Promoters’ role changing, says Ram Charan

- The role of a company’s promoter is starting to include helping in drawing up leadership succession plans and generally evaluating the talent of a CEO

- One cannot generalise [about Indian companies] of course. But it is slowly happening…promoters are making changes at the top level. The average tenure of a CEO now is just 4.6 years, with a great proportion below three years...

...says the management guru, leadership coach. 

Often business leaders miss out the need to strike a balance between 'cutting & sharpening the saw'. For succession planning & leadership coaching (not mentoring!) is one of the key roles of a business leader.

In Indian context, we find there are many CEOs of companies, both well-managed & not-so-well-managed companies, holding on to the chair! Every such position should have a maximum tenor to enable new leaders, with fresh perspective to take over. The successor may not be able to fill in the boots of some of their erstwhile predecessors. But the system has to find ways to handle suitability, rather than allowing leaders to hand-on. 

Of course, everyone in the corporate, irrespective of the level, should consider himself to be at a leadership level. As such applicable to everyone. Just as we clamour for retirement of our senior cricketers, however great they were... 

Is corporate India ready? Are you ready to let go?

http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/promoters-role-changing-says-ram-charan/article5583034.ece?homepage=true

Coaching Physicians to Become Leaders - Richard Winters - Harvard Business Review

One of the links on coaching I have shared with many is Eric Schmidt's advise, 'everyone needs coaching', one of the best advice he received!

That 'everyone' includes not only corporate guys, but surely include physicians, artists, trainers, et al.
The challenges people face are common to all organised efforts, whether a bank or corporatee, charity, service like hospital, or a school/college. Just as a good sportman may not be a good coach, a good professional (doc, engineer, artist) may not be a good business leader.As such,

1. Organisation noise is a pain area for across all professionals. A coach may be able to hold the mirror in front of the client, including a physician, to look for possible solutions. A coach, is best-equipped if he is actually an outsider - not from the organisation and not from same profession.
2. Feeling like an outsider can actually be helpful to ensure optimum detachment and, work with a firm belief on 'Doctrine of Trusteeship' - more appropriate for a physician.
3. Not to feel stuck in transition is more of a personal choice, rather than an external constraint. Of course, leadership is an art and science. If the physician (or anyone in that mould) has handled small leadership roles in schoo/college/community, it will help immensely.
4. Feeling of trapped in time warp is a challenge many face, especially typical non-corporate type. A typical sales or finance guy, if promoted based on 'potential', often face a similar situation.

There are different ways a coach can help client ot overcome, for benefit of all (self, orgn and community). 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7qnTMvw92U - Courtesy Fortune
 
Coaching Physicians to Become Leaders - Richard Winters - Harvard Business Review

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

Be A True Business Leader

--> I have not been blogging much, of late… Was busy with other things. Surely, less with work....! 

For me, writing/blogging is a matter of ‘mood’! Moreover, I did not come across topics that were 'blog-worthy', from my (limited) perspective and (narrow) interests! :)

Recently came across a thought I felt compelled to share… Hence, glad to be back, blogging!!  

Executive Remuneration… 

Had blogged  last year, on 25^th Dec to be precise, The Maya of Career !

1. Came across this interesting post, Executive Remuneration: Time to rein in the rewards, on Linkedin. There was not much info in the article, per se. But the headline was thought-provoking. Also, this topic was debated extensively in Middle East, at the height of the financial crisis, my karma-bhoomi then. There was a fear of this cap on exe remuneration in G20 countries!

I have seen, more often, we chase money, instead of a fulfilling career. Even if aware of the fact, we just drag on...hang on!

The frequently-aired SBI Home Loans TVC during IPL reminded me of how most of corporate executives end up ‘hand-to-mouth’ living. The lady in the ad said, 'there was no money for vacation after paying EMI', till the protagonist shifted his H/L to SBI! Of course, the lady of the house looked low on nutrition, may be due to cost cutting at home! 

Even as urban living becomes riskier by the day (pollution of water, air, noise, etc), difficult (commuting) and expensive (cost of living, rent vs own home), we still continue to move to cities in search of professional ‘greener’ pastures! At what cost?! 

2. Came across another interesting article, ‘Lord of The Rings’, in ET - Corporate Dossier.  
Prof Sushanta Kumar Bhattacharyya was part of the team to select successor to Mr Ratan Tata. 

He shared in the article, what clinched the decision in favour of Mr Cyrus Mistry, over ‘candidates from both sides of Atlantic’:   
‘he’s got passion, he’s intellectually very bright and he doesn’t need the money’.
Interesting, is n't ? 

‘Passion’ is a no-brainer! But was surprised by ‘intellectual mind and being wealthy’. For Tata group head, surely intellectual bend of mind should be a key leadership skill. Being rich, is quite relative. Rich have shown only more desire for more wealth. But then, theoretically a good set of parameters to select the head of one of most respected business groups, not only in India, but world-wide…

Sharing with friends, many of whom are aspiring CEO’s. Don't want to be judgmental here. But worthwhile to pause and do some professional & personal introspection. Taking the liberty to say this, also based on my recent coaching sessions.

Be Blissful!

Biblio!

• The Maya of Career:  http://mecarblog.blogspot.in/2012/12/the-maya-of-career.html
• Executive Remuneration: Time to rein in the rewards: http://www.iias.in/specialreport.aspx

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IIAS against TVS scion's board entry | Business Standard

This is an interesting development. Mr Sudarshan Venu, being a member of TVS group/family ( fourth generation?) would be more than qualified to handle the role. Worth much more in remuneration. 

