Moments of Bliss 8 ::: My GM's appreciation

Hi Dear

It was a proud minute for me when my GM praised my presentation in front of 50 of my team mates. This is too special and I dont want to dilute the power of the moment by cheaply deciding this to be posted in "Manager in the Making" series. Such trivial benefits on getting into limelight apart, this appreciation is quite special....perhaps any one who reads through can appreciate how grateful I am to the Divine Grace showered on me along with my GM's praise.

I have been with this company for close to 4 years now and I can't remember the first year's appraisal when I was ripped apart by the same gentleman as I am not able to "handle people" and I am not strict with my reportees. This person is very special in my heart even on those days though I was not in his good books.....because even whenI used the word "ripped" this man has nice way of putting across things...extremely soft but firm and well known for the way he bows his body in front of the security guard in front of our main gate...An extremely humble man with a extremely matured mind.....On the personal side, he did not decide to get married and should be around 45, looks extremely unassuming and uninspiring but I have admired his eyes which has an element of serenity and intensity (both together) in it.

I dont want to write too much on why he did not consider me as a good leader....its just that I got too confused about what I am supposed to do...being a "doer" in the earlier company and reverred by my earlier bosses on my integrity and ability to see through things, I took a very long time to settle down in this new set up where I am expected to just remain as an "enabler"....(or is it "I am expected to raise myself to enabling role ??). I was just exploited hapless creature getting demoralised again and again unable to strike the rhthym and went gory 18 month period. Then some miracle happened and I got entangled into a software project travelling to Europe which went on for the next 15 to 16 months...In the meanwhile the profile of this GM too changed and by co-incidence, I am reporting to him again.....

When I started getting along with my current boss, I curiously asked him if his boss did not mind taking me for this position, it appears that he had very softly told him to see if I am suitable for himself and seemingly had hinted my Manager of my poorvasramam.....!! I dont think he was too harsh or critical on me as the Europe trip and my initiatives there had to some extend convinced him...but still surely he must be having lingering doubts on my "leadership"....

My new manager is a man who takes decisions based on his intution and took me to his command without taking too much time to decide upon.....and then started my "revenge" on my company....I was recognised as one of the best during the mid year appraisal and the hero of my heart (super boss) did not mind telling that perhaps he did a mistake in assessing me earlier and infact told something resembling an apology which literally pushed me to tears....the roaler coaster continued after june too...and the expanded responsibilities at office should have got a swift green signal from this Man....I have no doubts about it...

We have a standing meeting on every thursday and one of the team member makes a general presentation...I did some interesting (but heavy topic) during last june.....and was really enjoying being an audience for more than 6 months....I told the organiser during dec first week that the first presentation of the new year will be mine....and she felt really relieved as she was running out of her waiting list...

I chose a very simple subject unlike the previous one ("story telling") and last saturday spent around 2 hours at home and mentally have been rehearsing for the past 2 or 3 days on the punch lines....Today was a hectic day as I went to the plant at chennai for the first time on my extended responsibilities and reached back to office along with my predecessor and the Manager only by 4.30....PM...the head was quite heavy due to unusual routine, had a quick meeting with my boss till 5.30 on few pending things and believe me the presentation was just made without even a minute peaceful time to get ready for it.....(the preparation of course helped)

I did one of my best presentation in my life narrating a story to get started, involving the audience, laughing aloud, making people speak up, quoting contemporary examples....without forgetting any thing that I had wanted to do....the audience was extremely still and was really enjoying the simple but very powerful presentation and was so absorbed...after I finished, I was shocked to see the GM (who normally does not come for our department level get togethers; he had couple of awards to be distributed to the team....) who seems had come within couple of minutes after I started.....He was standing in a odd direction that I never spotted him.....

He is a man of limited words and getting an appreciation from him for more than a minute was sufficient for me to lift up the left out bitter memories that I had.....My Manager, peers, subordinates none gave their customary feedback as they all sensed the GM expressed every thing that they wanted to say.....

Some times, it takes time for things to happen....!! I am just proud that it happened so quick for me particularly the complete reversal of the image in the same company and same human being.....!! Krishnaarpanam...

suchoo