The silent boss
I invited him((He was my regional boss at that time) for breakfast to my house when he came to Coimbatore for attending a marriage,
We sat together for a simple breakfast of idly and sambar followed by his favourite coffee. We talked about some office issues and our conversation was suddenly interrupted by a phone call from his boss. He was disturbed by the call and I understood something serious might have been conveyed. He did not utter a single word to me but told me to finish the breakfast.
After the breakfast we came out for a walk. While we were walking he said ‘Varghese, be ready to go to Trivandrum office. Your transfer order is under process.’ I could see his difficulty in telling me the news. It was totally unexpected and I could not believe it for sometime. It was really a shock to me. He said they have taken a decision to transfer you to Trivandrum and simultaneously to shift the Trivandrum head to some other place. The immediate shifting decision was for a specific purpose. Office wanted to shift the Trivandrum office to kochi as per the decisions taken, but it did not happen for more than a year.
I was not aware of the hurdles ahead and I unwillingly prepared myself for the special mission. This article I am not covering any of those hurdles I encountered but only the development of relationship with the same person. I had really enjoyed lot of freedom with him prior to this even to pour my emotions. This may be the reason of my answer to a question in the interview ‘what do you want Promotion or freedom of work ?.’ My immediate answer was that ‘ I already have enough freedom of work and I want my promotion’. Everyone including the chairman in the interview committee laughed spontaneously. But that was the fact.
With this freedom, I also used to pour my emotions at him like a friend. But I noticed he kept his cool always irrespective of your emotional bursts. He would call me later by name in a very melodious tune and offer some solutions to my problems. With that call all my tensions used to melt away. In fact my transfer was a new beginning of a great bonding with him. His qualities of great enthusiasm to learn always, sincerity to work, unquestionable commitment and support were really amazing. 24/7 he thought only about office and development.
Looking back, he taught me some great qualities of a leader such as to be part of the solution to the problems faced by your subordinates rather than trying to fix him in his difficult times. Looking at a lost sheep to rescue him rather than blaming or establishing that the his problem is the result of his own decision. A true leader is a person who is really accessible and with his subordinates and listens to him. My belief in these principles were reinforced when I experienced that in my own life.
Two years after his retirement, I decided to meet him at his house ad we enjoyed that brief meeting. I thank God for giving an opportunity to know such a wonderful person.