Live Mic

The trainer was conducting a session on Interpersonal Communication. He was urging the participants to be courteous, dignified, open minded and responsive. He was recommending certain best practices to ensure the absence of hurtfulness or aggression in the interaction especially during conversations on the telephone.

In the break, the trainer went to the washroom. While there, he got a call from his secretary. For no reason, he got abusive and started heaping humiliations on her. All the participants in the hall were aghast. They had heard every word as the trainer had forgotten to switch off the microphone connected to the collar of his shirt!


The mic is always on for those who preach, those who take centre stage, those who take the high moral ground… major microphone gaffes have exposed the two faced behaviour of people who have diametrically diverse conduct in public space and private space. Such revelations of unacceptable inconsistency have felled many an image.

It is about core character and how we behave in different spaces at different times. It is pertinent to note that the mic is always on and we should remain aligned to our values that must remain constant whether on stage or off it. The live mic is a test of character that is confirmed by constancy in actions… whether we are what we project ourselves to be!

The live mic is surely a real check
Of a consistent act on every deck!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Useful

Poet-saint Kabir wrote the following simple yet profound lines…
‘Bada hua toh kya hua… jaise pedh khajur…
Panthi ko chaya nahin… fal phi lagte ati dur’
(So what if you have grown tall… but like a date palm…
You have no shade to offer and your fruit is out of reach)

A date palm grows tall to an impressive height, projecting eminence and a distinction of its own. But it does not provide shade to weary travellers. And its fruit grows so high that one cannot easily pluck it. Using this analogy, Kabir raises questions about our vain personalities.

What good is the eminence that arises from our achievements, if it is not useful to others? Kabir insists that our personal growth should not distance us from usefulness to others. The trees which offer shade to the weary and fruits to the hungry are preferred to those which only grow to self-centred prominence.

We aspire to grow. But if our growth is useful for others our achievements become worthwhile for others too. Any growth that is only of value to the owner is not worthy of applause and appreciation. Hence we must ensure that the benefits of our personal growth are shared with others.

Greatness is not just in growing tall...
But ensuring that we are useful to all!

- Pravin K. Sabnis