Visitor's Diary: LTC Logistics-3

Ramesh Kumar

While studying abroad, you imbibe a lot of habits culled from your colleagues and others you interact with. One of them, you will agree, is to get onto first name terms with all - including your  higher ups. No one is Mr Manish Bhandari. Just, 'Hi Manish!" ?Such behavioral traits are not detested. On the other hand, it gives a sense of informality. Work matters. Not the salutations. Like our Mumbaikars fond of saying: Kaam se matlab hai.

Back hone such traits don't vanish overnight. Takes time to get adjusted to one's own milieu. Mostly Jee Huzoor culture.

This was one of the bitterest lessons the young London-returned Mayank learnt soon after joining the family transport - uff, logistics business. One of his business mails addressed to a customer whom LTC is serving even today with such a blip. First name terms syndrome!

"I did not receive any response for quite sometime and wondered what could be the reason?" elaborates Mayank with a lot more transparency.

Actually, when he walked into the Managing Director's cabin, he was a bit reserved and shy of going beyond monosyllabic responses. Once, uncle  Inder goaded him to be open and share whatever he wants to say, the mood changed.

Recollecting his behavioral hiccups once back in India, Mayank said that he picked up the phone for a direct call to the concerned officer at the client site and heard him gently talking about business niceties. "That day, I learnt I can't be on first name terms. Need to be respectful and add, "ji" to their names! This is India, apna desh. Not videsh!" A big jolt, yes.Be Indian in India. Right?

The second challenge was his incomprehensibility of slangs or terms used by his drivers and workshop group. "I did not understand what 'kamani' meant. For me, as an engineer, I know them by the part's original name or the part number. Not by some other name which my colleagues where mentioning. Helluva time it took me to understand them.... Of course, now I show them the part physically and discuss!"

He comes out as a seedha saadha enthusiastic youngster wanting to make his mark in the business he would be jointly inheriting with his soon-to-return cousin. Being an engineer, he is more process and system driven.

Uncle Inder interjects to add that the new office where we are chatting was designed by these cousins. Truly, it reflects their tastes. Not the typical transport office of LTC that I had seen a few summers ago in Faridabad. I can see the changing taste - right from office interiors to almost everything - of many transport companies that I had been visiting over past eight years. The seniors  believed in functionality or utilitarian aspects. No show-shaw. Basics. Not even air-conditioners in motor malik's cabin. But the advent of Genext has ushered in a lot of changes.

One thing I can declare that elders grant full freedom to their wards in office furniture (read interiors) and IT infra. Definitely not in running the business, learnt in best colleges at home or abroad! After all, they had been running the business for donkey's years and they know the onions. Not these mundas, notwithstanding their MBAs tikana phalana! Of course, elders are proud of their progenies'foreign education.

Something similar happening at LTC Logistics? Inder smiles.

I ask him bluntly: "Will you permit full freedom to these children to run the business the way they want to?"

"Of course," pat comes his response.

Am sceptical. Sorry! Seen umpteen number of transport companies where elders continue to rule the roost, overriding the big dreams of the bachcha party! Anyway, time will tell.

I pull Mayank's legs by asking how does it feel to be sitting next to his uncle in the hot seat.

"Not at all. I don't sit here at all. I operate from the Conference Hall, right across the hall!" blurts out Mayank, surreptitiously glancing at his Uncle. Out of respect, maybe.

While Anand Lakhani is watchful of the proceedings, General Manager (Operations) Devinder Kohli, sporting dry basil beads round his neck  woven tightly and several layers of protection bands blessed by is favorite deities from his faith on his right wrist, confirms that Mayank indeed was and is a quick  learner.

Kohli, luckily is loquacious and does not need too much prompting to exercise his vocal chords. Mentally I make a note of this quality to prod him as he is an experienced hands  and the whole set up at LTC Logistics reports to him.

Inder suggests that its time for a quick lunch break. Feeling hungry, I  "amen" and we all troop out to the adjacent conference room.

Just not the food - home made, I reckon - even the discussion at the dining table was yummy.

What did we talk between bites?

Wait till the next dispatch.

Ciao

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