The Quitter

Analytics, Think-tank, and Elucidation:

Far from reality, we are hard reinforced not to quit on our dream, career, and passion, to have a never give up attitude, “if you quit more on what you are most passionate about, you will one day stop dreaming about your life”, we see this more on motivational quotes and videos that force to inspire people.

 But none of this has worked out in Rowand's life, career, and future.

It’s really thought-provoking to comprehend how Rowand quitting demeanor had imparted a prodigious management message, where we most are nurtured up on never give up attitude.

Newly admitted, obviously had to create some new friends, when you are in a new school on your first day, Rowand left school in the middle of 7^th grade, and joined the new one.

I have never seen you before in my class, one of the teacher - subject science - asked Rowand in the middle of the class. Yes - sir, I just left my previous school, Rowand replied as quickly as he could.

Everyone in the classroom looked at Rowand with their eyes - wide - open, this was something novel for the rest of the students, Teacher with a lot of curiosity asked Rowand - why did you leave your 7^th grade at the middle of your academic year?

 Because I did not like the mathematics teacher, Rowand replied. Everyone laughed.

Fast forward four years later- During his college years, the science teacher wanted to know about the student’s future ambitions. He started, randomly, the classroom was filled up with, some doctors, engineers, pilots, and police officers. But Rowand had something else in his mind. He told, ambition kills people's dreams, their capabilities.

The teacher looked surprised, and he asked why do you think so? It doesn’t work that way, having ambition is good but life has its own purpose for all of us. Rowand responded.

Rowand continued, Ambition keep changing, when I was at 5^th standard I told to my father that I want to become an engineer, 3 months later when I see the books of an engineer, my head swing, then I changed my ambition for a doctor, it was great until I found that becoming a doctor needs huge investment. I then stop dreaming about anything in life.

But I am confident I will find the one that I will be happy doing by quitting most where I think I don’t belong.  Uncommon Rowand surely had defies the rest of the dreamers.

Hey, it’s me, Solemen, I sit at the front bench of our classroom, nice to meet you Solemen, it is really nice of you that you approach me, Rowand with a beautiful smile on his face. It was his first week at the newly joined college.

You said you want to be a professor of the university when the teacher asked at the classroom, I wish you all the very best, and don’t give up on your dreams, Rowand advised to his new friend, Solemen.

Solemen with a passionate smile and confident, you know, I always dreamt of becoming a professor of the university. I don’t think anything can stop me.

I really love the way you carry confidence with your new-found dream. I hope you are going to stick with regardless of circumstances. Rowand replied passionately.

To drag a conversation, Rowand wanted to make something clear with Solemen.

Tell you what Solemen, I don’t know how you see your career and future, but I have my own perspective looking at life and career. If you see someone incredibly successful, he would tell, I was desperately passionate about it since my childhood, and I never give up on my dreams, that why I am here.

But he has forgotten the fact that, if he even knows where he will stand at this point in time? I am sure no successful people are astrologists. Steve job never knew he is going to die at 52, nor even he knows about where apple will have reached that point. 

Or Zuckerberg could have had billions of users. He kept experimenting with his ideas.

Now if you ask Jeb Bezos, he will unquestionably reply, I always dreamt of building an empire. The fact is, he is made a billionaire by the customers and employees, surely not by his plan and so call dreams.

I think a career is a series of experimentation. The plan doesn’t have any meaning in my life. why do we need to plan, when we are going to keep changing as per the situation, experiment with your new-found knowledge, and see if you can grow? If you think, things are sucking out of your life, then quit, don’t justify to anyone why you should be working longer than you should and even wasting your time.

Find the next. Life has its own privilege.

Giving up like this would never be going to help you in life, be passionate about what you exactly want, Solemen rejoined to Rowand’s rare perspective, as they were both coming out from their college.

I will show to the whole world, how I am going to achieve my dream. Solemen retorted.

