Leading From Behind

55 died, almost 25 got severely injured, felt defeated, massive loss, and no more hope to fight back. Contribution from the last decades, accumulation of all the valuables, the lost life and their family members and existed relationship perhaps a new found one, everything gone within a fraction of second. A loss that is something never get recover. Just one question remain should I still fight till my last breath or move away with an anticipation that something great has been stored in my future. The answer is pretty tough to riposte. Allegations, accusation and blame game is a part and parcel of mediocre mind set, be it an individual, organization, military, or political institution. I never knew where I was wrong, better equipped, highly experienced and the most celebrated team I had. Loss of them is not a good sign to predict their credential, neither their potential and intellect. Mr. Khatun a militant leader reminisces his defeat during his interview with one of the fortune 500 company.  The judges panel could not figure out what made his unwavering team to face the biggest defeat ever. 

A new leader without any organizational experience, he was at military, was a team leader. So what? this is two different situations, organization must be smart enough in hiring people. Militant leading smart team! Isn’t possible. What he knew about how organization function and even team performs. I knew that militant people are very authoritarian, autocracy in nature. I believe it’s horrible working with someone alike. I am sure the situation is going to be even worse from now on. A gossip among the managers across the department of the organization ever since Mr. Khatun was recruited as a General Manager.

The first day of Mr. Khatun, one of the youngest General manager in the company’s history, a big bet for the company. The board called out for the meeting invited all the heads, top management and the project leaders. Announced for its first ever step appointing Mr. Khatun as a general manager, who had numerous leadership experience at military organization, linking those value with the company’s mission is what board members expect. A new style of leadership is what most expect from Mr. Khatun. Leadership from the front, consultative coaching, servant style is what the company values the most. Mr. Khatun opposed some values amidst the meeting. We believe, we have always led our organization from the front and we expect the same from you, one of the board member said to Mr. Khatun, during the meeting. He then asked to Mr. Khatun, if you have something to say then, you can proceed. Mr. Khatun statement on his plan and leadership style was some no one at the company was willing to accept.

Nobody was happy with Mr.Khatun appointment. He once saw a huge chunk of managers at the company led the project from the front. Which he thinks will destroy the performance in the long run. Most managers set the examples and spend lots of time trying to demonstrate as to how smart they are, the amount of knowledge and dexirity they possess, on the other hand employees were highly dependent on their boss, they were even expecting the boss to march ahead for any mission to accomplish. Which Mr. Khatun doesn’t want, he believes more on giving more space to the employee and set the examples to the boss.  His big failure during his operation at armed had made him understand the boss needed to lead from behind philosophy.

Mr. Kuber one of the manager from sales department approached to Mr. Khatun as his all-time highest performing team now struggling and in need of guidance to train his sales team. I don’t understand what went wrong with the number, sales have been drastically plummet this quarter, never at this level of sales before, the sales manager touted at the Mr. Khatun to look out some way to uplift the sales figure. Mr Khatun in return request 2 days of time to figure out the issue. After his rigorous analysis and study about the sale team and their performance, he came to the point that the members of team were highly dependent on each other, they were even in believe that without the boss initiation members were not able to deliver the result. More than 70% of the team members were demotivated due to the company’s leadership style.

Your team didn’t do anything erroneous neither they under performed, I see the issue with the style you choose to be a leader, leading entirely from the front is not so good for people that you are working with, the style has created a sense of high level dependency among the team, they are demotivated due to sitting always back because the very popular philosophy among the corporate world “leading from the front” has some issue across the smart workforce during our time today. Today generation want their boos to sit back and watch, and allow them the freedom to be at the front and do their job. Khatun ended.

How much do you know about how corporate leadership need to be functioned? I had a decade of experience working in this area. Sales manager showing his frustration to Mr. Khatun. The manager continued, I was expecting a strategy, if anything you can add on to. Mr. Khatun at his reply, everything you did to the team looks beautiful, I have noticed most of the managers here are good at delegation and functioning the management task is so brilliant, but unless you change the credo, nothing going to change. When I led my 55 members, I thought I would be the one who will deal with the situation being at the front, but never knew the actual problem my team faced behind me. Or what right or wrong they are doing, a complete leadership from the front will never let you know who is doing what at your back, I could only notice what is going to happen next, I could notice what is happening in front of me. I never knew what’s the real story behind me, what pain do my team had.  That’s the biggest mistake todays corporate has been making, and you are no exception. Mr. Khatun wrapped up. The managers looked at Mr. Khatun for a while.  It was as if something contrary to how the managers of the company functions in terms of their management style.

Mr. Khatun had first time dealt with the corporate issues in terms of how leadership style may varies from institution to institution, but he still doesn’t figure out how things are organized within the organization. As the General Manager he was expected to deal and support all the front line managers and department head. Every day one or the other manager came up with unique concerns which Mr. Khatun had never experienced in his military expedition, and he found the team management at the corporate and at the militant institution differs to the vast extent. Still he wanted to prove that he is the best bet for the company for the leadership position. He wanted to turn out his failure at the militant to be one of the biggest learning lesson at his new found leadership position at the tenured company.

8 months later, The company witnessed the highest turnover rate within its sales and marketing division, no one figured out what indeed has had occurred with the marketing and sales department, everyone at the company blame the board decision to hire someone from the entirely different leadership proficiency, management across the board struggle to spot who is more responsible, is it the tenured GM or the decision taken by the top level. Astonishingly the company’s revenue at the point was elevated by 260%. Soon after, the board made the decision to appoint Mr. Khatun as the CEO of the company.

No employees from all levels reckoned out who was right and who was wrong. The newly appointed CEO, Mr. Khatun writes a letter to all the top executives which simply states “You all have more proficiency than I do, you all are institutionalized, you know your clients better, which I think is not sufficient to lead an organization, I would rather step back and follow you all.”

