Some of the direct recruit officers are really good. Others average. In most cases, direct recruit officers in the organisation appeared above average.
She was a direct recruit. Opinion may differ if she was an average officer or below average. In any case she was not above average.
She lacked initiative. Lacked enthusiasm. And she was not energetic enough.
On the whole she appeared to be just another officer without any claim of any contribution in the organisation improvement area.
But she was not one without any judgement ! Very often she made public her judgement about other persons.
One such occasion was when the news about posting of the new head of marketing department had just arrived. She said she knew this gentleman. Then came her remarks - very scathing and severely critical about the same.
She said, when he worked in a particular branch centre in charge of accounts, he made a mess of things there. Then he moved to another branch as branch head. Here again things were in bad shape. She continued and made more revelations about him.
I listened to her. There were other listeners too. Some of them appeared enjoying her comments.
She didn't know it was an irresponsible act to make such public remarks. More so, when she was herself a senior officer who was to report to this marketing head.
When the crowd around her dispersed, I followed her to the cabin. And quietly told her that it was not proper on her part to make public remarks to the audience of all those who were present there.
It is only then she realised the mistake. Maybe she must have smelt danger. Danger of somebody informing the newly posted marketing head of the remarks she made about him in public. She agreed with me. And her mood was she would be careful in future.
………
More than an year since passed by. One day I was called to the cabin of the marketing head. Now he was a bit angry. He wanted to know why claim forms in a particular case were not issued despite his instructions.
I explained. File was awaited from another office. Forms could be issued when the file is received. But he didn't appear to be happy. In a mood of anger, he said he had received some reports about me. I enquired - this time a little cautiously – who had given such a report. He had no hesitation in telling me the name of the lady officer. He also called her to his cabin.
She entered the cabin. We stood there facing each other in the cabin. Marketing head asked her to come out with what she had to say. She made a feeble attempt to say something. I listened to her with apt attention…….
……….
You can imagine my mood. I could not think even in my worst imagination that she would play the same game against me also.
I only wondered for a moment what would be the scene there had I informed the marketing head that it was the very same lady officer who had made remarks that marketing head himself was an inefficient officer, that he had made a mess of things wherever he was posted.
But I couldn't retaliate ….
Lesson: One's capacity for improper behaviour cannot be under-estimated.
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The lesson: "Watch your WORDS in a crowd !"
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