Rajiv Bajaj is a good example. But then, he started his journey at Bajaj Auto at the ground level. 

There are couple of legends around TVS group's work ethics. Integrity and transparency, managing relationships, etc being some of them. One of the more popular legend is how one could set his clock by their bus-timings in Tamil Nadu, before the government took over ! Also, we heard how members of the family would spend day-one at a workshop, under a car. Wonder if Mr Sudarshan started his journey from under a car too ?!

One of the most inpiring stories in this matter came from Mr Philanthrophy of Indian Corporate scene, Mr Azim Premji. He rules out the fact his son would be a future CEO. That should be the best practise, worth-emulating. Not only in corporate area, but in all walks of life, including most importantly, POLITICS. We would then be deprived of many baba-log and beti-log in political scene. But, it would do a world of good to Indian politics.  

Conceptually, this is an interesting development.  Hope we get to see more Premjis across all areas of human endeavour in India. India deserves freedom from dynastic-clutches.
 IIAS against TVS scion's board entry | Business Standard

Mis-management? How most B-Schools have lost their plot in India - NDTVProfit.com

• Many business schools ( not all, of course) forgot 'Management was essentially manage-men'. Not chasing jobs
• 'Education is for life, not for living' - but if the system is geared up for placement as the sole yardstick, the purpose is defeated
• Corporate (and all representative bodies thereof!), management schools & alumni should take bulk of the blame. Students & parents to a very small extend. We have created a system that is not fulfilling... sadly
• How can there be 'lack of quality' ? We have government bodies to ensure, I thought!
• Time for introspection... on what we need to achieve thru business schools - to create products for day-zero recruitment or business leaders?

Mis-management? How most B-Schools have lost their plot in India - NDTVProfit.com

2013 Man of the Year: Sergio Marchionne - Automobile Magazine

"Foresight or sheer luck ? " But a great turnaround story...

• Italian-Canadian, not American, CEO of an authentic American brand!
• Car-lover, but not an automobile expert... 
• More of a numbers' guy, accountant/legal areas being the forte
• Famous for his delegation and man-management skills - a true business leader
• Most importantly, "The only thing that matters in the end, is the bottom line." Something, we bankers tend to forget, at times !!

Many of us have seen Chrysler regaining its position in the market space. While Ford & GM got more media coverage, Chrysler was at it, quietly. Customers in Middle East were delighted with the  new models and the fresh approach.

Inspiring stuff on leadership... 

2013 Man of the Year: Sergio Marchionne - Automobile Magazine

Leadership Trends in India's No 2 Bank - ICICI Bank

Some highlights :

• Most of the business leaders are in their early forties
• CEO 'praising in public' for the exceptional talent
• Market share is no longer the 'holy book', but other banking performance parameters. Total turnaround indeed !
• Leadership development through historian, aviator & environmentalist... Black Swan is the way ahead ! 

Interesting trends in leadership development in one of top banks in India.

Courtesy:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/banking/finance/banking/surviving-the-credit-crisis-how-chanda-kochhar-team-pulled-icici-back-from-the-precipice/articleshow/16936100.cms?curpg=2

New Age Transformational Leadership

Interesting write up on Leadership in Indian context:

Drive transformation by abolishing class systems in organisational leadership

Read more: http://forbesindia.com/article/special/drive-transformation-by-abolishing-class-systems-in-organisational-leaderhip/33925/1#ixzz29LYJEcC4

Very true, there is acute shortage of not only 'new age' leadership, but 'all age' leaderships :)
We are still at an early phase of evolution in leadership, I guess. It is still so common to see people address others as 'Sir', in a society where we offer 'Namaste' to the Divinity in others !
We do not appreciate and encourage strong value-system. Rude aggression, lack of empathy, vocal, extrovert etc are the more prominent traits of leadership, across all sectors & levels.
Corporate sector needs to embrace the tenets of new age, transformational leadership. Business leaders & HR department need to play a big role. Business schools and our overall educational system should be receptive to the need for this change. 
A leadership that is essence of our true ethos and values, inspiring & contemporary.
Difficult, but surely achievable.

Leadership Tata Way

One of the most inspiring leaders from Corporate India (Mr Ratan Tata), belonging to one of the most respectable & ethical business groups ( TATA), will step down this year. His track record is one for all of us to be proud of. Under his leadership, we have seen the group grow in geometric proposition. I have told some many of my friends in Middle East, 'JLR now belongs to TATA' !!

The group has have retained their belief in value-system.
As the world hits new lows in corporate ethics ( LIBOR being the latest at global level!), thank God there are business entities which believe in ethics.

In his 'Third Innings', Mr Tata will focus on some fundamental issues that plague our country. Inspiring... worth emulating.
http://www.livemint.com/2012/07/09161240/Ratan-Tata-reveals-his-postre.html


Few days ago, read on HT: BE YOURSELF. YOU'LL LEAD WELL.

Very inspiring & appropriate advise from Mr Ratan Tata.
Perhaps very difficult to implement ? We tend to wear the mask and hide from our true selves, often.
But be ourselves means being in sync with our true self, inner self, which is Divinity and being at peace. Worth trying....


http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/Features/Just-be-yourself-You-ll-lead-well/Article1-879823.aspx

The creative monopoly | Deccan Chronicle

The creative monopoly | Deccan Chronicle

Interesting thoughts... Our education, our work-exp in any field and generally every activity around us only pushes us to competetiveness only. But what is needed is something truly ( cliched!) 'out of box' or 'blue-ocean'....The Creative Monopoly!