"But Zia's mother was prompting her..."

 "But Zia's mother was prompting her..." said my 6yo who is in Grade 1 and is giving a school assessment for the first time this week.

The school started some assessments to check how the students have been grasping the subjects so far. Students have to be on camera and unmuted the whole time so that the teachers can ensure there is no prodding by parents/family. It wouldn't be wrong to say I have been more anxious than her about these assessments. Have been giving her a pep talk on how it's very important to give it her best but not get hung up on a question if she cannot solve it to avoid jeopardizing the next one.

Yesterday was day 1 and while the assessment was on, I messaged my wife - "I think she isn't able to figure the answers out.. " I was a bit upset... the assessment ended and after sending it to the teachers I checked the answers (I had made a note of the answers). I was delighted to see that she had done way better than what I had expected her to do.

Today was day 2. A subject I thought she is good with and I kept telling her she will do well because of that. Post the assessment I again checked and was surprised she hadn't done well. When I was pointing out her mistakes she asked me why I wasn't helping her even a bit when she could hear other parents on the call prodding their kids. That's when I had to again explain the concepts of integrity and assessments and make her understand how important it was to not look at peers when it comes to doing the right thing.

Same things so often apply in corporate life...

1. When least expected, an individual/team would delight you with their work/performance.

2. At times the most obvious star performer unexpectedly disappoints you.

3. Everyone needs reinforcement of certain values from time to time - even though they may be aware of those.

4. Most importantly, one may be tempted to intervene - at times believing it's their prerogative or duty to do so, however it's so important to be mindful of when to and when not to... and that reminds me of the line from the show called The Crown where Queen Mary tells Queen Elizabeth “To do nothing is the hardest job of all. And it will take every ounce of energy that you have. To be impartial is not natural, not human." - the application of which is needed far too often in all our lives...more often than we realize.

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