The Fatal ‘Head’ache – IV

A Note For My Readers

The Fatal ‘Head’ache series over the past one month has delighted many, offended a few but has entertained all, if your reactions are of any indication. My inbox is flooded with requests to extend the series and I am seriously contemplating writing a few more.

For those who were offended, here’s an observation. A couple of weeks back, I went to watch My Name Is Khan in a multiplex, which was under a security blanket inside a sprawling mall at that time due to Shiv Sena threats. As I tried to enter the mall premises, a security person blocked my entrance and started prodding between my legs. Believe me, it wasn’t his affection – it was his duty. But he was indeed prodding between my legs.

Perspectives may differ, but facts don’t!

Happy reading!

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The ‘suffocating’ episode was an eye-opener in many ways, though it hardly gave me any idea about the events waiting to unfold. Gradually, I started realizing that an invisible pair of eyes was always following me, even on weekends. Don’t take me wrong. Like all men, I too enjoy the attention of women. I don’t swing the other way, either!

But, this unwanted ‘attention’ left me gasping for breath. Switching off the mobile phone after leaving office didn’t work. Rather, it increased the risk of inviting more trouble – “feedback” sessions akin to indoctrination of rogue communist regimes. Initially, I used to take those sessions quite seriously, but later just looked for excuses to skip. I succeeded on some occasions but failed more often.

Topics under discussion varied, but they had one thing in common – they were not distantly related to any professional parameters. From “you appear to be a big flirt” to “you are the leader of the rebels”, every comment was carefully packaged under “some people said” to create an environment of distrust. And then it wasn’t quite difficult for Nishigandha to extract information about another. The information was then passed on to the team member concerned, who would then gladly tell her about the former.

And this vicious chain was stretched until Nishigandha felt satisfied with the information she had at her disposal at that time. Soon there were teams within the team, giving the predator the opportunity to get into the skin of the savior. Time for long, unwinding discourses on team building and unity, guys!

The team was indeed brilliant but diverse – with idiosyncratic strengths and idiosyncratic weaknesses, who needed the right direction to emerge as full-fledged professionals. She taught them nothing, because she had very little knowledge. And needless to say that there is a vast difference between acquiring a degree and acquiring knowledge.

It was quite surprising though to find out that the ‘head’ of a business/financial editing division had so little knowledge on financial markets. To date, I fail to understand — how can you edit a report and guarantee its quality without understanding it? Even proof readers at business newspapers/magazines had more knowledge than what she had.

But, that’s a different story. In fact, I strongly believe that it isn’t a crime to be a mediocre, there are plenty around. But it’s definitely a crime, if you intend to keep your subordinates mediocre for the fear of losing your stranglehold on them. Initially, I could not understand her designs and often played into her hands. I had decided to maintain a low profile and mind my own business after joining this time. I hardly interacted with my team members, partly because I take time to open up and partly because of Nishigandha’s divide and rule policy. The offsite did help a lot but wasn’t enough to melt the ice.

Unfortunately, some people just fail to understand that they might cross paths with people who had been the headmaster of that school of corporate politics where they had just completed their internship. I decided to come out of my reclusive self. I began reaching out to my team members. The thick wall that separated us began to crumble and information started flowing in – and remember these were not manipulated information dished out in an atmosphere of fear but truth in its ugliest form — straight from the heart.

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