It is around 11 am. I am sitting on the dais and watching people doing conversations with their group members about the video they just watched. The groups need to make their presentations in a while. The door of the hall opens. A tall, fair gentleman in his late 50s walks in along with few others. I could sense the swagger in his walk and the deep respect shown by others who come in along with him.
The participants who are engaged in the group work got distracted. They realise that one of their top bosses is here. In no time all the 50 plus participants get up from their seats to show their respects for this gentleman. Some also start moving towards him to greet him personally. Now everyone wants to say a personal hello to him. A mild commotion and jostling for space around him happen. Guys and girls with quick reflexes are getting ready with their mobile phones to try their luck with a possible selfie opportunity with this gentleman.
My eyes are searching for the L & D coordinator who is sitting in another corner of the hall. She comes near me and conveys in a soft voice that this gentleman is one of those top guns and a possible future leader of her company. I wait for a few seconds for the scenario to get over, but it is getting longer. He is in the center and everyone has gathered around him. He continues his conversations with everyone in the group. Meanwhile, I signal to the L & D coordinator to step in and bring order. She politely refuses and says that she cannot do anything at this time and expresses her powerlessness. Meanwhile, someone who has come along with this gentleman suggests that he goes to the dais and address people from there. The gentleman obliges, reaches the dais, gets a microphone and gives a small inspirational talk. I am watching helplessly and don’t know what to do. A divine help comes in the form of hotel staff who comes in and reminds that its tea time. I use this opportunity to declare a 15-minute tea break.
During the break I am told that this gentleman has grown leaps and bounds in this company because of his sheer performance in the last 10 years. He is responsible for successful product launches and for hugely enhancing the company’s market share. Few minutes later, I am introduced to this gentleman. He comes across as very knowledgeable, humble and a man who is hungry for results. After a few minutes of conversations, I bring to his attention the disturbance caused to the training because of his arrival into the classroom. He is a little upset with this observation. But apologizes profusely and says that he is not even aware of the disturbance caused. For him, this is how things always happen every time he meets his people anywhere in the country.
This incident triggers a few questions in me:
1. Why very few people become celebrities in their own companies and why many cannot?
2. Do we have to give special space and status to a celebrity to thrive in our environment?
3. Do we have to set some boundaries for the celebrity? If so, how?