My first job

In the course of my job, over the years, I have had the opportunity to interact with countless hard-working individuals, some inevitable dodgers, innumerable managers and a few exceptional leaders. These have not all been in the education field. I will not take names, so a resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental. This is about my first job. Let me start at the very beginning. I started working at a very early age – and studying full time simultaneously - needed to. Before I ventured into teaching, I was kind of in a quandary as to what I should do. I did seriously consider becoming a priest but I have already told that story ! There was a large, very reputed company in Allahabad that manufactured Torches and batteries so I joined as an Administrative Assistant – was probably the youngest in a company of around 3000 employees. I will admit that it did help, that my mother was a friend of the Personal Assistant( a lovely lady ) to the owner, who put in a kind word for me and after a brief interview I was appointed as a Junior Assistant in the Administration department. My first interview was a breeze and went something like this. Miss C. – Come in – sit down – So Michael , how is your dear mother- please give her my regards and tell her I have not heard from her for ages? Me – Thank you aunty - she is well. I will tell her Miss C- If you get this job you will not call me aunty! Me – Ok sorry aunty! Miss C- Are you a hard-working boy? Me – Yes, I am (Smiling) Miss C – Do you know how to use a typewriter? (Remember no computers back then ) Me – Yes (I was learning and my speed was 35wpm) Miss C – Do you have a bicycle to ride to work? Me – Yes Miss C – Ok I think you are suitable – come to the office tomorrow. And so, I joined on the princely sum of four hundred and seventy-five rupees a month. If you were never late and never took leave, you got an additional fifteen rupees as a regularity bonus! I was trained in all departments of the company – Purchase, Finance, General Administration, Sales, Marketing, Procurement, and the like. It was a terrific learning experience which has stood me in good stead. Within six months I had probably proved that I had it in me to work hard and smart & I was promoted to the position of Assistant and attached directly to the Additional General Manager. While I was thrilled, others told me in no uncertain terms that it would be like working for the devil. He was a known hard task master; he arrived early and left the office after all the others. He made people work on weekends. I also gathered that two others, in this very post, had left within a year, apparently unable to bear the workload and his volatile temper which incidentally he was known to lose at the drop of a hat. Mr N was a tall, big made man with a booming voice, who made doubly sure that his presence was felt. His arrival in office every morning was met with a scurry of anxious activity - people vanishing from the corridors, silence when he passed by, peons running to fetch his files and other paraphernalia, his typist rushing to greet him etc . He sure knew how to announce his arrival. He was a retired Income tax professional and had been very high up in the hierarchy of the Tax department. I was quite chuffed that I had been given an office which I shared with the typist attached to him – we also had a peon which was a luxury in those days. I was also given a phone on my table – I was over the moon, especially when I saw so many others in large common offices with just a table and chair to their name. I will admit that it caused a certain amount of heartburn among colleagues, but I was young and raring to go so I scoffed at the snide remarks. Oh yes – I even had my name on the wall outside the office ! My job was to render Administrative support – so I arranged transport, got bills paid, visited the Municipality and Electricity departments in the city, booked train tickets, kept a tab on his bank statements etc . He also had shares in a large no of companies, so I had to follow up to see that the share certificates had been received and deposited in the bank and credited. It also called for a large amount of correspondence with these companies, so I learnt to type short letters as well. I was also quite happy that I was permitted to dictate letters to the typist – a pretty young lady who was around my age (that is another story) . I cycled all over to get the various jobs done and quite enjoyed the freedom – I would often go home for lunch too and that was a bonus. When I visited some offices for the first time, I would be permitted to give out a few torches and that helped me get the job done. So back to the boss and my first real tough experience of the workplace. It happened one afternoon. Mr N worked on a large number of legal matters for the company and probably a case had not gone as planned so he returned from the court at around two and everyone who saw him strut in said he was furious like never before . His driver confirmed the ominous news. I had, over the first few weeks seen him lose his temper but it was nothing that I could not handle – I often wondered what all the fuss was about. That afternoon I was about to learn the truth. Soon I was summoned over the two-way intercom to his office. I usually entered from a side door and when I did, I sensed imminent danger. There was a large no of files open on the massive table – a half drunk cup of coffee and a few biscuits lay unattended , his tie lose around his neck, his white hair dishevelled and he was scowling and muttering to himself . I stood in silence at the side of the very large table and waited for instructions. While I did , he talked on the phone and yelled at someone on the other end of the line – he banged the phone down after the call and almost smashed the instrument , he rang the bell in frustration and had two peons running in , in panic. He barked instruction to them, and they scurried off – all the while I was waiting! A few more tense minutes elapsed and then he looked up and shouted at me, asking me what I was doing there and why I was staring ! When I informed him that he had sent for me he looked incredulous and angry at the same time. He had obviously forgotten what he had summoned me for, so rather than admit the same, he picked up a few files and flung them in my direction while muttering words like “useless, fed up , disgusting” under his breath . The files and all their papers flew in my direction and landed near my feet. Something within me told me not to pick them up so I stepped out, called the peon, and requested him to come in and do the needful. As Mr N was on the phone again- I left and went back to my office. Do not get me wrong- I was literally shaking in fear but somehow, I didn’t show it. Thereafter, silence prevailed in the department and everyone tip toed around on eggshells. Soon it was five in the evening and people packed up and left, save the peon, the driver and me. Usually I would go and inform him that I was leaving but that day I was terrified to even do that, so the old peon and I sat wondering what to do next. An hour passed and it was then around six pm. Then I heard the buzz of the intercom – no voice, just the incessant buzzing – it meant “come to the office” Taking my notebook, I rushed there. Entering timidly, I was shocked to see Mr N beaming. He beckoned to a chair and asked me to sit down. He then asked me about the work I had done that day concerning his shares . I have always been very methodical, so I showed him all the work and gave him the list for the day. He was a smart man and he knew that everyone was dead scared of him. He suddenly burst out laughing – it was a booming laughter which could be heard down the corridor. He asked me, in a rather serious tone, as to why I had not picked up the files he had thrown. Seriously I was stumped for words. He then said something that surprised me, and I can almost quote him verbatim “You are the first person who has not picked up the files I have thrown and you did not shed a tear- smart boy” He guffawed & I was shocked and rather taken aback, not knowing if that was the end of my job in the company. He then seemed calm – he apologised and said he was just very upset as the company had lost a big case that day. He also added that I should never be afraid of him again. He went on to talk about Leadership and that evening I learnt some very valuable lessons that I have never forgotten. He admitted that losing his temper was very wrong- a weak facet of his personality & how, despite his age, he was working on it.( He was 75 years old ) He seemed to be a soft and gentle giant within. Suddenly, my entire perception of Mr N changed - I saw in him a good, hard working, highly intelligent man. He loved the company and it was his life. He took no holidays, worked on weekends and till late every night. He accomplished a lot, was an asset to the company and saved lakhs of rupees for the owner. I then thought back at how, very often, I had seen the Managing Director and the owner going to his office to speak to him rather than summoning him to theirs. It said a lot about his standing in the company.Yes, he had a volatile temper but there is one thing I remember – he never held a grudge. I worked for a year and a half in this company and his tantrums lessened. I still carry good memories. I learned to work with people twice my age & with all castes, creeds, and religions, very peacefully. I learned to stand up for myself and get a point across through dialogue and discussion. Being so young had its advantages but there were those who did try bullying tactics – and I learned after a few hard knocks, that if you stand up to a bully, he or she usually backs off. I learned to be diplomatic and to hold my peace when necessary. I learned the art of correspondence. Above all, I think the biggest take away was that the job did wonders for my confidence and really set me up for life – have never looked back.