Page 33 - A Banker Down the Rabbit Hole

4. A Juggling Boss

I was under training for one year as a Probationary Officer in

different branches and administrative offices to have a feel of
major verticals. After that I joined this urban branch. On the very
first day of reporting, I sat in front of Second in Command after
introduction. He very quickly got engaged in writing 20 column double
sheet ruled papers. He was looking at the ledger folios of loan accounts
and filling various columns of these sheets, that was actually a Statement
of Handloom Borrowers, as at end of the last year. I wondered why the
Second in Command should be doing all this mundane clerical task when
the branch was having good number of staff members. I was new and
on the very first day, did not want to assume anything because every
place has its own typical practices and problems.

I waited for half an hour sitting idle and he remained fully engrossed with
the same work. Finally, I offered to complete that task if he permitted
me. He told me, "The branch has a deadline to submit these details by
the next day, hence I am working on it personally. Are you sure you can
fill all the details for remaining 300 loan accounts out of 430?"

I said, "Sir, I shall try my best. We have one and a half day and hopefully
I should be able to finish it well in time as I don't have anything else to
do unless you allocate me some other work. You may handle your other
pressing tasks piled up on your seat." He was pleasantly surprised as it
was very rare to see someone volunteering for additional work as most
of the people would confine themselves to their sharply defined
allocation of work.

He handed over the papers and ledgers to me. While sitting in front of

30 | A Banker down the Rabbit Hole