Body language is changing...

We all have learned the importance of Body Language at some stage or the other. The old adage- "Actions speak louder than words!" is still valid and going strong. However I have come across a few significant occurrences which indicate just like any other language this all powerful language too is changing. Meanings assigned to certain gestures, set of gestures are changing.

• Previously if one smiled at another. It was for giving some thing to the other. Now, if one smiles at another, it is for taking some thing away.
  
• Previously in traffic, if some one looked at the other driver, s/he would give him right of the way. He could proceed as desired. Now looking at other is considered giving right of the way to the other person.
• Previously if a person walked with pride in his stride, he was an honest, law abiding and perhaps a God fearing man. These days if some one walks with pride in his stride, you could be sure that his kind of scam is working to his entire satisfaction.
• Previously we looked at Blogs to see what other people wrote in their Blogs. These days we look at Blogs to look at our own Posts.

The above observations are not entirely devoid of intended pun. And if you ever gets to read this piece, please comment on what you think of the above.

Retail Snap Shots 01

Some thing happened during current visit to Delhi and I decided to continue my commentary on the business of Retail.

I had gone to Connaught Place on a shoestring budget of Rs.200/- and was hopeful of buying a book to read during my travels. Why a budget of only Rs.200/-? For one - I am not a part of any corporate 'benefit match' to be able buy those high priced books on Management Topics and histories of great corporations. Secondly, I find it is very stressful to read and remember what some Ford once said and how it changed the fortunes of Ford Motors. Perhaps in those days employees listened to their employers, some thing of which I am not sure of these days. These days employees not only do not listen to their bosses but also keep complaining their children don't listen to them. Listening to some one, it seems, has gone out of fashion. Further, I have often come across biographical books on the coffee tables in reception of firms where I go calling. And I have found most of those firms reluctant to part with such titles even for a good cause of educating our students. Perhaps such firms like many others are afraid of educated students. And of course that's another story.


So on this fateful day I was in this book store for a good 20 minutes and had began to loose hope of finding a suitable book with in my budget. Most of the titles catching my eyes were priced several times my budget. I had begin to doubt my choice of book store (more than 2000 sq. feet retail space). Just then I saw as the owner was busy scolding an aged employee about slow collections and his method of working. I found it to be a little out of the way to shout at an employee (for such reason) on the floor of the shop before customers. It is a standard practice in un-organized retail businesses to loudly shout at an employee for all ills of the outlet that a customer points out. Then I saw a rack labeled 'Fiction' and found it to be displaying books on Central Excise Laws and other such Law Titles. I asked the store attendant it all those books on law amounted to fiction? He did not catch the intended pun and simple replied, 'Galt haiga jee!', revealing his rustic Punjabi back ground.

Moving further, my hand rested on a title "Retail Business Kit for Dummies" and I repeated to myself- dummies know themselves well and don't ever attempt a Retail Business. And immediately saw the folly of my statement. In India, Retail, it seems is a "Dummies' Delight". As I was visiting a large book store in heart of Indian Capital and they were getting away with whatever bungling they did. A few minutes later I discovered this book to be going through a Retail merchandising Cycle, Rs. 299/- title was being offered at Rs. 89/-, as the publisher was intent upon clearing the stock. I was happy that my search for a book under Rs.200/- was over. But I did not become owner of that book until the attendant, the owner, and one of the cashiers had, one by one, scrutinized me suspecting I carried a sticker from the publishers announcing the 'offer' and had conveniently placed on the front of the book by taking it in to a remote corner. Once they had satisfied themselves they allowed me to take away the book upon payment of Rs. 89/- and I walked out of the store with a feeling of 'having earned' the book. Once outside, after breathing some fresh air, I recognized the tactic. The ridiculously low priced book was another VM technique designed to offer a bait (to visit again) in disguise.

Finally, if you are in Retail, do not think that you are a dummy; and if you actually are a dummy, do not be afraid of getting into Retail, secure in knowledge such books and many other useful titles are available offering the Retail know how.

