Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Had His Top Execs Read These Three Books | LinkedIn

Reading a book was an integral part of our growing up and later on, self-development.... Till TV, internet, social media and other distractions came in! (No excuse, just a 'choice' we made!)
Books still form an important part of gift-ideas, globally. Of course, that does not automatically translate to increased reading habit ! More often popular books just add to the 'cosmetic' effect of the book-shelt, at office/home :(

People like Amazon (e-reader/kindle), libraries ('Just books') and others playe an important role to keep this healthy habit alive & kicking. Against stiff competition..!

Interesting article. 
Amazon's Bezoz had his executives read these books, perhaps not just 'recommending' as most bosses do & the team would promptly pick up the book immediately (not always read, promptly!)

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He hosted three all-day book clubs with Amazon's top executives, capped by nice dinners at the end.

Bezos said he used the books as frameworks for sketching out the future of the company. (This is the biggest take-away)

Which books?

    The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker

    The Innovator's Solution by Clayton Christensen

    The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt

 

So, time to re-phrase 'which book are you reading/read recently?' to 'what are the take-aways from the book, being implemented?' The whole execution is EXECUTION !

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Had His Top Execs Read These Three Books | LinkedIn

The Ethics Coach on Practicing What You Preach | Entrepreneur.com

Very Interesting Q & A, relevant to our day-today lives. 
My own thoughts:

1. Gaming prima facie may not be unethical. If the content is too aggressive, vulgar and show-case negative value (considering the target audience, children), it may not be holistic. 

2. Every interaction should pass the 'win-win' test. Then, even if we make a mistake, it is fine! The problem is when we try to act smart and act to the detriment of someone else. 

3. Business & Ethics are surely not an oxymoron. There are many who still live and work by values, across all areas, including business, art, science, sports, et al. Hence, the world still survives :)
 
The Ethics Coach on Practicing What You Preach | Entrepreneur.com

BMW Group outsells Fiat in Europe, signaling a new trend

This is good news for Indian auto industry. This segment will become more important for global manufacturers and will ensure innovation, new launch and hopefully lower prices :)

BMW Group outsells Fiat in Europe, signaling a new trend

RBI now against 0% EMIs for consumer goods, banks withdraw finance schemes; festive sales likely to be hit - The Economic Times

This may not be appreciated by banks/card-issuers and consumer durable manufacturers. Many who favour market-driven policies & procedures also may criticize, including some customers. But perhaps it is in the larger interest, for example, transparency.

0% is never free, just as 'there is no free lunch' ! And, do we really want free? We want to pay what is appropriate price, so that we get value for money.
More often, 0% works out costlier.

If it is linked to credit card EMI, it is a slow killer. We move closer to debt trap and lose peace of mind.

We don't want to build an economy purely on consumption, do we?

Debt-free, Saving, ceiling on desires, etc  are more holistic and blissful !


RBI now against 0% EMIs for consumer goods, banks withdraw finance schemes; festive sales likely to be hit - The Economic Times

http://www.livemint.com/Money/b82VaVLL0vKqQfJIGvp81O/Ban-on-0-schemes-not-really-a-dampener.html

Luxury sales satisfaction not different from mass-market

This is surprising... a confirmation that luxury brands are not giving the customer-experience different from mass-segment. 
In line with the feedback from owners of the top international brands. Customers feel a Maruti or a Hyundai salesman is just as good as a luxury car salesman (Merc, BMW, Audi or VW). 

The reason is the brands are not investing enough in this element of sales & marketing. Would they do that elsewhere ?
Or is it because they feel the price-conscious (and also mileage!) Indian car buyer do not value customer service?

Wish the TV programs on auto included a section on customer service/experience. Not just car reviews...

Luxury sales satisfaction not different from mass-market

Seth's Blog: The GIGO buffer

"There will always be garbage in. It's up to you as to whether or not there will be garbage out." I am tempted to add, there should never be garbage-out. We should take responsibility.

