Two days back , I spoke to a few managers of the Project management Institute at Hyderabad through a webinar on the topic ” making of a manager – a tool kit for success ” and started with the topic with my first work day as a manager way back in 1967 at Srinagar , J&K .
After my basic technical training at the EME School [now MCEME ] at Secunderabad in the rank of a Lieutenant , I joined for duty at Srinagar on 14th June 1967 as a workshop officer with Project Beacon of the Border Roads Organisation . I met my boss Major Sharma in the officers mess in the evening over dinner and he welcomed me and told me that I can go with him in the morning to our place of work .
After about 30 minutes of briefing , Major Sharma suddenly got up and asked me to take his chair . I was totally taken aback and when I asked him for the reason , he coolly told me that I am required to take over charge from him and will officiate for next 10 days as he is proceeding on a short leave . Two Captains with him , I was told are away in Leh on a court martial duty and Major Sharma was waiting for me to join duty so that he can go on leave to attend to some urgent work at home . Off went major Sharma and I did not know even the other staff around the office . The Head clerk told me I can take his help to find my way around . Any way , I decided to take it as a challenge and started my work in the right earnest and started reading the SOP [Standard Operating Procedure] of the establishment .
After about 30 minutes , the security guard came running and told me that the Chief Engineer of the Project , a Brigadier is on a round of the garrison and he is at our gate asking for the Officer Commanding the Workshop . I went out and saluted him smartly . He looked at me and asked “Are you the Commander here? ” and I replied ” Yes Sir ” . He then asked me ” How much service do you have ? ” and I responded ” one hour , sir ” . I think he liked my confidence and wished me good luck and departed without visiting the unit .
Even now after 43 years and after 14 years after my retirement from the Army , I remember this day of my “” Taking Charge ” as a manager and I was happy to share this unique experience with the participants of the webinar.
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