On a flight from New York to Los Angeles a couple of decades ago, the stewardess wheeled the refreshments cart down the aisle after a couple of hours in flight. A young Indian, a software engineer fresh off the boat written in his demeanor asked for a can of orange juice and grabbed it from the hand of the stewardess, and was quite bemused when the lady fixed a steely glare on him and asked “What’s the magic word?” She meant “Thanks” of course!
While young Murugan or Rao or Patil or whatever the young man’s name may have been, could be forgiven for a momentary lapse of good manners in a strange country, there is no doubt that as a nation, we don’t say “Please” and “Thank you” as often as we should. And what is more unfortunate that we probably don’t even feel grateful for those who helped us in whatever little way—word, deed or actual help—to get us to where we are today. We all owe a debt of gratitude to our parents and very often to elders in the family including siblings, teachers, friends and career advisors who have all taught us a few things about life. In my own case, I have acknowledged many times my school vice principal Algernon Fitzgerald, who drilled into me that in the little school of Bishop Westcott in the village of Namkum near Ranchi, it would not be Physics, Chemistry or Maths but the high quality of English language training that could be used to build some competencies that would carry me through in my future life. And the very tough Director of the Birla Institute of Technology, Harish Chandra Pandey who brought discipline to all our lives in our rather rowdy college days in the seventies. Through the 35 years of my career including 25 as CEO of first APTECH and then Zensar, there has not been a month where I have not acknowledged, privately and publicly, the role that good English communications and time and work discipline have played in shaping my career and the two gentlemen who instilled these qualities in me.
Through our work and career as well, there will have been coaches and mentors who influence all of us at some stage in our careers. For me, it was fortuitous that the primary role model I ever had was one who was my very first Managing Director, Kewal Nohria of Crompton Greaves. KKN, as he was known, would win us over immediately by his ability to remember our names even when we were just management trainees in a large organisation. And his ability to put people at ease and request us to share stories of success we had achieved rather than trot out excuses for failure in the early stages of our career. Recently, I had the privilege of spending an hour with KKN at the house of his son, Harvard Business School Dean, Nitin Nohria and we recalled those days and the learnings that had given me a more positive and humane attitude in my own CEO career. I have acknowledged too the influence on my work style that Vijay Thadani, Director of NIIT had, who demonstrated so amply that love for one’s colleagues is a virtue that should be a matter of pride and not embarrassment in the workplace.
There is no doubt that as a nation, we don’t say “Please” and “Thank you” as often as we should. And what is more unfortunate that we probably don’t even feel grateful for those who helped us in whatever little way
Why would anybody refuse to acknowledge people that have contributed in big or small ways to our success? A simple “thank you” takes nothing away from us and on the contrary, brings us the goodwill of those whom we thank. A recent case in point is Professor Bala, the founder and leader of the Sri Balaji Group of Educational Institutions in Pune. When we set out on one of the first initiatives of Pune City Connect, to print a book with the case studies of 28 corporations in the city who had done stellar work in Corporate Social Responsibility and made a real difference to the social fabric of the city, it was Prof. Bala who willingly came forward to sponsor the book. And was joined later by Arvind Sethi of EY who put a top team of designers to develop a truly world-class publication with us. As Pune City Connect grows and increases its contribution to “Swachh, Suvidya, Digital Literacy and Skills” in the city, we will be helped by many philanthropists, industrialists and agencies but we will continue to remember these early supporters with great fondness and gratitude.
A recent case in point is Professor Bala, the founder and leader of the Sri Balaji Group of Educational Institutions in Pune. When we set out on one of the first initiatives of Pune City Connect, to print a book with the case studies of 28 corporations in the city who had done stellar work in Corporate Social Responsibility and made a real difference to the social fabric of the city, it was Prof Bala who willingly came forward to sponsor the book
For any young readers who are in the early stages or the mid-point of their career (Savitha, are you reading this?), this is one piece of advice I would always give—to be liberal with your expressions of gratitude even as you should be quick to “forgive those who trespass against us”. Life and work are complex as it is and the best way to do hard and good work is to bear no malice towards those who slight us and acknowledge the support of those who cheer us up and help us on our way. And stay happy yourself!
By Ganesh nataraJan
