A Bus Driver's Dilemma: What This Story Teaches About Jumping to Conclusions in Training and Development

Pathan has a --

One fine day, a bus driver went to the bus garage, started his bus and drove off along his route. No problems for the first few stops - a few people got on, a few people got off, and things went generally well.

At the next stop, however, a huge bulk of a Pathan got on, six feet five built quite like a wrestler. He glared at the conductor and said, "Pathan doesn't pay," and sat down at the back.

The conductor did not argue with the Pathan, but he wasn't happy about it. The next day the same thing happened. Pathan got on the bus and made a show of refusing to pay and sat down. And the next day, and the next.

This grated the bus driver who started losing sleep over the manner in which the Pathan was taking advantage of the poor conductor. Finally, the conductor could not stand the Pathan any longer. So, he signed up for bodybuilding, Karate, Judo, and all that good stuff.

By the end of that summer, he had become quite strong. What's more, he really felt good about himself. So, on the next Monday when the Pathan once again got on the bus and said, "Pathan doesn't pay," the driver stood up and glared back at the Pathan and screamed, "And why not?"

With a surprised look on his face, Pathan replied, "Pathan has a bus pass."

The moral of the story: Be sure there is a genuine Training and Development related issue before trying to work hard to solve it. And that seems true looking at a few topics coming up for discussion in our forum.

Courtesy
Col(Retd) M E Fernandez

Dear Mr. Mohammed,

The story can be used as an anecdote for "Problem Solving," "Stress Management," and, to some extent, personality development. Thank you for it, and very few acknowledge the original author/compiler.

Regards,
Colonel Jude

Very deep insight into a number of things, such as appearance misleading us leading to a gap in communication, diffidence leading to misunderstanding, and to top it all off, jumping onto a plan of action without bothering to verify the facts. It's amazing how one simple story can provide so much insight. Thanks a lot.

RK

Hi Mr. Peer Mohamed,

Your short story is really superb with a sense of humor and a good message.

A very good story and a moral for those who make decisions without analysis. Can we have some more of them, sir?

Hi Sardarji,

The story is nice and it has its messages - as I understood it. "Pathan doesn't pay" is well supported by "Pathan has a bus pass"; the anecdote corroborates the moral of the story - Be sure there is a genuine Training and Development related issue before trying to work hard to solve it.

But the story has created the scene of transformation - a meek and mind, defenseless driver - capable of confronting a veritable giant that elicits the truth! Things should be designed to act that way only.

Regards,
Bibhu Prasad

This story is very effective, as it can be used to understand the perception of a problem, capacity building, and confronting.

Thank you!