Enjoying being a Trainer

By Shadab Hussaini

For some time now, I have been working as a management consultant. I love my job and I am enjoying being a trainer. There are many incidents and experiences, which I would like to share with my dear readers.

Imparting training is a very interesting job, but at times, it can be equally boring. In my last workshop, which was with the working people of a management school, I was overwhelmed with the outcome. There were few people who were more than double my age and were working with BSNL in the capacity of Deputy General Manager and other similar positions. When I started my workshop with an ice breaking session I was not very sure of whether I would be enjoying this particular workshop as I was under pressure after knowing the background and the profile of participants. I recalled “my resolution that I would always give my best and not think about the end result”, and started the workshop. When I asked after a break, if anybody had any query, one of the very senior members of my workshop addressed me as “sir”. I immediately asked him to address me by my name, he asked me whether I was embarrassed being called sir by an aged person. I replied to him that I am a corporate trainer and i think that everybody is equal and all these salutations should be scrapped. When he asked me why these salutations should be scrapped, I explained to him that all these words like sir, boss, sahib and huzzoor leads to inequality, which is against the corporate world and India’s culture. He sat down with a smile. I concluded my workshop after an hour and many people congratulated me. I saw that gentleman sneaking out without even acknowledging my gesture.

Today when I was checking my mail, I saw a mail from an unidentified person. On reading that mail I recalled that it was “him”. He said, “At the time you were explaining to me why I should call you by your name, I thought that you were doing it out of stupidity, but now when I analyzed it and experimented it in my office I should say that the atmosphere of my team has changed significantly”. He in his mail apologized to me.

Now I can say that I have changed one person’s idea and am enjoying being a trainer.

This is one of the experiences which I have shared with you people I will come up with many more in near future.

Shadab Hussaini