For me, Leadership is just a Decision. Decision to do things. There are three qualities of a Leader.
Showing posts with label Leadership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leadership. Show all posts
Monday, January 26, 2009
Leadership
Very hard to define Leadership. I have been reading so much about Leadership and there are people who teach leadership, and there are Universities who certify Leadership. The effectiveness of such things is yet to be proved because Leaders have varied qualities. It is really hard to generalize them.
For me, Leadership is just a Decision. Decision to do things. There are three qualities of a Leader.
1. Takes a Decision
World provides multiple ways to go, and everyone is in the state of confusion. This need not be complex business problems but problems that we face daily. Leaders take a decision, and make it his stand.
2. Defends his stand
Leaders do not change their position often. They believe in their decision, and live by it. If a Leader finds that he is wrong, he immediately make a different and inform the World of his new decision and position. He is neither confused nor he keep others confused.
3. Convert the decision
Decision which is not converted does not hold any value. The leader take all the necessary steps to prove the worth of his decision.
For me, Leadership is just a Decision. Decision to do things. There are three qualities of a Leader.
1. Takes a Decision
World provides multiple ways to go, and everyone is in the state of confusion. This need not be complex business problems but problems that we face daily. Leaders take a decision, and make it his stand.2. Defends his stand
Leaders do not change their position often. They believe in their decision, and live by it. If a Leader finds that he is wrong, he immediately make a different and inform the World of his new decision and position. He is neither confused nor he keep others confused.3. Convert the decision
Decision which is not converted does not hold any value. The leader take all the necessary steps to prove the worth of his decision.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Why Do You Blog?
Why Do You Blog? This is one of the common question people ask me. I have lots of reasons to do it. One of them being sharing my experiences to people around the World and get their views. This is a two way medium and I enjoy learning in this way than reading a book and giving lectures.
Many people find this reason of mine satisfactory, while others cross question. One of my friend asked me today, "Do you waste so much time just to do this?" Well, I had no answer for him. I told him to see my blog for the answer, and this post is the answer for it.
First thing is I don't feel I am wasting my time. I do it because I enjoy doing it. If I had not been blogging I would have been playing Age of Empires, Football or Chess. These are my favorite games. But the problem with the games is, you need a opponent and each time you win you need a better opponent to remain motivated. In team games, you will also need the team members and the necessary amenities!! And in this busy life, and an urban life its not easy to fulfill these requirements. So I choose to write blog.
Believe me, I started this out of my passion for Analytics field. And later took it forward as there were not many blogs that talk about Marketing Analytics, specially those who talk about the Technical Details. I am trying to address these in my blog.
Lately I found that blogging has helped me a lot; much more than I had thought it would. Few of my achievements are:
1. Strong Personal Network : I know a lot of people out of my college and companies I had been. This is possible by Networking Sites also, but blogging enhances without your personal effort of networking. I get at-least five Facebook and LinkedIn request every month. All this with lots of love from my readers. I simply love this.
2. Job offers : I get at-least one job offer every month. I don't know if everyone in the industry gets it, but I feel its the blog effect. Most of these offers mention reference to my blogging.
Other interesting thing is, you don't have to prepare for the job interviews!! People know your knowledge, and in the right way.
3. Marriage Proposals : Not many, but I have received a few. It is so great feeling to get such message from people you don't know. Things move or not, its certainly something to cheer.
With all these things in mind, I consider Blogging as one of the best possible medium to create Personal Brand. But when you consider Financial Factor, it has not helped for me directly. It has, however, opened doors for me to earn more!
This is all I have to say. Now its your turn. I am interested to know what you feel. Please share your experiences, views or comments. I would love to know what you think.
Many people find this reason of mine satisfactory, while others cross question. One of my friend asked me today, "Do you waste so much time just to do this?" Well, I had no answer for him. I told him to see my blog for the answer, and this post is the answer for it.
First thing is I don't feel I am wasting my time. I do it because I enjoy doing it. If I had not been blogging I would have been playing Age of Empires, Football or Chess. These are my favorite games. But the problem with the games is, you need a opponent and each time you win you need a better opponent to remain motivated. In team games, you will also need the team members and the necessary amenities!! And in this busy life, and an urban life its not easy to fulfill these requirements. So I choose to write blog.
Believe me, I started this out of my passion for Analytics field. And later took it forward as there were not many blogs that talk about Marketing Analytics, specially those who talk about the Technical Details. I am trying to address these in my blog.
Lately I found that blogging has helped me a lot; much more than I had thought it would. Few of my achievements are:
1. Strong Personal Network : I know a lot of people out of my college and companies I had been. This is possible by Networking Sites also, but blogging enhances without your personal effort of networking. I get at-least five Facebook and LinkedIn request every month. All this with lots of love from my readers. I simply love this.
2. Job offers : I get at-least one job offer every month. I don't know if everyone in the industry gets it, but I feel its the blog effect. Most of these offers mention reference to my blogging.
Other interesting thing is, you don't have to prepare for the job interviews!! People know your knowledge, and in the right way.
3. Marriage Proposals : Not many, but I have received a few. It is so great feeling to get such message from people you don't know. Things move or not, its certainly something to cheer.
With all these things in mind, I consider Blogging as one of the best possible medium to create Personal Brand. But when you consider Financial Factor, it has not helped for me directly. It has, however, opened doors for me to earn more!
This is all I have to say. Now its your turn. I am interested to know what you feel. Please share your experiences, views or comments. I would love to know what you think.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Economic Crisis Hit : Move to Work From Home
There are many reasons now to work from home and avoid going to office. If you are in HR or in Operations, better think early.
1. Low Power cost -- you don't have to pay for electricity for Employee's home.
2. Terrorists might attack the office premise but they are not going to bomb multiple employee's house. Maximum they can attack a person, and that also have less probability.
3. When people work from home, they end up working more than they do at office. Being at office can be their excuse for low productivity, but when its work from home they will have to show productivity through results.
4. Save office space cost.
5. Save Office Maintenance Cost including Tea/Coffee and snacks, toilet papers, printing paper etc.
6. Have least tension in your head; employee enjoy home and you enjoy your smooth business ride.
7 Above all score high in Employee Satisfaction score.
If your company is hit by economic crisis, then certainly think of it. IBM and CISCO has started moving this way. It might be your turn now.
