Ego - Let It Go

Before starting, I would confess that I am an egoist to a certain extent; and perhaps that’s one of the reasons why I am writing this article. I recently joined MBA study and very first lecture was on eliminating ego and open one’s mind to learn new things.

On very next day, I went to have tea with my friend. Suddenly we met one of my colleagues at the tea stall. As we continued chatting with her, she mentioned about her experience about ego. She was one of the committee members in selecting candidates in recruitment process. She came across a person used to say “I know” through out his interview. She suggested not selecting that person. Due to his extra ordinary records that guy managed to get the job in his hand. On joining the corporate, that guy was put in a training to have understanding of application he needed to work upon. But again his ego played a negative role. His trainers faced a lot of problems to train him; and in the end, they raised their hands. She concluded with a nice statement that I can never forget in my life “Until and unless you open your mind to learn, you can’t be a trainable material.”

I observed in my class where I sit among managers of various companies specialized in several sectors. I found a “Superiority Complex” in few of them. That thing may lead them to achieve success in their fields; but eventually prevents them to be liked. A “Bossy” behavior comes out as a result. Sometimes I myself act very rigidly due to my ego. There are cases where I involved in a tussle with my senior as I never tried to understand his suggestions that opposed my approaches. I later on feel that he was right; but my ego did not let me understand that.

Ego leads to a mental condition where you assume others to take all you say as granted. And that creates a distance between you and others who are closed to you. I learned only one principle - “I” is always capital and alone.

Micro Labs

Today was my second day in Nirma Campus. As per schedule I had a “Micro Labs” session. I was confused by its name itself. What does an MBA candidate do in a lab? And that also a micro lab; it is a strange name of labs I have ever heard.

All candidates were gathered in a hall with chairs available for each one. We were instructed to sit in a circle. As soon Prof Muncherji entered the hall, she asked to put our bags and books on chair and stand up and come into centre. We had a plenty of rounds of innovative games to be played.

In first round we asked to form two circles in a way that candidates stood face to face. Inner circle had to rotate in counter clockwise and outer one had to rotate in clockwise direction. We needed to stop in front of every candidate in other circle and give him a smile, shake hand and introduce each other.

In second round, we were asked to fly like birds; mean we needed to move our hands in air like birds move their wings. But condition was that we could not stay at one place; we had to move. Third round was again an introductory round. We needed to form groups of four persons and give our introduction.

In fourth round we asked to drive vehicle that we generally use to drive. We had to make noise as vehicles do. And Yaps!! We needed to horn if needed. Fifth round was again an introductory round where we needed to form group of three persons who must not have formed a group with you before. And we needed to discuss our goals and ambitions with group member.

Sixth round was more terrific round than other rounds where we asked to jump like a frog. Again a condition was put that if someone stops, he or she has to be “Murga” in front of all. Seventh round was again an introductory round where we needed to form group of five persons with previous condition applied. We needed to discuss person who influenced you the most and how.

In eighth round we were asked to walk by closing both eyes. Ninth round was also an introductory round. And in tenth and last round we were asked to move in backward direction without turning back.

This all things look awkward with straight perspective. But it removed fear from our hearts; I can interact any of my classmate without any fear what he or she will think. I can jump like a frog in front of my classmates. This is what makes MBA program different than others and what makes a good institute different.

Inauguration Ceremony

Today I had to attend Registration Day at Nirma University. Upto this point Institute has communicated very well. I thought I would register in around 1 hr and come back. But when I reached there I came to know first we needed to attend “Introduction Ceremony”. After that, Inauguration ceremony was held.

Mr Palia (from board of directors, Tata Steel) and Mr. Iyer were chief guests. The audience were addressed by chairman of each management program offered by Institute of Management.

Mr Dhar started the ceremony with a great speech. With the start, he mentioned few figures related to Indian economy and its growth. Being a technical person, I hardly understand a single sentence related to economics. But once it was over, Mr Dhar explained why candidates join MBA. According to him, it can be two reasons first candidate wants a job, or he expects a higher position in current company. But MBA does not guarantee any of them. As per his point of view, MBA teaches you those aspects of life which are not only needed in corporate but also helps in living a better life. And finally when he concluded his speech with a great quote “Honest is still the best policy.”

