Brilliant Managers vs The Ineffective Managers

“Brilliant Managers vs The Ineffective Managers”

When I study the thought process of “Brilliant Managers” vs “The Ineffective Managers”, one characteristic stands out. Effective Managers easily differentiate between “Planning to Strategize” and “Planning to Execute”. Once they strategize, they go on to execute and normally would dismiss any thoughts that would crop up as to the appropriateness of their strategy. Yes, in complex projects, they do spare time for review of and tweaking the strategy, but that is within a slotted time earmarked only for such review. Thereafter, it is again 100% execution which includes planning for those small steps to be taken for such execution and then unstintedly carry them out. I believe that such distinct demarcation and consequent channelizing of efforts by the Manager would result in him/her becoming an “Effective Manager”. “Self Doubt” is the curse that consumes the “Ineffective Manager

From “Apps to Gyan”.... The Mantra of Winners

To be a Winner, you need to have “Relevant Knowledge”

Equally or more important, you need to know How to Apply this Knowledge, Quickly, Efficiently, Accurately!

Theory is culled from books/media, from what your teacher tells you and from what you learn from the experiences shared by others.

Practical wisdom emanates from your personal application of this theory.

Theory could be boring, drawn out over pages and pages of material, often taught by people who have not lived though those experiences.

 But, theory you must acquire …when? At which stage of the learning process?

Many years back, I conducted an experiment wherein I devised Application Tools in M.S Excel for learning advanced spreadsheet formulae and also understanding Financial Ratios. I devised exercises with easy to refer solutions and asked the students to try and solve the exercises, and if they were stuck for some reason, to refer to the solutions and use logical implication to arrive at the correct answer. I asked them to repeat the process of solving the problems over a number of days and soon they had gained the confidence of solving it without referring to the solutions. At the same time, I asked them to read the theory to try to correlate with it their solving of exercises. I had initiated a paradigm shift. A bottom-up approach from the practicality of it to the theory – building an empirical connect leading to a  correlated learning which got firmly etched on their minds because the links between practice → theory & theory→ practice were so visible and relevant.  So, I had 40 examples of solved advanced Excel formulae and functions, many statements of ratio analysis on Excel which the user just had to solve on the lines of solutions provided. As mentioned, this involved repeatedly referring to solutions for easy guidance. Slowly and surely, when the exercises were repeated, the need to refer to the solutions dwindled till the dependency had become non-existent.  Soon, the ability to deploy the formulae and compute the financial ratios was clearly evident with both the theoretical and practical dimensions standing out in the student.

Over the years I have devised many such exercises using the same modus whereby I start with the Application Format and then integrate it with the Theory Format. The student, through a mechanical process of repeating the exercise “discovers” the connect with theory (which gains on him/her) and soon the empirical relevance sets in. A learning that stays with the student and empowers him/her in time to come.

The above modus can be applied across different streams of knowledge for substantial benefit. This forms the core of my “Riyaaz” – the daily practice for empowerment which is the backbone of my “TRP” skills. 

HOW TO BE A WINNING MANAGER?

To be a “Winning Manager”, you need to be a “Complete Manager”- replete with all skills required to Translate your Resources in to Performance. Else, like many of the otherwise Educated, Intelligent and Sharp Employees you could be languishing at 50% or below of your potential. TRP Skills enable you to perform even beyond your potential at the ground level which is where the delivery happens. While “Knowledge” is the foundation, the “Ability to Apply” is what ails most Performers. Spend atleast 30-45 minutes a day practicing these TRP Skills and soon you could catapult yourself onto another orbit in the Corporate World.

“GULF” BETWEEN ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY

Was recently moderating a discussion on the linkages between Academia and Industry. I recalled reading a research article wherein it was mentioned that only 5% of graduates in our country are considered employable, yes a shocking 5%.  Indeed, a feeling of helplessness pervaded all over. Why is it that people of a nation considered to be an intelligent race languishes so much in the depths when its graduates seek employment? While Academia needs to impart the knowledge to build the foundation, its time that it also started to impart practical skills which make them employment ready for a beginner’s job. That much we owe to our young aspirants. The syllabus needs to be expanded, changed to include practical skills that cover meeting dynamics, numbers orientation, personality development, official communication – spoken and written etc. Industry veterans need to be involved in bridging the gap, or is it the “gulf” between theory and practice. A partnership on these lines between Academia and Industry is the crying need of the hour.

