As I entered the lounge, I was greeted by an unusual sight. There stood five men dressed in traditional white attire (dhotis), looking rather stern and demanding. At the reception desk, our usually unflappable secretary appeared bewildered. I glanced around, hoping to spot one of my managers to make sense of the situation, but they were nowhere to be found. It seemed I was on my own.

Taking charge, I approached the group and asked them directly what they wanted. Their response was unexpected but audacious. They claimed to be local politicians campaigning in the area and insisted on meeting the senior-most person in the office. Without missing a beat, I responded, “Do you have an appointment? Wouldn’t you schedule one if you were meeting your Chief Minister or Commissioner of Police? We have similar systems here. You may leave and come after you get an appointment,” I said.

The five men exchanged bewildered glances, clearly unaccustomed to such resistance. They left in a huff, promising to return later, though they never did.

After ensuring they were gone, I instructed the office secretary to send a faxed complaint to the Commissioner of Police, and then I headed to the pantry for a much-needed cup of coffee to recharge.

However, the real surprise came when I crossed the corridor and found the managers emerging from their offices, doors opening ever so cautiously. It turned out they preferred not to create a ruckus with the local politicians.

In retrospect, that day taught me a valuable lesson about facing unexpected challenges with courage, wisdom, and a touch of humor. It’s easy to be caught off guard when confronted with unfamiliar or intimidating situations, especially involving local politicians. However, as I sipped my coffee in the pantry and chuckled about the comical turn of events, I realized that courage doesn’t always mean taking on a fight directly.

Courage, in this case, meant having the presence of mind to handle a tricky situation calmly and assertively. It meant standing up for the office’s protocols and principles, even when faced with assertive demands. I had chosen to uphold the office’s dignity and maintain order, despite the pressure from those in white dhotis.

Wisdom, on the other hand, lay in recognizing that not every battle is worth fighting, and sometimes, diplomacy can be more powerful than confrontation. By avoiding an unnecessary clash, I had helped maintain a peaceful working environment, and our faxed complaint followed the proper channels.

As for the managers, their laughter afterward showed that they too appreciated the wisdom in my approach.

So, the lesson of that day was clear: courage doesn’t always require a show of strength, and wisdom can guide you through tricky situations. Sometimes, all it takes is a firm stance, a dash of humor, and the knowledge that you can overcome anything with the right mix of courage and wisdom.