Life Is Like That - Paradigm Of The Pyramid

"This Friday you need to come early from Office. The school program starts at 3:00pm" that was my son almost directing me to take half day leave.

I knew that he has been practicing for the last couple of weeks at school. He was proud of his part in the pyramid show and as if to throw in an incentive he added "Appa, I am playing an important and critical part along with twenty five other boy's specially chosen in my school".

I also knew that he was supposed to be kneeling down with the face on the mat at the first base row and yet! was secretly amused and envious of the pride he carried in this 'Role' for which he has been rigorously rehearsing to perform to perfection on the D Day!.

Not to displease him, I was there at the school early enough to occupy a vantage chair along with my wife and we lead the applause when the pyramid was finally formed and when the captain waved off the school flag from the Top of the row!.

Well in a split second the pyramid dismantled itself like a pack of cards and I had also slided myself to the back of the chair to relax before start of the next show, when an announcement on the mike literally drew me back to the edge.

The PT master had come up to the mike and was calling out for the special team of those eleven boys to the stage to receive a special round of applause for making the pyramid a grand success !

I could not believe my ears and eyes. There at the stage I saw my son at the centre of the eleven waving and waiting to meet my eyes. It was not all yet!!

The Principal came up the stage and announced Dear Parents and Children, we are today so proud of these boys who bend their back and lend their strong shoulders for the others to perform the feat. They have made all the difference for the rest to distinguish themselves higher up the pyramid. Lets all give them once again a loud round of applause".

The clap now was deafening and I couldn't but notice the wetness in my eyes as I waved repeatedly to my son and cheered him.

What a way to recognize them. It touched me deep within and while driving back home I did not miss seeing the proud face of my son sitting besides me in the front seat in his 'whites'.

'Thank you Appa' he said softly and there was no mistaking in how genuinely he meant it.

Well, how I wish we too had this system of recognizing and even parading those soldiers at work life like,

those accounts guys as and when the balance sheet is finalized.

those HR guys after the Performance Appraisal is complete and the annual increments salary fitments etc have all been done on time.

those banquet stewards soon after the grand finale of the gala dinner.

those stores clerk on completing the rigorous annual stock taking exercise.

Well, there can be a long list of honors at work.

But then the work life is different.

The public applause is invariably reserved for the Presiding officer of the function and it’s just a private 'thank you' to those thankless paper or plate pushers.

I signed how nice it will be if we too learn a few lessons from the school! Not a bad idea at all to treat our team mates as 'proud children' and parade them to the Top Management once a while.

But then.......such an initiative in the system seldom succeed to see the light (save a few great organizations) and even if there were attempts in this direction, it only evokes light hearted rebukes of 'don't be silly' types.

Well, Life is Like that..........Like it or not the show must go on both at Schools and Offices.