STRESS, SUCCESS AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN
The Highs and Lows of A Woman’s Journey in the Corporate World
CARE: This is Chapter 70 of my book Stress, Success and Everything In-Between. These are individual anecdotes but to understand the professional journey in totality, I would recommend reading the book from Chapter 01 onwards, link given below:
https://ranjanabharij.blogspot.com/2023/06/stress-success-and-everything-in.html
The Dehra Dun branch, a sprawling entity with four distinct business divisions, was identified to become the first fully computerised branch of Delhi Circle, a daunting task, to say the least. I was promptly assigned two weeks of institutional training to familiarise myself with the intricate processes involved in the task. With the arrival of Head Office officials and the formation of dedicated teams, the pre-computerisation phase commenced with palpable excitement.
The day of reckoning approached with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. The stakes were high; a successful data transfer without disrupting our daily operations was paramount.
The evening before embarking on this monumental task, I addressed the staff. "This is a historic moment," I emphasised. "Our Head Office has placed trust in us by choosing this branch for full computerisation. Let us show them we can." I concluded my speech with a resounding call to action, invoking the iconic slogan, "Hum honge kamyaab" (We will be successful!). In response, the staff members stood up with alacrity and chanted in a chorus, "Hum honge kamyaab!!!" The banking hall resounded with the slogan, giving me goose pimples.
On that winter night, as the clock ticked, the temperature dipped low. But the staff was ready. They were well-armed with woollen caps, mufflers and shawls. Their determination was unwavering. Endless cups of tea kept them warm. They knew that they could not rest until the task was complete. I made rounds of the branch every half hour, checking their progress. The response to my inquiries about their progress was always the same, a resolute "Hum honge kamyaab." This had become a battle cry.
Around one o'clock in the morning, my phone rang. A distressed woman's voice filled my ears. "Where is my husband? It is past midnight," she demanded. I explained the situation, sharing with her that we were all working tirelessly to complete a critical task. She was not convinced. Her words were harsh, her tone accusatory. "Should I send his bedding and cot to the bank? Let him sleep in your room," she spat before slamming the phone.
I was taken aback. Never before had anyone spoken to me so rudely. But I tried to understand the wife's concern. Her husband was spending the night at work, a decision that had clearly upset her.
As I recovered from the shock, I decided to check on the progress of the task assigned to her husband. When I approached him, he declared enthusiastically, "Not yet completed, but don't worry, Madam. Hum honge kamyaab." I urged him to call his wife and reassure her, but he waved it off. It was clear she had already given him a piece of her mind.
Thanks to the dedication and cooperation of my exceptional team in the Dehra Dun branch, we achieved our goal. The branch became the first in the Delhi circle to be fully computerised without a hiccup.
As I reflect upon that night, my heart is filled with immense pride even today for my sincere and committed team at the Dehra Dun branch, who made this daunting task a child's play.
(To be continued...)
9 comments:
There's no greater joy than achieving success as a team, even if it requires putting family matters and wife's criticism aside. (I won't mention husband, dad behaving harshly)
Rukkie Oberoi
You have described the event in such a graphic detail that the memory of that day and night were rekindled and I literally relived the entire episode once again while going through it.
It is a tribute to your unquestioned leadership that the daunting task was completed by all of us, seamlessly and immaculately.
Amarjeet Singh Madan
Amarjeet Singh Madan A staff colleague of that time speaking up !
A narrative without any exaggeration but one of immense satisfaction and justifiable pride.
Prannath Pankaj
Oh.. what were the days! I was at the Staff Training Centre, New Delhi during those days as a faculty. Lots of memories - visits to Hyderabad to get equipped and then imparting training to our staff...
Niranjan Bhatnagar
Very satisfying Iam sure the experience of achieving a goal or task whether set by the organisation or ourselves. Transformation of any organisation , particularly adaptation to a new technology , requires willing acceptance and enthusiasm from the staff at the grassroots level. Leading change whether at a branch or on a wider level requires leadership at all levels. A dialogue with messengers , guards , clerical staff and officers , to make it workable . You have done that , it appears very well.
Manju Iyengar
Bravo Ranjana ji! Great job done under your great leadership.
I am reminded of computerisation of Chandigarh Main Branch , the largest branch of Chandigarh Circle, in 1999 , where I was DGM. Operating SB accounts were spread in 273 ledgers.
The task was daunting but it was strength of the entire staff at the branch and able support from C and C Department of the Circle that such a big branch was totally computerized without even a single paisa going to System Suspense Account and Pass Book Printing and Draft Issue going online simultaneously and flawlessly. I bow before branch staff which achieved a daunting task calmly.
I was so moved with your narrative that tears welled into my eyes.
As for me, I got recognition with GM promotion and my posting to Los Angeles.
Vijay Gupta
Wow.. great narrative. I could visualize the whole scene. The slogan was so timely and received so enthusiastically by the staff. The credit goes to a great and popular leader of the team. Kudos to the branch getting their objective without any obstacles!
I just remembered that when I was coming away to Canada in 1975, one of the senior officers of Kanpur LHO, came to speak to me. He said that when I would come back, I would be asked to enter a new phase in the Bank's strategy. I would be trained in computerizing requirements for the Bank. He even took me to a large room, where there was some computer equipment. I was taken aback and was a little daunted by the proposal. This was not to be. I never managed to return. My belief that I would be able to get an equivalent position in a Canadian bank was not to happen without re-training taken at their training center. But, computers were in my horoscope. By Jan 1975, I had entered a Business Admin program and computers were a compulsory and vast subject! One cannot escape destiny!
Sneh Dhingra
As these narratives unfold , Ranjana's evolution from a demure, intelligent and promising girl to the versatile and dynamic finished product one knows becomes more and more evident. It's a privilege to know her personally.
Kanwal Bir Singh Bedi
Great accomplishment.
Shamsher
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