WHAT AILS OUR GRADUATES?

I read an article which shockingly revealed that only 5% of graduates and 19% of Engineers who qualify from India each year are considered employable. When I correlate this statistic with my experience as a professional, teacher and interviewer, I can easily perceive the grain of truth that lurks beneath. There is not a gap, but a gulf between Academia and Industry – as the graduate discovers when he ventures out in to the “real” world. It is time that Academia and Industry collaborate to usher in a learning environment wherein the student is oriented to translate the “gyan” into “usable applications” at least to a point wherein he can be considered employment worthy – enough to gain an entry into the corporate world. It is a systemic change that is critical for the growth of human capital at its very foundation. The imparting of practical skills coupled with the essential knowledge is imperative. I am sure some of the TRP Skills can be drafted into the curriculum for a student to get that desired orientation. 

The Complete Manager

What does it take to be “The “Complete Manager”, a "Performer Extraordinaire”? He needs to have the core knowledge and the 15+ TRP Skills which enable him to seamlessly translate his/her Core Knowledge into Extraordinary Performance on a consistent basis. The “Complete Manager” should have a repertoire of skills which he can draw upon and instantly deploy. I believe that the sustained pursuit of “Riyaaz” ensures that the skills are practiced on a regular basis and honed up for operational readiness. Lack of TRP Skills makes a Manager’s performance severely compromised. The spectrum of TRP Skills covering select technical, communication, retention, recall and personality development skills ensure that the Manager has an all round capability to deliver – rapidly and confidently.

How far will you go in your career... in life! This would depend on your PAC. Potential+Aspiration+Commitment. Potential could be congenital, you could be born with certain levels of intelligence, sharpness, sixth sense... Potential could be in terms of knowledge acquisition through formal or informal education. Potential also refers to Applied Skills to translate that Core Knowledge into Real Output. I call these Applied Skills as TRP Skills which enable you to seamlessly translate Knowledge into Quality Performance. Potential and Aspiration have a circular relationship in that one feeds the other. With Potential and Aspiration backed by Commitment, that relentless pursuit of excellence, you can be the WINNER, no one can deprive you of that!.

TRP skills are a catalyst – too valuable to be compromised. Without TRP Skills your performance could be highly compromised. And what does it take to acquire them – acquiring these 15+ skills through a select curriculum and then perpetuating it through a sustained pursuit of Riyaaz – that daily routine towards excellence.

The First Indicator of a Performer with Really High TRP is the extremely short period of time he/she takes to deliver Quality Work. Work manifests in two forms - 1. the written document and 2. the voluble speech. Such a Quality Performer would be able to seamlessly transmit idea with appropriate technical strength, good choice of words, appropriate construct of the sentence, quick transfer to the document on the screen or in a series of spoken dialogues that reaches the audience unequivocally. It takes sustained practice of customized "Riyaaz" for each aspirant to be that Professional with a High TRP.

Have often asked myself and others "What constitutes an Outstanding Personality?"

Interestingly, the answers vary for almost all of them. But, a striking similarity emerges - the connotation of "Personality" has relevance to how long you know the guy.

When you know him for the fleeting moments of just a few minutes - it is the body language, the attire, the swagger with which he carries himself which constitutes personality. When you known him for about a month, it is more of the civility, the conduct with superiors and the presenting style that constitutes personality. And when you have known him for years, it is the value systems of integrity, fair play that he brings to the table along with his demeanor and sophistication that constitutes "Personality". What is your take on this?

I am delighted to welcome you to this inceptive writing on my latest blog titled "What Is Your Professional TRP?" Would request you to traverse the lines below and offer your feedback.

