Wisdoms of the Sparrows. Teguh Pranoto Chen

      There is a stony silence in the church. The guests even hold their breath to make sure they don’t accidentally cough or make a noise, when suddenly …

      “Chiiiiirrrrp-chip-chiiirp!”

      “Twee-twee!”

      “Chip-chip-chip!”

      The guests relax and giggle among themselves once they realize that the interruption to the vows is nothing more than a nest full of hungry sparrows above the church. The vicar breathes a huge sigh of relief; he’s surprised he is not used to the loud chirping and cheeping by now.

      Mother Sparrow can hear them too because she is not far away, but it is a busy day in the village. She is a little too nervous to peck and forage in her usual places; people are trampling by in noisy shoes and boots, and their dogs are sniffing in the hedgerows as they pass.

      Mother Sparrow has to be patient; she needs to seize the opportunity to find their next meal, but she needs to be cautious. Her chicks are depending on her for their survival. Eventually, she succeeds!

      The wedding photographer has ushered everyone into a pretty corner of the churchyard, and as the guests line up for a photo. Mother Sparrow takes her long-awaited chance to swoop into the leaf litter beneath a large hedge.

      “Oh, thank goodness!” she says to Betty the blackbird as she sifts through the leaves and soil with her beak. “I just hate coming down here when there are too many clattery human feet rushing backward and forward. It puts me on edge!”

      “Me too … It sounds like you have a noisy brood up there, dear!” says Betty, flitting off with her pickings. Mother Sparrow sighs and gets on with the task at hand. Sometimes she wishes she had the time to stop and chat!

      Relieved to have a beak full of grubs and goodies, Mother Sparrow makes the speedy ascent back up to her nest of restless chicks. Little Snappy sees her mother approaching, and just before she begins feeding them all in turn, Snappy pecks hard at Mother Sparrow, hoping to get fed first.

      “Ouch!” cries Mother Sparrow, dropping the whole lot right into Snappy’s waiting mouth. “You little …”

      Mother Sparrow has been caught unaware for the first time, and Snappy’s plan seems to have worked. She gets fed first, and now she is even more determined to use fierce and aggressive behavior to get what she wants. Poor Mother Sparrow is startled and unnerved by this performance, and Snappy behaves like this on several occasions before Mother Sparrow becomes wise to her.

      Little Snappy gets a nasty shock when her mother is suddenly reluctant to feed her at all. She has had enough of Snappy’s brutish pecking and hurtful attitude.

      “I’ll come to you in a minute.” Mother Sparrow frowns.

      Mother Sparrow begins to feed the other chicks first, and she approaches the nest, making sure not to land within reach of Snappy’s violent beak. Often, by the time the other four chicks have taken their food, there is nothing left for Snappy. Mother Sparrow leaves the nest again for more food, having avoided Snappy’s nasty beak altogether!

      Pretty soon, Snappy sees how full and happy his siblings are. She notices how respectful they are when taking food from their mother, so in return, they are well fed. Snappy is gradually becoming regretful and sorry for her actions.

      Mother Sparrow sees this, and she begins to feed Snappy once again, hopeful that her troublesome chick has changed her ways.

      “If you peck me with that little beak one more time, you’ll go to bed with no dinner again! Understand?” says Mother Sparrow firmly. Snappy nods gratefully; she is weak and hungry, but at least she has learned a valuable lesson.

      Imagine for a moment that the carefully constructed nest is your department, and Mother Sparrow is your manager. She has invested much of her time, effort, and energy into building the organization, and she is helping you by giving you a foundation from which to build your career.

      Mother Sparrow has worked tirelessly to provide her growing young team with everything that it requires. To bite the hand that feeds you—or in this case, to peck the beak that feeds you—would be damaging to your career and disrespectful to your manager. It also represents the breakdown of all the associated support that your department may provide you.

      Pushing for preferential treatment, especially by means of aggression or bullying, will very often result in a setback of any progress you have made so far. Preferential treatment only comes to those with preferable skills and a polite and professional manner.