“Recession-Born Compromise”, Conclusion: Possibly Degraded Output!!!!!

With my earlier article stating the job losses, this one is a result of my observations that I have made out of on goings around me. Not to my surprise whatever has happened has definitely not happened for good. I will carve up the article in two halves presenting my views on recession and post – recession scenario. Well, all are my observations and my viewpoints that need not be hundred percent accurate and even more obviously the post -recession scenario is something that I think may happen.

Recession Scenario
As stated in previous article, a possible million plus lost their jobs in this period. As a result these guys taking in account fresh graduates from college were left in a condition where supply was at its minimum against a possibly highest demand ever for jobs. The result…..

Many of them compromised and took up jobs against their likings. I saw many technical graduates entering BPOs which no doubt happened before as well but the percentage sky rocketed this time around. This resulted in compromise on talent, compromise on pay packages, compromise on job satisfaction, compromise on Output, compromise on career.
Many candidates who were working on say profile A were given choices like “Work with us on profile B or you can leave”. Seeing the condition in market a majority of those succumbed and chose to go against their will and took up other profiles. Another compromise that led to degraded output.
Appraisals did not happen. Salaries were supposed to be increased at the end of appraisals. Instead, candidates were handed with new offer letters with lesser salaries. Now what, majority of them might started looking for options and in turn compromised on quality thinking we gave our best and we got peanuts, so it’s better the output also be equivalent to peanuts.

Possible Post-Recession Scenario
Majority of the candidates who lost their jobs and were working at say Rs 25k/- per month will be patient up to certain time and eventually will land up with a Rs 15k/- per month job possibly. Yet another compromise in store.
With conditions getting better, HRs will now have more options to choose from and the candidates also knowing that there is competition would lower their salary expectations. Again a possible compromise waiting to happen.

Well, no doubt post recession scenario would be better, but above-mentioned can also be one face of it. Such things can happen. My only concern is that Corporates should not misuse the concerns of candidates and make them compromise or else they might face a big backlash which will be seen some time later with a continuous degraded output which will be a part of vicious cycle. And as we all know if once anyone gets into a vicious cycle it’s tough to get out of it.

Leader vs Manager

I think many amongst the readers of this article would have an idea about these two entities, though would like to pen down my views for the ones who don’t know it because this question once had led to my downfall in an interview.

They say “Leaders are born, Managers are made”. I strongly believed in it and after brainstorming with several of my friends and professors I came to a conclusion Leaders can also be made. So, to all those people who think leaders are born and they are not leaders then they should think twice and slog it out to transform themselves into a leader.

If you don the skills of a “Manager”, you probably will be good or may be very good. However, the path to “Good to Great” lies in donning the skills of a “Leader”

Following are some of the characteristics displayed by both of them

Leader:

Works in High Risk Zone and is not at all afraid of failures and has belief in his strengths.

Has followers and not subordinates.

Never asks others to follow him. His charisma does it without saying a word.

Is a visionary, strategist, inspirational figure.

Follows what heart says.

Followers are always loyal to leaders.

Followers need not be paid; it’s the leader’s influence that makes them follow him.

Leader is a manager.

Manager:

Have subordinates and not followers.

Is more process driven.

Works from head and not from heart.

Focuses more on efficiency.

Subordinates may or may not be loyal and are paid to follow.

Manager may not be a leader.

Approach is more risk aversive.

India v/s Australia....No it's not Cricket this time

Indians Down Under & the Racism Issue

I would like to start it off with a small question; Can you clap with one hand?Obviously you cannot!!! I think this probably will set the tone and give you all an idea about my thoughts to be featured ahead in the article. I seriously condemn the attacks faced by Shravan Kumar & Sourabh Sharma and the others. It is something that might critically affect the relations between India & Australia. I have been following the updates to these since last couple of days and have found out some interesting feedbacks and reviews from Indians based in Australia & other Western countries. Well, I am not denying the possibility of presence of racial discrimination behind the attacks but then I am also not totally convinced of that being the main reason. My friends working abroad are staying with Indians; even I would have done the same. When at job or college again they have a formed a group of their own which is very Indian origin oriented. So basically, they are forming a community, which is obvious to happen. Even in India, when you take up professional courses like MBA in a city like Pune you will find small groups formed within divisions/classes. And very often do we find these groups pulling each other’s leg or passing comments. Now, this is what I think has occurred there and has not been taken in stride by the Aussies. Well, again this might be a possibility and may not be the actual reason. Another thing that I feel might be a big reason is that Indians basically are very conservative and as a reason try to find out ways of saving. As a result the Indian community there, is living in suburbs and not in actual cities. Now, that may be a reason behind these attacks. And one big issue that can be an actual cause is that Indians might have not integrated with the Aussie culture. You need to be polite and polished type of an individual in such countries. It’s very important to express gratitude or apologize when needed which when not done seems to be rude and offensive.So, I come back to my question again to point out and state that I think that it's both the countries who need to sort it out by knowing each other and adapting to each others ways because it's neither going to be good to the Indians nor the Aussies because Indians not sending their children for higher studies over there will be a bigger setback for them. If above said issues are or might be the reasons for these attacks then we need to change, which in turn will change the Aussies. Having said that, if racism is the actual issue then some harsh steps need to be taken and the culprits should be punished. Whatever be the reasons, measures should be taken asap to avoid any further similar issues taking place which might led down to a possible downfall between both the countries.

