Symbolic leadership

"The quote by Napoleon Bonaparte, 'A leader is the dealer in hope,' succinctly captures the essence of organizational dynamics.

 An organization significantly reflects the character of its leader. To ensure continuous expansion, leaders within an organization must undergo continual growth. Each leader, through their distinctive style of leadership, shapes a culture that establishes the standards for individuals, processes, products, and practices including permissions and injunctions.  

Leadership can be succinctly or can be encapsulated in a single word – 'Influence”. As such, leadership represents a profound responsibility to exert a positive influence on both individuals and outcomes.

Symbolic Leadership The Concept

Symbolic leadership is a compelling concept that underscores the positive impact leaders have on an organization or team through their own actions, consistent behaviours, and expressions, sculpting its culture and values. Contrary to its name, symbolic leadership is not about mere symbolism; rather, it involves becoming a symbol of certain principles.

This is achieved in reality through consistent adherence to specific values and effective communication. Leaders, by consistently embodying certain behaviours, establish unwritten yet widely understood codes of conduct relentlessly, within their teams – a phenomenon simply known as "Symbolic Leadership."

Understanding Symbolic Leadership

General Sam Manekshaw, also known as Sam Bahadur, was a renowned military leader whose career exemplified symbolic leadership. General Sam Manekshaw, stands as a paragon of symbolic leadership in Indian history. His strategic brilliance during the Indo-Pakistani War 1971 displayed not only military prowess but also his ability to influence. 

A pivotal moment occurred on meeting Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, he confidently declared, "I assure you, I am not going to be defeated." This unwavering determination became a symbol of his leadership, imparting confidence in his troops. His legacy continues to inspire future generations of military leaders and soldiers across nations.  

R. Thyagarajan, the Founder of the Shriram Group is another great example of a leader demonstrating effectiveness through their actions, their words, and the environment they cultivate around themselves. Shriram Group. R. Thyagarajan's decision to distribute a significant sum of 6,000 crores to his employees while not allocating shares to his sons is a clear demonstration of his commitment to meritocracy, recognition of outstanding contributions, and his philosophy of inclusive leadership along with succession planning. 

His strong belief in rewarding talent, dedication, and high performance, regardless of familial connections underscores his ability to foster a culture of fairness, meritocracy and equal opportunities. A combination of remarkable factors that define his leadership style such as action, words and environment

Subhash Chandra Bose stands out as an iconic leader, symbolizing remarkable qualities such as bravery, unwavering determination, and profound patriotism. His legacy serves as a source of inspiration, resonating across generations and leaving an indelible mark on the ideals of courage, resilience, and love for one's country. 

Bose's leadership during pivotal moments in history, coupled with his commitment to freedom and justice, establishes him as a symbol of valor and national pride, influencing and motivating people for years to come.

T N Seshan personifies unyielding integrity, professionalism, and audacity in his leadership approach, leaving an enduring legacy of electoral reforms and upholding the highest standards of ethics.

Similarly E Sreedharan, often referred to as the "Metro Man," symbolizes professionalism, meritocracy, and effective execution, setting a standard for excellence in infrastructure development. Their leadership exemplifies steadfast commitment, influencing and guiding others to emulate principles of integrity, professionalism, and excellence in their respective domains.

N. R. Narayana Murthy is widely recognized for his unwavering commitment to work ethics. He exemplifies diligence, dedication, and a strong sense of responsibility in his approach to work. His leadership underscores the importance of maintaining high standards of professionalism, dignity and integrity in all his business endeavours.

Humility, determination, and integrity collectively contribute to Ratan Tata's leadership legacy, making him a revered symbol not only within the business world but also as a philanthropic figure committed to making a positive impact on society. 

Each of these leaders, known to you and me, embody a unique perception in the eyes of the people, shaping the narrative of true symbolic leadership .

Influence through Authenticity: Symbolic Leadership 

Symbolic leadership reaches its pinnacle when a leader's actions align authentically with their words. Followers keenly observe and respond positively to leaders whose behaviours consistently mirror their communicated values, establishing an environment built on mutual trust and alignment. 

In leadership, good communication isn't just about words; it includes the powerful language of actions. Symbolic leaders, who are smart and perceptive, understand the strong messages in their choices, how they interact with others, and how they handle challenges. These leaders skilfully shape the understanding and commitment of their followers toward the organization's goals.

Conclusion 

As a leader, consider the symbolism you embody. Recognize as you shape a culture of shared purpose and commitment within your team. Contemplate the behaviours you actively and consciously encourage. 

Ask yourself:

• What values do you hold that are most significant for you and are they evident in your daily conduct?  
• How do you choose to acknowledge and reward your team members for their positive actions?
• Additionally, are there specific behaviours that you find unacceptable, and do you hold yourself to the same standards that you expect from others, regardless of the circumstances? 
• What do you symbolise? 
• What symbol defines you? 

Think about it!

Entrepreneurship

I was recently going through a news item quoting the Economic Survey of 2022 that the number of recognized startups has increased to 14000 in 2021-22 from a meagre 733 in 2016-17. India has become the third largest startup eco-system in the world after US and China, it said. A record 44 Indian startups achieved unicorn status in 2021 alone, taking the overall tally of startup unicorns to 83. 

 

This is no mean feat by any standards given that out of 6 years that the data showed, at-least 2 have been marred by Covid19 pandemic where the normal life was affected adversely. 