1. Low Power cost -- you don't have to pay for electricity for Employee's home.
2. Terrorists might attack the office premise but they are not going to bomb multiple employee's house. Maximum they can attack a person, and that also have less probability.
3. When people work from home, they end up working more than they do at office. Being at office can be their excuse for low productivity, but when its work from home they will have to show productivity through results.
4. Save office space cost.
5. Save Office Maintenance Cost including Tea/Coffee and snacks, toilet papers, printing paper etc.
6. Have least tension in your head; employee enjoy home and you enjoy your smooth business ride.
7 Above all score high in Employee Satisfaction score.
If your company is hit by economic crisis, then certainly think of it. IBM and CISCO has started moving this way. It might be your turn now.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Death of Personal Blogs?
Most of the highly rated blogs are maintained by group and not by individuals. Seth Godin says in his blog post. And he asks if this is the death of personal blogging?. He says, NO. I agree with him.
Seth has taken the Top 10 Blogs from Technorati or from Alexa or Feedburner. But if you look closely, you will find every new ranking ranks the blogs differently.
(Group Victory is different from Individual Victory.)
Seth is the most successful bloggers, in Marketing Domain, in terms of most rankings. He has huge numbers of feed readers, he has huge number of fan following in Facebook Blog Networks, and he is in Top 20 in Technorati rankings. He might have been trying to move up, and not making it might have forced him to write this post.
But is it necessary to have good ranking? Well yes! If you are involved in any sector then it does make feel good if you reach the top in any rankings. But can you compare Best Movie Award to Best Actor Award? Well, not!
I would take the group bloggers as Movies where the individuals are not as important as their competitors who come close solely. So Seth, there are no reasons to feel bad. Just keep up your good work! You are anyway the best actor in the industry. No matter what the rankings say and how your movie perform.
May be we need some way to measure individual performance. Technorati does not rank blogger but ranks Blogs. A Blogger Ranker is the solution to this issue. Anyone does that? Or shall I start a business out of it? Suggest me!
Seth has taken the Top 10 Blogs from Technorati or from Alexa or Feedburner. But if you look closely, you will find every new ranking ranks the blogs differently.
(Group Victory is different from Individual Victory.)But is it necessary to have good ranking? Well yes! If you are involved in any sector then it does make feel good if you reach the top in any rankings. But can you compare Best Movie Award to Best Actor Award? Well, not!
I would take the group bloggers as Movies where the individuals are not as important as their competitors who come close solely. So Seth, there are no reasons to feel bad. Just keep up your good work! You are anyway the best actor in the industry. No matter what the rankings say and how your movie perform.
May be we need some way to measure individual performance. Technorati does not rank blogger but ranks Blogs. A Blogger Ranker is the solution to this issue. Anyone does that? Or shall I start a business out of it? Suggest me!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Obama's CTO
I am wondering who that lucky person be. Obama might have thought a name for the post. He could be Eric Schmidt, Larry Page, Steve Balmer, Bill Gates or Steve jobs. I would support Bill Gates, he just deserves it.
Just kidding, I don't expect these guys to be a CTO of US. They are very technical to be that, but yes, if Obama chose to make someone of this level, it will bring a huge change in the World.
Next important question is, what would CTO do. Will he suggest the President or will he follow what President says. CTO should actually be doing the second. Will have to see what Obama plans to achieve with him. When the Web is going in free use advertisement model, there is little Nation can do to make it to the poor. It already is.
This leaves space for the second mission. He will be working for projects of social cause, like building good monitoring systems and automated e-governance. But I doubt if anything such is left in US to be done.
I fear, and sometime think isn't Obama doing just what he said he wont do. He seems to be taking Capitalism to the next level, and seems to be moving closer to Von Misses. He seems to be creating a govt. which does not own anything but monitors. Govt.s are getting closer to the company, and the only difference being the same customers and investors, the people.
Hillary Clinton is likely to get the Secretary of State. But how about making her Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). She seems a good marketer, and after-all post of Secretary of State is also about Marketing American Policies in the World.
Moving on the same line, how about getting a Chief Information Officer and Chief Policy Architect too. These posts can be filled by the head of CIA and Pentagon. Next comes the Chief Customer Engagement Officer to be taken by the Foreign Secretary. And CFO by the Finance Secretary. Great huh!!
Then President Obama can run America with full logic, and in well thought notions. Not surprising, but true. The Cs will not be the political hires and will represent more bureaucracy than politics. Good for the govt. but will have to see if it actually is good for the people too.
I am optimistic, and will be watching the development very closely.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Obama Could Become a War President
Most people wont agree with me here. But I see Obama running his Presidency in more WAR than Peace, and the CHANGE he has promised might just turn out to be a Election Campaign and a raw thought in American Politics.
The first hint Obama has given towards War is his words against Pakistan. Bush was never so clear on his dealing with Pakistan but was successful in getting Pakistan work against Taliban. Obama may lead a major ground work for Nuclear Disarmament of Pakistan. This could be a reason he has four Indian-Americans (Sonal Shah, Anjan Mukherjee, Preeta Bansal, Nicholas Rathod) in his core team. How he carries this is yet to be seen.
I expect Obama to build diplomatic relations with Iran. He will need to do this to act against Pakistan, which he feels is the major source of terrorist activities. This is a wait and see thing again.
His African Origin and non-elitist thought might distance him from his work in Africa. He could work to help Zimbabwe come out of crisis doing great work for Human Race, but this is sure to distance him from the British. This in-turn will help Europe build good bonding amongst themselves. Good news for France and Germany.
Obama is net savvy. He is going to be the first US President of the Youtube and Facebook era. His active Facebook profile and him saying people can find anything they want about him in his Facebook profile is a clear indicator of his network savvy attitude. Along with that 1800 videos in Youtube videos from Obama camp for Elections is another big story.
Now Americans might get a govt. which directly talks to them. Obama will speak where no one ask questions, and first hand and non-polluted information will be available to the World directly from Pentagon and White House. But this will go unchecked too. Might turn dangerous if they went wrong way.
Obama has a Law Degree and is a community organizer. He has deep understanding of the community and is smart at playing with the Law. Will have to see how he uses that to fight the Economic Downturn.