How would you even know what is going to happen the way you got to see your life 20 years from now? Rowand responded to Solemen at his desperately instilled dream since childhood. Do you even know which job may attract you when you grow up? I hope you need some time to perceive life slightly differently. Rowand retorted.

Quitting did not end at school and college life for Rowand, he indeed quit many of his job with a hefty salary. Nobody knows what Rowand was chasing for? if he was chasing for something big in life or he wanted something small and be happy, if he doesn’t feel to have belonged, finding the next option is what he does.

After quitting many of his jobs, he finally got a job at one of the biggest company in the world, it was nice for him for 6 and a half months. The hiring manager called Rowand for an exit interview.

You seem to have a great offer from your previous company, despite that you did not bother to quit. Why you did so? Any reason. One of the HR Manager at the exit interview asked Rowand. I did not quit because the job was hard, I quit because I quickly figure out the job was not for me. And the same thing I realize before a year passed by here in this company. Rowand replied.

What you don’t like about our company? Despite paying you a hefty salary, with the sophisticated corporate culture, I don’t understand why you take such a decision. The other one of the panel of HR individual put forward a query to Rowand. 

I did not see anything wrong in the company but working for six months make me understand that, I am not made for the numbers or codes to write for my life long period. I assume I am not meant for anything of this. May be perfect for the rest of my team, just doesn’t appeal to me, I am sorry I wasted company times and investment in me.

Rowand never seems to stop quitting, maybe he was chasing for something that he most passionate about. 

He himself doesn’t know about his likes and interest, but what we can understand out of  his quitting habit is he is surely a good person to figure out what he doesn’t like early in his life so that he could quit on something he finds where he doesn’t belong, but the question is till when Rowand is going to quit. Even Rowand does not have the answer to respond to the people matters for his life.

Rowand on the other hand wants to experiment with his career and life. Or perhaps a smarted quitter the world has ever seen and heard.

22 years later, Rowand had a presentation for his research paper at a 3-Star-Hotel. A three-day conference for a published paper, the last day, the owner of the hotel wanted to meet Rowand and his team member for a thanksgiving.

As Rowand and his team were waiting for the owner at the hotel lobby, Solemen from the back, started to greet all.

 Solemen and Rowand both of them could not believe their eyes.

You are the owner of the Hotel!! How did it happen? It’s a long story, the plan did not work, dropped out amid graduation, said Solemen. Indeed, it must be a long story, replied Rowand.

And how about you?  - finally, it’s you who became a University Professor? How it happened.

Rowand in his own style. It's a simple story, I quit where I don't belong, I then reached out to where I can make a huge difference, my friend. Let’s — go — grab some coffee together and dialogue.

Let’s - go - grab some coffee together and dialogue.

Sometimes, you did not even know things outside your ambition and passion are perfect for you. A diverse perspective not only persevere, but he/she also finds out what is not meant for them.

Quit early and find the one by abolishing the worst to touch out the best.

Writer: Mr. Rajesh Prasad Bhandari

President: PVP Nepal, Province no. 7

BBA Program Director, Brixton College  

Phone: 9805422784           

Email: tfabodoc@gmail.com

An interview:

An interview that last for several minutes, almost delineates whether someone is equipped for the job or not, but it has never given a flawless representation about how one executes at life and beyond. What would you answer if someone at interview ask you, “tell me something about yourself”, I know you will google it.

I am sure you can’t google if someone ask you a question bigger than life.

Tony was not definite what he is made to triumph, but he doesn’t want his brother, Mr. Ransom to regret for what he has decided. Mr. Tony about to finish his graduation from one of the prestigious institute, he never made a noise for what he wanted to accomplished until he graduates.

At 6:30 am morning, besides the river bank, coolest blowing air, music at the play and the laptop connected with the internet. Luckily he happened to check his mail, the biggest gift ever by Google, the moment he saw his mail he immediately checked his pocked and bag, when he could not find something that he missed out, quickly he packed everything and rushed back to his home. Tony was like he had forgotten something important- the moment he entered inside the home, as he passed by his brother's room.