 

This led my mind to thinking the mindset of the entrepreneurs who are behind these startups and other successful businesses and what exactly is entrepreneurship? Is it about doing your own business and making money? Is it only for those who perhaps were not good in studies or not good enough for a job or something else?

 

I know most of you are familiar with above questions and are pretty clear about the answers as well. Let me share my perspective; hope it might resonate with your thoughts. But before that, let us spend some time to understand the origin of “entrepreneurship”. 

 

Joseph Schumpeter was an Austrian born political economist, who even served as Finance Minister of German-Austria and later migrated to USA to become a Professor in Harvard University. He introduced the concept of entrepreneurship in 1930. As per him “an entrepreneur is a person who is willing and able to convert a new idea or invention into a successful innovation”.

 

I entirely agree to this great economist’s definition and feel it is still valid after almost a century. However, based on my own experience of last 25 years of working closely with a large pool of highly successful entrepreneurs, allow me to describe my thoughts… 

   

Who is an entrepreneur?

To me, an entrepreneur is a problem solver and opportunity provider. He/she is a person with curious mind and intense desire to create some opportunity for larger good. Sounds familiar? Well, this is what I think of!

 

What is entrepreneurship?

Entrepreneurship is a journey which starts with restlessness, confusion, pain followed by ideation, collaboration, creation and culminates in an organized way of fulfilling needs/wants/expectations/requirements of the society. Profit is the reward an entrepreneur gets to take risk and keeping his/her neck out. 

 

Why entrepreneurship?

Wherever you are sitting/lying/standing right now, you are surrounded by solutions to the problems or fulfillment of our needs/wants. Isn’t it? Starting from this magazine, paper, printing, chair, bed, lights, fan, AC, coolers, cupboards etc., everything around us is because of some entrepreneur somewhere, who thought of all these. Like farmer, there can’t be any life without entrepreneurs. Therefore, it is not just about making money, it is also about fulfilling needs/wants and solving problems. Entrepreneurship was, is and will remain the driving wheel of any country. 

 

What are the traits of an entrepreneur?

 

Dreamer: Thinks about the problems and their solutions. How can I solve it? How can I create that need? How can I provide it better than others? Who can help me? How do I sustain the productivity and profitability? All these questions require the ability to think deeper, think ahead and think solutions. Dreamers always have an intense burning desire to travel the untraveled path. “Yes, it is possible” is the mantra of entrepreneurs which helps them to crack tough problems. Every problem feels like an opportunity to an entrepreneur.    

 

Believer: Thinking is easy but believing in idea, persisting with it, working hard to convert a dream into reality is something only a believer can do. That is the reason they are willing to put all their resources and even borrow resources to make it happen. They walk that extra mile because they believe. Handling ambiguity is something which can only be done if you have that feeling of belief in your idea, product or services. It is this belief that makes others believes in entrepreneur’s idea. They borrow the entrepreneurs’ belief initially. 

 

Executor: Thinking big is easy if someone else has to execute. Isn’t it? In some cases the idea may not be thought of by the entrepreneur but it is he/she who will execute it in a way that leads to business. Boeing didn’t invent planes, Wright Brothers did. But the devil is in execution and making it happen on ground. Making it work is more crucial than thinking on paper. An entrepreneur is someone who will not rest till it is done. They persist until it is done. Unlike others who are interested only if it is convenient. Follow up and follow through is something which differentiates an entrepreneur from others. 

 

I don’t need to remind you that most of the employment generation is done by entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs are wealth generators, employment generators, contributors in economy, tax givers and above all problem solvers. They not just earn their own bread, they help others too. 

 

We must salute these entrepreneurs who are bracing all kinds of hardships in terms of uncertainty, ambiguity, social unrest, unreasonable taxes, restrictions, unreasonable rules, inflation and above all negative publicity. Still they are contributing in nation building consistently. 

 

In a nutshell entrepreneurship is the need of the hour, which can create better solutions, handle competitions, generate employment and improve quality of our lives as well as prosperity of country.  Jai Jawan, Jai Vyapar. 

Do you have more time to live than you have already lived?

I know it is an awkward question for some of us who have experienced 45+ Diwali/Christmas/Eid etc. Still it is worth asking. If the answer is “No” please keep reading further else please stop and keep doing what you were doing before.

Now that you are still reading I assume either your answer is “No” or you have become curious. In either case you are welcome to read (as if I had a choice). Why have I asked this question? Well, frankly I have been thinking about it for three years now and it has helped me to get clarity. Especially after experience of Covid19 pandemic my perspective towards life and its priorities has transformed a lot. 

When I know I have less and limited time on this planet, I cannot waste any of it rather I want to make the best use of it. Now, I don’t go to every movie unless I am sure it suits my taste. Earlier I used to watch movies for time pass and then later waste time in criticizing/appreciating the cast and crew. I have made my peace with the fact that I am incapable or incompetent for many things and stopped worrying or justifying them.

I don’t waste time in judging people anymore. I have stopped claiming and believing that I understand people and their psychology. I have accepted the fact that people are different, with different needs, different temperament, and different talent and of course different goals. This has helped me to save an amazing amount of headache. I don’t have time to pursue certain types of people or ego pleasures.