Navendu Mahodaya

Faith of an Engineer

Faith of an Engineer

[Author Unknown]

I AM AN ENGINEER, in my profession I take deep pride, but without vainglory; to it I owe solemn obligations that I am eager to fulfill.

As an Engineer, I will participate in none but honest enterprise. To him, that has engaged my services, as employer or client; I will give the utmost of performance and fidelity.

When needed, my skill and knowledge shall be given without reservation for the public good. From special capacity springs the obligation to use it well in the services of humanity; and I accept the challenge that his implies.

Zealous of the high repute of my calling, I will strive to protect the interests and the good name of any engineer that I know to be deserving; but I will not shirk should duty dictate, fro disclosing the truth regarding anyone that, by unscrupulous act, has shown himself unworthy of profession.

Since the Age of Stone, human progress has been conditioned by genius of my professional forebears. By them have been rendered (usable to mankind) nature’s vast resources of material and energy. By them have been vitalized and turned to practical account the principles of science and the revelations of technology. Except for this heritage of accumulated experience, my efforts would be feeble. I dedicate myself to the dissemination of engineering knowledge, and especially to the instruction of younger members of my profession in all its arts and traditions.

To my fellows I pledge, in the same full measure I ask of them, integrity and fair dealing, tolerance and respect, and devotion to the standards and dignity of our profession; with consciousness, always, that our special expertise carries with it the obligation to serve humanity with complete sincerity.

Our ability to increase productivity and at the same time cut down inefficiencies and costs and this is an engineering problem. But technology is not all; engineers also play important roles in management and policy making. As one authority has written:

“A substantial share of responsibility for the management of American industry has habitually been given to he engineers, and this share has been increasingly marked during the last half century. It is no longer sufficient for an engineer to be just technically competent; he must be prepared also to make decisions on matters of business policy based on all the manifold factors involved in the conduct of modern industry…. Here is a challenge to the engineer. You have a vital role in the operation of our national economy, both as technical and as administrators.”

The engineer stands ready to meet this challenge today and in the years to come, confident in his faith in India’s future and in the ability of his profession to meet whatever needs that future may demand.

[This piece was presumably written in early 1950s. I found in a cyclostyled sheet among my father's papers. He was an Engineer. Try to replace the word Engineer by the Vocation you are in, I trust it will fit through a few minor alterations. Then you might like to use it to improve the sensitivities of those who work with you.]

Saina's Gold

India's medal statistics stand tall and impressive at 38 - 27 - 36. I know what some of you are thinking. Yes, in terms of a beauty pageant lingo, it sure is very impressive. Jokes apart, our sports-persons have done country proud.

There are many people who have expressed that this medal tally is small compared to what money was sanctioned or the size of our nation and some such ways of comparing. Sure every one is entitled to an opinion. And I have the following to add to those opinions already in circulation:

• I saw a higher degree of sportsmanship spirit among all Indians- Public, Participants, Volunteers and Viewers. No, I m not suggesting- "let us forget and forgive' as far as corruption in organizing is concerned.
  
• I saw Indian Winners weren't hungry for lime light in media and that is a very good trend.
• Every Indian can learn a thing or two from Saina Nehwal. First could be, how to look proper & smart and same time not appear to be conspicuously glamorous.
• Other thing to be learned is how to keep cool when chip are down. She kept her cool when she was about to loose the Gold, towards the end of the second game.
  
• Next thing Saina gave us is- 'Keep working harder with intensity and supreme focus to meet the challenge of the situation before us and not to worry'.
• If Mahabharat's Arjun did exist on this land once upon a time, this time round he has taken birth as Saina Nehwal for she personifies all his qualities while she is at work. And in that respect her Gold Medal is just another beginning of an era we shall all remember for a long time.
  

Finally, let us take these and such other lessons to other Indians and help each other grow the way our sporting stars have grown in past few years.

navendu mahodaya

Reality of Retail

This three-way Chess Board depicts the stark reality of Retail. It is a game played between three players- Customer, Staff & Management; where the Goods Displayed are the different 'Pieces' with which the Players must assert.And for a successful game all three must win.

