Transfer or posting need not be a punishment

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It was a business review meeting. During the routine business that went on up to lunch time, Pammu who was an invitee was sitting tensed. Just before lunch the Regional Head (RM) called Pammu to the stage and said, "On behalf of all of you I thank him for accepting the role of Manager for Kukarmunda branch. He was not happy with the decision yet I appealed to accept this for around 18 month. Here I announce officially that his tenure would come to an end by that time instead of normal three years". Pammu smiled for the first time and the entire team clapped and congratulated him.


Kukarmunda was a very small and very remote village in Surat District. It is almost 175 KMs from Surat city and was virtually godforsaken place and was seen as a condemned posting. Normally people relieved from there would receive congratulation but this time it was the one who got posted. Normally an officer who is problematic to the boss, least popular and unwanted by most would be chosen for the posting and the officer would reciprocate by non cooperative, unresponsive and unfriendly behavior for the urgent demands of the bank. They will not get reliever for taking even a day of casual leave and being away from family would spend their time frustrated with lonliness in that remote place.


What the RM did was to change the very brand of the branch. After all a nationalized bank opened a branch in such remote place for fulfilling socio economic goals of the Government and as extended arm of the Government the bank is duty bound to accomplish it. From a 'punishment posting' the place was turned into a challenging posting. Instead of just issuing an order of transfer he chose to take the officer into confidence and requested instead of ordering to accept the posting.

 In the meeting all the nearby branches were instructed to rush officers in case the manager needs leave as it would effectively be three days including time for travel for one day work. "His leave has to be treated as highest priority than leave of your officers" was the message the nearby (around 80 KMs) branches received. Unlike the past the manager too was invited regularly for all the meetings giving him relief both physically and emotionally to be with his family more frequently. 


A few years later after I left Surat I saw the name of the branch as a contender for 'outstanding performance' giving me immense sense of fulfillment as HR official and I thanked the RM who deserved all credit for a path breaking approach in selection and manner of announcement of posting of manager.


Out of curiosity I opened Google recently and typed 'Kukarmunda' and I found that it was declared a separate Taluka and is part of Tapi district carved out of Surat. Development of places especially villages is very satisfying news more so if one is connected with the place. While many other places where the bank had branches in Surat district were villages and I remember their names even today, Kukarmunda is special more so because I visited the place once and today when it has grown as a Taluka, a result showing the fulfilled purpose of opening banks in such remote places decades ago it is more satisfying.


As an active HR minded person I often wonder how, if one is innovative, path breaking and humane in thoughts and actions negativity would flow out inevitably giving way to positivism. Even as a retired person today whenever I do not get result as I desired I think of the Kukarmunda model for inspiration. 


Memories of the days in Surat keep coming to my mind for various reasons but when I remember it for inspiration for better HR approach it is special.

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