I am sure, he is not good at Economics but seems to be smart enough to learn and implement. Afterall world does not lack knowledge specialists, they are available in every corner of the world. Many do Ph. D.s in Economics and many others are Economic hobbyist, and all have suggestions. Obama will have to pick smart people, and have to safe guard himself from over-dependency with the smart folks.
Obama is certainly a change, and a big change. His Black Origin and White touch; Hussain as his middle name and a Christianity as Religion etc. he is certainly a change. But Americans are the same. They are Performance driven, and are aggressive. Which is in sharp contrast to stability and fun loving Europeans, and he wont be able to change this.
He will have to bring good economic situation and have to keep American Global Leadership intact. This will make difficult for him to discourage outsourcing or pull-off US soldiers from Iraq. But he will have to try doing it, which might make things worse.
Then time will come when Obama's Data Analysts will work. Trend shows that US economy boosts when US goes to War. Result Obama turns to becoming greater War President than G.W. Bush.
What do you have to say here? Would be looking to hear from you.
The first hint Obama has given towards War is his words against Pakistan. Bush was never so clear on his dealing with Pakistan but was successful in getting Pakistan work against Taliban. Obama may lead a major ground work for Nuclear Disarmament of Pakistan. This could be a reason he has four Indian-Americans (Sonal Shah, Anjan Mukherjee, Preeta Bansal, Nicholas Rathod) in his core team. How he carries this is yet to be seen.
I expect Obama to build diplomatic relations with Iran. He will need to do this to act against Pakistan, which he feels is the major source of terrorist activities. This is a wait and see thing again.
His African Origin and non-elitist thought might distance him from his work in Africa. He could work to help Zimbabwe come out of crisis doing great work for Human Race, but this is sure to distance him from the British. This in-turn will help Europe build good bonding amongst themselves. Good news for France and Germany.
Obama is net savvy. He is going to be the first US President of the Youtube and Facebook era. His active Facebook profile and him saying people can find anything they want about him in his Facebook profile is a clear indicator of his network savvy attitude. Along with that 1800 videos in Youtube videos from Obama camp for Elections is another big story.
Now Americans might get a govt. which directly talks to them. Obama will speak where no one ask questions, and first hand and non-polluted information will be available to the World directly from Pentagon and White House. But this will go unchecked too. Might turn dangerous if they went wrong way.
Obama has a Law Degree and is a community organizer. He has deep understanding of the community and is smart at playing with the Law. Will have to see how he uses that to fight the Economic Downturn.
I am sure, he is not good at Economics but seems to be smart enough to learn and implement. Afterall world does not lack knowledge specialists, they are available in every corner of the world. Many do Ph. D.s in Economics and many others are Economic hobbyist, and all have suggestions. Obama will have to pick smart people, and have to safe guard himself from over-dependency with the smart folks.
Obama is certainly a change, and a big change. His Black Origin and White touch; Hussain as his middle name and a Christianity as Religion etc. he is certainly a change. But Americans are the same. They are Performance driven, and are aggressive. Which is in sharp contrast to stability and fun loving Europeans, and he wont be able to change this.
He will have to bring good economic situation and have to keep American Global Leadership intact. This will make difficult for him to discourage outsourcing or pull-off US soldiers from Iraq. But he will have to try doing it, which might make things worse.
Then time will come when Obama's Data Analysts will work. Trend shows that US economy boosts when US goes to War. Result Obama turns to becoming greater War President than G.W. Bush.
What do you have to say here? Would be looking to hear from you.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Geeky Humans and Geeky Companies
Everyone in the world wants to be Geeky. Correct me if I am wrong.
This is something always true for humans. They want to show that they study less (but score more in exams), they don't mind even bigger things (but they mind every little things), they want to be seen as least possessive about their love (but its just that they don't want their partner to be, but in actual everybody is), and the list goes on.
Human loves criticizing self for actions but they wont ever do for the results. I have never seen people saying, I fail in exams or I am too fat or I am just too thin or I have tolerated my wife dating someone else ....
The reason might be ... everyone wants to prove they are smart enough not to work for better but have better results. So everyone wants to prove that he is smart and geeky.
But if you want to find yourself how much geeky you are I have a solution. I found for myself and now its your turn for yourself.
Just go and visit this page. And do not forget to share how geeky you are through comments here.
Now let us evaluate about the companies. Every company's main agenda is to earn and save, and grow. Have huge revenue, least expenses and awesome profits. But mostly companies don't share this information to the employees.
Reason : They want to look Geeky!!
I have seen a consulting company having very poor economic health, which is verge of bankruptcy, saying they offer such an extra-ordinary working environment to the employees that they send people to foreign trip even when there is no on-site assignment. WOW.
Great news. I would love to join this type of company. How about you?
One of my friend joined the company, and the very first month he discovered that they have not sent any employees abroad for last 2 years. He felt, he was cheated and went to the HR.
HR folks told him, "we are sorry, but we had to say that to look geeky. We will however try one foreign tour for you. Please do not disclose these matters to the outside world. You are one of us now, and we need to work to make things better here."
WOW!! Great Geeky Company!
My friend said he is going to resign the same day. The HR folks proposed to negotiate for extra compensation. He had no options but to accept it. After all he too had issues in changing companies often. He settled for the increased compensation and started preparing for GMAT and CAT. He seemed more geeky than the HR folks that day but he never actually got the increased compensation. :D
Does anyone have similar experience in your career? Do not forget to share, if you have any.
This is something always true for humans. They want to show that they study less (but score more in exams), they don't mind even bigger things (but they mind every little things), they want to be seen as least possessive about their love (but its just that they don't want their partner to be, but in actual everybody is), and the list goes on.
Human loves criticizing self for actions but they wont ever do for the results. I have never seen people saying, I fail in exams or I am too fat or I am just too thin or I have tolerated my wife dating someone else ....
The reason might be ... everyone wants to prove they are smart enough not to work for better but have better results. So everyone wants to prove that he is smart and geeky.
But if you want to find yourself how much geeky you are I have a solution. I found for myself and now its your turn for yourself.
Just go and visit this page. And do not forget to share how geeky you are through comments here.
Now let us evaluate about the companies. Every company's main agenda is to earn and save, and grow. Have huge revenue, least expenses and awesome profits. But mostly companies don't share this information to the employees.
Reason : They want to look Geeky!!
