Lessons for corporate, learnt at school...

 I completed my schooling in (Jamshedpur) and had been an average student at scoring marks. However, was involved more, in other engagements which the school offered in addition to academics. Although most of the non-academic activities at school was only an escape route for me from studies then. It took me almost ten years after school to realize what was I taught at school and how was it helping me thereafter.

Here is a small list of learnings amongst many, that am living now:

Integrity: “The first and best victory is to conquer self”. This was a movement named “invigilator less exam”. A student volunteer would propose himself/herself for this activity and appear for term exams which would be invigilator less. The student needs to collect blank copies, strings, stationery etc on their own and submit the paper on assigned desk once done before leaving the class. In case of doubts one can move out of the class in the corridor, where that would be resolved.

This also taught me to manage temptations when at confused state or at stress and still being composed with strong sense of ethics and integrity being inculcated deep within.

Compassion: “Leading by example”. The school had accepted a village called “Simuldanga” where students were designated to visit the underdeveloped village and help villagers in planting trees, giving academic sessions, awareness on health and hygiene and much more. Similarly, evening classes were imparted for poor and underprivileged children from all nearby locations to provide them equal opportunity in education at local level using the same infrastructure of our school.

This gave me an eagles eye view and compelled me to accept truth as it is; there is always another section of society near us which does not have even basics for survival and needed an extra care and bein g compassionate does not always cost.  

Leadership: “Great Leaders Aren't Afraid to Get Their Hands Dirty”: Ninth and Eleventh class students were nominated to manage traffic near school vicinity at peak school hours (in controlled environment) which was never manned by a traffic police for this reason. Allowing vehicles to pass through one after another in small batches. This helped me understand the complex difference between critical and important.

This activity was tough as each one on the road or corporate was in a hurry to move forward and sometimes taking shortcuts was alluring, most of the time especially for the one who was in most hurried situation. Learning to manage temptations, ego, appreciating worthy and patience, prioritizing and directing energies into correct pockets.

Continuous Improvement: “Capitalizing strengths and recognizing our weaknesses”. For first ten rank holders, special classes were conducted “achievement classes” and for the average students who possessed potential to shift to the rank holders but lacked in few papers were supported by “remedial classes”.

The idea of this whole concept was to excel in areas which one was already confident of and nurture the one which required extra support.  

Brand Loyalty: “If people believe they share values with a company, they will stay loyal to the brand”. Am glad and nostalgic both seeing some of my then schoolteachers teaching at school even now, the attrition in teaching and non-teaching staff was minimal because most of them knew, they were adding value.

This taught me; If both, system and individual gets benefit, people just love it. If only people benefit but not the system – people know, it’s short lived. If only system benefits and not the people – people leave to find or create a new systems.  

Hygiene: “Decent hygiene heightens sound well-being”. I was primarily annoyed when it was my chance to clean the classroom during break. But it gave me a wider understanding when I learnt the core of the earlier quote. Later a similar concept got accepted at “Swacha Bharat Abhiyaan”, essentially having cleanliness sustained in the vicinity of our presence anywhere, anytime. It also brings positive feelings when the surrounds are clean and positive thought process emerges within few minutes.

I would like to thank @Vijayam Kartha (linkedin.com/in/vijayam-kartha-47087446) school Principal then for being there for me. This article is dedicated to YOU mam.

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all”

Disclaimer: The above write-up is solely my personal view and is not encouraged/instigated/influenced by any person/body/organization and it does not intend to market or unbrand of any esteemed organization or individual or competotors.