Dear All,
Something away from core HR but definitely worth reading. We could apply it in our roles by ensuring that we try and understand the problems/situations, etc., of our staff while working with them and taking decisions.
Regards,
Rajat
THE PERFUME
As she stood in front of her 5th-grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy, and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant.
It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers. At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records, and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first-grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around."
His second-grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness, and life at home must be a struggle."
His third-grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth-grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends, and he sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem, and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.
Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class, and despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets." A year later, she found a note under her door from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors.
He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed, and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD. The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago, and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
From India, Pune
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108Something away from core HR but definitely worth reading. We could apply it in our roles by ensuring that we try and understand the problems/situations, etc., of our staff while working with them and taking decisions.
Regards,
Rajat
THE PERFUME
As she stood in front of her 5th-grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy, and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant.
It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers. At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records, and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first-grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around."
His second-grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness, and life at home must be a struggle."
His third-grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth-grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends, and he sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem, and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.
Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class, and despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets." A year later, she found a note under her door from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors.
He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed, and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD. The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago, and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
From India, Pune
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Dear Rajat, I second your opinion. It is definitely worth reading. Beautiful — — - sree
From India, New Delhi
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From India, New Delhi
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Dear Rajat,
No doubts, it's too good. In the morning, after reading this article, there were tears in my eyes too. Very few people in this world get good teachers in their life, who actually understand the problems of the child and work accordingly.
Promia
From India, Delhi
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No doubts, it's too good. In the morning, after reading this article, there were tears in my eyes too. Very few people in this world get good teachers in their life, who actually understand the problems of the child and work accordingly.
Promia
From India, Delhi
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Hi Sree & Promila
Thanks ..am glad you liked it..
Isn’t this applicable in our day to day life in personal & professional areas…
We all flourish & bloom when we have boss like Mrs Thompson…
Have a great day!!
Rajat
From India, Pune
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Thanks ..am glad you liked it..
Isn’t this applicable in our day to day life in personal & professional areas…
We all flourish & bloom when we have boss like Mrs Thompson…
Have a great day!!
Rajat
From India, Pune
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Hi Rajat,
Again, I would like to say, lucky are those who have a boss like Mrs. Thomson. My boss... there are no words to describe him... nowadays, he is having a competition with me to see who performs better. Actually, he started feeling insecure after I joined. He literally cried in front of the GM and said, "Don't give all HR responsibilities to Promila, what will I do then?" My core area of responsibility is T&D, but management is planning to assign me recruitment tasks as well.
You can understand my situation where every day he tries to bring forth a new problem for me, but I am also facing them and, of course, learning a lot. How to handle an effective boss.
Promila
From India, Delhi
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Again, I would like to say, lucky are those who have a boss like Mrs. Thomson. My boss... there are no words to describe him... nowadays, he is having a competition with me to see who performs better. Actually, he started feeling insecure after I joined. He literally cried in front of the GM and said, "Don't give all HR responsibilities to Promila, what will I do then?" My core area of responsibility is T&D, but management is planning to assign me recruitment tasks as well.
You can understand my situation where every day he tries to bring forth a new problem for me, but I am also facing them and, of course, learning a lot. How to handle an effective boss.
Promila
From India, Delhi
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Hats off to Rajat for that post. Yes, Rajat, you are right; it is applicable to all of us in one way or another.
I agree with Promila; anybody should be blessed to have a boss like Ms. Thompson. Promila, I can understand your state because:
THOSE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH PAIN AND SUFFERING ONLY CAN UNDERSTAND AND HELP THOSE WHO ARE IN PAIN AND THOSE WHO SUFFER.
Thanks,
Bala
From India, Madras
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I agree with Promila; anybody should be blessed to have a boss like Ms. Thompson. Promila, I can understand your state because:
THOSE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH PAIN AND SUFFERING ONLY CAN UNDERSTAND AND HELP THOSE WHO ARE IN PAIN AND THOSE WHO SUFFER.
Thanks,
Bala
From India, Madras
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Hi Bala,
But let me tell you one thing, now I enjoy taking a panga with him to make him more jealous. I know it's not right, but at times I feel as if I am on the battlefield and I have to play my cards.
Promila
From India, Delhi
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But let me tell you one thing, now I enjoy taking a panga with him to make him more jealous. I know it's not right, but at times I feel as if I am on the battlefield and I have to play my cards.
Promila
From India, Delhi
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Hey Promila,
But that is not fair. If you have started thinking that you are on a battlefield, then aren't you trying to stoop down to his level? Anyway, many times I also feel the itch to get into a fight with my 'so-called' boss. But now I have slowed down and stopped because I found that it hurts only me and nobody else!
Thanks,
Bala
From India, Madras
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But that is not fair. If you have started thinking that you are on a battlefield, then aren't you trying to stoop down to his level? Anyway, many times I also feel the itch to get into a fight with my 'so-called' boss. But now I have slowed down and stopped because I found that it hurts only me and nobody else!
Thanks,
Bala
From India, Madras
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Hi,
A really nice, touching, and worth-reading post... of all the posts I have come across in this forum, this one is a real eye-opener. We tend to forget what it is to have someone who can mold us to great heights. We also forget to be like that for others. If our jealousy is overcome and we help others become better individuals, then be sure we would be 100 times better ourselves. In the selfish ways that we live today, it is thoughts like this that make us think, at least for a few moments.
Vani
From India, Madras
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A really nice, touching, and worth-reading post... of all the posts I have come across in this forum, this one is a real eye-opener. We tend to forget what it is to have someone who can mold us to great heights. We also forget to be like that for others. If our jealousy is overcome and we help others become better individuals, then be sure we would be 100 times better ourselves. In the selfish ways that we live today, it is thoughts like this that make us think, at least for a few moments.
Vani
From India, Madras
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This is perhaps one of the most touching anecdotes I ever came across. And Rajat, I'm really thankful to you for restarting this thread. If I'm not wrong, this story has been published earlier also by Anu.
To be true, I have completely forgotten it, but you revived this sweet memory. Thanks.
Regards,
Manish
From India, Madras
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To be true, I have completely forgotten it, but you revived this sweet memory. Thanks.
Regards,
Manish
From India, Madras
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