I don’t have time for selecting or critiquing or appreciating cricket team or its results. I don’t have time to argue with people on their political affiliations and least bothered about them changing sides. I don’t have time to expect people to change their habits, behaviour, attitude, style or nature. I don’t have time to worry about international or domestic politics or climate condition. I don’t have time to solve world’s problems. I do not have time for worrying, arguing, convincing, pleasing, pleading or waiting.

Since I have realised all this, now I have hell lot of energy, time and happiness. Yes, I feel younger, lighter, happier, peaceful and liberated. How?

I have all the time to focus on myself, my knowledge, my skills, my health, my people (whom I like and who reciprocate)  and above all pursuing what I want not what I have to. I don’t fear to be judged or misunderstood anymore. Who has time for caring that much now? I have time to “DO NOTHING”. Yes, doing nothing is highly productive state of being. You produce better results in this state. Are you feeling confused or disagree? It’s alright and understandable. Ask me for details, I may share (not guaranteed).   

Now I don’t pursue my dreams, I pursue my feelings. Now I have one unique advantage. I have time to LISTEN. Yes, first time in my life I have actually and really started listening. Once we listen, we learn and whenever we learn we become wiser. Every wise person lives peacefully.

“Speak Less; Communicate More, Hoard Less; Share More, Judge Less, Understand More.”

Once we accept and adapt with reality, every day is a birthday, every activity becomes fulfilling and every interaction becomes learning. Once we realise we start living a FULFILLING life. Thanks for reading. You are awesome!

Yours blissfully,

Suresh Mohan Semwal

HR Warriors Are Also Humans

HR Department and HR Professionals like any other professionals have undergone unprecedented challenges and continue to suffer the after effects of pandemic. HR has the responsibility to again Hire, Train and Retain employees with high morale and productivity so that organizational goals are met.

During the pandemic many organizations had to take some unpleasant, unpopular and ruthless measures to ensure survival of organization. HR being the face of such initiatives faced lot of brunt and lost some sheen.

Now that the businesses are coming back to normalcy it has become very difficult to establish that connect and camaraderie due to unpleasant experiences in the times of need. People have become skeptic and reluctant. Asking people to join offices full time has become hell of a task.

People are willing to work at lesser amount but unwilling to work in office. Lot of people have moved on to pursue different streams of income rather than doing a job. This has put lot of pressure on HR to reestablish that trust and enthusiasm towards organizational goals. As a result HR Resignations is the next big challenge industry experts are worried about.

As per a recent survey published in Economic Times (1/8/22); 53% of HR people are feeling burnt out and 14% don’t feel supported at all. 

HR position today is similar to a housewife. She is most important yet neglected and abused at times. A housewife takes pleasure in helping every family member to achieve their goals and feels satisfaction in their happiness and success. A housewife is especially present in downtime and provides unconditional support. Yet, seldom they are thanked or appreciated. She still continues her work with smile and sincerity.

Similarly, KRA of HR is to help all departments and individuals to achieve their respective goals. A HR person is generally behind the camera and is busy making others look presentable. They pose a calm, confident and helpful demeanor but it does not mean that they don’t need support. If current industry trend is any indication HR Resignations can be a lethal blow to companies. 

Let us together provide acknowledgement, appreciation and assistance to our HR Warriors in these challenging times. Send them “Thank You” notes, go to their desks (not with problems and complaints all the time) with a question, “How are you doing today? How can I help you today? Do let me know if I can be of any assistance.” I can assure you that our little appreciation and acknowledgment will give lot of energy and encouragement to our HR Warriors to handle current challenging times. Support the Wall Which Has Been Protecting You. Thank You!

Suresh Mohan Semwal

Krishna: A Beyond Boundary Bonding

Krishna, one of the many Gods we Hindus worship is also our most famous God internationally. Krishna also has huge international fan following or devotees. What makes him so special? Well, as per my opinion, following can be some of the reasons:

1. Krishna’s whole life, since birth till the very end has many fascinating, interesting stories and achievements. He is loved equally by all age group, genders and intellectual capacity people. My children have always celebrated Janmashtmi with more excitement than any other festival. 

2. Krishna’s life is full of challenges and he kept challenging the orthodox wisdom of those times emphatically and above all conquered over them successfully.

3. Krishna’s methods and approaches are yet debatable by some but results were guaranteed. One may not truly understand or comprehend his methodology but his intentions are beyond any doubts. Krishna also attracts people because of his unpredictability yet predictability of results. A rule bender or breaker may be, but never a deal breaker. 

4. The only smiling, playful and dancing God, which looks so friendly and amenable. 

5. A God with flute and Sudarshan Chakra (deadliest weapon of his times). 

6. Krishna’s Detached Karma philosophy is till today the basis of many renowned philosophers or psychologist, who are of course yet to experience the depths of it. 

7. Krishna’s teachings in Shrimad Bhagwad Gita is till today a subject of intellectual and spiritual discourses. These learning despite of so many years of scrutiny, debate, interpretations, court cases and documentaries are still relevant and as fresh as ever. 

8. I of course, can’t claim to know or have experienced the depths yet I know the immensity and profoundness of it. There is so much more to learn but whatever little I could understand has transformed my life for better. 

I am absolutely OK if some people don’t wish to treat Krishna as a God because then that makes him more respectable and loved across religions. Till the time we are implementing his learning and making ourselves better it does not matter, how we perceive him. 