I will surely ask him to make a call once he is back home, he has left his phone at home, Tony’s Brother at the phone, company HR Manager on the other side. Hey Tony, there was a call in your mobile, and I picked the call, it was from the company, the HR wanted to appoint an interview with you. You better check your mail, go through and find out the offer. Tony’s Brother after an accidental talk over the phone on behalf of Tony.

Rubin’s Father asked me today about  your career, as you know Rubin is also getting graduated next couple of month, he is interested joining at few reputed company, even had got offer from many of them.  Rubin even had a campus recruitment next week. Tony’s Brother with his fragile voice at the same day that night. He continued, he was asking about you and your career plan in particular. I said I need to talk to you and find out. Umm, yes, I even have an appointment for the interview next week. Tony replied, That’s great said Mr. Ransom.

Rubin is a Tony’s best friend since childhood, both of them raised together at small village, promised to be together till the last breath, amazing friendship that both shared up until they were crazy enough to decide which part of life they belong and wanted to stride.

Rubin father was a Lawyer where he kept Ransom as a doorkeeper in his law firm.

The next week, Tony had a scheduled meeting for an interview through his campus, his brother was the happiest in the planet, he took a leave to be with Tony at his interview day.

Later that day Ransom got a call from Rubin’s father stating that Rubin was selected for a management position at the giant and reputed company. But he was anonymous about how Tony’s interviews went.  It was almost six hours since Tony left for the interview, with a pronounced anticipation, he made a call to Tony, the first two calls went unpicked, and the third one was switched off, that left Ransom scrambled about what could have happened to Tony’s interview.

At 8:30 pm midnight the same day, there was a bump on the door, Ransom on the other hand, left his dinner and as he opened the door there was Rubin at the other end.

Brother am sorry, I did not go any of my scheduled interview for any company. I always wanted to talk to you something serious but I could not find the courage to do so, which I should have talk to you long time back. What happened to you all of a sudden? I am worried my brother, Ransom with a gloomy face.

Ransom could not sleep that night, thinking what to answer back to Rubin’s Father about the interview and a prestige that job holds within the society he lived in. A good job was all he expected out of Tony’s life. But Tony’s story was left untold.

The next day Ransom wanted to have a thoughtful discussion with Tony. Tony still did not have that courage to speak with his Brother. Later, both had a long conversation that defined why Tony remains different from Rubin. But Ransom- a poor door keeper, only understand the extent which society value a job that can define his brother career and significance.

No surprise that Rubin got selected for a topnotch company, Where Tony was passionate at his idea, an idea that has no value for a poor Ransom in particular. But Tony always get the needed admiration for what he chosen to prove for himself in his life. Mr. Ransom was by his side at each ups and down.

In one-way Ransom was tortured by Rubin’s father elucidation him the progress report of Rubin, and a poor Ransom was left with nothing to share about Tony’s career.  Tony was struggling with his idea turning into reality.

Hey, Brother how was the day? And what happened? you looked so serious today. Anything serious? Tony asked to Ransom after he was back from his work.

I always wanted to see you as an officer, to have your own career, so that I can held my head high, People often ask me about you, but I have no words no answer. Ransom, with his soft voice at his brother. I am always with you brother, and you are the only hope I am left with, if you lose hope I am lost in no time you know.Replied,Tony.

You know Tony, you were so small when father passed away, I never forget dad suffering due to cancer, we took some debt from Rubin’s father to save dads life, but we could not, I then left my higher study, worked for him to pay his debt and we still have huge debt to return back him.

Tony did not know what to say, than to hug his Brother as snugly as he could.

Hey Tony- where were you? Long time no see buddy, yes its indeed been few years, how are you?  Mr. Rubin and Tony happened to meet at the market place. They had a long conversation.

Meet my wife- Mrs. Zenith last year we got married, what about you? Tony said hello to his wife, Ohh I almost forgotten to tell you, I have small team working in a project. The house behind the blue car, and the window with a broken glass if you can see, that’s my small office with a room. You know Rubin, our individual interest for life has made us this far, but life has its own destination and career has its own. Tony with his reply to his childhood friend Rubin.