I have seen a consulting company having very poor economic health, which is verge of bankruptcy, saying they offer such an extra-ordinary working environment to the employees that they send people to foreign trip even when there is no on-site assignment. WOW.
Great news. I would love to join this type of company. How about you?
One of my friend joined the company, and the very first month he discovered that they have not sent any employees abroad for last 2 years. He felt, he was cheated and went to the HR.
HR folks told him, "we are sorry, but we had to say that to look geeky. We will however try one foreign tour for you. Please do not disclose these matters to the outside world. You are one of us now, and we need to work to make things better here."
WOW!! Great Geeky Company!
My friend said he is going to resign the same day. The HR folks proposed to negotiate for extra compensation. He had no options but to accept it. After all he too had issues in changing companies often. He settled for the increased compensation and started preparing for GMAT and CAT. He seemed more geeky than the HR folks that day but he never actually got the increased compensation. :D
Does anyone have similar experience in your career? Do not forget to share, if you have any.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Entrepreneurs : Don't Do an MBA
First let me ask you few questions.
1. Do you remember Maradona?
2. Do you know who Bill Gates is?
3. Do you know who Britney Spears is?
4. Do you know Sergey Brin?
5. Do you know Steve Jobs?
Well, you must have scored 5 out of 5. Great.
Now can you give some time to think who are the people managing these folks. Remember the managers of Britney and Marodona? Remember who Steve Ballmer is? And then think if you can remember what educational degree these folks have.
Done? YES!! Cool.
I am sure none of you actually scored 100% on the later half.
I have been studying whether MBA is necessary to be successful in career, especially an Entrepreneur career. The study showed that most of the World CEOs are MBAs, and it was a WOW for MBAs.
But then the underlying thing is, none of the most successful Entrepreneurs are MBAs. They are either college drop outs like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, or they are simply very passionate youth Entrepreneurs like Kishore Binyani (founder, chairman of Future Group).
This lead I to think that MBA is required to be a high spending CEO or a high profile Employee as the Entrepreneurs tend to hire MBAs for the Managerial roles. But if you have something to deliver to the world and if you are passionate about it, You Don’t Need an MBA.
MBA is a waste of two years. And at the end of two years, you are left with little passion about work but are trained to manage other folks. Managing is a great skill to have to lessen risk in life. But to really do something World will remember for long, it might not be. Because World Remembers people who actually work but not the one who Manages them.
MBAs have built many companies but only few of them can actually jump into starting a business after an MBA. They need to work for some other company to build their profile and earn money to pay back educational loan (which most people think is a path to greatness).
So MBAs when start a company, it’s gonna be their retiring venture which calls for being risk averse (for family reasons or age issues or whatever). Instead if someone starts a company early, he can take it much ahead as it is gonna be his starting venture and he can take up huge risks.
So if you think, you are Entrepreneurial and can build company. Please don't do an MBA and please don't go and work under someone who once chose not to go for an MBA.
Just start a company. Do it asap.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Why are you a failure?
Many people complain about their failure and believe it is the luck that played its role. But I have found most of the Professional Failures are self-induced. Some people remain low as they lack dream and vision, while most people dream and still fail. This is quite unusual but there is a huge mass lying here.
Will discuss my observations in detail but before that you may want to know how to grow, before going into how not to grow. Find it here (10 Mantra for Professional Success).
It is in line with the famous line from Warren Buffet. I would like to mention it here.
Will discuss my observations in detail but before that you may want to know how to grow, before going into how not to grow. Find it here (10 Mantra for Professional Success).
Growth is not impulsive but its continuous rising.
I am sure many people wont agree with me in this point. But yes, any growth is the result of continuous effort and upward rise. Any impulsive growth is bound to fall and the bigger the impulse, the bigger is the chances to fall.It is in line with the famous line from Warren Buffet. I would like to mention it here.
"No one has made quick money and retained it".
Most Common Mistakes people make
Yes, impulsive growth is not that good but if one can wait and retain the position after the impulse before making further step, it may remain. But chances are rare.
"4 Ds for growth in Life. Deserve, Dream, Decide and Do."
This is very important. Growth has to be deserved first and then asked for. If you don't deserve, its very likely that you will never get it.
Most Common Mistakes people make
1. Living a Disciplined Life
Yes, I really mean a disciplined life. Most of the disciplined people are inflexible and they are masters of pushing their agenda not understanding the business need. They go to the company at 9 AM and leave at 6 PM everyday. They see themselves as the best people who manage personal and professional life, and lead a happy life. This is true if the business need is well taken care but most disciplined people make two mistakes -
a. Spend time in office not doing anything when there is no work. They could better have enjoyed time and refreshed to work when work comes to them.
b. Find hard to work extra when there is huge work load in the company.
This creates the impression with the upper level, that he is good but not for him. The disciplined people are there when you don't need them, and are hardly available when you need them.
2. Very Professional while dealing with Colleagues.
Everybody works and have to work, but life should not stop there neither the relationship. I want to get work from someone who works and completes his work, but grow someone I enjoy working with.
I don't want Human Robots who works and just works. I should not only enjoy working with my team but enjoy dining too.
I think, same applies to you too. So if you like to work with people you like, same does your manager. Thus a very professional dealing may sometime stuck your growth, and the answer is to grow personal relation and create a bond of friendship in your team.
This is not only true up but below too. Your team should be there to support your growth and if they don't like your personally, they will hardly support.
3. Finish all work given and wait for growth to come.
If you are good at doing what ever is given to you, you are perfect for your job. But when it comes to your growth, you may just not be fit. There are three stages of human development and that the position ladder in any organization seeks.
a. Doing what is given
This is for the level of Engineer/Analyst/Consultant, you do what is told to you. The better you do the better you are fit for your position.
b. Propose solution for Business Problems
It is the general expectation from the Managers. If you are not in a position to do this, then you are simply not ready to be one. Your number of years of experience in the industry hardly matters.
c. Create Business Problems
Directors and above are expected to do it. They will have to think above the current work and think on how to move forward and grow the business. Once someone starts thinking on these lines, he is ready to be there. Else end life as a managers!! No Choice.
Have said all this, I just want to add someting. Growth comes to someone who works at one level and prepares himself for the upper level. Not to forget is the proper communication of the preparation for the next level of work to the people above. Till they know it, chances of growth are again rare.
