Yogesh Arora, Co-Founder of AltF Coworking firmly supports No Sir No Madam culture. AltF Coworking is a platform to help start-ups and freelancers find affordable shared workplaces. The platform aims to motivate people to share workplaces as well as resources to save their time and money.
Being an innovator since his college days, he has always been inventing and venturing on innovative ideas. After completing his college, Yogesh worked at Ernst & Young before quitting to pursue entrepreneurship. They noticed that new start-ups faced a problem with finding a place to work. This is when they got the idea to institute AltF Coworking, to solve this problem.
He implements No Sir No Madam ideology at his workplace and in his life. Yogesh believes that imposing a salutation decree on others is inappropriate. Following first-name habit in his life, he voices, it is equally important not to take No Sir No Madam for granted. “I sincerely endorse a salutation-free culture.
However, people need to realize that there are some responsibilities along with this casual culture.” Furthermore, he states — while practicing first-name addressal, people should not forget to show respect.
Private Sector organization associates are accustomed to ‘Sir/Madam’ dictate. They mandate this custom onto their employees and anyone who wants to do business with them.
Yogesh remembers one instance where an executive from a company got offended because he addressed the executive by his first-name. Furthermore, the person declined to continue his business with Yogesh. Such people need to realize that professionalism and respect can be portrayed without salutation ordinance.
He cites an example of his tenure in Ernst & Young, where there used to be strict disciple and rules that everyone had to follow. This helped in making sure that employees do their work sincerely. Whereas, in start-ups, it sometimes happens that people start to slack because of the casual environment. As a result, Yogesh stresses that, people need to be properly educated about No Sir No Madam culture.
It is often noticed in government sectors, people having to follow certain mandates. ‘Sir/Madam’ tradition is one of them, which is strictly adhered by the officials. Bureaucrats need to understand that they have no authority to impose any formal diktat onto others. Yogesh opines that, restructuring in government offices would come gradually and slowly.
People from underprivileged backgrounds often tend to face the injustice caused by ‘Sir/Madam’ taboo. They are sometimes mistreated and subjected to discrimination based on the type of work they do. Yogesh accentuates that no one should be judged on the basis of their financial background. Instead, judge people for their efforts and morals.
He cites an instance — the security guards in my building often salute me on noticing me. I have to stop and explain them not to adhere to such practices. I am very young, compared to them, and they should not bow down to me. I feel respected enough when they do their duty responsibly. I feel there is no need of any salutation custom to show respect, if people do their due diligence.
It is always a moral confusion where to apply No Sir No Madam and where not to. Often people adhere to salutation edict in order to avoid any hassle. Despite believing in first-name greeting, he sometimes has to cohere to ‘Sir/Madam’ tradition. “I have to be unfair to myself to be fair to my business as 90% of my customers expect a formal greeting.”
Thus, people need to be enlightened about No Sir No Madam and the parity it creates in society. Yogesh recommends that, this teaching should be a part of every school’s syllabus. Children should be made to understand the values of No Sir No Madam apostle. This would definitely help them to acknowledge the balance between displaying respect and not submitting to someone’s ego.
In the end, Yogesh articulates — People in authority and higher designations should not impose any formal decree onto their subordinates. Senior executives should also listen to any opinion given by their employees. It is vital that they impart equality into their offices and organization. Moreover, employees should not hold any grudge against their superiors, if any of their ideas get rejected. Thus, venturing towards progress collectively by respecting each other.
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