Open Secret

In last couple of years would have read many articles, books...on the stuff of leadership, getting things done, execution, emotional intelligence, project management, lean thinking, process re-engineering, strategy, performance management, sales promotions, customer service, etc. At the end of reading one feels enlightened, improves thinking, provides different perspectives and insight.

But somewhere I was still searching ideas which are SIMPLE & EASY to understand and follow and provide LONGTERM behavioral change which results in improved personality, which is more effective.

 Based on observations over the years, and discussion with Some which can be followed easily by anyone, serious in growing professionally.

1. Perform the part of a colleague's job while he is on long leave.
2. Represent your team in a group doing work you know little about. If you come from the operations side of the business, find ways to interact with sales, procurement, human resources, legal, technology.
3. Accept the role of " Man Friday": volunteer to deal with the most dissatisfied customers or most difficult suppliers, take over troubled projects, or supervise cost-cutting initiatives.
4. Join a project team that is breaking new ground in your organization, for example, one that is launching a new product or installing a new IT system.
5. Start something new outside work--a new volunteer program for your child's school, or join a new professional network in your social networking site
6. Stepping forward to manage work with tight deadlines, pressure from above, high visibility, and responsibility for critical decisions increases your decisiveness and your ability to work and learn under pressure.
7. Volunteer to manage high-profile customers or business partners. You'll learn to deal with accountabilities from multiple directions--from your own organization and from external sources.
8. Always take up assignments that require you to collaborate across functions and business units or to work with people over whom you have no authority--such as customers, vendors, partners, unions, and regulatory agencies
9. Seek roles of Shared leadership sets up additional challenges around roles, authority, and expectations, as well as gives you a chance to experiment with your ideas and reinforce your beliefs.
10. Accept the role of executive assistant to the chairman, director, president for few years, preferably early in the career- will help in developing a holistic understanding of the business as well as developing visibility and relationship in the industry and organization.
11. Never miss an opportunity to meet with your customers and channel partners formally and informally and understand their motivations and,
12. Travel outside your workplace, visit other branches, offices, cities, develop an understanding for different markets, cultures, rituals, etiquettes
13. Seek out projects, task forces, and onetime events and activities that you can participate in for a short period of time - example business exhibitions, roadshows, product launches, market survey, shooting of ad films, development of advertisements
14. Seek challenges outside the workplace. Look for ways to develop your leadership capacity in nonprofit, religious, social, and professional organizations.
15. Spend time with your team members, colleagues, superiors in informal sessions, weekend picnics, Booz sessions, family outings, all this will help in understanding, and relating with them more meaningfully.
16. Seek out challenges in new industries or take up a position
17. Lastly, while doing all these don't lose focus on doing what you are getting paid for.

Above is neither complete nor comprehensive list, one can include, exclude beliefs which he feels are right in order to get his recipe of success

I would like to end, this midnight blog by quoting Calvin Coolidge

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with
talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race"

Sorry, no shortcuts in Life,

Ravi Kingrani

My Teachers and Their Teachings

We always learn from others, either through direct one to one communication, or by observation or by reading their thoughts.I have some very distinct memories of last 30 years of my life, specific incidents which inspire me to be a better human being.

I am not sure whether I am covering 100% of important learnings of my life, but i am making an attempt to put them together without any order of significance or importance, each one are equally important and significant.

Swami Vivekananda : Strength is Life, Weakness is Death, identify your weakness and overcome them.

Sarla Kingrani (My Mother): Character, honesty and Integrity are first stepping stone of your journey towards success.

Ajay Mehta ( My best friend..my shadow) : Only thing you need in life is sincerity to your work, no work is big or small. Money you earn is incidental not the purpose of working...

Indranarayan Chandrawal ( Da- Saheb): More difficulties you face in early part of your life, stronger you become to face challenges in your life.Don’t look for excuse once you have made promise, always honour commitment you made even if it means loss of anything materialistic.

Javad Ahmed Siddiqui ( My teacher in engineering who transformed me forever)
Trust your dream, you have great potential, have believe in what you are doing, no matter what other tell you. Limitations are only imaginary.

S K Kingrani ( My Uncle): Respect hard work & labour of your employees, if you take good care of your them, they will take care of your challenges team will do anything for you

R K Sharma ( My friends father) Giving me dream of becoming an successful person, a business manager … “ If you fail to plan, you plan to fail”

B K Singh (My first Boss in TATA Motors): Respect your customer, understand them, spend time with them, understand their business model, they are your only GOD

R K Ghosh ( My boss for 5 years, my guru, my inspiration, my mentor): In most of the challenging situations of life sincere effort is more important & Valuable than intelligence or smartness

Don't hide any mistake...a mistake is only a mistake if you don't learn and grow from it. And if you do (your choice), how can it be a mistake? Because it's served to make you better/wiser/more excellent."....be genuine.

Ratan Tata : Even an introvert and humble person can achieve the top most position in life.....as well as be humble when you reach on top. In life ethics, reputation; values are more valuable than wealth you create.

Tushar Dave ( My Manager in Satyam): Whose unflinching faith in God and Never say die attitude with absolute simplicity and sincerity is foundation of my resilience in professional life, Learning's from Tushar were..."Never give up, you loose the deal the day you stop trying getting it. God always helps when you sincerely try"

Dhruva chandrie (My Manager for 4 years in Reliance, person who influenced me most as a professional): Importance of being focused and detail oriented in life. Organization pay managers for getting things done, not for developing relationships or friendships. Take my words .. He is Jack Welch in making

Hital Meswani ( My super boss in Reliance): Respect each individual and his knowledge, it is humany impossible to know every thing about anything in business...one should be genuinely interested in understanding brass tags.God lies in details and if anyone ignore details he is surely heading for disaster

Mukesh D Ambani : Think Big, Act Fast but Plan Micro ( key to success)

Anjaney Bhutada (my friend, philosopher and guide) : Success can be achieved with Simplicity and without hidden agenda, geniuness and true spirit of helping others help us in long term

Badi Maa (My conscience keeper) : Face any adversity with grace and unflinching trust in God.

Prabhakar Bisen ( My friend and Inspirtaion) : Leave small things for others, aim for Big in Life.

Sudip Narvekar (My friend and buddy) : Corporate positions are not a pre-condition for friendship.

A big thank you to all my Guru's . I am sure these learning's (some new, some reinforcements) are going to shape my life, my future, and my next generations.