Author: Mr. Rajesh Bhandari

Program Director: Brixton College, BBA Program, Mahendranagar

President: PVP Nepal Province No. 7, Nepal

Cell: 9805422784

Mail: tfabodoc@gmail.com

Why great leadership fired

Which company do you work for? What is your salary package? Ohh your manager and CEO must be earning a hefty amount. How about the gatekeeper earns as much as the salary earned by rest of other employees at the company or any institution across the world. What? How is it even possible? don’t you forget, everything is possible in this planet. Why do you think even anyone cares about to work in that company where the gatekeeper salary is similar to other staff? I have not heard a company like that and I don’t think any of those would be in existence. What if such company exist? I don’t think anyone will work in that company. What sort of company is this going to be by the way? no doubt such company has any future at this planet. To prolong the conversation, Pritam asked Gaurav once again, how about a gatekeeper also possess a car with the benefit given by the company itself? No way anyone going to work in that company. What if I build the culture for the same? What? You? With such unusual culture, it is going to be lose- lose situation. I recommend don’t even try. A long conversation between two of them who happened to meet at the company ever since they joined. What if a CEO of the company write a hand written note for all the employees special days? Gaurav laughed at Pritam.

Pritam with unusual queries at his late 20s, insists more on what leadership need to function at each level of organization of all shapes and sizes, he likes to imagine leadership and the culture to institutionalized within the organization. One day he asks to one of his gatekeeper. Sir how much do you earn? Rs8000 per month deduction of some percentage of tax. What if a company made your salary equal to mine or most of other employees? The gatekeeper laughed at me and with a short little pause gateman replied, I don’t think the company will ever do that. What if company gives you a ID card of Gate Manager identity instead of a mere gatekeeper? My approach to my job will be very high, he replied. Every day Pritam imagine something unusual and ask question about what he imagine next. But he never gets the answer. Why don’t you ask your senior manager?  Gaurav told him during their lunch break. That seems to be a perfect idea, Pritam replied. You know the problem with the CEO is I have never met him inside his office and I have never got a chance to talk to him once personally. And the boss looks so smart and intelligent, I doubt he will even find a single minute to talk to me. I remember the last time one of the employee went talk to him, he did not even let him in. Later I knew that CEO asked for an appointment.

6 months later at one point, Gaurav team had a severe dispute with the team management, filled with much more conflict between the members of the team, Gaurav tried a lot to talk to one of his senior and solve the problem before it reached out to the top management, but the busy manager never turned  his ear on towards the matter, and the problem didn’t get properly addressed, it now began to spiral out of control from Mr. Gaurav who is the IT executive of the company. At finally Gaurav tried to reached out to Pritam, if he could deal with the issue at first.  Neither did he had little leadership experience nor did team management dexterity, but he was a great team player given an opportunity, Pritam took this matter to manage as a challenge on his own even before reaching out to the manager, 

Pritam tried lot to resolve the issue, he used all the possible methods to solve however nothing seems to be working out. The team were filled with egoist, and narcissist. Finally, Pritam decided to take the matter seriously to the CEO desk in an anticipation to acquire some relief. 6 months gone by, CEO kept himself busy, Pritam waited 2 hours every day to meet him, but CEO never turned his eye on. 6 months a long time, one of the senior manager noticed that there is someone waiting to CEO.

what you are here in for? I noticed you outside the CEO room from long, the senior manager asked to Pritam, who have been struggling to meet the CEO. I am from the software division sir, there is a huge conflict among the IT department team members, we tried a lot to resolve the issue but we could not, I then try to reach out to the Boss of the company, but CEO sir never had a single moment to spare Pritam replied.

Senior Manager was much impressed by Pritam patience, and devotion for his team. He quickly went to the CEO cabin and let him know that someone is waiting to talk to him from the last 6 months, no matter at which mood the CEO was, he was even surprised to know his devotion. The meeting was arranged, Pritam along with this team addressed the issue in general and the problem was solved within 2 days of time. Since then Pritam came to limelight across the organization. He was recognized by the best employee award and many more accolades from various department.

Pritam soon promoted as a team leadership and then departmental head and then to the project head of the software department, now he has 20 different clients to handle with 27 members to lead in his project. As soon as he took the leadership he proposed ideas to lead from cultural view point. But Mr. CEO did not expect anything unusual leadership style from someone who has just grown up. The vice president was made to be a gatekeeper for a day, a junior worker was asked to do the most senior job, CEO even need to salute office staff and most importantly to the gatekeeper. Such a big smile on a gatekeeper face, when he gets a salute from each employees as they enter. Juniors found a different culture, frustrated, depressed but talented employees get the atmosphere unique than most of other companies.

You probably aren’t doing your job, you clutter around with the introduction of a new culture that has no value, I have given you the much needed promotion, CEO during the meeting with Mr. Pritam, sir let me experiment with my new found ideas, help me see that the leadership is no more with talents, and let me prove that developing a culture is equally important, Pritam replied. So you mean our company culture is not so strong? CEO again.  I spent 6 long months to have a 2 min talk to address my team tribulation sir, and that isn’t a culture that is your policy, a closed door policy I would say. I have never seen you reaching out to any of us, neither did any senior manager having a cup of coffee or perhaps asking for any problem, I don’t think the culture should be like this, it is a self- centered policy sir. He continued, I presume Leadership is something different, it’s a pure sign of differentiation, it is human in nature sir, he ended.