Rubin in return, what idea are you talking about? I thought you could have been in Microsoft, Apple or at Google by now, must be holding a management position. He continued- look at me, that’s My Car BMW, for 85 lacs. You know my job is to take interviews to the topnotch B-school candidate, I am the one who take decision to hire and fire for the company. I have brought a mansion now and married with a most beautiful and rich lady. And you still talking about the idea that doesn’t seems to work out. I recommend find the job and settle down.

Rubin said goodbye to Tony as he handed over his business to Tony, if at all Tony needs any help to find the job. Rubin was not that bad, he was not that different at all.

Five years gone by, nothing happened to Tony’s Project, two of his team mates left him at the middle of the project, everything was futile, five long years have been gone into vain. Tony was about to quit. But after all he had is Ransom, who remained as a constant motivator during all turbulent time.

Eleven years later, Tony turn his dream into reality- a reality that is something to prolong, the reality was being cherished and made a star company. And that was something for Ransom a big reason to smile. May be a tear in his eyes and a moment to take pride for what his younger brother had accomplished.

On the other side, Mr. Rubin was looking for an immense break at his career after working for more than decades at the same company. He never knew something great was waiting for him in Tony’s company, with its reputation across the corporate list. He immediately sent his profile to the HR department like many other brilliant, got shortlisted for the interview- first 5 round were cleared, he was asked to meet CEO of the company to have a final round of interview for selection. The next day his appointment was fixed with the Boss of the company.

Rubin was all prepared, his car was pretty much ready to drive him down, after all it was a meet with the CEO of the company, someone that he needed to impress.

Arrived at the premises, with a pounding heartbeat, much professional for the coveted position- the receptionist at the lobby guided him to stride towards the room of the Boss, for the final Interview.

You can feel how Rubin felt, a big career break for him if he could get through this. Almost 73 candidates craving for the coveted job at the company.

As Rubin opened the door, the moment he saw Tony inside the room, that was only his Boss waiting for him to help make his biggest career break ever.

Tony, the CEO of the company, received Rubin a 64^th candidate for the interview, Tony greeted him well, ask him to take a seat. Rubin could not believe his eyes. He could not believe how people can go that far to accomplish something bigger in life.

Rubin might have won the competition among 73 candidates, aspiring for the much coveted job, but he would always felt that he had failed in his interview to win his friendship with Tony.  

That’s how I won the interview of my life, my company is a tribute to Ransom, your uncle. I hope you will be able to interview yourself before you get interviewed by anyone who says “I have a decades of experience on interviewing people”. Fifteen years later, Mr. Tony with his twelve and half years old daughter, both on the way driving back to home from her school.

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 Perfect Employee?

If you ruminate you have a know-how at hiring gift talent, a perfectionist, or perhaps spotting the perfect employees at your organization, you better probe over again a humble question to yourself, what is a perfect employee according to your company?

Jecinda, a hiring manager, for one of the multimillion dollar company, for 23 years now had a critical issue finding the dream employee.

The company with its rapidly growing business and a massive growth of future prediction demands the hiring manager to be more specific about who they want to hire out of the pool of candidate craving for the job at the company. Jecinda looking for her dream employee, a perfectionist during her talent hunt. She failed to spot the one during her approach to hire 12 employees out of 111 interviews done. Everyone at the HR department startled.

The eight solid team member of Jecinda could not even find the one perfectionist they aspire for. It took them one week to screen and interview, huge amount of talent, effort and money was lost amid the hiring.

I have provided you the script, I hope no one care about what has been stated, Had the team stick to what has been explained to you, I am sure you would have had spot the right one. Mrs. Moody, Director of the company spouted to Ms. Jecinda, for her failure amidst spotting the perfect individual for the company. Moody continued, your job is in jeopardy if you can’t meet the target to recruit the people we want, I wonder how could your team not find one perfect candidate after interviewing 111 applicants. As she ended her frustration over Jecinda,

The company had a mammoth shortage, under staffing was causing a colossal impairment to its bottom line. Company had lost its 15.17 million Rs. worth of business over six month of period. Still company was hunting for the perfect employees. But finding the one was never easy. Moody was not sure why despite thousands of applicant applying for the job was not getting hired.  

