Characters in Mumbai Office

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Type 1: The Mercenary (A.K.A. The Dao Ones)

These characters are usually managers and above. They hardly acknowledge your presence in the office unless forced to.

Eg 1-You report to them so they need to get to know you or welcome you. They will introduce you to the whole team and tell them to take care of you. Once in a while when they remember your presence, they will say hi and ask how you are. But other times, you are just a blob sitting at the table.

Eg 2-They know who you are but they don't acknowledge you with even a smile or a hi. When in a team meeting, they just asks someone else to introduce you to the group. If they walk past you, you feel like you are transparent.

But when someone from the head office arrives, they will talk to them and asks if they need anything. They make sure their chairs, lap tops or office are ready for them. They will also ask how they find Mumbai, how's their husbands, etc. In short, chat with them and make them feel welcome.

Yesterday's Mumbai papers had two articles headlined "Mumbai is World's Rudest City" and " Mumbai is Richest City but Stingiest Too". How appropriate.

Type 2: The Eager to Learn (A.K.A. The Gan Cheong Spider/The Eager Beaver)

He comes early in the morning and once you in the office, he comes to you for the day's training. He notes down everything you say and asks about everything. Even if he doesn't understand, he just nods (or shakes) his head and asks you to go on. Would question you on why things are done a certain way rather than in the way it was done in his previous company.

After you go through everything there is to teach, he goes through it on his own and keeps coming back to ask questions.

When we are looking at the menu to order food, he worries we don't understand what is written and offers to explain the names to us. (Even if it's CHINESE food.)

If Nicola asks us things about Viision, he answers for us, thinking we know nothing about it. He will also butt in and tell her what he wants in Vision rather than what we need in the course of our work (which we would know better than him).

He likes to repeat things that we have confirmed to do. Worried that we will forget our appointment with him.

Type 3: The Motherly Type (A.K.A. The Auntie)

Married, with children. Likes to call home to check on them. Even when we are conducting a training session. Talks either about her chidren or her experience with her previous company. Takes breaks often and keeps asking if you want tea or coffee. Short attention span. Likes to look at what's is going on around the office even when you are talking. Doesn't take much notes but relies on you to write them for her. Must be included in every conversation. If you are talking among yourselves, she will stare at you like a hawk and butts in when given an opportunity. She's also really friendly and likes to invite you to her home for dinner.

Type 4: The Hospitable Type

No working relationship with them but they would introduce themselves to you and drop by your cubicle once in a while to find out how you're doing. Would also offer to bring you around Mumbai or offer to help if we need anything. If we meet on the way to the toilet, would smile and say hi.

Type 5: The Serious Type

Have a working relationship with them. If you have any questions that are work-related, you can ask them about it. May or may not say hi and bye to you in the morning and evenings.

Type 6: The Strangers

This is a group of people I haven't got to know yet. I only know they work here but I don't know their names or what they do in the company. May or may not smile and say hi/bye too. Hope to get to know some of them soon.