can you do for us?” I asked him.
"Sir, I didn’t know anything when I came to Chennai, my uncle’s friend put me into that departmental store ... but I keep smiling from dawn till tusk while dealing with customers. I won’t get tired even if customers come out with hundreds of questions or if they change their selection thousand times... If you teach me how to do work and contribute to the development of this company, I can learn anything.”
Yes. I have decided to offer him a post …not in Housekeeping Team but in our Project as a Govt. Liaisoning Executive.
I didn’t bother about his qualifications, I didn’t bother about his dressing and his Tamil slang…
I told him firmly: “If you are ready to put your hard work in learning, I can offer you something.”
“Yes sir, I’m ready” he also answered with anticipation.
I gave him a personnel information sheet and asked my assistant to help him fill the form and returned back to my Boss’ cabin.
“How is that guy Rama?”
“Yeah..fine ..Interesting.”
“So… he can be useful for Housekeeping right?”
“No …I thought of offering him a liasioning executive position.”
“Are you kidding Rama, how will he handle it?” – My Boss seemed very surprised.
“Yes ...I am sure...he will ...”
My Boss agreed with my decision later.
I told the guy not to tell anybody that he slapped his principal and discontinued his B.A. I told him to be keen to learn from his reporting authorities and colleagues and he will be definitely signing.
I gave him Rs.50 /- and asked him to cut his hair and suggested him to dress properly.
Then I made a smooth introduction to the Liaisoning Team and made them understand that his success is also in our team’s hand.
That Team PM was very supportive and taught him about his work very friendly.
I permitted him to stay at our guest house driver’s room.
He started learning things quickly and came out with good results.
His perseverance, his childish face and his wide childlike eyes helped him a lot to convince the Govt officers.
Telecom Industry people know well about the difficulty in EB liaisoning part . It is something something J tough. If things have to process quickly, they will expect something ...but my guy worked well without paying single money.
I asked him one day: “How is this possible for you?”
“Sir, I go every morning to that office and help them with whatever they need and I keep smiling, keep on asking for their sign on our documents. They tell me to come next day and I go the next day also with the same smile sir”
Yes, he got his career. I became confident and raised his salary as Rs.6500/- pm.
He seemed genuinely pleased with his work. He was so happy and motivated.
Whenever he came to me, I taught him about the employability skills.
He started learning successfully.
After a year, due to the recession effect, our management has decided to restructure the resource strength and his job profile became poor and insignificant now.
He was so sad ... and asked me “ Sir, suggest me….should I go back to that departmental store.. ?”
I patted his shoulder and said: “Since you are skilled in liaisoning definitely you will get a good job in some other company.”
I have suggested him some companies…I was too busy and striving hard to build the company image in those tough period.. . so he left our company. Due to hectic work schedule and due to ever toughest working period I forgot about him.
Now his call reminded me about everything..
“Sir, I am Muthu Sir, how are you, Sir? I am very much thankful to you Sir”
“You have changed me a lot, Sir.”
He talked to me continuously like that thanking me a lot.
I understood that this is our Muthu.
“Yeah Muthu , How are you ..Happy to hear from you after a long time. All credits for that goes to my Boss”
“Yes Sir.. I agree with that, but you have changed my life, educated me and helped me lot in tough times also.”
“Where do you work now Muthu, how is your family ?”
“Sir, I am really fine, I am working for XYZ Telecom company and my work location is near to my hometown ... I proved myself there and now I am getting Rs 14,000/- as a salary.”
“My life has totally changed sir.”
“I got a proposal from our family friends to marry their daughter for 75 sovereign gold.”
“Oh ..Happy to hear this all the best to you man.”
“Sir, don’t tease me. I am not going to marry now ..and I am not ready to sell myself to dowry ”
“I have to grow more, I have to grow well ”
“Now my brother is doing Engineering degree sir.. I know the pain of education Sir. So, I give first importance to my brother’s and sister’s education.”
“Now my parents and friends are listening to my words … I was zero before I came to your office..now I am Hero among them ..he he he ”
“Oh …very Good man ...Happy to hear this”
“Sir … I thought of starting a small business for my father too...maybe like a Petty shop …only after that I’ll think about my personal life and needs.”
He spoke to me breathless.
“Sir, I would like to meet you once I come to Chennai, Sir”
“Yes ...sure Muthu.”
“Sir! Please don’t change your mobile number, Sir ..if you change it please inform me..”
Yes.. I am getting many good memorable calls from my ex employees..for that same reason I never thought of changing my mobile number for the last 7 years.
Thanks to Telecom revolution and the MNP (Mobile Number Portability)..I can change the service provider without changing my number.
I felt happy about his call and I felt like …scored 5 stars rating in my career appraisal sheet.
Money matters nothing, but this type of relationships are what really matters to me and build my confidence on my career and make me love my profession.
Yes, HR can be a Mentor who can make or break his employee’s dreams. But I wish to be on positive side.
I understood one thing- most of the rich businessmen come from south Tamil Nadu and they are very successful in their business.
If this fire within this guy continues, surely I would say firmly he will be the next person to catch that success title. Let God give him strength to achieve his Dream.