You ponder I should go and talk to employees, and perhaps grab a coffee with them? What will be my value, have you ever thought about that? Had I indulged, I am sure they would have had sat on my head, they will be happier to see that sir, Pritam retorted back to the CEO. I have never done like that before in my career from the last 25 years, and we have been running in a same style since then, we have the highest number of employees and the most revenue producer in terms of our software business, CEO on another end. Apart from their remuneration they expect something more from the company and it is a CEO who need to be accessible when they need.

You discern most of the senior manager was demanding your resignation to the CEO and you are accused of violating the norms of the company, Gaurav with a burger in his hand, he continued, I know they must be intimidated to lose their job or perhaps a job threat by your management style and an unusual potential to replace any one of the senior manager. Nothing at the upper level has changed so far in this company and never will be, Pritam at the other hand. Gaurav started, I am amazed why you ruminate so different than others and they will never value how smart you become overtime. it takes decades to build a culture, finding talents is easy but managing them is what troubles the managers Pritam replied over Gaurav statement.

One week later the board decided to fired him, Pritam silently assent the management decision. And left the company, on his way back Pritam met the gatekeeper. The next day Gaurav went to meet the CEO, as he looks busy, Gaurav entered the room and presented a card with a handwritten note that simply state, ‘Happy 55^th Birthday Sir from Pritam’. The CEO never knew such a trivial leadership gesture will even have a mammoth human touch to someone like him.

Author: Mr. Rajesh Bhandari

Program Director: Brixton College, BBA Program, Mahendranagar

President: PVP Nepal Province No. 7, Nepal

Cell: 9805422784

Mail: tfabodoc@gmail.com

Rethinking Education

Connecting the association between people, ideas and investment scattered across the nation will help shift people from having raw ideas into investment opportunities that the school needs to seriously address. The opportunities within any given nation hugely lies in creative and innovative ideas of youth. there needs to be a common platform where people discuss their ideas that seems to be implementable. and it is not that there are no opportunities and platform where people are not discussing and seeking for investment in Nepal. However, what seems to be lacking significantly is working on the ideas that has been anticipated and discussed during seminars, workshops and round tables to bring changes to make a society better and greater. I found from speaking with more than 50 business leaders from various sectors of our economy that an important role is reserved for investors, as a lot of money is needed to make anything happen since great ideas require lots of investment. The ideas we see are scattered across the country and had lost within no time since people with ideas don’t find platform to showcase it for the investment, neither do our education system have a culture of developing ideas to transform the nation. As we discussed more on idea generation in schools, colleges and university level the respondent reported that they don’t necessarily feel that idea generation from this level will make any difference since schools and colleges with no or less collaboration with outsiders.

But when I went on to speak with some students individually, I then  asked them the same questions what I have asked to their respective colleges and school teacher faculty members, principals and the top level of management, out of 250 students from 25 different colleges surveyed between the age of 18- 25, 120  students responded that they have few ideas that are in an initial stage and needs encouragement, mentorship and more over need a platform within the school to heard their creative voice, 55 students reported that the need for innovative clubs in addition to existing clubs where hardly any innovation comes out of the same  hence students demand such clubs within the school where they can express their creative genius in front of the people that matter the most. And remaining 125 chose not to respond to my question being put forward to them. The above result makes us to rethink about the need to discuss more about our young minds and their ideas and the need to bring it to the stage where students themselves present their own ideas in front of the people who are desperately looking for great ideas to invest and a concrete support system.

The foundation of the present education system was laid down at the end of the nineteenth century. They were designed to meet the need of only handing over certificate to the ever growing population of Nepal but the education systems were never being transformed by industrialization. The challenges we face now are of the same magnitude, but they are of a different character. The task is not to do better now what we set out to do then. It is to rethink the purposes, possibilities, methods and scale of education in our new circumstances. It is not wrong to argue that no education system can be world class without valuing an integrating creativity in teaching and learning in the curriculum and leadership demonstration without linking this to promoting knowledge and understanding of cultural change diversity and possibilities lies to tap available resources. That follows are to help set a course for the next century while addressing the urgent demand of the present.

Countries throughout the world are reorganizing their education systems. They are engulfed in rapid economic and social change. The current state of education in Nepal, provides an opportunity for us to rethink how we can tackle an issue that is essential to the development of the nation, rather than seeing it as a restrain to Nepal growth and ability to be a contender on a global platform. Looking at current education systems in the country as we discussed with our young leaders along with some of academic staff and faculty about ways in which education in Nepal can be more Nepal-Centric and more inclusive of the respective Nepalese societies in order to enable us to be more impactful on the country. As we speak more about national educational mission, rethinking education is intentionally about what the institutions try to do and the types of citizens they should be trying to create.

Author: Mr. Rajesh Bhandari

Program Director: Brixton College, BBA Program, Mahendranagar

President: PVP Nepal Province No. 7, Nepal

Cell: 9805422784

Mail: tfabodoc@gmail.com

Ethical Entrepreneurship

There seems to be no option for Nepal than to work on to build institutions and create new jobs for millions of people at present and in the future if the country needs to leverage its ever growing human capital and eventually turn it into an asset for the nation. The leadership crisis mode, high unemployment rate, soaring rate of youth movement all these demonstrate a pressing need to work on ideas that matters to create new more jobs for our ever growing youth of today and the future. The employment opportunity within the nation can stop the high rate of youth movement overseas, be it for higher education and seeking for a quality jobs within the nation. In response to all this myriads issues within the country and the need to prepare individual as an entrepreneurial leader for tomorrow. Since entrepreneurs continue to create jobs and the veracity is Nepal has a mammoth dearth of entrepreneurs who can create jobs and continue to generate economy for their purpose. In this article I went even deeper. With national youth unemployment at a near crisis point, I wanted to know what young minds  are thinking and feeling about the future

