Harley FatBoy Ride & Coaching

During an internal campaign for “Giving” which was associated with a session with different leaders, I won a bid with Rajesh Rege, GM & India Lead ( Cloud, Solutions & Customer Success)

It was a Harley FatBoy ride & coaching over breakfast. Little did I imagine, the surprise that was in store for me. Let me share how…….

It was an experience to cherish & learning associated with it. From my first call to schedule the date, till the last note post trip made it one of the best experiences of my life. 

1. Empowering – Rajesh came on his Harley Fatboy sharp at 7.20 AM as decided on call a day before. We started together on my first ever ride along on Harley. Just about 5 mins in ride, Rajesh stopped on side and asked me to drive. I was shocked to say least having never driven this expensive machine ever. Post some hesitation, I decide to take the challenge and rode for over an hour from Bangalore city to Nandi Hills outside the city on a nice highway on way to a amazing highway joint. Leaders can throw challenges and make sure people are successful at them, even if they don't imagine themselves to be achieving it.
2. Giving complete control & freedom – Its not easy to drive Harley as it’s a very heavy bike with strong handles. Syncing it with gears and riding in city meant a lot of action. I didn’t even know the number of gears it could be driven in. Rajesh would softly tell me change the gear at appropriate time and stayed calm and allowed me total freedom to learn on the job. Such coaching, while no micro management was an important lesson on giving complete control but keeping a fine observation eye to prevent failure.
3. Trust – On highway, after driving for over 30 minutes, Rajesh asked me to move to higher speed. I tried and realized that I had conquered another milestone to ride at a higher speed in top gear. This wouldn’t have been possible without the trust my leader entrusted on my skills post a short judgement in initial drive.
4. Knowing & connecting with team – I was amazed when we stopped at a paratha place (North Indian Bread) and not at a south Indian restaurant. Being a northie, its close to my tastebud and it was such a joy to have my favorite food post a ride of my life.
5. Conversation – The discussion was open and began with an appreciation on a decent first ride on Harley. Leaders know that little appreciation helps people open up completely about everything. Also not just asking but also sharing one’s own experiences and blunt ideas.

Across the few hours we spent together, I came back with such enrichment and excitement that I haven’t experienced in a while. Another lesson, that leaders leave the team motivated and super charged. Next day, I was thinking about the smaller details like Rajesh had asked me a day before like, when did I last rode a bike, do I have a valid license? Etc. Which meant that it was not an impulsive risk he took but it had done the basic due diligence. Another important leadership lesson was in store.

The pat on my shoulder to change gear or lack of it when he realized I was enjoying myself, was an amazing feeling to know that someone is there to depend on, while staying fairly independent in what I was doing. Post the ride, there was a personal note that came my way, which i will keep private. :-)

Overall, it was an experience that would have taken me few books to read and years to inculcate. Coaching/ Mentoring on a Harley ride was an unimaginable thought for me a week back but now it’s a learning for li

 Thanks to @Rajesh Rege & @Microsoft India to make it happen.