On Women's day, when I took pride in being a woman, certainly, the credit should also go to my parents, moreover to my Maa who not only gave birth to me but also taught the real significance of Soft Skills.
I always wanted to excel in my studies, and I did achieve my goal. But the regular achievements had nurtured my ego very badly. I don’t know exactly, when my ego-state had replaced the humble nature of mine, which my Maa always had advised carrying, in every mode of life. People could smell my arrogance.
It was only after my graduation when I took my first job as a school teacher, the ego-state got punctured. I realized people around me are more intelligent and cleverer. I am talking about two of my colleagues. They were excellent in their assigned work. They worked meticulously, day and night. Their only motto was to deliver quality education to the students. I, who had excelled till now, had faced difficulties in handling the kids. I realized, when I screamed at the students, they were quiet but their quietness proved that they had less of respect, and more of fear.
I would like to admit here, that I was running short of three basic qualities of human being:
- Patience
- Ability to Listen
- The power of understanding others
It was the Principal of the school who I thank from the bottom of my heart. She had the guts to directly point out at my loopholes which made me ponder and revise my way of behavior.
It was in 2002 when this incident had happened in my life. I went home and was disturbed. Someone had shattered my ego. I could hardly believe this fact. In the late evening, I had words with my Maa, when she inquired and asked for the reason for my bad state of mood; I told her that the Principal of the school had asked me to work on the three basic qualities, which I have stated above.
My Maa who knew my nature told me that it is very easy to practice these. The only thing that I need to start with is, to allow others to put their point of view. Instead of criticizing and condemning their viewpoint, try to analyze as such what made them, the thing in that manner. She also asked me to listen patiently when other speaks.
I thought the piece of advice given to me by my Maa is something which seems to be easy and I promised her that she will see a different me from the very next day.
Trust me, to listen and to analyze, why the other person thinks in a different manner is, in fact, the cumbersome task. I had to let others speak without putting my opinion, was something which I did not practice, since ages. I also shared the lesson taught to me by my Maa with the Principal of the school and requested her for her guidance. I plead and told her to vouch for my behavior and to correct me, the moment I commit anything off track.
I started with my students. Earlier, it was me who had always sermonized in front of my students. But now, the ball was in their court. I asked them to speak and share their point of view. The kids who were just eight or nine years old, they had numerous things to share. Though for an adult like me, it may seem to be meaningless, yet it has taught me the art of listening and that too with huge amount of patience.
It was the turn to move to the colleagues. Instead of pointing out their mistakes, I thought and wondered why do they commit any mistake or tend to forget something that could be very crucial for a teacher?
The analysis says that there are many reasons:
- Family pressure
- Remuneration
- Recognition
- Self-esteem and identity
- Lack of interest towards their job
- Let-it-go attitude
There could be few apart from the above pointed, but these reasons were certainly in the majority. I was jeopardized to witness these facts. I thought that everybody was happy with their work, but this was not the truth.
I went and talked to the Principal again and had presented my observations in front of her. I must praise at her ability to handle such critical thing. She started a session wherein she used to have a cup of tea with different teachers and asked them about their problems and its understanding. This was another lesson for me.
In the years that I spent in the school as a teacher, instead of ridiculing myself at my shortcomings, I learned and understood the significance of Soft Skills. I thank my Maa, who is my true trainer and who had gifted me with the most valuable lessons of Soft Skills, which by the passage of time, has now turned to be my profession.
You can earn a number of degrees and a list of certificates but the most valuable of all is the certificate of Soft Skills. You need to adhere and help others to imbibe.
