How my boss made me an independent thinking person!

Way back in August 1974 I joined IBM's manufacturing facility in Andheri, a suburb of Mumbai. On the first day I was introduced to the senior colleagues in the department and important people in the other departments with whom I would be required to interact. I was a young electronic engineer excited to be found in that location, a dream come true. 

 

Initially, my boss gave me detailed briefing- what the department of test equipment engineering is supposed to do; how important it was and how thank less our position was. We were expected to serve as planned and when called in and that was our role, to solve the issue presented. He added, of course I will guide you in everything and you can ask me anything at any point of time. With such an assurance I was 'cool' as we say now. 

 

I started the work, later that afternoon I was sent to store to fetch something. As I entered there, one senior person came around and said, you seem to be a new fellow, let me show you around. He spent some good 15 minutes almost teaching me the different aspects of the store. Then he took me to the adjoining hall which was IBM's punched cards manufacturing plant.  He said, though it isn't part of the store, but since you are new I wish to show you this punched card manufacturing for which our company is respected worldwide. 

 

The third day I attended 'Quality Circle' meeting for our floor. Frankly, I didn't follow a thing of whatever was going on there. There was no mention of 'Quality' and this was some 'Quality Circle' meet. I could fathom the proceedings many years later when I attended a one day workshop on Quality Circles at IMA, at the start of my consulting years. 

 

Fourth day there was a small celebration as the 'printer' designed by the engineering had passed the tests to be qualified for manufacturing. One American who had come to oversee that work gave a speech where he stressed upon company's golden rule-  'Do Right First Time'. 

 

By now, I felt settled in the job and was happy for taking a risky decision as the company did not promise a permanent job. Soon the first week got over and I became busy in the work assigned to me. 

 

In the second week, I got stuck. I wasn't able to follow something and did not know whom to ask and suddenly I saw my boss walking into room. I told him about my problem, but he appeared to be not listening and busy at what he was doing. I repeated my request to help me and reminded him that he had assured me of all possible help.

 

He gave me a blank look and said, "Oh! But that was only for your first week; this week onward, you got to use your own head." And he walked out of the room. 

 

I remained standing there, looking at him, with no hope of assistance, sat down to work; decided to use my own head thereafter. 

And suddenly then, I was another man.