I then went on to ask about their career aspirations to find out how entrepreneurship fits into their plans. The research conducted  captures the real time views and ambitions of young people in education or actively engaged in the job market. However, the lack of quality jobs within the nation has forced youth to either take up any jobs found within the nation or leave the nation for foreign jobs. This further indicates the need of entrepreneurial activity in rapidly growing educated young population of Nepal. There is much debate today in national market over whether the present generation has the right skills to be an entrepreneurs and most importantly to take risk be the one. Our survey shows that most skilled and talented youth tell us they want to run their own business but lack mentorship and right support system, as further evidence to how grounded our young people’s entrepreneurial aspirations are. They say they have started to explore their ideas or ambitions by researching and talking to others or seeking advice in some ways. However, no matter how much one dream, there is no platform for their voices to be heard. We found leadership challenges lies in each step but more importantly creating new jobs need more entrepreneurial mind set and tenacity for one vision to make it happen. I therefore spot lots of passionate youth but the colossal lack of encouragement and right support system has been detriment towards change and transformation we are looking for.

We can't fix what is not broken, but need to reinvent them. And Nepal seems to be at the stage where it needs more institutions and innovative enterprises to create opportunities for our never stopping population. Opportunities in Nepal have been centralized within capital city where we witness people migrate for better opportunities than any other part of the nation. And therefore the need is not only to decentralize opportunities in other parts of the country but also to fabricate creative enterprises to meet the growing need of employment, tap the local resources and reach the ultimate goal of economic development of our society. There is an enough evidence that Nepali youth at present have myriad of ideas worth investing and ideas that can fetch the change and reform we are desperately looking for. As I talked to more than 500 youth from across the country 32% of them have ideas which has been arrived through experience but not yet implemented. 28% youth aged 18- 25 said they have once implemented their own ideas but failed to execute in the long run hence gave up eventually and 15% of youth reported that they are already running their own business but lack creativity and innovation therefore the future of their business looks not so bright and the rest 25% wanna be entrepreneur but stepped back because of no parental support to risk their life and career.

The above mentioned problems have challenged us to look things slightly differently to view our societal needs, desires, hope and expectation. None of the leaders, thinkers, policy maker tend to think anything about prosperity, opportunity, peace and wealth creation of our community and the nation as a whole. A meager quality of leadership of our nation has challenged each young mind. Education throughout the nation faces unprecedented challenges such as economic, technological, social, managerial, entrepreneurship and leadership. Policy maker everywhere emphasize the urgent need to develop human resources and particular to promote creativity, adaptability and better power of communication there is an intense concern with raising standard in education most importantly in entrepreneurial leadership realm in order to meet the growing need of ever growing population in one hand and in other to be a hub to supply eloquent manager and leaders who can provide the same opportunity for many others to the job market today and in the future.

In an endeavor to bring educational and leadership transformation in Nepal I could perceive the need for unwavering endeavor to put in to fetch young mind into the mainstream for a change. Youth moving out of the nation every year in search of good education and probably for better earning, migration like this in a soaring rate would do further impairment than good in the future and bestow a gloomy sign in the growth of the nation and put in jeopardy for the future creation. The best of the mind departing out of nation, since the country has nothing to proffer to them, therefore it becomes a genuine wish to look for opportunity outside the abode. Hence there is a pressing need for somebody to take initiative in an endeavor to work together with government, social enterprise, private and public sector along with the academia and develop and educate future generation of leader who have a hope and dream to transform. Consequently, halt this migration rate year by year. Therefore, the need to thwart these tribulations and challenge the present generation to be a change of agent to make better place to live, grow and thrive and reach the ultimate goal of prosperity, opportunity, wealth and economic development of the nation with superior entrepreneurial leadership.

The need to regenerate the system of learning and changing the future to dismantle the conventional way of decision making and pretty much challenging the obsession with the academic and learning being theoretical system of pedagogy. Let’s create a history where an idea over a time can take us into the future of leadership, human mankind and give a new shape and size to our youth ideas and dream and today's learning methodology enable them to connect with problems, issues, challenges and possibilities across the surrounding they live and grow. The current problems faced by a nation demands different kinds of education to be facilitated among the extraordinary young minds to bring changes to many others and make a colossal difference around the country.

Author: Mr. Rajesh Bhandari

Program Director: Brixton College, BBA Program, Mahendranagar

President: PVP Nepal Province No. 7, Nepal

Cell: 9805422784

Mail: tfabodoc@gmail.com

I Never Knew

 

I got a Rolex watch when I topped my 12^th standard from my dad as gift, I was so happy, my constant motivator and a true guide for my career and future. I am so glad that I was a brilliant student throughout my schooling, my dad with my highest scoring and brilliancy at science and mathematics wanted me to make a doctor.  I never thought of breaking it, he knows what I needed to be, what profession need I choose and which path should I follow. But the reality of life, career and passion never has its own boundary and it tends to alter with time and atmosphere we brought up. Despite my father love and care and support I ultimately flouted his dream imposed in me. But I was never wrong neither did my father.

One of The hardest thing in life, is to challenge those wishes who deeply care about you, you don’t only need the courage to defy, it is more with a negotiation that comes with the deep discussion with the people that matters in your life. I never disagree with my dad, with his profound knowledge combined with experience has something to proffer to me as an adviser for life and career. Up until I finish my 12^th grade, I was the same kid of my dad, almost guided by my father, brought me up with his commands, and I never knew what I ever wanted in my life, since I had my dad controlled all my desires and aspiration for life. One fine night at a dinner, chicken chilly by my side, and my favorite. At the middle of the dinner, dad broke the silence, I have talked with one of the top college for your further study, I had revealed your percentage to the admission committee as well, your grades are highly appreciated and eligible for 100% scholarship. And I have decided that tomorrow we are leaving for a college visit, 155 km away from here. I could not disagree. My dad, my road map.