4. Good people Manager
Well people talk of someone being a good people manager. I wonder if someone can actually be. Companies have Business Problems and they need to be managed and get done. But Employees are people and they have their thought and vision. Managing them can only backfire, and result in losing both people's respect and in-time project completion.
He is then just a manager who lacks vision, and end up just being a person doing what others push to him.
5. Growth by an alternative route
Many people join a company to prepare for CAT, GMAT, GRE etc. and then go for further study. But when they don't find the college of their choice, they turn to the company and see their peers growing more than them. Then the comparison starts. They feel they have done everything what's given to them and have worked hard and deserve the growth as anybody else.
Sadly, people tend to behave differently with the varied priority. And it is visible to everyone in the company. The lack of seriousness is felt and the growth is reduced for people working on lower priority.
The weakness here is not the exploration of alternative route but the expectation of growth within the company. People grow where they focus and you should search success where you have the highest focus. And thats it!
--
I am done now. What do you think? I will be happy to hear from you, be it critical or supportive.
Yes, I really mean a disciplined life. Most of the disciplined people are inflexible and they are masters of pushing their agenda not understanding the business need. They go to the company at 9 AM and leave at 6 PM everyday. They see themselves as the best people who manage personal and professional life, and lead a happy life. This is true if the business need is well taken care but most disciplined people make two mistakes -
a. Spend time in office not doing anything when there is no work. They could better have enjoyed time and refreshed to work when work comes to them.
b. Find hard to work extra when there is huge work load in the company.
This creates the impression with the upper level, that he is good but not for him. The disciplined people are there when you don't need them, and are hardly available when you need them.
2. Very Professional while dealing with Colleagues.
Everybody works and have to work, but life should not stop there neither the relationship. I want to get work from someone who works and completes his work, but grow someone I enjoy working with.
I don't want Human Robots who works and just works. I should not only enjoy working with my team but enjoy dining too.
I think, same applies to you too. So if you like to work with people you like, same does your manager. Thus a very professional dealing may sometime stuck your growth, and the answer is to grow personal relation and create a bond of friendship in your team.
This is not only true up but below too. Your team should be there to support your growth and if they don't like your personally, they will hardly support.
3. Finish all work given and wait for growth to come.
If you are good at doing what ever is given to you, you are perfect for your job. But when it comes to your growth, you may just not be fit. There are three stages of human development and that the position ladder in any organization seeks.
a. Doing what is given
This is for the level of Engineer/Analyst/Consultant, you do what is told to you. The better you do the better you are fit for your position.
b. Propose solution for Business Problems
It is the general expectation from the Managers. If you are not in a position to do this, then you are simply not ready to be one. Your number of years of experience in the industry hardly matters.
c. Create Business Problems
Directors and above are expected to do it. They will have to think above the current work and think on how to move forward and grow the business. Once someone starts thinking on these lines, he is ready to be there. Else end life as a managers!! No Choice.
Have said all this, I just want to add someting. Growth comes to someone who works at one level and prepares himself for the upper level. Not to forget is the proper communication of the preparation for the next level of work to the people above. Till they know it, chances of growth are again rare.
4. Good people Manager
Well people talk of someone being a good people manager. I wonder if someone can actually be. Companies have Business Problems and they need to be managed and get done. But Employees are people and they have their thought and vision. Managing them can only backfire, and result in losing both people's respect and in-time project completion.
"Good People Management is an excuse, and not great Quality".
People should be lead and lead by example. When someone below you is stuck with some problem, then go and suggest him some solution and help him move forward. If you can't then give him time learn and do it. Rather people managers tend to pressurize him to work long hours and get the work done. This may make the manager feel good about the work getting done, but the day he does that he has lost his position as a leader.He is then just a manager who lacks vision, and end up just being a person doing what others push to him.
5. Growth by an alternative route
Many people join a company to prepare for CAT, GMAT, GRE etc. and then go for further study. But when they don't find the college of their choice, they turn to the company and see their peers growing more than them. Then the comparison starts. They feel they have done everything what's given to them and have worked hard and deserve the growth as anybody else.
Sadly, people tend to behave differently with the varied priority. And it is visible to everyone in the company. The lack of seriousness is felt and the growth is reduced for people working on lower priority.
The weakness here is not the exploration of alternative route but the expectation of growth within the company. People grow where they focus and you should search success where you have the highest focus. And thats it!
--
I am done now. What do you think? I will be happy to hear from you, be it critical or supportive.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Second Mittal Coming -- Sunil Bharti Mittal
Laxmi Niwas Mittal, the steel tycoon, has become a household name and by now everyone interested in business know this name. But very few people may know the second Mittal, the chairman of Bharti Group, Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal.
I see this man as the Iron Man of India who has astonished the world and made people to rewrite not only the Indian business history but the entire global one. He is currently heading the Indian Industrial body and I am sure he is going to bring many changes.
I remember Bharti Airtel's outsourcing of IT Management to IBM when no one in India ever thought of outsourcing. It was somewhere around 2002-03 and the deal size was about $ 700 mn over a period of 5 years. This step marked the first ever move by an Indian company to make India a potential market for high class technology platform in sharp contrast to the general view of being an low-cost outsourcing destination. It was a huge step taken. Mr. Second Mittal went forward with networking outsourcing deals with different vendors for different cycles and the vendor included Ericsson, Juniper and others. This brought Indian consumers to the same level of their American and European counterparts in terms of technology use.
On these moves one of the Market Analyst said, Airtel is going to crust in few years and Sunil Mital will be responsible for it. He went forward saying Mr. Mittal as a crazy and mad businessman who does not know what his limits are. The result were just the opposite and now Airtel has become one of the largest Telecom service provider of the World (in terms of number of subscribers).
I give huge credit to Mr. Sunil Mittal for raising the confidence of the Indian Businessman to do global business and also for placing India as a power player.
Sunil Mittal has done lot of hard-work to bring the world's largest Telecom service provider, Vodafone, to India. And he brought it as his competitor. It was a move taken with many motives.
1. To stop Reliance from becoming number one service provider in India (Reliance plus Hutch would have been bigger than Airtel)
2. To use Vodafone-Airtel partnerships in other markets, like the one recently done in Jersey Island.
3. To use Vodafone-Airtel deal of bandwidth sharing in its benefit (from now on Airtel customers will be using Vodafone network for international roaming but Vodafone customer wont use Airtel's, as using Airtel's network will enhance its brand image downgrading Vodafone-Hutch's.). This has lead to bandwidth sharing understanding bewteen Airtel and Hutch, which makes it difficult for Vodafone to do any aggressive marketing or restructuring campaign.