Yes!!!
We can motivate people not by lighting the fire beneath them..But by building a fire within them.
Thanks.
Today, after a long time, I got a surprise call from my ex. employee, Mr. Muthu.
His call made me to think about the interview discussion we had few years back.
"Rama, I met one poor guy at the Pondy Bazaar (in the heart of the Chennai city), he seemed very hardworking and sincere. I thought of helping him.. so, I gave him our office address and asked him to meet you tomorrow. If you like him, you can hire him...he may be useful in housekeeping related works."
My boss told me this news while I was leaving the office as usual at 9.30 pm ...It was not a shift work ...but I used to stay in the office after working hours to plan the next day and think about future developments. I am not workaholic but I love to work. But I never expect my subordinates to stay in the office after working hours.
My work style is Early to rise, Early to office.
I really appreciated my Boss’s helping attitude but in terms of business I thought that we should not compromise with the quality and fitness of the profile even though he is recommended by a Boss. That was the part I couldn't compromise on.
I am the firm believer of Valluva’s saying in Tamil ..Kural No: 517.
“இதனை இதனால் இவன்முடிக்கும் என்றாய்ந்து
அதனை அவன்கண் விடல்.” (517)
“Ithanai ithanal ivanmudikkum entrainthu
athanai avankan vidal”
Meaning:
“This man can accomplish this, by these means” having considered thus
Let (the king) leave the matter wholly in his servant’s hand.
The next morning that poor guy came into my office. He was wearing a black jeans and tight T-shirt of the colour which I am unable to explain...Tamil people could easily understand if I say that color is Ramarajan‘s shirt. (You don’t need to worry if you didn’t come across this brand ...yes, in fact it’s not a branded shirt like Sero , Peter England …but yes ..it is branded in Tamil film. Mr. Ramarajan is our Tamil film actor who chooses to wear some different colorful shirts. Better you search his name in Google and find his costume taste.)
That guy combed his oily curly hair differently, his foot were covered by bathroom slippers ... anyone can easily guess that he was from a rural side.
He stood in front of me with folded hands and slightly bowed head. I really hate this attitude, it makes me uncomfortable …
But we were taught by our elders to behave like this when meeting our seniors.
His attitude strengthen my ego which I really wanted to get rid of and make it disappear … ego please go go … if our “I “ goes ..ego will also fade away.
I asked him to take a seat. but he didn't .. I compelled him to sit there.
Finally he did, I guess he was not comfortable on that seat ...he was just floating on the tip of the seat.
I asked him, “How do you know my Boss?”
I raised this question not to analyze my Boss..but to really understand his reason for this meeting.
He smiled at me and told that my Boss was his customer in the shop where he works.
“Ok Muthu …can I have your Resume?"
“I don’t have anything like that with me, Sir”
Oh my God, this guy came here just to give me more troubles – I thought. I was a little worried.
Then I asked him: "Why did you come here?"
He answered: "I don’t know Sir, but I thought something good will happen to me."
“Ok ..good..what can you do…?”
"I can speak to the customers very well, Sir”. His language ascent indicated that he was from the most southern part of Tamil Nadu.
"What is your qualification?"
He looked at his feet and said: “B.A discontinued Sir…”
“Why?”
“I slapped my College Principal.”
I was surprised to hear this and I told myself that I should be careful with this guy while doing interview.
“Why ...? Didn't you feel that it was wrong?”
"Yes Sir, I made a mistake.”
“Then why did you slap him?”
"Sir , I didn’t want to..do… without examining he used a bad words against me and spoke wrongly about my family … I couldn’t control myself and slapped him in front of the huge crowd "
I could see the feeling of regret in his eyes…
“Hum ... now you are feeling sorry for your mistakes.”
“Yes sir .. now I am not short tempered anymore , I have changed myself a lot once I came here”
“Ok ...how much are you getting now?”
“Sir I get Rs.4000 /- rupees per month.”
“Is this enough for you ...how much do you spend on food?”
“Sir, food and accommodation is free for us . I used to send the entire amount to my mother to take care of my family.”
“Don’t you take some amount for your expenses..?”
“No sir, I wish to help my family, I am the elder son and the bread winner of my family. My father is a drunker and I have a younger brother and sister to take care of.”
“Oh .what is your brother doing?”
“He is studying Diploma ...I am sending money for his studies too.”
“Thats good ..”
Now my opinion for this guy has changed. I have also changed my style of questioning..
“If I offer you a job here, how much do you want?”
“I dont know Sir, you please tell me, how much can you give me?”
“Rs.5000/-”
“Ok Sir...will you provide me food and accommodation?”
“Food? Sorry boss. for that you have to take care on your own...you are getting a wonderful opportunity to work in a corporate sector ...you have to seize this opportunity to become a big man.”
“Sir, as I said earlier if you provide me at least a free accommodation I can save some money which will be helpful for my sister’s marriage.”
Being an HR Manager I should deal with people empathically and sympathetically..
I understood his commitments and feelings.
“I am not sure about your accommodation...but I will try the best.”
“What kind of job can you do for us?” I asked him.