12 months later I realize that anything except management is not meant for me, thanks to my physics and chemistry teacher who did not give me 2 marks as a grace, had they made me pass I could have thought to continue, it is only then I realize something more than this has stored for me at future. Papa was not happy with the way I behave with my studies; he even could not believe his eyes for many years. he did not speak a word since then. I choose management, until something great happens I wasn’t sure management is all waiting for me. Before I graduate, I chose to visit my dad once, see him how he is doing. One day before I leave back home, I received a long message that simply stated “son, I know you since you are born, I presume I am the only one who can guide you, but you prove me wrong. I dream about you and want to prepare a young and dynamic doctor for the nation, I have nothing to say now. Your mom could have been so happy if she would have had seen you being a doctor, I thought you could save many people life and never let people suffer from the disease which your mom went through, all the best my son. All I want to say to you is I have moved from this place. Now like your mom your father is no more with you. I will never appreciate any of your call or try to find me.

This was the most disheartening moment in my life, I never expect dad could go such extreme to lose me, all I was left is with experimentation of life with the series of hope, independence. It was really a tough time, without talking to dad my days never went as good as I wanted. All I have is the Rolex watch to remember him. My days went good at college if not the best, friends and teacher remains supportive and that gave me a lot of hope for the future and the career I was trying to build. 20 years gone dad still kept silent, he must have turned 76 by now.

Are you Puskar? Umm yes, it’s me Puskar at the phone, may I know who is at the other side? Son, I am Pravakar, friend of your father, I ping you to say that your father is in hospital. And he has been here from the last 4 days, what happened to my dad?  I am confused. Please tell me what happened to him, where is he now?  Your father is diagnosed with a cancer, but you don’t worry, I am with your father, I am going to give you the address, you just follow.  He rushed toward the address given and reached the hospital on the next day. Receptionist guided him to visit room no 291 at the 3^rd floor where his dad was admitted. It was almost 20 years we both kept silent, and it must be disheartening to him seeing his dad lying on bed with a severe disease.  

As he took a lift for the 3^rd floor, as he approached to the room 291, there was Mr. Pravakar waiting for him, waved at him and took Puskar inside the room where his dad was kept, as soon as they both enter the room dad along with few doctors looked at them, surprisingly all the doctors greeted Mr. Puskar with a huge respect, dad got surprised to see that why all the doctors giving such an enormous admiration to my son, Dad calmly asked to the doctors, that’s my son, your colossal respect for him surprise me a lot. He is a true reflection of a leader, how can we forget his help during our studies and he is the owner of one of the most reputed and valued Medical and Science institute, and we have got the degree from his college, one of the doctor replied to his dad. He continued, now it is our true privilege to contribute back an exceptional handling to his father. Dad could not halt his tears.

As I loomed near to my dad, embraced his hand firmly, a progressive vibes permeate across my body, I feel so safe and secure, 20 long years has vanished so fast.  Dad I am so sorry I could not be a good doctor you aspire, I could not be the one to mitigate people suffering from severe ill and disease, I am so sorry dad. You have produced one of the greatest doctors possible, dad responded, tear in his eyes. You are a true leader my son, do you remember this watch dad? always my son, you know dad it is the only thing I have as a memory since I left you, I never forget you, as I reminisce you, your watch kept me inspired every second of my life. Thank you dad.

Writer: Mr. Rajesh Prasad Bhandari

President: PVP Nepal, Province no. 7

BBA Program Director, Brixton College  

Phone: 9805422784           

Email: tfabodoc@gmail.com

The Professor:

                                              

                   

                         

Professor, I have a question, one of the students of Mrs. Prashna, yes hit me with your question, Professor replied. Are students at the Master level supposed to rank the quality of Professors? 

What if I generally don’t like any of the professor's teaching styles? Do you contemplate its tolerable? How would you take on this? Mr. Sushant a Master scholar came up with unusual queries in the middle of the class. Professor looked at him and said. Before I answer your question.

 I have a question for you. Tell me what exactly matters to you with the professor in class? 

I am sure It has to be a great amount of knowledge and the power to disseminate, Sushant responded, great analysis. Professor replied. 

Exactly that’s where the problem with students begins. The system has put the Professor criteria for credential of knowledge, degrees, experience and the procedure one must go to get the tag of Professor and that students tend to judge them for the list of things such as knowledge, experience, research the list can go on. 

University is not to disseminate the information using the sources, it is to decorate the future with the best artist possible.

To some magnitude it’s all fine, but that is not at all suffice to make one a Professor, one does not become a professor only with the vast amount of knowledge, but the fact of the matter is, does anyone inside the classroom able to challenge the mindset of our today’s generation, today generation doesn’t need information, they need their mindset to be challenged.

 And I need a scholar to challenge the way I teach and profess so that innovation in learning happens, else it is going to be a mess with education. If you find someone someday you are in the right university I suppose. Everyone in the classroom remains lost with words and that is something Mrs. Prashna always defy inside the classroom.

One of the youngest and less experienced among the rest of other professors at university, Mrs. Prashna so young as she is had numerous guest lectures at national and international reputed universities, and organization, the best professor award, and a highly recognized university professor as she was.

 Her teaching style was way better than many others at the university. Most chose to derive knowledge from the learning but she chose to derive innovation among student’s viewpoints inside her classroom. She was much liked by her students and had led and organized many international research programs under her guidance. She has even recognized internationally. Her accomplishment of the pinnacle was something everyone at the university envy upon.

Mrs. Prashna, why your classes have too petite information? the newly appointed director of Master during one on one meetings with professors. 

