COMMENT
I read somewhere that great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events and small minds discuss people. It is the people part which happens to be a stable conversation matter and no gathering is complete without the malicious gossip and belittling of others. Ironically there is an uncanny pattern, the further one progresses the punier their brains become. It is not that something drastic happens overnight or whilst rising through the ranks, it is merely that the beast within emerges untamed and combined with the dosage of power one becomes impervious to people matters and common courtesy often. This is the ‘swelling head’ syndrome as well.
Building on from the earlier point about this meanness that emanates as progression through the power hierarchy takes place, humans have a petty streak in them. It all depends on how cultured and civilised we are to curtail the churlish behaviour. Petty mindedness can manifest anywhere and at any time. Hair splitting ability is also inherently in all of us however; once we achieve a certain status in society then we tend to get away with it often. It is a sad truth and unfortunately many have to bear its brunt for no fault of their own.
During the Colonial powers era, people belonging to the Civil Service were trained in a certain way before they assumed a high station in their office. Concrete steps were taken for the holders of this office to ensure that their wild whims were reigned in and that their emotions were not running amok upon placing themselves on the gleaming leather seat. Civil administration in any country is enormous in terms of its planning and preparation that goes behind it. The incumbent of this office goes through rigorous training, they are required to clear exams and then they are refined on people management side and behavioural aspects to cleanse them of their pettiness before they take over the throne. They are encouraged to look at the larger picture, and refrain from taking a micro view of things. They are transformed into people who are receptive to new ideas. They are challenged on their ability to think differently. Their confidence level and self-esteem is buttressed and their insecurities are purged as best as possible.
In the corporate world setting, we do have similar processes such as picking up malleable minds from universities, and inducting them as management trainees or graduate associates. These resources are exposed to rigorous trainings, some spanning over 12 months as well. During this yearly exercise every effort is made to instil a sense of genuine self-esteem as well as to weed out possibilities of pettiness. As a result of this process, some shine bright and rise through the ranks gracefully. However, some unfortunately fall off the rails as their journey progresses. Having said that it doesn’t mean that these people don’t prosper through the corporate levels but they let their true colour override their thorough training. These people roam around with a bloated head and a chip on their shoulder. They also pride in their power to make or break their minions’ fates.
Soon as they take over their new offices, they start exhibiting traits of a miniature character and smallness of thoughts. They get more concerned with the luxuries of office, the size of their room, the view from the window, the model and make of the company allocated car and all the paraphernalia that goes with it. They bask in their ability to rule people with fear. They inspire dread and wont blink before insulting people around them and then making a spectacle of it. This reminds me of a management trainee in a financial institution who eventually rose to the august position of the branch manager. As management trainees there is always an air of superiority, which professionals tend to self-ingrain in their minds and for some it becomes a permanent feature. On a particular day, this branch manager was out on a client call and in his absence; the then management trainee officer was attending to a high profiled corporate client in the branch. Due to lack of office space at that given point in time, the officer thought it best to entertain the client in the manager’s room as it was vacant. The officer took the liberty of sitting in the manager’s chair whilst he was assisting the client to fill out some forms. Soon thereafter the manager returns into the branch from his client visit. He sees his office being occupied by a minion aka- management trainee officer. Immediately upon the client’s exit from his office, he summons the poor officer and gives him a mouthful riddled with foul and uncouth language to which he didn’t hear an end of. This was the price to be paid for sitting in the big boss’s chair to see a client. There are multiple forms in which smallness of the mind can be reflected. Manager’s picking up critical documents from staff members’ desks and hiding them simply to teach staff members a lesson on their apparent ‘carelessness’ and then hound them, publicly humiliate them and pressurise them to provide those documents which are secretly now sitting in their own drawers.
During my years overseas, I used to watch Pakistani programmes to stay connected to the local political, social and cultural scenario. I was a great fan of Omar Sharif, the comedian. I found him hilarious due to the openness and often crassness of his humour which could border on vulgarity too. In a particular drama, its title evades my memory. He is seen as a ‘thailewala’ (seller on the cart), selling his wares, like hot cakes to the passerby; merely through the ‘gift of the gab’ powers, he is blessed with.
A politician passing notices him and picks him up to stand for elections to the parliament – he (Umar Sharif, the original thailewala) enthrals and mesmerises his audience through verbal powers harbouring on the non-sense, the un-important and the gibberish. He gets elected. He is also elected to the highest political office. On the first day, post assumption of office, while the cabinet secretary is briefing him on the art of state governance, he signals to a man standing close to himself and asks for a glass of water …. When he finishes partaking water, he addresses the cabinet secretary and says, this man has served me well with glasses of waters while I was on election trail – so please make him DIG of …. He mentions a large city’s name. The cabinet secretary astounded says but what about the incumbent DIG … Omer Sharif ponders and says the current DIG is far day time! Make this man DIG from 7:00 pm to 8:00 am. Hilarious! Proves the point, the office can be had, but talent to hold office will remain wanting and pettiness will prevail, showing big offices occupied by small minds.
A peek into these small minds gives us a glimpse of what kind of sadistic pleasures they get upon emotionally abusing others around them, especially those whom they have power over. They also rejoice in their indifference and blatant disregard to the feelings of others. Often this is a reflection of poor knowledge of their subject, so it is their own weakness which makes them insecure or at other times it is also their arrogance that creeps in. This is the haughtiness of knowing their subject too well and thinking they are second to none. Such men to throw their petty self and power on people, will call meetings at odd hours or even on holidays. They love being sadistic. These are usually also individuals who very devoutly love – themselves – narcissist par excellence. Humility is clearly lacking in instances like these.
Even if there is rigorous training provided and one still doesn’t liberate themselves from the pettiness of their mind then it is an inherent flaw. Only conscious actions can change it and that too if the incumbent wants to change. For many, it is an ultimate high to be able to seal the fates of others with their meanness.
The writer is a senior banker and freelance columnist
