Background

Since the days of my management education in graduate school (many many years ago), more so after I had a class on Business Ethics, I started to think about business and personal mangement from a different perspective. While staying focussed on the goals, it is very important to have one very fundamental value as the basis to drive the day to day approach to management. If this fundamental value is the same for personal and professional management, one's life becomes very consistent. This fundamental value in my opinion is positive energy. In a world where it is easy to get sucked into very simple negative habits like "talking behind someone" to very disastrous negative engagements like terrorism, it is important to realize that it is very possible to learn and master the skills to stay positive and reap success. This blog is my small effort to impart these techniques to acquire, sustain and weave in positive approaches into our lives. I will focus more on professional management techniques for the corporate world, however, I will also discuss personal management techniques to break up the monotony.


Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Respect

One of the most important values that my cultural heritage has fostered in me is the respect for people. An impeccable role model for me in this regard is my maternal grandfather. He was a wealthy businessman who hailed from a prestigious family. But, he was humble and never exhibited an iota of arrogance to prove his highness. I have observed this working in his favor all the time... in managing his business and social interactions.

Siru thurumbum pal kutha udavum is a Tamil saying which means, even a lowly wood splinter has its use as a tooth pick.

Yes, it is true that time is valuable and we may not have a lot of time to spend with every soul in the company. But, we can and must make time for a lot of little things that can show our respect for people. These little things are:
  • smile or say few kind words as we pass people
  • listen when others are talking
  • encourage participation and value feedback
  • thanks or apology when due
  • birthday/anniversary wishes
  • congratulations on achievements/wedding/child birth
  • support/condolences at the time of loss
  • lend a helping hand when needed
These acts must be sincere and expressed the same way regardless of receiver's position in the company. To develop this sincerity, we need to identify and remember what we respect in the receiver - their age, knowledge, business ethics, positive attitude, ...

Consistent practice of respect will help build charisma and create followers. Respect imparted will be returned magnified for people in management positions.
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Sunday, July 12, 2009

Smile :)


My soon to be two year old son and my wonderful wife have one thing in common. As soon as they see people, they make eye contact and smile instantaneously. Several people have mentioned this about them - it is a noticeable trait. This is a great technique to master.

The smile must be sincere and natural. For that, we must find a convincing reason for us to be happy to see people. To me, this reason is... I need people to accomplish things and be happy. I view each person as a good resource who could help me some day. What if some people never help me and are not nice to me? I am not going to make the situation any better by not smiling at them. If I smile at them and continue to do so, they will realize that I am one of the few that are nice to them and some day, they will come back around and be good to me.

How do we develop this habit to become natural? Practice makes perfect. We can start the practice with the less critical interactions we have everyday - during shopping, dining, and casual social interactions.

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight - Phyllis Diller
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