Have you ever had a colleague who’s cheered you on while you were working on projects, congratulated you on its completion, hailed it as perfection and then promoted it on their social media pages for good measure? If your answer is yes, wow. Hang in there, bruv. But if your answer was a resounding nope followed by intense disbelief at the existence of such behaviour in the cut-throat confines of the corporate world, behold the wonderland that is Bollywood and its coterie of A-listers.
Do you follow any of B-town’s Chosen Ones? If you do, you’d know that any announcement made by the cool kids and/or by their many, many friends is not just cause for mass hysteria among their fan clubs, but also their colleagues. Why? Because Bollywood knows that a family that praises each other, stays together.
Want to be a comfort-cushion to your own colleagues? Here’s what to do:
Lesson #1: ILU ILU
When Tiger Shroff’s Baaghi 2 hit theatres, causing widespread migraine among critics, Bollywood couldn’t stop gushing over it. This sort of selfless, unconditional love in the face of criticism, makes colleagues feel like they belong even if they do not. Of all the messages Tiger received, the one from Hrithik Roshan stands out. The Jodha Akbar actor called Tiger the ‘BEST’ action hero in the industry. Here’s Tiger’s response:
He loved Tiger Shroff’s ability for action stunts despite not having seen Baaghi 2. This is precisely the sort of blind support that can make careers.
Lesson #2: Do Not Be Petty
When Abhishek Bachchan announced that he’s doing a film after a short break, director Karan Johar responded with love, and eight more exclamation marks than the post merited.
This is the sort of enthusiasm one should greet people with when they come back to work. Instead, what do you do? Pass snide remarks about how some people get more leaves than others. Tsk.
Lesson #3: Celebrate every project like it’s your own
We understand your entry into the career of your choice may not have been as you’d have wished for, nor is it going as you wanted it to. So lesson # three is all about loving everybody’s projects. Yours. Your colleagues. The result? Everybody’s work gets a platform. Win-win, see?
Lesson #4: Don’t forget old friends
Sort of self-explanatory but here’s a summary: just because you’ve quit your previous job and no longer keep the same circles, there’s no need to quit being nice to your former colleagues.
Lesson #5: Be the friend you’re seeking
Always have your colleagues’ back through thick and thin, through bad reviews and criticism, through horrified hashtags and op-eds. Because if you do not empathise with their struggle to put up even half-way decent work when the client’s demands are ridiculous, then who will?
Also, do it because karma. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
No, but seriously. Everyone should at some point work with colleagues as loving and supportive as the B-Town star kids and A-listers.
