A skill that most people tend to ignore

A couple of months back, there was a recruitment drive in my company and I was on the interview panel, along with some 20 others.

I must have interviewed at least 10 to 12 candidates that day and I think I selected some 6 or 7 for further discussions with HR.

Just last week, I saw one of the guys I'd selected, in the same floor where I am seated. I didn't recognize him at first, though I felt that his face was quite familiar. He too looked keenly at me and his body language displayed some amount of discomfiture. I somehow recollected that I had interviewed him and so checked with him about it. He confirmed my statement, I wished him luck and went my way.

This morning, a lady (calling her a lady since she's married) walked into my cubicle and again, it was familiar face. I remembered that she too was one of the candidates I had interviewed. She said she joined last week and after seeing me on the floor, wanted to inform me about joining here. The best part, was that she said she even saw me at the Ampa SkyWalk mall (must have been on the day I watched Paiyya).

When someone you select in an interview joins the company, it does give you a great sense of satisfaction. But, between these two folks, I am obviously happier with what this lady did. She remembered who interviewed her, remembered their name and more importantly, when she saw that guy on the same floor, had the decency to walk up to that person's cubicle and inform that she had joined the company.

The other guy, either didn't remember me or didn't know if he had to meet me after joining or felt that wherever he was it was because he deserved it or somehow felt that there was no need for any such kind of socialising in an office. These are not things that one is taught anywhere and at some level, these are the small things that probably differentiate, or rather elevate, professionals who would otherwise be equals in technology, process, reasoning skills etc. I hope he learns that tip and uses it effectively in his career here.

My strength is my weakness

Its the appraisal season at work again. Unlike the previous cycles, this time I don't have to appraise many people. In fact, I have to appraise only one person. But, I am playing the role of a moderator or reviewer for the appraisal discussions of many others.

And I had my appraisal discussion earlier this week. I expected a particular line of thought to be guiding the evaluation and I was proven right. But I must highlight a couple of salient oxymorons that came up during the discussion:

1.a. I don't communicate the proper things
1.b. But the way I communicate is good

2.a. I didn't give early warning signals or alarm bells
2.b. But I seem to give more bad news than good news

Essentially, the evaluation has identified a skill that is my strength, but unfortunately, I am also bad in it!

Sense of Direction

On my return trip yesterday, I noticed something very interesting.

There was a girl sitting in the seat in front of mine. I have been seeing her for quite a few months now and since I have been away from the bus for 2 months, I had a vague memory that she'd get down at the Krishna Sweets bus stop.

Last evening, from somewhere near Raj Bhavan, this girl started to look at the road. Nothing wrong you would think. The problem was that she wasn't looking at the road from the side of her window. She was like half-getting up from the seat, doing her best to extend her neck muscles in the upward direction and generally have a look of the road from the front of the bus.

Typically, when you are in a relatively new place, I totally understand and accept if someone has to check frequently about where they are. SO, if this girl was also new to the town, all she had to do was just peep out of her window to get the current location.

But, no. She was probably used to getting a front view of the world I guess. So for the entire distance from Raj Bhavan to Krishna Sweets, she was doing this peeping thing.

On the other extreme is me. When I am used to a certain route over even a short duration, I can even identify the place where I am, with my eyes closed. Very often, while on the bus, I simply close my eyes and after a certain time, I tell myself that I am right now near one particular location. I open my eyes and voila, I am very much there with a plus or minus range of say 50 metres.

Is it a case of gender issue - many girls I know have no clue about directions. Or is simply a case of of "It takes all kinds to make this world".