Talent is Multidimensional

Recently I saw Deepika Padukone in a Talent Hunt Show. She was on her roller skates and performed several dance movements in a flawless manner. I was awe struck. This is why:

• Deepika came to lime light with her stint in Badminton, which she probably picked up as her father is an ace Badminton player.
• If she learnt roller skating as a child is not known, yet in my view that is an additional plus for her. And now, that ability to dance like a consummate performer you often see on television took the breath out of me.
• From Badminton, she went on to become a fashion model, adding another dimension to her talent.
• Then she switched over to an acting career.
• All these happened very quickly, with in a some 3 - 4 years of her switching from Badminton. May be actual number of years is some what different.

You can call her very talented, a quick learner and a born star, clap, cheer, become a fan, seek auto graph, dream hugging her. OR you can take a leaf out of her life to study her DNA, the stuff she is made of. When you do that, you will find, she is another "next door girl" who happened to shape her talents by letting those talents out.

People who show such diversity of high grade talent, have learnt "Learning" very early in life. They stay away from "Faking" and focus on immediate challenges. Instead of worrying about what will I wear on the Red Carpet, they get busy doing some thing that would take them there. I am awe struck that Deepika has mastered this quality. I know very little about her, yet I am sure, she has this knack of learning what makes a career switch successful.

Each one of us has a talent that we can be proud of. It takes a while to discover it. It may even take decades. The task is made difficult by us alone, some what automatically. As young children, we were very impressionable. We did not know it - then. We saw some thing being done, took fancy for it and declared, I am going to be so-n-so, with out going into the feasibility of it. The other common folly is, we ignored our other interests, skills, or talents. We just focused on that "acquired interest" and struggled to make it work. If the choice was correct, it worked; otherwise we blamed it on the good old "LUCK".

Here I wish to share a technique I have often used. I have found myself mediocre in many areas. I failed to excel and suffered the consequences. ["Suffering the consequences" would be more appropriate.] How do I overcome this situation? I focus on only one area of endeavor at a time. I focus so intensely that I some times can not even recall details from my other efforts. People smilingly help me out. People have also told me, 'it happens with us all, age sure catches up you know!' This intense focus creates energy, abilities that make my task simpler when I switch my area of effort. This intense focus (in a diversion) creates those spaces [in my mind] that improve my ability to handle my routine tasks as well. May be you have another way to explain this phenomenon, yet you can not deny the benefit accrued.

The point I wish to make is-

We all are blessed with multiple set of talents. Some of us become obsessed with one of those talents. Some of us are pressurized to focus on one of those talents. Please be aware that other talents haven't deserted you. Those talents too are with in you. Also, please be aware, that unused talents too are trying to come out in open, and in such an effort may be blocking the path of the expression. Allow them some time and let them be out, blocks would be a thing of past - and pure joy shall prevail.

Empower! What else?

Do you want to lead a firm that makes highly differentiated products which are specialty protected; where the work force is involved and highly flexible; where customers line up and profits are pouring? No, it isn’t a copy of an employment ad. It reads like a dream. It would be your reality, if you were to work towards it. How? By Empowering your work force, what else?


Empowerment is not a new term. It is perhaps as old as civilization it self. I came across a line by Vivekkanand, “Cure of weakness doesn’t lie in thinking about Weaknesses. Instead it lies in teaching the Weak about the Powers they already have.”


If your response to such a proposition is- “If I tell them how good they are, then surely they’d demand more money. And I am not going to act on such an idea that leads to giving them more money!” Such a response is an Impulse Response. Try to recall, how many of your impulse purchases have been worth the money except for the joy of the moment. Apart from that Kala Khatta Baraf Ka Gola, a very few I am sure. So what happens when you disregard such an impulse that came from influences you carry as a result of indoctrinated in the old school of business, where Katouti is the only acceptable principle. Of course nothing fruitful happens. How about this response- “OK, if you want more money, then help me make more money and take your pick.” It does begin to sound better, isn’t it? With a little diplomacy and conferring you can have a new wave of profits hitting your shore, and there’s nothing unethical about it.


