“Drawing parallels” between an organization and a train – confused? Read more

 

I have been always fond of train journeys since my childhood. I still have those vivid memories and visuals ingrained of the rolling countryside, green paddy fields during monsoons and flowing rivers as you cross over long bridges. With time a lot of this has changed. Now there are sights of bustling cities, towns, and houses along the tracks across the country.

Recently, I made a trip to Mumbai from Pune and back on two different trains. During this trip, I observed many nuances of the people around me…. noticed how passengers around me reacted and reflected on them. I felt there were so many parallels I could draw between an organization and a train.

Here are some

Aspect	For the train	For an organization
Engine and its driver	This duo is what makes the train run and ensures a smooth journey. This is the heart and brain of the train -        If the driver is experienced, he/she knows how to make the machine work and maintain a smooth ride throughout. -        The train speed can vary based on track conditions and terrain; however, the driver knows how to handle real-time situations. -        If the engine is good and responsive, it makes the driver's job a bit easier and ensures the train runs as planned.	A well-defined purpose & vision along with the core leadership team (which is the driver here) sets the pace and drives an organization -        When the purpose and vision are clear across the levels of an organization, the journey becomes easier -        When the leadership is experienced and understands the needs of the organization and tailoring it based on the need of the hour, they manage it impeccably
Brakes	This is the most essential element of a train. As much as we love the speed of a fast train, it is ever more crucial to know how well it brakes when needed. The art of applying the brakes depends on the driver as to how well he/she anticipates and decides to apply the same. It is important to slow down when the track or terrain demands.	Every organization wants to grow as soon as possible. After all growth in terms of revenue, market share etc. is key. However, it is very important to take a pause at times and see if the pace and direction at which it is trying to move is apt or does it needs some course correction. Internal processes, checks and balances and internal feedback loop should be considered as the brakes
Coaches	In a long-distance train, you will often see a variety of coaches catering to different customer segments and managing some key services like catering, luggage holding etc. No matter where you sit, the train needs to take all of them together and reach their destination. All the classes of coaches need to keep up with the engine, or else we all know what could happen.	Like coaches in a train, the organization has several business lines, and departments catering to internal and external customers. Unless they are well-oiled and acknowledge the need to work in tandem and for each other (not against each other) there will be friction and possibly no alignment with the overall vision and purpose
Track and signal system	When a train runs at high speeds on those two parallel rails, a lot of credit goes to the tracks, their maintenance and the signalling system that ensures we are on a safe path. We may not see all those unsung heroes who work behind the scenes to make this happen. A wrong signal, a weak track, a missing fishplate etc. can cause havoc.	Strong procedures, internal guardrails, periodic audits, and many such things provide indications to an organization as to where it is heading and what is potentially coming. When all goes well, we seldom acknowledge their importance, but when it does not…
Passengers	Every passenger irrespective of the coach/class where he/she is seated has some expectation from the journey. Some want good food, some may want to rest, others may want to reach the destination sooner or at least on time, and some may want to have a party. Certainly, all would like to have a clean and safe journey. It is practically impossible that everyone will be happy at the end and all hopes are met. If you are lucky enough to get good co-passenger(s) your journey seems like a breeze, but it could feel endless if something goes wrong.	Employees of an organization work for different groups and departments. Each one of them has some expectations from the workplace and the organization. What motivates some may not be good for others. It is almost impossible to say that all policies will be loved by everyone. However, what matters is that everyone professionally conducts themselves and works towards the common organization objective. The journey tends to get sweeter when the team works smarter and finds time to kindle with like-minded ones.

 

Does this resonate with you? Have you experienced interesting parallels during your journeys? Share your thoughts and would love to learn from you.

Reminiscences of my childhood - PICNIC

 
Autumn Equinox for us as kids in high school, was a signal that the Autumn festivities would start soon. If you happened to have grown up in the eastern part of India, the major festival of Durga Puja preparations would have started or been getting started by then. In the hope that the soggy days would soon be replaced with sunny and cooler days, we would get started to plan for the annual picnic (we called it Bhanbhoj – meaning feast in the forest).

The Picnic for us teenagers was not only a day when we were not looking at our books but also a day when we could go out of home with our friends to the nearby woods for the whole day and act as responsible adults. Did I just say, adults? Yes! We had to watch out for each other and ensure that everyone was safe when the parents were not around, thereby taking their place as ‘adults’.

You may wonder (for those who may not have experienced) what might be involved or what is the planning all about for us.

1.   It started with a small core group of classmates/friends who typically met after school hours or during recess to pick a couple of tentative dates (a Sunday usually) and a couple of locations. The key challenge was that it could not be too far from our homes, yet far enough that it was not behind someone’s backyard. There was usually a lot of back and forth and the ideas would keep changing.

2.    Socializing the idea and trying to convince many other “like-minded” friends was no easy task. Many times, you needed the “right mix” of friends to ensure that everyone was comfortable and that it was a fun event.

3.    The daunting task was always to convince our respective parents about the picnic, when, where and who related questions had to have convincing answers.

4.    In those days, we collected a fixed amount from everyone based on our planned menu, expenses we may incur, what we had to buy and what we may be able to manage. You read it right, we used to buy ingredients and then cook our lunch at the venue. It wasn’t fancy and elaborate, but the pure fun of collaborating and cooking with friends was a different experience.

5.    There were always a few who knew how to cook, while most of the others would help prep, collect firewood, clean, chop etc.

6.    What made it special at times, was when someone got treats for all which were sent by their parents.

7.    Right from choosing the venue, shopping for the menu, preparing the makeshift stove, clearing the place, to getting all essentials, the tasks were distributed amongst us, based on what each one could do well.

8.    Oh, the best part is we didn’t have cellphones to connect with each other or track one another down in case someone was stuck. Albeit people were seldom late. Everyone knew that time was of the essence, and everyone wanted to make use of the day to the best.

At the end of the day, we would all be exhausted, but the spirits would be high, and everyone would wish that the next picnic could happen ASAP. We didn’t have a lot of means nor did we come from very affluent families to spend a lot, but we always wanted to do the best with what we had. I still remember that just to save a few rupees (in those days), some of us would cycle a few kilometers to get the best and cheapest ingredients.
 
When I look back to those golden memories, they taught me a few things, which I think are still applicable.
·       A ton of material resources does not proportionally increase your happiness. We had so much fun with little and no one complained.
·       Play to the strengths of your team. There are several activities that need to be completed prior to the start of a picnic and many more during that day. The activities were always shared between all of us. The work was given based on what each one did best. For example, the core cooking was given to the ones who knew it well or did a great job the last time.
·       When planned well and in advance, you typically reduce the last-moment jitters. We always planned ahead and, in many cases, had a backup plan.

Do you remember anything from your childhood that still holds true, and you cherish those beautiful moments?