Sunday 18 August 2019

A Business Winning Hearts - Can Goodness Drive Business?




Tricolour with Pride

On the Independence Day, our National Flag is hoisted with pride across the country.  Government Institutions, individuals and even commercial organisations hoist the National Flag. While governmental institutions are mandated to hoist the Tricolour, private citizens and commercial entities do it out of pride.  Commercial entities however, do not hesitate to use the event as an exercise in ‘image building’. In fact, I feel, it is good for an organisation to draw on nationalistic pride, provided they really mean it.

When, I was approached, by Mr Satish, the manager of one such organisation, to unfurl the National Flag on the Independence Day, I readily agreed. I wanted to utilise the occasion to address the gathering about our duties as citizens and increase awareness about defence forces.

Brilliant Organising Skills

Having spent most of my life in uniform, punctuality is integral to my existence.  I had made it clear to Mr Satish. I was elated to see Mr Satish arrive exactly at the appointed time to pick me up and we reached the venue dot on time, despite the detour forced upon us by flooded roads. I was pleasantly surprised to see more than 400 people, all employees of the organisation, each one neatly dressed, standing in orderly manner. It felt like walking into an army unit ready for inspection.

The function was meticulously organised and concluded with all of us enthusiastically singing the National Anthem. The flawless manner in which the event unraveled rivalled an Army function. The command and control of the organisational hierarchy, the willing and automatic compliance to instructions already given and unity of purpose was very visibly evident. There was something more than mere employer- employee relationship that was at play. It was the sign of healthy organisational climate. I was eager to identify the cohesive force.

Beyond Footfalls

Discussions with people can become real learning experiences if one has requisite skills and patience. If carried adequately long, conversations with people reveal the real organisational dynamics at play, however hard they attempt to mask. If the employee’s trust has been won, one can get to know the real organisation, in flesh and blood beyond the glittering facade.

Subsequent to the event, I sat down to an informal cup of coffee with Mr Roju Mathew, the senior most employee of the organisation and got him to talk. He was neither the proprietor masquerading as ‘chief worker’ nor one with any shares in the business. He was just an employee – a dedicated happy employee who has been with the organisation for 22 years and has climbed the ladder from the lowest step. He seemed to be in complete control.

In the course of the discussion I told him that, I had been to his organisation many times as a customer and felt that there was tremendous scope of enhancing the footfalls and converting the existing casual footfalls into benevolent ones. I also told him about my experience in managing CSR and my personal involvement in rehabilitation of the flood victims of 2018 in Kerala.

I found myself unprepared to handle the information I was made privy to.


Heart of Gold

If what he told me was true, I was getting to know about a businessman with a heart of gold. The proprietor I was told, got about 250 houses constructed for the victims of the flood that devastated Kerala in 2018. I was told that no publicity was given to any acts of philanthropy by the individual.

With regards to the reluctance to tap the business potential inherent to casual footfalls, I was informed that peripheral activities are run not for profit, though they are not in loss. Because he was making sufficient profits in his core business activity, he continues with peripheral business activities despite inadequate ROI because a large number of families depend on it for their sustenance.  Even when he could easily maximise profits by closing down the not so attractive ones, he continues with it because it provides livelihood for a large number of people.

I think, I stumbled upon the connect that held the business model in place. 

It may be proof that even good hearts can be engines of sustainable growth.

Kudos to the big heart.


Claims & Disclaimers

1. I have never ever met the proprietor. I am not even distantly related to him.

2. I don’t have any stakes or shares in this business. 

3. I have written this article based on my personal observation and purely on the inputs gathered during the conversation with the staff. 

4. I don't expect and will not accept any remuneration for the article from this business house. 

5.The details of the philanthropic work done by the businessman have not been verified by me on ground. However, I did see photographs of the houses said to have been constructed.

27 comments:

  1. It's kind of difficult to find people such as this proprietor who quietly go about helping out the not so privileged and needy. This is selflessness in the selfish world. Very creditable. Kind of you sir to have brought it out so lucidely.

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    Replies
    1. goodness is like a seed and evil like weeds. seeds do germinate while weeds proliferate quickly. But the solace is perseverance of good always overcomes the explosion of evil. Yes there are good people. so many, mostly unheard, unseen and unsung.

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  2. Employee talking good about the organization at the back only shows the ethics of the company and dedication of staff along with the reasoning why any such activity to carry on ... awesome written sir

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    Replies
    1. Mine is an observation based on the statement of few individuals.
      I don't actually know anything about the organisation its practices and policies.yet primafacie there is a lot being done for the employees

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  3. Sir very well penned. There R plenty of good people around who have realised KARMA and made it their way of living.....Hope it inspires others.
    Regards.....Alok Gupta

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    Replies
    1. Yes sir. You are right. Last floods as I went to work on rehabilitation I saw the good, the bad and the ugly. Karma is one thing most spoken about but least thought of

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  4. It brings comfort to know that our country and our state is rich with such philanthropists. Last year and this years flood is proof enough of that. Your observation and recordings as usual.....superb

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  5. Written from the Heart.May his tribe increase....The take away is all of us need to be sensitive and giving to those around us in need

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    Replies
    1. In our countless discussion I have accepted that I see and hear only with my heart. I have paid the price many times. But I am a firm believer in doing good irrespective of what comes.

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  6. Properiters like him are very hard to see in today's world as most of them have profit as their primary priority and conduct CSR initiatives just for the sake of compliance. Its also great to know that private organizations are oraganising independence day functions in a good manner.

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    Replies
    1. CSR is one area which if cordinated well can change the face of society

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  7. First of all I am happy the firm has invited a Military personnel for the function. Let this be a beginning and an eye opener to other establishments.
    For any company, component of CSR is now an integral part of brand building. Your observation shows the firm is rendering over and above the mandated norms. Good inference on employee engagement too.

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  8. Socially responsible business, and a successful business with social responsibility is, sadly, an 'outdated'model in most parts of the world, taken over by the principle of share holder profit as a measure of success. Heartwarming to see that there are companies big and small with social responsibility at its core.
    Interesting to look at the human psychology and beliefs behind philanthropic activities of the two types of individuals- those who do not aspire any material rewards in this world and those who aspire all sorts of rewards in this world and perhaps in the next!

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  9. Yes Sir, such selfless generosity is rarely seen in today's world of greediness & popularity. The article has highlighted the dedicated humanitarian behaviour, with the genuineness that does not crave for fame and popularity. But still, such acts of kindness need to be brought into light through such articles. Thanks a lot!!- Lizy Johny

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  10. Great that you highlighted something that's uncommon in this part of the country.Good to know such selflessness still abound. We are good critics, but bad examples. Good work glows and should be seen by all. Only then people start emulating.

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  11. Felt a sense of goodness,on reading this nice article on beautiful people inhabiting this earth.I wish,you had given the details of the firm.Why is it being kept anonymous?Complimenting the reality is vital,to encourage such humanitarian deeds.Well,they have not sought fame but if I felt that his actions are a motivation to others,then it must be publicised.

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  12. The world is a kinder place thanks to such selfless individuals...

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