"Sir, I didn’t know anything when I came to Chennai, my uncle’s friend put me into that departmental store ... but I keep smiling from dawn till tusk while dealing with customers. I won’t get tired even if customers come out with hundreds of questions or if they change their selection thousand times... If you teach me how to do work and contribute to the development of this company, I can learn anything.”
Yes. I have decided to offer him a post …not in Housekeeping Team but in our Project as a Govt. Liaisoning Executive.
I didn’t bother about his qualifications, I didn’t bother about his dressing and his Tamil slang…
I told him firmly: “If you are ready to put your hard work in learning, I can offer you something.”
“Yes sir, I’m ready” he also answered with anticipation.
I gave him a personnel information sheet and asked my assistant to help him fill the form and returned back to my Boss’ cabin.
“How is that guy Rama?”
“Yeah..fine ..Interesting.”
“So… he can be useful for Housekeeping right?”
“No …I thought of offering him a liasioning executive position.”
“Are you kidding Rama, how will he handle it?” – My Boss seemed very surprised.
“Yes ...I am sure...he will ...”
My Boss agreed with my decision later.
I told the guy not to tell anybody that he slapped his principal and discontinued his B.A. I told him to be keen to learn from his reporting authorities and colleagues and he will be definitely signing.
I gave him Rs.50 /- and asked him to cut his hair and suggested him to dress properly.
Then I made a smooth introduction to the Liaisoning Team and made them understand that his success is also in our team’s hand.
That Team PM was very supportive and taught him about his work very friendly.
I permitted him to stay at our guest house driver’s room.
He started learning things quickly and came out with good results.
His perseverance, his childish face and his wide childlike eyes helped him a lot to convince the Govt officers.
Telecom Industry people know well about the difficulty in EB liaisoning part . It is something something J tough. If things have to process quickly, they will expect something ...but my guy worked well without paying single money.
I asked him one day: “How is this possible for you?”
“Sir, I go every morning to that office and help them with whatever they need and I keep smiling, keep on asking for their sign on our documents. They tell me to come next day and I go the next day also with the same smile sir”
Yes, he got his career. I became confident and raised his salary as Rs.6500/- pm.
He seemed genuinely pleased with his work. He was so happy and motivated.
Whenever he came to me, I taught him about the employability skills.
He started learning successfully.
After a year, due to the recession effect, our management has decided to restructure the resource strength and his job profile became poor and insignificant now.
He was so sad ... and asked me “ Sir, suggest me….should I go back to that departmental store.. ?”
I patted his shoulder and said: “Since you are skilled in liaisoning definitely you will get a good job in some other company.”
I have suggested him some companies…I was too busy and striving hard to build the company image in those tough period.. . so he left our company. Due to hectic work schedule and due to ever toughest working period I forgot about him.
Now his call reminded me about everything..
“Sir, I am Muthu Sir, how are you, Sir? I am very much thankful to you Sir”
“You have changed me a lot, Sir.”
He talked to me continuously like that thanking me a lot.
I understood that this is our Muthu.
“Yeah Muthu , How are you ..Happy to hear from you after a long time. All credits for that goes to my Boss”
“Yes Sir.. I agree with that, but you have changed my life, educated me and helped me lot in tough times also.”
“Where do you work now Muthu, how is your family ?”
“Sir, I am really fine, I am working for XYZ Telecom company and my work location is near to my hometown ... I proved myself there and now I am getting Rs 14,000/- as a salary.”
“My life has totally changed sir.”
“I got a proposal from our family friends to marry their daughter for 75 sovereign gold.”
“Oh ..Happy to hear this all the best to you man.”
“Sir, don’t tease me. I am not going to marry now ..and I am not ready to sell myself to dowry ”
“I have to grow more, I have to grow well ”
“Now my brother is doing Engineering degree sir.. I know the pain of education Sir. So, I give first importance to my brother’s and sister’s education.”
“Now my parents and friends are listening to my words … I was zero before I came to your office..now I am Hero among them ..he he he ”
“Oh …very Good man ...Happy to hear this”
“Sir … I thought of starting a small business for my father too...maybe like a Petty shop …only after that I’ll think about my personal life and needs.”
He spoke to me breathless.
“Sir, I would like to meet you once I come to Chennai, Sir”
“Yes ...sure Muthu.”
“Sir! Please don’t change your mobile number, Sir ..if you change it please inform me..”
Yes.. I am getting many good memorable calls from my ex employees..for that same reason I never thought of changing my mobile number for the last 7 years.
Thanks to Telecom revolution and the MNP (Mobile Number Portability)..I can change the service provider without changing my number.
I felt happy about his call and I felt like …scored 5 stars rating in my career appraisal sheet.
Money matters nothing, but this type of relationships are what really matters to me and build my confidence on my career and make me love my profession.
Yes, HR can be a Mentor who can make or break his employee’s dreams. But I wish to be on positive side.
I understood one thing- most of the rich businessmen come from south Tamil Nadu and they are very successful in their business.
If this fire within this guy continues, surely I would say firmly he will be the next person to catch that success title. Let God give him strength to achieve his Dream.
Yes!!!
We can motivate people not by lighting the fire beneath them..But by building a fire within them.
Thanks.
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