I am personally fascinated by his practice of intense involvement in life, detached Karma, equanimity and pleasant & playful way of fulfilling responsibilities. I wish I could practice 1% of it. Well, I am working on it. 

Happy Janmashtmi to all my dear Krishna Lovers or Devotees.    

Which files do you maintain?

I watched a movie The Last Castle, which is based on a true story of a special prison for soldiers. Yes, the movie was fascinating and I liked it. 

One dialogue of the warden triggered an idea, which I would like to share with you. He said, “Whenever I start becoming a little emotional or lenient towards any inmate, I immediately take out his file in which his history & description of crime is written. That reading helps me to maintain my balance and ruthlessness.” Well, as a warden to a prison where prisoners, who have committed heinous crimes, you are supposed to maintain a certain protocol to ensure discipline. That warden character in the movie commits extreme brutalities in order to punish the inmates for their crimes. I would like to leave it to experts to comment on it, whether this thinking or style of a prison warden is justified or not. I am not capable enough to comment on such complicated issues.

There was a marine who had served 10 years as a fantastic soldier but in one 10 second lapse in judgment he committed a murder and was treated as a criminal for next 20 years in the prison. He is kept with same hardened criminals who have always broken law of the land. Is it justified? You decide. Should we be judged by our deviations or consistent behavior? I am sure in legal system there must be some provisions to differentiate it. I am certainly not talking about extreme criminal mistakes. My point of view in this article is restricted to ordinary people with ordinary day to day mistakes of anger, jealousy, envy, arrogance, insecurity, superiority, procrastination, laziness etc. 

The question that propped in my mind was, “Do I also keep such files in my mind for people around me?” I am not dealing with criminals; I am surrounded by ordinary people like me, who are neither white nor black. We are all black & white. We are all work-in-progress. Do I also behave like that warden in my conduct? Do I also maintain a mistakes file of some people, who I have decided to hate, punish or isolate? Do I conveniently discard the achievement file of same people? Which file do I maintain more? Do I ever forget to make a new entry in mistakes file? Do I maintain the achievement file of the same person with same precision? Well, I know my answers and am not disclosing here for obvious reasons.

People around me are not perfect, so am I. I am sure if somebody wants, can maintain a similar file on me too. I have also committed hundreds of mistakes in behavior (will be making more for sure) and can easily be remembered for them too. At the same time I also have done few fantastic things in life. Which number is more? Well, you can guess. 

Do I prefer to be treated by my mistake file or achievement file? How will I behave with a person who always treats me on the basis of my mistakes file? Will I be more productive around such person? Would I like to be around that person at all?

What do you do with these files? Are you keeping any such files in your mind about people around you? How does it impact your life? Should we be judged by our deviations or consistent behavior? Should we be judged by our mistakes (ad-hoc/unintentional)? What about others?  

I have been thinking a lot on these questions and have gotten a bit clarity about what I should be doing and have already started working on it. What about you? I would not like to suggest anything more here, you decide. I would love to hear your reflections on this article. How does it resonate with you? 

Think about it.

Money invariably finds its way back to same pockets

Out of total 2755 total billionaires worldwide 86% are richer than they were a year ago with $5 trillion increase in wealth in 2020.

One person’s loss is another person’s gain. You have heard, I know. Would you be surprised if I tell you that the ‘one’ person who loses and the ‘other’ person who gains are generally the same? People who were poor before pandemic are still poor and people who were wealthy have become wealthier. Wealth might shift from one wealthy person to another but it remains in the same pool. Funny, isn’t it?

Jezz Bezos lost his No.1 richest man’s title recently to Bernanrd Arnault. In the most recent article (2/8/21) Katherine Wiles has stated that the French Tycoon Bernard Arnault has claimed the No.1 spot of the ultra-wealthy from Jeff Bezos whose net worth tumbled by $13.9 billion in one day due to less-than-anticipated second quarter growth.

We assumed that a global pandemic and economic recession would set the luxury goods market back a bit, but Arnault remarkably grew his wealth by nearly $100 billion during first year of pandemic. Arnault’s net worth sat at $195.8 Billion as of Monday, while Bezos’ hovered at $192.6 billion. Bezos is the first person ever to be worth $200 billion, as Amazon enjoyed big gains from pandemic lockdowns.

Out of total 2755 total billionaires worldwide 86% are richer than they were a year ago with $5 trillion increase in wealth in 2020. 

“Whatever the circumstances, one is losing and other is gaining.” The real question is where do we belong?

If we divided all the money in the world equally, in a short time the rich would be rich again, and the poor would be poor. Many people think that if they could just get their hands on a large sum of money, they would be set for the rest of their lives. Money invariably finds its way back to same pockets.

Learning from Pencil

Would you agree that those who wish to learn can learn without someone teaching them? As  famous Socrates used to say, “I cannot teach anything to anyone. I can only make them think.” So, if we are capable of thinking, we can learn from anyone or anything. Can we learn something from pencil?

Yes. Though, pencil is just an ordinary object but if we observe closely it provides profound learning for life. It just depends on how you look at things. There are at least seven qualities which come to my mind. You are free to add or delete as per your thinking. If adopted, these qualities can certainly help us get more clarity and peace.

First: What really matters is inside you.

