Rohit Sharma, the CEO and founder of Simply Natural is a zealous supporter of No Sir No Madam doctrine. Simply Natural provides you varieties of natural and organic products at an affordable price. Moreover, they work with marginal farmers of Himalayas to bring down their commodities to the maximum number of people.
Rohit is an MBA from University of Lucknow, who started his career by working for Organic India Pvt. Ltd. After spending eight years with the same company, he wanted to embark on his firm that envisioned his passion.
Rohit is a stern believer of parity. Consequently, he has instilled first-name custom at his workplace. He believes that No Sir No Madam convention imbibes more equality and gives employees the liberty to share ideas.
He mentions — I was introduced to first-name tradition at my first company. I would often communicate with my boss by his name. This practice allowed me to approach and converse with him without any inhibitions. a result of which, I still continue to maintain a friendly relation with him, even after quitting the company years ago.
Rohit opines that a lot of private-sector companies have now started to embrace the MNC culture of No Sir No Madam. However, some organizations still continue to follow the salutation edict. Rohit states that people need to understand, ‘Sir/Madam’ culture demands respect and not command respect.
Additionally, a person’s designation does not matter at the workplace. What matters is the work, the person is contributing. He adds, “I personally reckon that organizations would benefit by letting off salutation customs.”
Indians tend to respect senior people because of the way we are brought up. As a result, people consider, referring to older people by their first-name as a sign of disrespect. It is time that we change our perception and comprehend the reason behind No Sir No Madam order.
Rohit voices, “Being in a top-level position, I consider it my responsibility to inform my juniors to exercise first-name tradition. However, despite my constant effort, they continue to address me and other senior managers with a salutation. Removing salutation edict from the minds of people is a difficult job, though, we should not give up on spreading the news about it.”
Like a few organizations that remain adamant about ‘Sir/Madam’ culture. Government sector continues to follow the salutation dictum. Rohit shares one of his interactions with a top-level IAS officer.
He enumerates — Once, I had to meet a senior IAS officer. When I entered his office, I introduced myself and talked about the purpose of my visit. During our conversation, I asked him if he would be comfortable with me addressing him by his first-name. To which he replied “I am a very senior officer and a much more experienced person than you. Furthermore, I would advise you to address me as ‘Sir’.” Similarly, it is very common for other officials to get upset when addressed by their first-name.
‘Sir/Madam’ is a British culture that was imposed onto us during their rule. People still continue to follow it as it makes them feel pompous about themselves. Rohit articulates, “People abroad have started to adopt the Indian culture of greeting each other with ‘Namaste’. Whereas, we seem to have forgotten our culture and continue to practice a foreign custom.”
Moreover, he recommends — People should be cordial while dealing blue-collar workers. We tend to be ungrateful for the work they do. There will be a time in the future, when there will be no house-helpers. We will learn to value their role in our lives only then. Therefore, let us give them the respect they deserve and not treat them indifferently.
In addition, we should take the responsibility of educating less-fortunate people about No Sir No Madam movement. So that they learn to embrace this culture, which otherwise would seem alien to them.
Furthermore, Rohit suggests to instill first-name habit into students from their schooling days itself. He conjectures that education can do wonders. Thus, teaching kids about No Sir No Madam tradition would enable the slow and gradual eradication of ‘Sir/Madam’ diktat from our lives.
Rohit terminates by stating, “Make people around you comfortable so that they can express themselves. They will be able to deliver more when there is no communication barrier. Follow No Sir No Madam culture and make communicating easier and congenial.”
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