But this was not the cost of some movie or mela. So this sum of Rs 15 had been spent as entertainment. The munimji had been away from his home and family for more than two months. I couldn’t understand why a meticulous person like my grandfather would allow a suspicious-looking expense without questioning. He gently but firmly told me to write it down but not question the munimji. So I asked him, ‘Munimji, ye kiska tel badalwaya tha? Koi truck tha kya?’ (What was the oil change for? Was it for some truck?) He looked away and did not reply. This was a bit perplexing for me, as he did not use any vehicle. One of the items he listed was Rs 15 for ‘change of oil’. I was dutifully noting these down and tallying the figures. He started dictating the list of expenses for about two months of his travel.

This particular munimji was very meticulous. Once, when a munimji returned, I was asked to take a report on the expenditure from him and submit it to my grandfather. “I remember an interesting example of how flexibility in these rules was offered to loyal munims who had to remain away from their families for months. The Z Factor: My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time He or she might be better off in another job within the group or elsewhere.” Empathy that results in protection would lead to a negative result for the employee as well. The non-performer may be in the wrong job and thus not doing what he or she is best at doing. Protecting a non-performer is not good for the business and also the person being protected. I think it’s important to be professional about such matters. They tend to choose people who become personally loyal to them rather than to the company. They tend to become comfortable with such people and they get protection.

But I see many of our senior colleagues, including my brothers, sons and nephews, empathetic towards non-performers. I request him or her to leave or change jobs within the group. “When I see someone not performing, I am frank enough to tell the person that it’s not working out.

The z factor by subhash chandra