A Great Receptionist

Recently, I visited an Indian MNC office, who is supposed to be one of the biggest IT players of India across the World. I simply went to the receptionist of that office and asked for Mr. XYZ, a dear friend of mine. Surprisingly, I was asked a very strange question from the other side of the table. The receptionist asked “In which group, Mr. XYZ is working”? I said that I don’t know. I was surprised about how come an outsider knows about which group his friend is working. Anyways, I got one more response from receptionist saying “You should ask about Mr. XYZ in other office premise of our company which is located at ABC location”.

I asked again about one more known person of mine working in the same company. She again asked the same – “In which group ...........” Finally, I raised my voice asked her the question “Please tell me one thing. How come I aware about the group names of your organizations?” In respond, I got an answer which gave me some thought food about that company’s policies. The answer was “Sir, we are not supposed to tell anything about any employee of this organization unless and until the visitor is aware of the group name of that person”. I countered attack that lady asking how come this is possible for a visitor to know about the same. She said “I don’t know”.

Finally, I came back without even meeting with any of the persons whom I want to meet.

Still thinking what was there in the back of the mind of policy makers which redirected that receptionist to act like that.

Sanat Sharma