Lesson in discipline

After long hours of working on Friday, my wife and I set out for a leisurely drive along with the kids. During the drive, we came near my office. I work for an IT company in Pune and I head HR for this company. We have one of the best campuses in the Industry. It is always a pride to show the campus to the family. Kids just love it. It was close to 9.00 pm in the night as I reached the gate. I told my family that we will just take a round of the campus in our vehicle but not get down as it was quite late.

As I drove past the gate, I was stopped by the security personnel deployed at the gate. As I rolled down the glass, he politely asked me for my I-Card. I realized the faux pa – I realized that though most of the security men recognized me, I have never entered the campus without my i-card. I will be hypocrite if I deny that I was put off by the security person stopping me at the gate!! As a member of Senior Management team I expected to breeze past the gate…. The man politely told me that I cannot go in without the I-card. Just as I was contemplating to call our Admin Head, my conscience spoke from the back-seat, as if reading my mind “Yogesh, just turn back”. I intuitively trust my wife in such situations and turned back. For me it was a big fiasco in front of my family – especially my teenage daughter – as I never miss even half-a-chance to impress her!!

When we came out, my daughter asked me, “How could he do that to you? What will you do it him now?” I quickly realized the wisdom of my wife’s suggestion to turn back. I could clearly see that my daughter felt that I was insulted! “I will give him a reward when I go to office on Monday” ….. “A reward?? And why is that???” …. “It is simple – he just reminded me of the basic discipline that I shouldn’t have missed in the first place. He just did his job and he was so polite.” ….. she was quiet during rest of journey.

My disappointment quickly turned into satisfaction as I saw a beautiful opportunity. We always keep debating about some of the school rules , which do not make sense according to her (and must say I agree a few times!). Some rules are made to run scalable establishments and can’t really be debated every day. Of course there are ways and forums to register your views and bring in changes. Our views do not give us rights to break the rules. Neither does your position in the establishment give you any rights to break the rules.

I think what I attempted doing (driving past the gate without an I-card at 9 o’clock in the night) was sheer arrogance. Though my ego was hurt initially when I was made to go back, it was a great lesson in discipline for my daughter. God bless that fellow on the duty to help me with a lesson in discipline for my daughter and of course me also!!

The reward I wanted to pay him was just the consulting fee for a great lesson!!!!!