A unique manager and a unique set of farewell gifts:

On 8th and 9th January this year, I got to do an interesting session on Great People Manager by the Great Manager Institute at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Mayur Vihar Phase 1 Delhi for senior managers of Havells.

It was bitterly bone chilling, cold and foggy through the two days and even the tall coil heaters inside the training room were struggling to keep us all warm.

But there is an incident from the session that warms my heart each time I remember it.

At the end of the session on 9th, one of the managers Vikas Singh Tiwari sought my permission to share something. While quite a few of the participants were in a hurry to catch their flights, I encouraged Vikas to go ahead. And I am glad that I did so.

He introduced himself as a poet as well and showed a small book of his poems in Hindi which is titled “How can I accept defeat…”

He told me that earlier that month, he had been transferred to the head office in NOIDA after he helped set up a plant in Rajasthan where he was posted for two years.

At the end of his stint in Rajasthan, he gifted his team members the English version of his poem – “I won’t let you slip” printed on coffee mugs.

He had originally written this poem on 9th January 2023 and that time neither he nor I could have imagined that he would gift me a signed copy of his poems exactly a year later!!

I reproduce the poem below:

“I won’t let you slip”

Don’t afraid don’t fear

Accept challenges, I m here

Don’t stress always cheer

Push the boundaries, I m here

You are good let’s become better

Not be follower become trend setter

I want to see you lead

Do your best & let work speak

Be brave & be bold

Whenever you crumble I will hold

Be honest be faire

What others say don’t care

I may be far I may be near

You are always my dear

Believe yourself, your fate will flip

Don’t worry I won’t let you slip.

Guess what his team members did on his farewell at the end of December 2023?

They got a special cake made with the cover page of his poems printed on the cake. And that’s what you see as the accompanying photo along with this article.

I believe that outstanding performance of a team is often a return gift for the manager.

Since then; along with a special set of values appreciation cards created by another favourite manager of mine from Coimbatore, I have carried Vikas's book of poems with me into my sessions to inspire other managers.

Here’s to more of such great people managers.