Exteriors have utility but most important matter is inside you. Pay attention to this inner dimension in you too. Is it your mind? What is that which is not changing with age, marital status and positions you hold in life? What is awake, when body is sleeping? Is it energy? Is it spirit? Is it subconscious? Is it nothing? I don’t want to answer this for you. Look within. As far as pencil is concerned, what really matters in a pencil is not its wooden exterior, but the graphite inside.

Second: It leaves an impression.

One day, we all will become memory in others life. The real question is what kind? Everything we say or do leaves an impression. Not just on us but also on our surroundings. The higher position you hold, the greater mark you create. So, one should be careful and grateful. So be conscious of what you say or do. 

Third: No one is perfect. Don’t be arrogant, use eraser.

In this journey of life one thing is sure that we all make mistakes. Don’t justify them; rather let the eraser do its job. These erasers are the help we get to rectify or compensate the damage we created. Always be humble enough to accept your mistakes gracefully and seek help. Are you willing to let an eraser help you? This means that correcting something we did is not necessarily a bad thing; it helps to keep us on the right path.

Fourth: Now and then we need sharpening.

One thing sure about success is that it will fail. Our today’s strength may become tomorrow’s bottleneck. Therefore, one must keep sharpening his/her knowledge, skills and attitude. Sometimes, circumstances thrust upon us some changes which seem to be painful but actually they help us to become stronger and sharper. At times, some critics or competitors also act like sharpeners. They are our unpaid consultants who help us to challenge our limitations. So we must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows, because they will make us a sharper person.

Fifth: Time is slipping away every second.  

Pencil gets shorter with usage, so is life. We must realise that we are paying through our life currency for all the experiences we are having. Be careful with what you do with your time as once it is gone it is gone. It does not matter whether you write poetry or just keep scribbling; pencil/time is getting consumed. So, are you creating something significant or just consuming is your choice.

Sixth: Be useful till the end.

Pencil writes till the very end and remains useful. So, we must also strive to remain useful and productive till the dying day. Do your best and keep learning.

Seventh: Don’t be arrogant. It is the hand that makes you write.

Always remember that we are just the instruments in the hands of God. I know some of us may not like this idea but even if it is an idea, it helps. All our achievements, if you look closely are not our individual achievements. There is always someone else who contributes in our success. So, don’t be naive to think that you have achieved anything without any support. Whether God or someone else but it is not because of you alone. For my atheist friends, coincidences or chances also contribute in our success. Think.

Be humble and remain a learner. Be grateful. So, a humble pencil can contribute so much in our learning if we pay attention and are willing to learn. Now, look around and share what else we can learn from other objects. 

Pearls of Wisdom

Today dated 29^th June 2021 I had a distinguished visitor at my office Dr. A.K Gupta (MD, Medicine & Physiology, Fellow- Cardiology Society of India). I discovered that he is my regular YouTube viewer and therefore, wanted to see me personally. I was pleasantly surprised to see his recalling of my almost all concepts, stories and jokes that he has heard over the period of time. It seems as if he had seen all of my videos completely. I was obviously flattered to see such great, accomplished man appreciating my work.

He is 71 years of age and his memory, articulation, spontaneity and keen desire for learning & sharing is really remarkable. I sat with him for almost an hour and he poured some of his pearls of wisdom, which quite frankly were really amazing.  Let me share these with all of you:

1.       Anything we don’t use, we loose: He explained this concept in his medical lingo by sharing about Disuse atrophy. He shared about this medical terminology for a disease where any unused limb stops functioning, if not used for a long period of time. Of course when you hear the physical scientific evidence and that too from an accomplished professional, your conviction on the idea and excitement becomes greater. He further expanded this idea to communicate that similarly if the brain is not used properly, it’s efficiency goes down. His advice for reading & writing and explaining it with Disuse Atrophy made it look more appealing. I may use it in my next seminars and impress others with this borrowed knowledge.

 2.       Blessing in disguise: We all have heard this sentence so often. Dr Gupta gave a wonderful example, again from his own field. He shared that Dementia in North America and Europe has drastically come down in last two decades which was earlier rapidly growing at scary pace. Surprisingly, it is coming down due to increase in cardio vascular diseases. Due to cardio issues people have changed their sedentary habits and started living an active life and eating healthy. These changes have helped decrease dementia drastically. So, brain without active life also starts getting rusted. So, if alone, rather than watching phone all the time, play physical games, solve puzzles so that you have convenient old age too.

 

3.       Every Instrument Needs Tuning: He gave a wonderful example of musicians. Before starting the show, all musicians tune their instruments for occasion and all instruments like tabla, guitar, sitar need tuning before actual show starts. Not just that they also change tuning as per music song. He connected this tuning with morning ritual. One must tune himself/herself every morning for the show of the day. So, that you are in sync with the occasion. SAVERS morning ritual is a fine example of tuning. Those of you are new to SAVERS morning routine, might look for a video on my Youtube Channel.  

 

4.       No Pain, No Gain:  Learn to bear pain of “Injury & Insult”. He shared that no man of substance has ever achieved success without bearing the pain of injury & insult. One who is fearful of these two pains will generally live a mediocre life. No pain, no gain. Every worthwhile journey has these two factors that need to be handled else we will never reach to the destinations of choice.  