"The Wealthiest Gift" & "Mr. Milind Prabhudesai"

Milind Sir's Gift to me

“Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish” is a book for all those aspiring entrepreneurs out there in this world. I have read at least 10 mgmt books, however this one happens to be the first book that I have not bought. It also happens to be the “Wealthiest Gift” that I have received in my corporate life.

The road map to achieve this wealthiest gift started back in October ’08 when I joined Xpanxion. While joining this company I felt I would fail miserably as the role that I had been chosen for was something that I had really no idea about. I was supposed to report to the COO of the organization Mr. Milind Prabhudesai. Coming out fresh from college, I doubted my abilities because reporting to such a senior person in company was a challenge and I never had even spoken to a C – level person in my lifetime till then.

However, the journey began and slowly but surely I started grasping relevant stuff needed for me to be at least reasonably average in my performance. “Milind Sir” (that’s how I addressed him) never made me feel that I was not up to the mark but always guided me and played the role of a mentor rather than a “Boss”. This approach of his was surprising for me because being in continuous touch with my college friends all I heard was about their bosses, the way they pressurized my friends and made their life a living hell. I was lucky enough to be under the guidance of Milind Sir. Through out my tenure with Xpanxion I was more like a student than an employee. That is when I got more comfortable and started giving my best output probably after first month which I spent learning the business.

During my mgmt studies, I had many times heard from my teachers, professors the importance of possessing “right attitude”. I always wondered what this “right attitude” is. Well, needless to say, after working with “Milind Sir” I realized what it is and my goal in life now is to replicate it. Unfortunately, I had to leave Xpanxion because of certain unforeseen circumstances and I really regret not working with him anymore.

Now, I am waiting for that day when I will get an opportunity to work with him yet again and be a student to him yet again and work even more harder to receive another “Wealthiest Gift” from him.

Fitting End to a Fitting NRIPL

IPL '09 Winners - Deccan Chargers, Hyderabad

37 days of non-stop action, it came and went like a flash. There we were sitting together on Saturday, April 18^th ’09 at a friend’s place in Mumbai. Started the campaign was with Mumbai’s win over Chennai and since then it seemed as if the country came to a stand still. The event when shifted to South Africa had drawn many criticisms but with the way it went on not a single critic could stand up to his/her words. What an event it was???

It began with 8 equally talented teams, thanks to the bowler friendly conditions in South Africa and gradually we saw weaker teams making way for better ones. However, it would be really harsh for the teams Rajasthan, Punjab, Mumbai, Kolkata to be called as weaker ones. Just that they could not handle the pressure situations or else they always were in capacity of the other four; Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore and the Hyderabad Chargers.

My heart goes out to the Knight Riders and especially to a certain Mr. Ganguly. They, it seems forgot their lady luck back at India while leaving for SA. I always loved them as a unit for the talent they had but was always wary of their performance after looking at the players individually.

Mumbai Indians were and will always be my favorite team. The Master Blaster has been and till the end of mine will be the best player seen in this game but for his captaincy. They really started well but again could not sustain in pressure cooker situations. It’s quite surprising to see a team ranked 2^nd from bottom with a +ve net run rate. This tells us that they were good, yaa…. just good but not better than their opponents.

Poor Punjab was hard done by rain in two matches. Though, they goofed up against Chennai while chasing small target of 116. I think they forgot that if they could defend 119 so could other teams, especially with the ranks of Murali to be faced.

Rajasthan……Don’t know why but I love this team. Least in talent off all other teams but way ahead of all in grit, determination and well led by one of the most charismatic player ever; Shane Warne. I wish they do better next time.

Delhi was the team to look out for according to me, but it seemed they got a bit complacent after qualifying for semis. It was apparent in their performances. I really missed seeing Mr McGrath in action. Though, his replacement Dirk Nannes really impresses the cricket fans.

Chennai picked up well after experiencing certain hiccups at the beginning of the tournament though with the kind of team they had, they managed to pull things back and make it to semis. Mr Hayden certainly was the player to watch for and my “Player of the tournament” as well.

Bangalore, I think were the surprise package of the competition that heavily relied on specialists. They hardly used bits and pieces bowlers and were ably led the wily old customer and a terrific leader; Anil Kumble. Thanks to Mr. Dravid, we have found yet another power house in the young lad, Manish Pandey. I am sure Mr Mallya has gone out on a long trip and might be relaxing somewhere on this planet after seeing a fitting performance from his lads.

Finally, coming down to supposedly the most deserving team of the year, Hyderabad aka Deccan Chargers. Undoubtedly the most devastating team to play against had some amazing power players like Andrew Symonds, Dwayne Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Rohit Sharma and Adam Gilchrist with good bowler inRPSingh.

To conclude with this article I would say overall it was a fanatastic tournament and I wish the coming 11 odd months pass away at the speed of knots and we gear up yet again for another fitting IPL with another fitting finish.