He continues, Professor needs stacks of information and loaded with knowledge, likewise, do you have any idea how other professor impart? 

You are absolutely right sir, Prashna in her reply, I opine Professor job is to defy the scholar's new-found knowledge and information they received from various links and sources they follow, university-level teaching should not be what it used to be decades ago, Powerpoint slides or perhaps downloaded videos from YouTube aren’t just enough to transform?  

I don’t dispute with what you say but I do have different perspectives for professing. Every day I go with a mindset to get challenged myself and to challenge my scholars so that something innovation begins she retorts. Director did not find any words to continue. As she was getting more and more acceptance from students, the competition didn’t take the right turn at the university, Mrs. Prashna was the topic under discussion among most of other lecturers and Professors.

One of the professor and her only supporter Mr. Gyanendra, Mrs. Prashna on her way back to her cabin after her class, the conversation simply illustrates that rest of other professor showed a vast worrisome with her presence at the university. 

Her teaching style isn’t just tied up with the deeply rooted values of the university. The professor union has filed the case against her for proper investigation of her credentials such as certificate and academic degrees. After a very short pause, I don’t care what university thinks about me, but I will do everything possible to uproot the filthy deeply rooted and obsolete pedagogy and mindset. 

She replied over Mr. Gyanendra's statement. You will be in big trouble Prashna, your students don’t want to lose you, you know what best work for this university teaching Mr. Gyanendra retorts back to her.  I believe in academic transformation not only a professing power, everyone has the power to teach and train, what most lectures and professor lack is to develop a defying mindset of their own. 

Informative classes drive scholars for only what they know but they will later blame the education system once they bump with the situation that they never knew. 

And it is our responsibility to act differently, a 5 years’ child can be loaded with mammoth information today but professor need a different teaching attitude. New perspective of learning and professing needs the mindset of transformation to mitigate the academic challenge between professors and learners.

Few Professors, Director and other academic head of the University along with Mrs. Prashna. There is no any records of your prerequisite testimonies in the name of the university you hold and your academic credential submitted have proven to be a phony. 

The director of the program furious amid the meeting with Mrs. Prashna. She must be disqualified from teaching, one of the senior professor added and he continued, and there is no point in looking forward for your service and we very soon need to inform all of those institutes wherever you have tied up with. Do you have anything to say Mrs. Prashna, director inquired. 

All I have is a hope to defy myself and my perspective, I have nothing to say to the fellow mates. Thank you for the opportunity, she wrapped up.

She packed her bag on the way out, Mrs. Prashna is no more at the university  since then, her teaching and new perspective driven professing style was missed by the scholars. Scholars tried to reached out to her, requested university to bring her back, university kept silent on her whereabouts.

One and half years later the university took students for a field visit to interact with underprivileged school 150 km away from the university, little the director knew about the school sophisticated system and the kind of teaching methods the school use. he wanted a visit with his students for a field visit.

As soon as they reached to the school, the incredible reception they received by the students, amazingly maintained garden with beautiful inspirational quotes, a different vibe permeates. 

Volunteered students took visitors to the principal cabin. They made everyone sit and ask them to wait till the principal came back from the classroom. Almost 10 to 15minute wait Mrs. Prashna walks inside the room, it was more astounding to see her at the school. 

She welcomed all of them at her school, her Master scholars were much happy to see her again. She had no any intention to go back to teach university level since running a school and creating the next professor is all what she always dreamt.  

After a 2 days’ visit and a wonderful stay with Mrs. Prashna, on a way back to University everyone notices one beautiful quote that simply states “We don’t sell certificate here, you are challenged to devalue your certificate every day” 

Director always knew her documents were counterfeit but he also knew that there will be no anyone to challenge the system of overall lecturing back to university again. And I am indisputable she will bring up all these kids without any certificates director prologue. 

That made director think deep inside that Mrs. Prashna assuredly had thrown away all of her credentials as a testimony.

One-day old CEO

You quit? You lost the job you always aspire for; it took you almost 27 elongated years to reach at the zenith of triumph.

Team leadership, efforts that you put, result that you fetch and value you have twisted just gone all on futile. I haven’t seen like you in all my year’s career. A CEO, a great leader, much more expectation from the company.

I am surefire It will be too grim to find your adequate replacement. I don’t qualm the company’s board has precluded your resignation.

My mother severely ill yelled from her bed as she was bedridden from the last 5 years, so old as she is.  she happened to be a vice president of one of the fortune 500 companies.

I answer, you are the one who gave me a great lesson about management, anything contrary from your end with my decision will be a harsh reality mom. I could not agree more, she replied.

Alex 24, final semester at his MBA from one of the prestigious institutes, curly hair, 5.78 inches with an unusual aspiration.

More than 200 students with the speaker on, program director speak, we are here in introduce our next guest lecture Mr. Jordon who happened to be a successful entrepreneur, a coach and an author, who has a profound craving in teaching and training management students and struggling entrepreneurs.

Mr. Jordon was welcomed at the stage. His speech was one of the best.  Amid the session, he asked. What is that you dream of when you walk out of this college?

Anyone at the series in the row could answer. Each student as per their inimitable potential, expressed their own future goals, some said, they want to start their own business, the other wish to join reputed companies, the answer was kind of mixed one.

At the 79^th students at the 6^th row, Alex took his turn, sir I aspire to be a CEO the day I graduate from school. A CEO? without experience? Mr. Jordon continued. It takes decades of experience and incredible success records and leadership proficiency to be the one. But I can help you train some skills of a manager and a leader if you wish so that you can make a huge difference as you go out to the corporate world. Mr. Jordon concludes.

Not most were unknown about the skill and abilities Alex possess, but his answer was something to pay more attention to. He didn’t even talk to anyone, unlike the other days.

