95. First Day At Work

The three day training program for the newly recruited Customer Service Executives was concluded with an address by the General Manager of the company. During the course of his address, the General Manager said:

"During the last three days, you would have learnt about your duties and responsibilities. From tomorrow, you will be sitting at the branch in which you will be posted, interacting with the customers, eliciting their needs and fulfilling them to their satisfaction. As you know, your attire plays a big role in making an impression on others. From tomorrow, when you come to the office, you should be wearing a tie. If someone doesn't know how to wear a tie, I can teach them right now!"

There was a big laughter from the trainees. 

The next day, five Customer Service Executives posted to that branch reported for work. One of them, Paranthaman came to the office without wearing a tie. His dress was also rumpled.

"What happened?" asked the Branch Manager.

"Sir, when I was coming to the office by my scooter, there was a small accident. I fell down from the scooter. The tie was brushed against the ground and got soiled. My pant and shirt also became dirty. I got my dress cleaned with water. That's why my dress looks rumpled. I couldn't wear the tie because it became soiled. My house is quite far from here. It will take a long time for me to go home and get changed. If you permit me to be without the tie just for today..." said Paranthaman.

"Okay. Go and attend to the work. The General Manager may visit our office in the afternoon. I don't know what he is going to say!" said the Branch Manager.

When the General Manager visited the office in the late afternoon, he observed that the five new Customer Service Executives were sitting in the counters and attending to the customers.

After entering the Branch Manager's cabin and taking his seat, the General Manager asked the Branch Manager, "How are the new recruits doing?"

"They are doing well, sir" said the Branch Manager, weighing in his mind whether he should tell the General Manager about one executive coming to the office without wearing a tie.

"Why is the queue in front of one counter longer?"

"I don't know, sir. It has been like this since the late forenoon. I went to the people standing in that line and suggested to them that they could join one of the other queues which were shorter. But they said, 'it is okay' and continued to stand there. A few people standing in the other lines also keep joining that queue."

"Who is the executive attending to that counter?"

"Paranthaman. He..." said the Branch Manager.

Before the Branch Manage could complete his sentence, the General Manager stood up from his seat saying, "Let me go and see myself" and walked to the particular counter. He stood near the counter and observed the activity going on there. The Branch Manager followed him and stood behind him.

The executives sitting at the counter could not see the duo, since they were hidden by the queue.

After a few minutes, the General Manager returned to the Branch Manager's cabin, followed by the Branch Manager.

"Something odd, no something funny, no something interesting!" exclaimed the General Manager.

"Sir, I think you are referring to Paranthaman, the executive sitting in that counter not wearing a tie!"

"Why does he need to wear a tie?"

"Sir?"

"Did you observe that executive - what did you say his name was, yes, Paranthaman? He is talking to the customers in a polite and pleasing manner, with a smiling face, displaying patience and taking care to not hurt the customers. Seeing this from a distance, other customers are switching over to that queue. During the training, I told the executives about the importance of the attire. But his politeness and pleasant manner of speaking have given Paranthaman a personality that a tie or suit can't give" said the General Manager, his smile showing how highly pleased he was.

Thirukkural

Section 1
The Path of Virtue

Chapter 10
Speaking Pleasantly

Verse 95 (In Tamil)

paNivudaiyan insolan Adhal oruvaRku
aNiyalla maRRup piRa

Meaning:

Being polite and talking pleasantly are the ornaments one should wear. The other ornaments won't count.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'vElaiyil mudhal nAL' by the same author)

Verse 96
Verse 94