This is one of the best advise I got from a boss. He would say, 'anything that goes from your laptop, even a mere forward, should carry your stamp of approval'. 

Have since then tried to implement same in professional & personal life.

Not always easy, but worth it.  


Seth's Blog: The GIGO buffer

Sachin has always kept it simple - To be a Coachee like Sachin

After several posts on Coaching, from the perspective of the practice (art, science and lot more!), here is something on how the coachee (client) makes the whole difference. 

Any coach, executive/life/transformational/spiritual/sports/etc, would give anything to get client like this:

• focussed - not distracted at all
• simple - though we tend to unnecessarily complicate stuff, thanks to the monkey-mind. Simplicity is closest to spirituality
• clear on goals
• passionate
• hard-working - even though at the pinnacle of the career
• humility, at its best
• always learning - even though one of all-time greats

The end result of the coaching-intervention will be better than the expected outcome. Bliss Guaranteed. 

Am I willing to be a Sachin-like Coachee ?

Sachin has always kept it simple, says John Wright - The Times of India

I have a habit of being the best in class for customers: Is that your habit ?

"I do not have a religion of market share, I have a religion of being the best in class for customers. I have the religion to be profitable. "  (response to the last question -chk the link below)

• How many of our telecom operators, retail & otherwise, can make this statement? 
• How many of our products and services can claim this? 
• More importantly, how many organisations have taken concrete steps to trickle it down, presuming leaders share this value.

Over the last decade, I have personally seen a drop in quality of customer service at broader levels, across all services surely, and also among products, in India. Banking, telecom, call centers, etc have hit notorious levels.

One primary reason is mad chase of top-line/bottom-line/market-share/quarterly-results ?
We conveniently forget it does not work in the long term unless it is holistic. Customer service has to be part of DNA, passion, habit in organisations... only then it will manifest across all levels.

I have a habit of being the best in class for customers: Alcatel-Lucents Michel Combes

Disclosure - I am personally not connected with Alcatel directly, in any way. 

Games executive coaches play | Business Line

When a patient goes to a doctor/dentist/ortho, a hair-dresser, a spa, a guru or even a movie/play, he should have made preliminary checks before making a decision & plan.

The target customer for executive coaching, middle/senior level managers, would consider themselves smarter than 'aam aadmi'. 
Similarly HR/L & D also will make enquiries to check out on the credential of the coach/firm, accredited or not.

Where is the scope for a coach 'to play any game' ?! And where is need when the whole premise is to make a genuine difference?
 
I would personally credit the client (individual & corporate) with lot more credibility, capability and judgement, rather than being naive & irresponsible !!

Games executive coaches play | Business Line

NASA Renews with Cambria for Executive Coaching & Organizational Development

NASA has renewed the contract to provide executive coaching services across the national space agency.

Have you got a coach ? Has your organisation started looking at Coaching as an important element of HR ?  Coaching is different from training, mentoring, etc.

And as Google's Schmidt says, everyone needs a coach.
Schmidt 'Everyone needs a coach'

Executive/Life/Transformational Coaching helps teams and individuals realize the "UNLIMITED"  potential, the "REGAL" way for the benefit of all stakeholders...

'NASA'always reminds me of the inspiring story of 'the janitor also working to put man on moon'! Have shared with so many groups, most of them applauding!!


BOSTON: NASA Renews with Cambria for Executive Coaching & Organizational Development | Business Wire | Rock Hill Herald Online


Executive Coaching at Regal Unlimited:
http://www.regalunlimited.com/coaching.html

CRMnext to help ICICI Group revamp consumer strategy | Business Standard

Initiatives such as these to integrate all relationship, across product & services within the bank will immensely help.
It would be still better to integrate also the cross-sell on insurance/MF within group.
If such systems are capable of integrating the family accounts, it would help, both banks & customers thereof.

The critical differentiator will be when every customer-encounter or touch-point is captured to guarantee holistic customer satisfaction... leading eventually to Customer Enchantment. ( across all banks, of course)


CRMnext to help ICICI Group revamp consumer strategy | Business Standard

Don't Inflict Help, Provide It - Ed Batista - Harvard Business Review

At work and home, we tend go beyond extending help to inflicting help.
 