Hi Alex, you reached? you look bit wretched, is anything wrong with you? No mom I am just tired with a long guest lecture today. Ohh a guest lecture! you must have a great leaning with a new figure, so who was invited.? Mom asked, an experienced entrepreneur Mom.

Alex replied. I hope your campus recruitment is round the corner, and a couple of months to finish your graduation. Do you have anything prepared? A muted sip of coffee and a cookie at right hand Alex retorted, Mom 12 giant companies are visiting our college next month, but I would like to get recruited for directly to CEO. A CEO! are you thoughtful my son.

No suspicion, you hold all the possibilities but it takes stacks of serenity to be the one, my son.

The title is not what you need to chase, it is a mammoth responsibility to depict like a CEO, You got to think that you are already a CEO or a manager of the company the day you join so that you can feel like the one, and then act and start behaving like the one you aspire to be.

The position is all inside our deep mind my son, but the huge responsibility from a lower position is going to distinguish an outstanding player from a mere employee. No doubt if you hold this idea I am definite everyone working with you going to notice, don’t you wait to be a manager, work like them then you can feel like a CEO from the very first day of your work.

Alex just keeps thinking about his mom's understanding of leadership and management, a retired vice president with numerous accolades, recognition, and leadership award under her belt. A constant motivator she was; her mature advice was something Alex can’t deny. He was much clear about what he is going to do and accomplish his goal in life.

Morning sir, we got to find the next paramount substitution for Mr. Alex, he has given the resignation from the CEO. A resignation? What you are talking about? Yes sir, he is too adamant to amend his decision.

How can this be possible, Do you have any idea about what went wrong with him? he is the supreme person I know, its pretty tough to find the reasonable replacement of Mr. Alex, I am sure we are going to lose all the immense client if this occurred.

 There is no one in the pipeline whom we could substitute, he is superlative. The conversation among the board members endures for the rest of the day.

 Everyone wants to see the resignation letter, but no one could believe their eyes. Alex was called upon for an exit interview the next day, top management people and especially the board members want to know why Alex has taken such a colossal decision.

I am sure no competitors lure you by now, one of the members from the board asked, Alex bowed his head down for some time, drank a glass of water, after a short while later he replied, you know I didn’t quit I was already a CEO from the day I join.

 I had industrialized something unalike perspective for leadership amid my race for a CEO from the last 27 years, now I am a no longer danger to anyone who wishes to chase a power and position.

I don’t know if CEO is for me, Alex relied on. The other member of the board with a second question I still remember you want to be a CEO the day you start your job and you work really hard from the last 27 years to be a CEO and now you quit, how does that make sense to you? CEO no longer make any sense to me now.

The title is in my mind, but performance needs no position, I still can think, feel and act and behave like a CEO, you don’t need authority to act like a CEO despite your position at any level, and no one can stop me from doing that. Now no more greed for the title.

I have performed like a CEO from the last 27 years without having the title, CEO does make pretty less sense to me now, my perspective has changed to a vast degree.

I am sorry the company doesn’t need any CEO, you need better employees who feel they are the CEO from the day they join, at all levels of your company, then see the next big cultural transformation.

As Alex left the meeting, giving everyone a novel standpoint for organizational leadership.

He rushed at home, as he opened the door, his mom was still asleep, asked her if she needed anything to eat, it is only when he realized that she was no more on the next day morning when Alex wants to spend his whole life together with his mother with an expectation to learn more about her journey as a Vice- President.

Author: Mr. Rajesh Bhandari

Program Director: Brixton College, BBA Program, Mahendranagar

President: PVP Nepal Province No. 7, Nepal

Cell: 9805422784

Mail: tfabodoc@gmail.com

A Leader without Achievement

                                                

A  school of 72 kids, not so privilege, scarcely have a uniform to wear. Bags and slippers are clannish; meal a day would have been a milestone to accomplish. 

But the splendor of their lifestyle is unmatchable. A priceless smile they illustrate, mantle to anyone goes nearby and value them as superior as a luminary.

 I indicate not to declare the name of the place and school I visited, but am sure passing you all the ambiance from the atmosphere can even make me more emotional. It reiterates me about the future prediction of leadership philosophy and about their accomplishment.  Mrs. Sudha, who happens to be the principal of a school.

71 now has a true story of herself that she couldn’t tell anyone, devoted 36 long years of her life teaching and disseminating knowledge and education. 

I still remember the moment she had once shared her personal story with me, that she had to stride miles away crossing forest and rivers to meet some parents of her school children to discern why those kids were not being sent to school. 

The community was staggered to glimpse that she did everything to bring kids back to school and bestow them the education they always wanted. Nobody ever knew she had a habit of saving until her lovely grandson turn 20, soon after he discovered, he asked her one day the rationale behind every penny saved in her saving box. 

‘I have something astounding in my mind’, she replied.  She however had something extraordinary to proffer to him, but taking anything away from her saving box was nearly intricate.
 Why did you refuse to give to your grandson whom you love the most? I asked. Since that is not meant for him, whatever meant for him he unquestionably will get. She replied. Much spiritual as she seems. I got a firm retort why she chose to be that way. 

A few days later at school I got to know that her students’ conscription went up radically. Everyone at the village then learned that most of the students were supported by those ostensibly insignificant contributions that she has been producing every single day over the course of her life in her saving box.

 One very special day I was invited as the school was going to honor the best student more like an academic award most schools provide to their students by inviting their parents. She asked me to give a small speech over the session I did a pretty good job I must say. 

What I found the exceptional about the school is every Friday they had a small session where each student is asked to share their passion as to why they have chosen those passions and to find the source of it. 