4. Use Vodafone's investment in Airtel in other Bharti's venture as a trust development move in return to the Airtel's allowance to buy Hutch.
These are just the seen motives, which has come to the market. There may be many more. It is also believed that Airtel camp believes Vodafone as a weak competitor to Reliance and others from India as Vodafone does not have established victorious play in any developing country. What ever may be the reasons Mr. Mittal has shown his brave heart by welcoming Vodafone in India.
The interesting last game is approaching. That may be the last major step by Sunil Mittal and that may be as big as LN Mittal's bid for Arcelor. Bharti-Walmart is going to start its operation in Indian Retail sector soon. Walmart, the US Retail Giant, which has won almost all the game it has played anywhere in the planet, is now with the Indian Tiger. It will be interesting to see how the venture moves forward. They are together as Sunil Mittal could find no one else in the world as aggressive as he wanted for his Retail Venture. And Walmart, world's most aggressive business house has agreed to do business with Bharti.
Looking at the hunger of the two partners, both may try to turn to its benefit and one may have to exit. They are simply too aggressive to keep the other partner. It is sure that whoever wins the Bharti-Walmart venture, he is sure to win the world second most potential Retail Market after the US. AND I wont be surprised to see Bharti winning.
First Mittal, LN Mittal did two things. One, he made Indians optimistic of global business and second he gave the feel of Indian talent to the outsiders. The Seond Mittal has done one thing, he gave Indians the access to the world's latest and best technology. May be the his second gift is coming, that might be the world's largest business house head-quartered in India. Then the name Bharti Group will be really Bharti (Indian). And if all it happens, it will mark the beginning of the Indian Century.
Cheers! Cheers!! Cheers!!! I have three cheers to Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal. All the best dude.
I see this man as the Iron Man of India who has astonished the world and made people to rewrite not only the Indian business history but the entire global one. He is currently heading the Indian Industrial body and I am sure he is going to bring many changes.
I remember Bharti Airtel's outsourcing of IT Management to IBM when no one in India ever thought of outsourcing. It was somewhere around 2002-03 and the deal size was about $ 700 mn over a period of 5 years. This step marked the first ever move by an Indian company to make India a potential market for high class technology platform in sharp contrast to the general view of being an low-cost outsourcing destination. It was a huge step taken. Mr. Second Mittal went forward with networking outsourcing deals with different vendors for different cycles and the vendor included Ericsson, Juniper and others. This brought Indian consumers to the same level of their American and European counterparts in terms of technology use.
On these moves one of the Market Analyst said, Airtel is going to crust in few years and Sunil Mital will be responsible for it. He went forward saying Mr. Mittal as a crazy and mad businessman who does not know what his limits are. The result were just the opposite and now Airtel has become one of the largest Telecom service provider of the World (in terms of number of subscribers).
I give huge credit to Mr. Sunil Mittal for raising the confidence of the Indian Businessman to do global business and also for placing India as a power player.
Sunil Mittal has done lot of hard-work to bring the world's largest Telecom service provider, Vodafone, to India. And he brought it as his competitor. It was a move taken with many motives.
1. To stop Reliance from becoming number one service provider in India (Reliance plus Hutch would have been bigger than Airtel)
2. To use Vodafone-Airtel partnerships in other markets, like the one recently done in Jersey Island.
3. To use Vodafone-Airtel deal of bandwidth sharing in its benefit (from now on Airtel customers will be using Vodafone network for international roaming but Vodafone customer wont use Airtel's, as using Airtel's network will enhance its brand image downgrading Vodafone-Hutch's.). This has lead to bandwidth sharing understanding bewteen Airtel and Hutch, which makes it difficult for Vodafone to do any aggressive marketing or restructuring campaign.
4. Use Vodafone's investment in Airtel in other Bharti's venture as a trust development move in return to the Airtel's allowance to buy Hutch.
These are just the seen motives, which has come to the market. There may be many more. It is also believed that Airtel camp believes Vodafone as a weak competitor to Reliance and others from India as Vodafone does not have established victorious play in any developing country. What ever may be the reasons Mr. Mittal has shown his brave heart by welcoming Vodafone in India.
The interesting last game is approaching. That may be the last major step by Sunil Mittal and that may be as big as LN Mittal's bid for Arcelor. Bharti-Walmart is going to start its operation in Indian Retail sector soon. Walmart, the US Retail Giant, which has won almost all the game it has played anywhere in the planet, is now with the Indian Tiger. It will be interesting to see how the venture moves forward. They are together as Sunil Mittal could find no one else in the world as aggressive as he wanted for his Retail Venture. And Walmart, world's most aggressive business house has agreed to do business with Bharti.
Looking at the hunger of the two partners, both may try to turn to its benefit and one may have to exit. They are simply too aggressive to keep the other partner. It is sure that whoever wins the Bharti-Walmart venture, he is sure to win the world second most potential Retail Market after the US. AND I wont be surprised to see Bharti winning.
First Mittal, LN Mittal did two things. One, he made Indians optimistic of global business and second he gave the feel of Indian talent to the outsiders. The Seond Mittal has done one thing, he gave Indians the access to the world's latest and best technology. May be the his second gift is coming, that might be the world's largest business house head-quartered in India. Then the name Bharti Group will be really Bharti (Indian). And if all it happens, it will mark the beginning of the Indian Century.
Cheers! Cheers!! Cheers!!! I have three cheers to Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal. All the best dude.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Top 10 Mantra for Professional Success
There are many myths surrounding professional success. These myths are:
1. Intelligence is equal to success.
Not all intelligent people succeed. It is important to exploit the inner self and use intelligence to give some productive output. Thus the implementation of intelligence is equally necessary for success.
Success = Intelligence + Application
2. Good colleges is the only way for great professional career.
Not necessarily. I would say, most of the really dedicated and hard-working people go to the good colleges, thus giving their credit to the organization. There are many people who are not successful in any college student portfolio, it should never be forgotten.
Also, there are many people who make their career a success without joining any college or joining a not so reputed college.
People make organization and not vice versa.