The emotional angle is very thought-provoking.
 
If we are able to raise self-awareness, listen actively, be empathetic and not focus on outcome, etc may help. Must do @ coaching, surely.

Help Ever, Hurt Never - #Master's Voice 


Don't Inflict Help, Provide It - Ed Batista - Harvard Business Review

Prevention is Better than Cure Physical or Mental Health

The heading may sound cliched... But then, lot of things in life are....!

Came across this article in Forbes India Magazine - Apollo Munich: Healthy profits from Unhealthy people.

How the insurance company went for a 'different' strategy :

1. Product Innovation
2. Going Retail Customer
3. Integrate health financing with health care management

Lot of similarities from what we try to do in Life/Executive Coaching space. Few random thoughts...

1. The 'product' or service by itself is innovative - a unique blend of art & science. Many are not fully aware of the immense possibility of pure Life/Executive Coaching. Yesterday, heard from couple of friends who their coaching experience was not 'Enchanting', as the some of the basic aspects of the science, viz., process, was not stuck to. That is fundamental to our practice. Start with the process. 
2. Going Retail is an option for executive coaches, though group/team intervention is very powerful. Provided the team is able to embrace the opportunity to derive the maximum benefit. 
3. That takes me to the most important part - prevention. Coaching, through a series of tools, models as part of the process, helps to uncover the root cause of the problem/opportunity. And, at the cost of repetition, we tend to complicate things in our lives. At the fundamental level, every thing is simple. The first step in holistic health care management in coaching space, at physical, mental and beyond levels, is in deep awareness.

Also check advice from 98 yrs yound,  Khushwant Singh: Time tested tips on how to stay healthy & live longer

be happy & healthy... you will need no health insurance at all !

Blissfully!
 
Forbes India Magazine - Apollo Munich: Healthy profits from Unhealthy people

6 Things You Thought Wrong About Introverts

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Interesting post on common misconceptions about introverts…

In just my previous post, I mentioned even corporate success/failure is partly a question of ‘perception’. Pls don't be in a hurry to react or challenge or judge...! Think deeply!
Similarly the way we perceive people has a lot to do the choice we make to judge them.

One of the important aspects to Coaching, and also spirituality, is we have no right/business to judge anyone!

A beautiful state of being when we stop judging people…

Glad to sign off saying, ‘Proud to an be an Introvert’… :)

6 Things You Thought Wrong About Introverts

Dubai-based Life Coach Dares Corporations to Rehumanise the Workplace

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How many organizations, leaders, managers really ‘allow’ a culture of failure and imperfection. In today’s world when business leaders are evaluated quarter to quarter or month on month, how many would really take a medium to long-term view and work with that perspective? More importantly how many have the vision, passion and stamina to balance both short term and long term vision, across all levels of management?

At individual employee level, it can be ‘allowed’ if there is a consistent effort to take initiative, keep trying & working hard. Very often some of these, if not all, are found missing in corporate settings. 

Author is very right is saying ‘fear’ is indeed one of worst negative emotions. But then, fear can be overcome by many ways. A passion for action, focus on process (than outcome), focus, awareness, etc being some of them...

A lot depends on the business leaders. I had two related experiences.  Ultimately it depended on the whims & fancies of leadership (outcome - failure) and trust, vision and guts to allow from failure, (outcome – sheer sustainable, magic).

Most importantly, failure or success is perception, apart from sheer numbers. For it depends on several factors, internal and external. The duty of business leadership is to manage same, through (the perception of) success and failures.

Dubai-based Life Coach Dares Corporations to Rehumanise the Workplace - arabiangazette.com

The Two Biggest Distractions – And What to Do About Them | Daniel Goleman

Author's thoughts summarised:
-Distractions are the enemy of FOCUS
-SENSORY & EMOTIONAL are the two varieties of distractions
-Chose between Hopeless Rumination & Useful Reflection
-Author suggests Meditation & avoid causes...
 