What it takes to be an Outstanding Manager/Performer?

Over the last two decades I have been researching on the skills/techniques which are a pre-requisite for a Manager to perform at really high thresholds of efficiency, making him a “Winning Performer”. In my nomenclature I call them “Professional TRP Skills.” TRP stands for “Translation From Resource To Performance” and denotes those vital skills which will catalyze the translation of one’s faculties, knowledge, qualification etc into tangible performance. Over the years when I have interacted with clients, students, participants and particularly interviewees, I had this uncanny feeling emanate that if the person had regularly, systematically pursued and honed up these TRP skills – he/she would have been far more effective as a Performer, as a Manager.

Professionally, I am a Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary with active involvement also in teaching, training, consulting and HR.

The skills which I have identified and developed in to a curriculum so far are:-

·        

SELECT TECHNICAL AND DECISION MAKING SKILLS

o   Meeting Jockey – The Champion who drives meetings –who is the most important catalyst, making Meetings, Brainstorming and Management Review Sessions 2-3 times more productive and objective.

o   The Big Picture - A vital decision making tool that enables one to consider all key dynamics in the frame of reference so that a holistic evaluation is made. Makes decision making objective, holistic and effective.

o   Business Plan - You would understand the Business Plan, but how do you compile one? The compilation part wherein you put together a set of prospective financial statements – the Balance Sheet, the Income Statement and the Cash Flow needs to be practically mastered.

o   Cash Management Tool – An indispensable Cash Forecasting Tool that enables you to be in control of the operating solvency of your business - so that any diversion of your working capital triggers a preventive response.

o   HHL- The Hard Honest Look At Your Business - A simple format which should be used in recasting the figures in a Balance Sheet and Income Statement to understand where the entity really stands or does not stand. A must for every Business Participant who needs to get a true snapshot of the financial standing of his business.

o   Advanced Excel Skills - Use of functions/features such as IRR, Index-Match, Lookups, Pivots, Goal Seek, Sumproduct, If(and), Conditional Formatting, Cell Protection, Recording a Macro etc. etc. can radically enhance your proficiency at numbers orientation – so crucial a business skill.

o    MIS-You need to be able to design an MIS which will enable you to look at the entity in a holistic perspective.

o    Keyboard Proficiency - If you are slow at the keyboard you may be 2-3 times slower than someone for whom the keyboard is an extension of himself. Ajoy Basu has himself  devised a Keyboard Familiarity Guide which trains you to master the keyboard as a traditional typist would.

o    Legal Orientation – A comprehensive Legal Checklist which will help you to effectively read legal documents and help evaluate them for relevance, completeness and adequacy.

o    Internal Control – The Control Environment and Control Activities are critical for the efficiency of your business, its financial reporting and preventing leakages.

·         COMMUNICATION, RETENTION AND RECALL SKILLS – THE POWER OF EXPRESSION

o    Rapid Reading

o    Mnemonics

o    Riyaaz – the unique daily routine that can transform your career, your personality in a continual process of self-empowerment.

o    Word Power-Sentence Power

o    Pronunciation

o    Listening Skills

o    Public Speaking

·         OTHER SKILLS WHICH ARE BEING ADDED TO THE CURRICULUM

o    Process Mapping

o    Business Etiquette

Specifically, I seek your inputs on the following:-

1.     Which other SKILL/TECHNIQUE you would add to the suite of skills/techniques listed above? (We need to keep in mind a general scenario without getting into the individual background of the Manager as to whether he comes from Operations, Marketing, HR, IT or Finance).

2.     While I believe that all these skills are highly important, would you scale them in an order of priority for a Manager?

I would be grateful if you could share your experience on the above – will go a long way in expanding my horizons and improving the curriculum which I have built so far.

My website is www.ajoybasu.com – the “Skills” page will be more relevant for this interaction. Inter alia, my website captures this interesting journey of identifying TRP Skills and imparting them in different formats for easy assimilation. In time, I would be publishing these experiences - your inputs on the lines above would be invaluable to me.