3. Good students are successful.
Good students may be very much focussed on the curricular study and may be poor elsewhere. So they need not be fast learners. Also, I have seen many poor students who are fast learners too. Success comes from knowledge and learners make success.
Knowledge brings success and not marks.
4. Good start lead to good career.
I have seen many people comparing two candidates on the basis of the start of the career. A candidate starting his job journey in Mackinsey or Google is more likely to be successful than his counterpart on some small company. I would say, a big NO. May be those candidates who reach there reach because of their higher potential. But as far as the career starting is concerned, there are lots to learn at each stages of the company metamorphosis. Startups teach entrepreneurship and established companies teach business retention. One need to know the best and worst of both worlds to have sustainable career.
Success (sustainable business) = Entrepreneurship + Business Retention
5 Take few steps, but well thought and risk free
Well thought and risk free decision search often leads to no decision. Good or bad decisions can be known only when it is implement and the results analyzed. Results of earlier decisions often guide to form decisions with low probability of affecting averse, but taking decisions of similar types make one very predictable to the competitors.
There are no decisions that are totally risk free. So what ever steps taken will have some risk associated with it. Not to take risk is the greatest risk one can take in life. The world changes with time and so is the need of any business, and there is always a call for change. Thus frequent changes coming from bold decisions is necessary to reach and stay ahead of competition. So some risk, and call for change should always remain.
Constancy is heroism only if it means constant change.
People may have different interests and successful people are there in every field. People have choice to chose the way to live from many different ways, but he will have to chose a path. He may chose to do what he needs to do or may choose to do what he wants to do. Former is risk averse and a path to mediocre life. Later is bumpy way and it calls for full potential exploitation, where if successful leads to new opportunities and increased influence in the society as a whole. Intelligent people do what he wants to do, while rising softly keeping the interest of the people who want him to do something else.
Here I am presenting my Top 10 Mantra for Professional Success.
1. Decide to Succeed
Success will only come to people who wants to succeed (to the people who dare to think big). So, one cannot wait for the success to come his way. The wait will go infinite if it is calling no actions.
2. Remain Bold
People who want success have to fight with many challenges. Some challenges may be a hard obstacle and some may be a soft way to failure. It is important to resist both affecting the ambition.
If you have any complains then raise it sooner than later. Do not compromise on things specially if it is prolonged issue. The solution will follow only when the issue is raised.
Consider a scenario where you are a associate and you have problems with your manager. Till you complain, no one will even think over the issue. Even there are ample chances for you to be under the same manager next time too. It will be a less risky step for the Sr. Manager or Director to continue a bond where problems are not seen. That makes every sense.
Everyone have their own work and they seldom think for you, and that is how organization work. They all are right in their own way. So if you want peace of mind and good career with a company, be bold to raise any issue faced.
3. Plan and execute your promotion
Most people complain about Manager for the later not helping him succeed and when I ask them whether they have raised the issue to the manager, mostly the answer is NO. If something is unsaid, it is highly probable that it is not communicated. It is always the self who can understand the wants of an individual and for everyone else it has to be communicated.
Also, the best career map can be made by self. No one else can make it for someone else. Manager can at best facilitate the people under him to attain his goals, but it is highly dependent on the individual to make good career plan and execute it.
4. Push-pull theory
The best way to grow in any organization is to force manager to grow upwards. Once he is grown, there is a vacancy created and it is in your manager's interest to pull you up rather than filling it from outside as you are the person whom he understands best. Restricting any body's success in your group will make it difficult to grow as any friction created to anyone's success is always reciprocated.
So, if someone has to grow it has to be you, your lead or your manager.
5. Complain up and motivate down
People at the management are responsible for change. They are better be criticized for betterment. Positive criticism brings good energy to the organization.
But criticism of any company policy or product has to go up and not down. You are the people who is looked by your juniors and any complain downwards looks like frustration to them, and that increases negative energy in the company. It will damage in two ways. One it make your juniors less motivated to work affecting the day to day operation of the company and another it eroding your image as a good leader.
6. Growth is always organizational
People grow when company grow. It is very hard for people to grow in a loss making organization. So everybody should work for the best interest of the company and avoid any actions that affects company's growth.
It includes not criticizing company in external world. It has to be avoided in all cases. The company's image adds to the personal brand equity and negative publicity will harm you as much as your company management.
Also, any criticism of your company can be played by its competitors to play against both you and your company. This can also lead to damaging your personal image in the mind of other people in the industry making you less employable.
7. Hard work and hardcore fun.
Everyone knows that it is very important to work hard to grow. But most people forget that to work hard, it is essential to keep own body ready for the challenge to avoid any health hazards and frustrations/work stress. Hardcore fun while not working does that. So, enjoy up to your limits in the weekends and work hard in the weekdays. This may include regular outings, parties, long drives, adventure sports etc. Choose something that gives you maximum fun.
8. Work you portion but know the big picture
Company pay us to do the work assigned, so it has to be done in time at all cost. But that should not stop you from knowing why you are doing that work, basically knowing the overall picture of the project. If you are not working in a open company which provides this information to all working, you should ask to your seniors.
Here you are trying to understand the business goal of the project. This will prepare you to take higher positions.
9. Know your company
Knowing your company is important to your project. Knowledge about the project will be given to you but for other information you need to take initiative yourself and learn. Try to get as much information as possible regarding your company's management, organizational structure, offerings (products and services) etc. This will help you work better and be an brand ambassador of your company, thus adding fuel to your company's growth.
Knowledge about the company also gives good impression to the seniors helping you grow faster within the organization.
10. Competitor Analysis
Well, this is quite a tricky step to grow faster in the industry. Knowing your company accelerate growth within a company but knowing its competitors guarantees your success in the industry. there are two advantages competitor analysis brings.
One you can help your company counter the competitors move thus affecting your company's revenue positively. This is in most cases rewarded with promotion and bonus. Secondly, if you are not given fair compensation from your company, you know where to move next. Thus you give tough time to the management and the HR not to let you grow.
I would highly appreciate any comment on this article. Please drop your views here.
1. Intelligence is equal to success.
Not all intelligent people succeed. It is important to exploit the inner self and use intelligence to give some productive output. Thus the implementation of intelligence is equally necessary for success.