Then came Mr. Danak’s turn; chairman of Doctoral Program. He started speech with a question “Why does doctoral program come after conventional MBA program both in real life and in Inauguration ceremony?” The answer lies in difference of graining knowledge. Conventional MBA is meant for Knowledge Determination while Doctoral program is meant for Knowledge Creation.

Last was Mr Gupta chairman of part time MBA program. His speech included a good poem on trusting oneself. I just repeat few lines I remember “Do trust yourself otherwise who is going to trust you.” And more “Trust does not mean you are perfect, but you have a perfect willing to understand life.”

These were snippets of what chairman delivered in their speech. I will continue with speech of chief guests afterwards.

Beginner's Luck

Last week I started to read “The Alchemist”, a novel shared by my colleague. The story runs around achieving one’s destination and omens. It describes existence of a universal language that you can experience between people from different countries and sometimes between human and animal.

That novel explained “Principle of favorability” that put me in looking back at my life. Principle of favorability states that when you play cards for first time, you almost sure to win.

I always dream to get into a MBA institute; but this year, by gathering all my courage, I filled admission form. I had to appear for an entrance test and I started preparing for it. In between I fall sick for 15 days and I lost my concentration and my interest too. The entrance test was about fundamentals that I learned in earlier studies. I hope for the best and taken the exam. Fortunately I got selected. Beginner’s Luck; same thing explained by that principle.

That novel also explains reason behind beginner’s luck. “There is a force that wants you to realize your destiny; it whets your appetite with a taste of success."

As I went on reading this novel, I started believing that there is nothing like luck and coincident. It is our inability to choose our destiny. In a result we regret our fate by saying world’s greatest lie. Thing is we need to identify correct omens.

I have seen struggle of my friends. Some succeed, some fail. Each time I learn that when you try to run away from your destiny, it will force you to return.

Finally, I will repeat the same lines that made me read this novel. “When you want something, the entire universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

Why Employees Leave Organisation

Every company faces the problem of people leaving the company for better pay or profile.

Early this year, Mark, a senior software designer, got an offer from a prestigious international firm to work in its India operations developing specialized software. He was thrilled by the offer.

He had heard a lot about the CEO. The salary was great.. The company had all the right systems in place employee-friendly human resources (HR) policies, a spanking new office, and the very best technology, even a canteen that served superb food.

Twice Mark was sent abroad for training. "My learning curve is the sharpest it's ever been," he said soon after he joined.

Last week, less than eight months after he joined, Mark walked out of the job.

Why did this talented employee leave?

Arun quit for the same reason that drives many good people away.

The answer lies in one of the largest studies undertaken by the Gallup Organization. The study surveyed over a million employees and 80,000 managers and was published in a book called "First Break All The Rules". It came up with this surprising finding:

If you're losing good people, look to their immediate boss. Immediate boss is the reason people stay and thrive in an organization. And he's the reason why people leave. When people leave they take knowledge, experience and contacts with them, straight to the competition.

“People leave managers not companies" write the authors Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman.

Mostly manager drives people away?

HR experts say that of all the abuses, employees find humiliation the most intolerable. The first time, an employee may not leave, but a thought has been planted. Second time, that thought gets strengthened. The third time, he looks for another job.

When people cannot retort openly in anger, they do so by passive aggression. By digging their heels in and slowing down. By doing only what they are told to do and no more. By omitting to give the boss crucial information, Dev says: "If you work for a jerk, you basically want to get him into trouble. You don't have your heart and soul in the job."

Different managers can stress out employees in different ways - by being too controlling, too suspicious, too pushy, too critical, but they forget that workers are not fixed assets, they are free agents. When this goes on too long, an employee will quit - often over a trivial issue.

Talented men leave. Dead wood doesn't.

Source - "WHY EMPLOYEES LEAVE ORGANISATIONS?" Azim Premji, CEO- Wipro