 

5.       Look for positive in everyone: Even a dead watch is right twice a day. Isn’t it true? Similarly, every person has some positive quality and one must not ignore that. To emphasize on this point he shared an incident of Maitheli Sharan Gupt. This famous hindi poet was writing something in which he had to write only positive qualities of all the characters in Ramayan. He got stuck to write something positive for Kaikeyi, as in India nobody thinks anything positive about Kaikeyi and I have heard no one keeping this name anywhere in India. After lot of thinking, he wrote next day,” Sau Baar Dhanya Hai Who Laal Ki Mata, Jisne Bharat Jaise Laal Ko Janam Diya”. Hail, that mother who gave birth to a son like Bharat. So, if you are hell bent on finding positive, you can always find.

So, such a short courtesy visit became an enlightening visit for me. In this brief meeting he bestowed me with his wisdom and blessings as well. Thank you Dr. Gupta for your kind visit and sharing your wisdom in such an interesting way. Look forward to see him in near future too.

 

Sustenance is Underrated Yet More Important

 I am sure you know that Facebook has more members than total population of USA.

There are some corporations which look like greater than anything and everything around them. However, success can indeed be fleeting as they say, so one must wonder if today’s successful companies will become not so successful in distant future and loose their charisma. I don’t need to give examples of how giants have fallen in the past. So, is current profitability, employee strength, culture or turnover is the right or only criteria to measure the success of a good company? Is longevity also a criterion? Well, to my mind, it does. For me, becoming successful can also be a fluke, but to remain successful in long run requires lot more than just one good business idea. Sustenance requires more effort than creation.

I have seen many bubbles getting created and getting busted too. We see it all around us in almost all fields. Whether, it is in sports, movies, politics, business or spirituality; many enter but few stay. Even in relationships, forming is the easiest part but maintaining cordial relationships is the hardest job to do. Isn’t it?

Speaking of time and staying in power, there is a company that has been around for quite some time. It has been in existence for over 1,400 years. Surprised? Well, google it. Kongo Gumi Construction is a Japanese Buddhist temple construction company that was founded in 578.  Its founder was a Korean who came over to Japan and started his own company.

What makes this company unique is it is family owned and run. Keeping family harmony and the desire to move forward must have been some feat. The company has experienced great events in the history of Japan. Buddhism was introduced less than 50 years before the company started, many ruling dynasties came and went, the ninjas, the samurais, two world wars, and Japan reign of being a global economic power. This company saw it all. Among the company’s traits is its flexibility, the company head need not be the eldest son, it can even be a daughter or a son-in-law. It’s just not about blood but also about leadership capability.  The company stayed focused on temple construction though it made coffins during World War II and has gone into apartment and other building constructions.

Seeing an opportunity in the booming Japanese real estate sector in the 80s, it borrowed heavily and got caught when the bubble burst in the 90s. Saddled with heavy debt and with less demand in temple building, the company was forced to become a subsidiary of Takamatsu Construction Group in 2006. Takamatsu was founded in 1917. Will this company have its own 1,400 year run? I don’t know.

I have a very special regard for TATA Group of my country India, who has been doing ethical business successfully for the last 150 years and getting stronger day by day. The promoters may not be featuring in Top 10-20 richest men in world or flaunting their wealth but they definitely hold a high regard in the hearts of billion Indians at least. One of most trusted and respected brand in India and worldwide.

 Would you rather build a company that looms large then disappears or a relatively obscure one that lasts for a long time? I’d go for the latter, as sustenance require more efforts than creativity. How about you?

“Sustenance requires more effort than creating.” Suresh Mohan Semwal 

Sustenance is Underrated Yet More Important.

How to Control Ego & Anger?

One day I shared with my mentor the inability to control anger, arrogance or ego especially when I feel I am right and the other person is at fault. (This is almost all the times.  Though, it is my convenient assumption with my fabricated logics.)

I said, “I am unable to resist using harsh words or wrong language with others. I do feel bad sometimes after the behavior but still find some justifications to it.”

My mentor looked at me surprisingly and said, “But I have never seen you abusing or using bad or harsh words. Maybe you are too critical on yourself unnecessarily. Don't be so hard on yourself.” I answered, “No sir, in front of you or to you, I think many times before I speak and take lot of care of my tone, words / language so that I don’t offend you or anyone in your presence”

He smiled and said, “Then it is very simple. Whenever you are talking to people, assume you are talking with me.”  What a profound suggestion. Isn’t it?

I realized 'Isn’t it true that we take lot of precautions in communication when we are with someone whom we respect or is at a powerful position than us? 

We only become casual & callous when we don’t treat others as equal or don’t respect them. Think about it. ?

If the basic premise of our dealing with people is; I am superior, what does he know etc., then rude language and arrogant behavior is an obvious consequence.

If we put this belief in our mind that everyone irrespective of age, status deserves to be treated with respect, until they prove otherwise, we will communicate with them as equals, with respect and courtesy.

I decided to follow this and told him of my commitment. And then came the bomb. He further suggested that, “Controlling anger and staying humble needs very sincere efforts, you will fail many times. Next time when you behave arrogantly or lose your cool unjustifiably and realize your mistake, within 24 hours go back and touch the feet of the person who you have wronged or hurt.  Say sorry, with folded hands, clearly stating about what but, without giving your reasons or justification, plain admission and apology. If you follow this, the chances of you repeating this luxurious mistake will drastically reduce.” He further added, “I can assure you, if done seriously & sincerely your EGO, the very reason of anger will stop you to get angry. BUT your sincerity is a prerequisite.”