I got a decent chance to sit with and get to identify more about them. Mrs. Sudha’s inspiration has a long way to delineate why those underprivileged kids’ think so contrarily about their life and future. Almost 12 nights and 13 days with her school children, I never knew how fast the day had gone. 

On my final day, packed my luggage, 10 am, birds heckling, cold and fresh air, assuredly I was attached emotionally with the mud house, clean water, and fresh air, and most probably Mrs. Sudha. Why don’t you go and see students once before you leave, I am sure they must be waiting for you. She said.

On my way back, I opened my laptop, found a piece of paper with a handwritten note. Such fine-looking handwriting it was. The letter simply states that, dear I appreciate your days, efforts, and beautiful thing you talk, I am going to miss all of these. 

I don’t know how long I am going to live. I am much worried about my school kids and their life and future career. You know I have sold all my lands and whatsoever properties to support kids, whatever I had saved had all gone.

 I have put my grandson at risk, he just had a hope to dream immense, discover life on his own with free of cost, any day if he anticipates for any financial sustenance, he gonna have to find his own way. 

Son, I have a lot of debts to pay back to my teams who situate their exertion day and night to run the school effortlessly, I must look after them as well. 

Since they emanate deep inside the village, they run their family by the money they generate from the school. You know son if you want to give anything back you must accomplish more, be it respect, accolades, or anything valuable so that you will be able to contribute back to your team as you serve your organization and people at large. 

I write this letter to you, Son one last favor if you can help me sell one of my kidney I could reimburse to all my team members. You take care, my son. As I end the reading, I couldn’t sojourn progressing my tears down my cheeks.

She had unquestionably extended me the learning that best leaders are those who lead without achievement by giving most of the thing back to the people they work with as an obligation. She had given much-valued thing back to the society that she possessed, her sacrifice and responsibility demonstration, which I believe was nothing less than a leader, and she most unquestionably is a blessing and a treasure and remains as a fortune for people who had nothing else to hope for. 

She had put her people and community concern before her own aspiration. She must have represented herself as a great public servant. 

That is what I erudite from my sabbatical, Dear Professor. Ohh, I almost have forgotten, I have a class in a minute, students must be waiting for me, I must go now. Professor looked at me till I vanished.

Writer: Mr. Rajesh Prasad Bhandari

President: PVP Nepal, Province no. 7

BBA Program Director, Brixton College  

Phone: 9805422784           

Email: tfabodoc@gmail.com

Youth, Innovation & Education

Youth, Innovation & Education

Evidence suggests that leaders of all key sector of our economy in our country have failed in terms of opportunity creation to the ever growing young demographic dividend and minimal involvement    to bring prosperity and meager wealth creation to uplift and fortify any given society of the nation since ages.  As a result, Nepal economy is into the brink of collapse. That is surely an indication of mammoth dearth of leadership in our country in all key sectors of the economy.  Leaders of all shapes and sizes such as political, educational, business and societal had failed to keep promise in our societal development, prosperity, and wealth and opportunity creation. The urgent need has been felt to develop the real ethical entrepreneurial leadership spirit from the grassroots level among youth. So that they not only make their life opulent but also provide the same opportunity to others and to their own progeny.

The migration rate of youth today has escalated more than ever before, in order to seek enhanced jobs, better education and proficient life style abroad. This way the country loses its most important human resource in one way and in other government shows no or little interest to create jobs within the nation. And to make the matter even worse a 4 years’ academic focus customized for foreign nation has been implemented. Zero focus on developing individual who have a hope and dream to transform the nation for better place to live, work and grow. This led us to ask some important question. What will happen if the same rate of migration continues for the next 25 years? Who would craft opportunities for the generation or perhaps their own descendants?  And most importantly what ideas are our academic institutions have been providing to the students for their growth and development aligned with the ultimate purpose of economic growth and opportunity creation within the nation? When we natter about economic growth and better job opportunities within any given nation we also need to talk and the focus on youth and their leadership potential and ideas they possess, so that they are groomed to create employment and improve the economy.

The current situation has thrown myriads of challenges to our present generation and in spite of it we need better society, better individual and better leaders with a hope for the future. There seems to be a greater need to look things beyond the constrain. With deep understanding of our community needs, desires, hope and expectation I have felt the need to train and develop young minds and groom them into leader for the future and mould them into something productive and contributing citizen to develop society and the nation as a whole.

The recent movements of youth demonstrate a very feeble key sector like academic institution and the leader running them are even weaker. Lacking vision and even more prominently not being proficient enough to remain factual to vision for these many decades. Institution supplies thousands of graduates every year; the question is where the demands from the job market within the nation are? But the veracity is we are producing graduates for overseas, and it is more like we are putting all the era, oomph, and money to compose these individual elegant enough, however his/her potential and skills have been transported overseas. In an endeavor to bring educational and leadership transformation, there seems to be the need for unwavering effort to put in to bring young minds into the mainstream for a change. 

Youth moving out of the nation, in search of job and better education, migration like this in a soaring rate would do more impairment than good and gives a dark sign of growth for the nation and put in risk for the future creation. Hence this leads to show that there is a pressing need to set up a school with an aim to produce future generation of leaders who are responsible to bring more opportunity, prosperity and wealth within the nation. And most importantly the school/academy to work together with government, social enterprise, students, local leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, private and public sector along with the academia and young minds to develop future generation of ethical entrepreneurial leadership who have a hope and dream to transform the nation. Crammed with equality, prosperity, wealth and superior opportunities for all. As a result craft more serene and thriving society.

By:Rajesh Bhandari

Program Director (BBA Program): Brixton College: Mahendranagar

President: PVP Nepal: Province No. 7

Cell: 9805422784

Email: tfabodoc@gmail.com