Before we move ahead, let me share some details of a Howard Business Review article I read in Times of India, some 15 – 16 years ago. It was about a certain manufacturing company that was owned and run by a woman for nearly 25 years. She was deeply involved in every thing about the company. She would attend to every small detail, from billing to maintenance. She made all the decisions. She herself conducted all the negotiations, did costing and even production planning – all by herself.


If she is coming across as an autocrat, then here are more facts. She saw her employees as family. She arranged costume parties for them. She loved listening to their personal woes and kept close track of employees’ children. It is a text book case of a benevolent, maternal autocrat. She also misbelieved that her employees loved her. Here I am reminded of an Indian Industrialist who is a devotee of Lord Ram. His favorites tell him that he is Lord Ram and each one of them is humble Hanuman. How such a charade would help the organization is not known but it is clear that employees tend to imitate such mythological relationship when there is no other clear agenda before them. Then they begin to take unproductive liberties with in the purview of such relationships and that American firm too was no exception. If any one didn’t have the right perspective, it was the woman owner, and for employees it was a joy ride.

Like many other American firms this one too had a Union of which the workforce was member. While the workforce did every thing to appear in love with the female boss, the union was ruthless in their pursuit of wage growth for its members. After all, the inflationary forces and growing up kids in the families dictated such a pursuit may be followed to the hilt.

For past several years, the firm was facing tremendous pressure on margins due to several of their competitors did not have unionized workforce. It was a tricky situation. If she did not cut the costs, she was doomed, and if she tried to cut the costs, union would call for strike and then again she’d reach the same spot. What happened under such circumstances happened in this case too. Under pressure of the situation she sold out. New owners wanted to learn the threads of business to which she agreed by staying around for a monthly fee. What then followed is a tale worthy of a movie script.

New owners were slow learners. Everything, all the organizational knowledge was in previous owner’s head, and she too didn’t have the correct perspective because of which she sold out. So what followed was a free for all conflicts, abusive and insulting episodes, loosing customers to competition, misunderstandings leading to loosing of key employees, and finally a strike call by union. Though the new management was clever enough to break the strike on the merit of the situation, but gone was the old good will between the owner and the workers. New owners decided to convert the adversarial relationship in to a productive one through workers’ participation in management and sharing of profits. In their vision, it would lead to empowerment of work force, but before that many hurdles were to be over come.

The work force that was darling of the previous owner and had called a strike against the new management had tasted defeat in the process. The resultant bitterness could not be wished away. It wasn’t a happy situation. New owners’ move to ask workers to participate in the management was being resisted. The first hurdle they set us was a syndrome called, “That’s not my job!” New owners would ask, “How to cut down on waste?” OR “How to allocate over time for this delayed order?” They would get replies that amounted to- “That’s not my job (to show you, how to)!” After all the old owner used to figure all such questions, though based on her experience, and never bothered the work force with such questions that would force them to think.

But the persistence paid off and such questions when answered were actually empowering the work force. The ensuing enthusiasm of the work force was matched by profit sharing program (by the new management). The program was implemented in a transparent manner. It involved sharing of very confidential data and information. The firm’s profits grew, and the worker’s trust in management also grew by the same measure. So much was their trust in the management and the profit sharing program that some time later when they were given option to choose between wage hikes or to continue in the profit sharing program, they voted in favor of the later. The clock of empowerment has run it’s full circle.

If you are considering a formal empowerment program, please check for the following essential ingredients and then embark the path:

• Clean and healthy working condition.
• Reasonable remuneration.
• Respect from colleagues, superiors and management.
• Opportunity for using work and work environment for personal growth.

Finally for those who like to entrust their future to their luck, some one has aptly said-

Fortune befriends the bold!