These two profound suggestions have really helped me a lot.  Lot has improved, yet at times old patterns do take over.

Yesterday in the Covid stress I yelled at my wife, for nothing really.

Now, I need to honor the apology drill with my wife today. I am thinking of doing it after finishing this article. Test time. Will I do it finally or not? I leave it to your guessing.

See if you would like to practice the above and see its impact on you.  

Think about it.

Rejections:

Anyone with a little bit of success in life will tell you that rejections are unpleasant part of the process of achieving anything significant in life. Not just for achievement but after being successful too one has to handle rejections continuously. Does anyone like being rejected? I seriously doubt that. But, can we bypass this process? Yes, if we kill our dreams and are willing to live with unfulfilling life.

Admission in great schools/colleges, job in great companies, getting in relationship with a person of your dreams, more social media appreciation, promotion, more customers, whatever you need you will have to take the chances with rejection. Isn’t it? So, what do we do? Learn, how to handle it. I have following suggestions, which may work for you:

1. Understand and accept it as part of process. Don’t take it as a judgment of your character or a person. Most of the times vacancies are limited and they can’t accommodate all deserving people. So, don’t take it personally.
2. Understand the reason of rejection. Is it lack of knowledge, skill or something else? Have you done enough to work on these? If no, work hard on yourself so that you don’t get rejected again for same reason.
3. Look at the credentials of person who rejected you. Sometimes people with no credibility or substance may also pass comments. Don’t take them seriously. If the person has substance, take it as feedback, learning and work on it.
4. Think of all those who love you unconditionally. Talk to them.
5. Remember, nothing is permanent, try again after preparation.
6. Suppose you will not get any other chances at the same position now, realise that something better may come up due to this rejection. History is full of such blessings in disguise.

In the nutshell, rejections are part of life. Take it on chin and move on but don’t live with guilt that you did not even try. Guilt is more painful than rejection. Think about it.

Happy New Year

Bye Bye 2020 (Finally you are going…)

Welcome 2021 !!

This 20-20 was quite a disruptive year in many aspects for most of us unless you happen to be manufacturing sanitizers, PPE Kit, Masks, pharmaceuticals or immunity enhancing products or working with Republic TV, Netflix, Amazon, Reliance, Whitehat Jr like companies.

For most of us ending of this year itself is a happy news. I guess, this year was unique in many ways:

1. ‘Alcohol’ word has been able to shed its negative image and has become a life saver. There was more alcohol in hands than guts this year.
2. Unsmiling and poker face people were benefitted because smiling & joyful people also had their faces covered.
3. We got so much time with our loved ones that they will not miss us anymore in whole life.
4. School going children have started missing the class room, teachers and punishments.
5. Teachers and parents are encouraging kids to use internet and phone.
6. All students are passing the exams with flying grades (suddenly every student has
7. Become intelligent)
8. Now you can mute the teacher by choice and disappear from class by choice.
9. In Delhi (unless you are agitating on something or you are a part of election rally) you have to pay 2000 for mooh Dikhai…(not wearing mask)
10. First time we were paid to be at home (salaried class)

However, nothing in this world is Good or bad, everything is Good & Bad (quantity may vary). This 20-20 was no exception and has brought the following +ve in our lives:

1. We have realized the importance of Health.
2. There was lot of savings in terms of cosmetics, shoes and clothes purchase.
3. We have realized the importance of Saving.
4. Now we know, who cares for us and how much.
5. Seeing -23% GDP, every year will feel good now economically.
6. Every year other than 2020 now hopefully will be a happy year.
7. We shall be enjoying our work life more than ever.
8. We don’t have the excuses of no time to pursue our hobbies or clear our pending tasks.

May this 2020 become a strong base for us to bounce back with more strength, wisdom and strategies to make 2021 a fabulously successful year. I wish you all a very rocking new year 2021. Let us make it POSSIBLE.

 

The Buck Stops with Leader

If you are at a significant leadership position tell me how familiar you are with the thoughts like:

• Why some people do not do their work diligently?
• Why some people need to be told ‘what to do’?
• Why some people do not take initiative and ownership?
• How can some people be so incompetent and not even realise it?
• How can some people be so casual about even their own future?
• How can some people be so shameless about being mediocre?

Not familiar with these thoughts, please don’t read any further. You are a great leader with a great team and rest of my assertions are no good for you. Thanks.

Since you have decided to read further I am sure  the above mentioned thoughts do cross your mind or you still are curious to know my thoughts. In that case, I want you to please ponder upon the following questions:

• Who is responsible for hiring right people for job?
• Who is responsible for grooming or training people for job?
• Who is responsible for tolerating the incompetence?
• Who is responsible to create a productive work environment?
• Who is responsible for listening to whispers?
• Who is responsible for clearing the doubts or insecurities?
• Who is responsible for status quo or deterioration?
• Who is responsible to get rid of excess baggage or dead wood?

 Well, as a reasonable leader I assume you pretty well know the painful answers to all above. Where does the buck stops? Stop sulking, whining, complaining and start creating the organisation you always dreamt about. Nobody else can be held responsible for your failure as a leader. Take charge, this is what leaders do. Take responsibility for action (specially to make hard decisions and remember hard means difficult for you, not necessarily for others). An organisation is a large shadow of its leader and if you do not like the shadow, you know what you need to work upon. Go, own the game! If you need any assistance in it, contact POSSIBLERS.