Success = Intelligence + Application
2. Good colleges is the only way for great professional career.
Not necessarily. I would say, most of the really dedicated and hard-working people go to the good colleges, thus giving their credit to the organization. There are many people who are not successful in any college student portfolio, it should never be forgotten.
Also, there are many people who make their career a success without joining any college or joining a not so reputed college.
People make organization and not vice versa.
3. Good students are successful.
Good students may be very much focussed on the curricular study and may be poor elsewhere. So they need not be fast learners. Also, I have seen many poor students who are fast learners too. Success comes from knowledge and learners make success.
Knowledge brings success and not marks.
4. Good start lead to good career.
I have seen many people comparing two candidates on the basis of the start of the career. A candidate starting his job journey in Mackinsey or Google is more likely to be successful than his counterpart on some small company. I would say, a big NO. May be those candidates who reach there reach because of their higher potential. But as far as the career starting is concerned, there are lots to learn at each stages of the company metamorphosis. Startups teach entrepreneurship and established companies teach business retention. One need to know the best and worst of both worlds to have sustainable career.
Success (sustainable business) = Entrepreneurship + Business Retention
5 Take few steps, but well thought and risk free
Well thought and risk free decision search often leads to no decision. Good or bad decisions can be known only when it is implement and the results analyzed. Results of earlier decisions often guide to form decisions with low probability of affecting averse, but taking decisions of similar types make one very predictable to the competitors.
There are no decisions that are totally risk free. So what ever steps taken will have some risk associated with it. Not to take risk is the greatest risk one can take in life. The world changes with time and so is the need of any business, and there is always a call for change. Thus frequent changes coming from bold decisions is necessary to reach and stay ahead of competition. So some risk, and call for change should always remain.
Constancy is heroism only if it means constant change.
People may have different interests and successful people are there in every field. People have choice to chose the way to live from many different ways, but he will have to chose a path. He may chose to do what he needs to do or may choose to do what he wants to do. Former is risk averse and a path to mediocre life. Later is bumpy way and it calls for full potential exploitation, where if successful leads to new opportunities and increased influence in the society as a whole. Intelligent people do what he wants to do, while rising softly keeping the interest of the people who want him to do something else.
Here I am presenting my Top 10 Mantra for Professional Success.
1. Decide to Succeed
Success will only come to people who wants to succeed (to the people who dare to think big). So, one cannot wait for the success to come his way. The wait will go infinite if it is calling no actions.
2. Remain Bold
People who want success have to fight with many challenges. Some challenges may be a hard obstacle and some may be a soft way to failure. It is important to resist both affecting the ambition.
If you have any complains then raise it sooner than later. Do not compromise on things specially if it is prolonged issue. The solution will follow only when the issue is raised.
Consider a scenario where you are a associate and you have problems with your manager. Till you complain, no one will even think over the issue. Even there are ample chances for you to be under the same manager next time too. It will be a less risky step for the Sr. Manager or Director to continue a bond where problems are not seen. That makes every sense.
Everyone have their own work and they seldom think for you, and that is how organization work. They all are right in their own way. So if you want peace of mind and good career with a company, be bold to raise any issue faced.
3. Plan and execute your promotion
Most people complain about Manager for the later not helping him succeed and when I ask them whether they have raised the issue to the manager, mostly the answer is NO. If something is unsaid, it is highly probable that it is not communicated. It is always the self who can understand the wants of an individual and for everyone else it has to be communicated.
Also, the best career map can be made by self. No one else can make it for someone else. Manager can at best facilitate the people under him to attain his goals, but it is highly dependent on the individual to make good career plan and execute it.
4. Push-pull theory
The best way to grow in any organization is to force manager to grow upwards. Once he is grown, there is a vacancy created and it is in your manager's interest to pull you up rather than filling it from outside as you are the person whom he understands best. Restricting any body's success in your group will make it difficult to grow as any friction created to anyone's success is always reciprocated.
So, if someone has to grow it has to be you, your lead or your manager.
5. Complain up and motivate down
People at the management are responsible for change. They are better be criticized for betterment. Positive criticism brings good energy to the organization.
But criticism of any company policy or product has to go up and not down. You are the people who is looked by your juniors and any complain downwards looks like frustration to them, and that increases negative energy in the company. It will damage in two ways. One it make your juniors less motivated to work affecting the day to day operation of the company and another it eroding your image as a good leader.
6. Growth is always organizational
People grow when company grow. It is very hard for people to grow in a loss making organization. So everybody should work for the best interest of the company and avoid any actions that affects company's growth.
It includes not criticizing company in external world. It has to be avoided in all cases. The company's image adds to the personal brand equity and negative publicity will harm you as much as your company management.
Also, any criticism of your company can be played by its competitors to play against both you and your company. This can also lead to damaging your personal image in the mind of other people in the industry making you less employable.
7. Hard work and hardcore fun.
Everyone knows that it is very important to work hard to grow. But most people forget that to work hard, it is essential to keep own body ready for the challenge to avoid any health hazards and frustrations/work stress. Hardcore fun while not working does that. So, enjoy up to your limits in the weekends and work hard in the weekdays. This may include regular outings, parties, long drives, adventure sports etc. Choose something that gives you maximum fun.
8. Work you portion but know the big picture
Company pay us to do the work assigned, so it has to be done in time at all cost. But that should not stop you from knowing why you are doing that work, basically knowing the overall picture of the project. If you are not working in a open company which provides this information to all working, you should ask to your seniors.
Here you are trying to understand the business goal of the project. This will prepare you to take higher positions.
9. Know your company
Knowing your company is important to your project. Knowledge about the project will be given to you but for other information you need to take initiative yourself and learn. Try to get as much information as possible regarding your company's management, organizational structure, offerings (products and services) etc. This will help you work better and be an brand ambassador of your company, thus adding fuel to your company's growth.
Knowledge about the company also gives good impression to the seniors helping you grow faster within the organization.
10. Competitor Analysis
Well, this is quite a tricky step to grow faster in the industry. Knowing your company accelerate growth within a company but knowing its competitors guarantees your success in the industry. there are two advantages competitor analysis brings.
One you can help your company counter the competitors move thus affecting your company's revenue positively. This is in most cases rewarded with promotion and bonus. Secondly, if you are not given fair compensation from your company, you know where to move next. Thus you give tough time to the management and the HR not to let you grow.
I would highly appreciate any comment on this article. Please drop your views here.
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