How I handle: 

• Cut off 'weapons of mass distraction' (phone, e-mail, social media), 
• Cut of noise (physical & mental), 
• Get some physical exercise (step out & spend time with Nature), and 
• MEDITATE - meditation activates the brain, helps us to relax, improves creativity, helps to control emotions, et al.

 

The Two Biggest Distractions – And What to Do About Them | LinkedIn

Rock Star CEO

Steve Ballmer and the Problem With Rock Star CEOs | To build a Great company, Rock ON
 
To be or Not to be... A Rock Star CEO. 
For old fashioned corporate honchos, Rock Star & CEO may be an oxymoron. 

• First of all, was Balmer really a Rock Star ? Was the image creation of media & also, may be, by Microsoft ?
• Microsoft missed the boat on search, on mobile, and on the cloud, thankfully did not miss on gaming with Xbox (my son is a proud owner!) 
• Or is it a problem with the culture at Microsoft, which does not develop leaders ?
• In the specific case of Balmer, wonder if he had a Coach

One of the most successful and flamboyant CEOs, Sir Richard Branson, says 'To Build A Great Company, Rock On'.  But, he gives a twist to it...

He says, 'as an entrepreneur, it is up to you to create the kind of workplace and company culture that will attract great talent'.

• Can professional CEO's ever step into the shoes of an entrepreneur, esp if his predecessor is someone like Bill Gates in the case of Balmer ( even Cook after Steve Jobs) ?
• Can Microsoft really stake claim to having 'great talent' or have they been riding on the "product", even though their product was indeed a 'service', software ? The fact they had such a dominant presence, did they really create a company culture like GE ?
• Of course, the beautiful "twist' Sir Branson gives is the CSR angle. Involve staff, during their official time, with the company's charity events. Let the event be a musical one... Is that not a wonderful thought ? 
• Very relevant to India when there is a renewed focus on CSR & iCSR (individual CSR, at employee level). 

Just ROCK ON!!


Steve Ballmer and the Problem With Rock Star CEOs | Inc.com

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/LcMCoVrLC5VDwqswQZOTCO/To-build-a-great-company-rock-on.html

8 Ways to Improve Your Attitude | Inc.com

Recently a management student asked us (a panel, I was part of), 'How do we develop the right attitude?' Some of these were discussed. This is a good list.
As I had shared with the student, I would also suggest,
1. Meditate
2. Physical Fitness
3. Be part of an NGO or be regular in any philanthropic activity ( not mere 'cheque-book philanthropy!)
4. Focus on one hobby - music, painting, gardening, etc., and be very good at it (not to become a great musician or painter in the eyes of the world, but just 'BE' good at it!)


8 Ways to Improve Your Attitude | Inc.com

Definition of Success

Master's Voice:  
It is the internal bliss that should matter to any person, not the external, sensory, objective and the worldly temporary joys. If you can develop the inner poise or equilibrium that is undisturbed by the ups and downs every day presents to you, that is a sure sign of real SUCCESS!

PS: I have come across several 'worldly definitions of 'success'. But this clarifies beyond doubt

What does 'success' mean to you?  Your definition of success?

After selling Hexaware, Atul Nishar longs for nothingness - Power of NOTHINGNESS

After 30 years in corporate world, the chartered accountant who was behind Aptech & Hexaware, is hanging up his boots, with Rs 1,000 crore cheque from sale of the latter. 

Experts, and also the authors of the article in ET, feel Hexaware was not 'aggressive enough', vis-a-vis players like Cognizant.
May be or may be not!! It may be just perception of the external world.

All credit to Atul Nishar for timing his exit well. And more for the decision to enjoy and experience 'SHUNYA' or 'NOTHINGNESS'. 

In the middle of our career, each one of us have a choice and should exercise the same ( I strongly feel) to step out and experience Power of NOTHINGNESS.  The experience can not be explained, but only experienced...

The article in ET
After selling Hexaware, Atul Nishar longs for nothingness