Relationship

 

“A relationship where you can be weird together is your best choice.”

- Paulo Coelho

A mother was preparing little Ramesh to go to a party. When she finished combing is hair, she straightened his shirt collar and said, “Go now son, have a good time and behave yourself”.

“Come on mother please decide, what exactly do you want me to do. To have fun or to behave myself. Because both are not possible.” Ramesh said.

The child’s response is really of tremendous value. He has clarity that, if you allow me to have a good time then I cannot behave if you want me to behave then I cannot have a good time. The child can see the contradiction so clearly it may not have been apparent to the mother.

Are we any different? If we behave ourselves, we can’t have good time in relationships and if we want to have good time, we are no more ourselves. Isn’t it funny? We need to constantly adapt, adjust, align and accept many things to sustain the pleasantness in relationships.

One of the few things which is common to all human beings is ‘relationships’. Isn’t it? And, as you know, there are different kinds of relationships. Some are personal and some professional. Some intimate and some superficial or complicated.

Our relationships are a funny thing. The irony is we can’t live without relationships and we can't even live happily within relationships. Some relationships bring more pain than joy. So, the real question is, ‘how to make our relationships more pleasant, less painful’?

Why relationships?

But the purpose of most relationships happens to be ‘Need fulfillment or Desire fulfillment’. We get something from each other, and that need binds us in a relationship.

I know it might sound uncomfortable, blunt, brutal or unjustified to some of us, but that's just what it is, my friends. Our desire or need can even be to help, support or give, but there has to be some need or desire that you wish to fulfill. Think about it!

We all have heard the quote, if not used already, “I am a self-made person.” And we also must have heard this advice that we should be self-sufficient and should not be dependent on other(s), else we sound clingy. With all due respect to all those who have used these phrases I would like to say that “dependence on other(s) is inevitable for every human being”. All these phrases are nothing but arrogance or ignorance.

To be born, we need parents and doctor’s support. Human child is the most helpless creature, whose very survival is totally dependent on parents or other humans. Whatever we know today or whatever we have ever achieved was always supported by someone else. “One is not a sufficient number to achieve significant success”. Well, we may have paid for certain services that we availed but it does not take away our dependence on other(s). It only shows that we are thankless ignorant. That’s it. Even to go back from this world, we need people support. Isn’t it? The dead hardware needs to be disposed by others.

During our lifetime we all experience survival dependence, financial dependence and emotional dependence. Parents, teachers, doctors, brother, sisters, friends, colleagues, customers and even foes are all human beings on whom we depend for many things. What is the fun of achieving success, if there is no one to show off? So, even competition helps us to become better. Think about it. So, we can’t live without relationships and obviously our intention is to have pleasant and productive relationships. However, in reality no relationship gives anything permanently. Therefore, one must need to learn how to cultivate and handle a relationship. Managing relationship is an infinite game, where we need to constantly remain aware and adjust as per the demand of situation. There will never be a time where you can take your eye away from the ball. It needs constant juggling. Whether it’s tiring or entertaining depends on our outlook and expectations.

As per my little understanding, minimum four components are required to have a reasonably pleasant relationship.

The first component is, Trust.

If we trust the other person, then the other things can be worked out. You cannot have a healthy relationship without it. And yet, virtually all of us can recall a scenario where our trust has been broken. We need to work hard on ourselves to become trustworthy. Honouring your informal commitments with 100% commitment, refraining from backbiting, consistency of positive behaviour, avoid boasting about yourself and avoid criticizing unnecessarily are some of the steps that can help people to trust you. 

The second component is, Respect.

There are many people that we trust but may not necessarily respect them. Respect here will not be determined by age, relation, or position. But by the fact that in its absence, a genuine relationship cannot last very long. Listening well without judgment, focus on the strength/potential not only weakness, careful use of language are some of the signs whether or not we respect the other.

The third component is Communication. For any relationship to thrive, clear communication is a must. There should be a safe space to express your feelings, both positive and negative. Communication gap leads to misunderstanding, miscommunication and ultimately end of relation, though in some cases the contract may still carry on.

The fourth but most critical component is Patience. Expecting the other person to match your speed, skill, style and attitude will lead to disappointment. Every person is unique and so is their pace. Do not be in a hurry to throw in the towel. As per Vedanta, only gradual changes can be sustained. All good things take time. Forgiving the mistakes gracefully is a must trait for maintaining relationships.

We must understand and accept the fact that relationships, like tender plants, need to be watered and nourished every day. That is how they grow and evolve. Do not expect them to remain the same. As I sometimes share in my programs that “Expecting a static relationship status with dynamic beings is bound to lead towards disappointment and frustrations”. Think about it!

Therefore, one must learn to accept the dynamism of relationships. We must focus on maintaining Trust, Respect, Communication and Patience. For any relationship to grow both the partners must grow. Always remember, “All relationships grow, some grow together other grow apart.” I would like to conclude by saying that relationship is all about two things: First, appreciating the similarities and second, respecting the differences.

“Expecting a static relationship with a dynamic being is an unreasonable expectation.” 

– Suresh Mohan Semwal