Withdrawal of many clients from the company had put the blame of companies HR department where Ms. Jecinda along with her team members had to take leadership upon. Jecinda calls out to one of her recruitment agency manager to help post the job vacancy for the position they are looking for. Taking lots of interviews and using all of the company’s recruitment sources is the last option they are left with, Moody asked Jecinda to schedule meeting with all of recruitment agency managers, professional training houses, employment agencies and the tied up university and affiliated college.

I need an individual just to be perfect, our company never compromise on skills set and capabilities, Mrs. Moody at the middle of webinar said to all of the recruitment agency manager. She gave all the list of character that she wanted them to hire.

2100 applicant came in touch with the recruiter, 610 were shortlisted for interview. Company use different slots too interview them, some went to the recruiter and some just walked into the company directly.

The team did their best to hire the requisite number of candidates out of as many shortlisted for the interview as possible. Moody got all the characters she was looking for in her new hire. With better confidence, Moody finally gets her perfect employees. Exactly scripted, nothing less than what Moody’s wanted. The different skill sets and much confident in newly hired can be seen, Moody announced the best hire in all time of her career from the past couple of decades at the talent acquisition department.

Moody needed her client back now; she demanded Jecinda to coordinate with the negotiators to brought back the lost clients within the given timeframe of 2 weeks.

Moody almost micromanaged her preeminent employee, checked if they doing the work or not, warned them not to exchange a word to each other unless they have something fervent matter to talk about. Employee felt toxicity intensification inside the corporate culture with the way Moody control, behave and treat her employees. The best of the best employees did not sense worthy to be a part of the company.

 Moody experience the highest turnover in her life time career. Jecinda was about to get fired for her inability to handle the situation.

Do you know what went wrong? Moody asked to Jecinda, I am about to figure out. I think there is no such called perfect employee, I think perfectionist are just a myth. A myth? what is your understanding on hiring employee? and you don’t explain me about what shape and size do the perfectionist come.  Moody showed her bellicosity to Jecinda.

Jecinda in her rejoinder, I hope we have hired as per what you have demanded for, but what happed now, most of them left, and the turnover is still on, and you have no idea about how many talents we are going to lose this quarter. And not to forget the deadline for few project is round the corner. No more proficient employees are with us. And you still hunting for your dream employee. And you never knew who is that going to be. And with what shape and size he/she is going to be to identify as a perfect employee. I don’t understand why you so obsessed about it. You could have better sustain best employee to make them the perfect one for the company. She halted

I am not going to compromise on talents and open the door for anything less than a perfect employee, I will never let anyone do that, Moody in reply to Jecinda. If you don’t want to compromise then you must give the best hire an opportunity to innovate, try not to micromanage them. Jecinda riposte to Moody, develop and craft them and don’t waste time waiting till long.

Hiring someone with right attitude and trainable but smart and later developing them as a perfectionist, should have been in company’s agenda. Without understanding company’s corporate culture, no employee is said to be a perfect one.

No one knows what exactly moody has inside her mind, Jecinda never knew. Moody’s expectation remains always high for the talent acquisition; it is only then the assumed talent exist.

“I could have told Moody to find the right attitude with high EQ” Jecinda reminisce her days with Moody. It was never possible for Jecinda to counsel moody, as she was too adamant on her hunt to the perfect employee.

It is never wrong to hire less talented, but trainable, smart needs autonomy that’s how innovation drifts. But the perfectionist is just a myth, Jecinda told as she was dealing with her interviewer. You are the perfect employee, I had interviewed more than 10,000 applicants so far in my career, but finding the one whose values and experience are pretty much align with our philosophy just like a myth, but today I got my perfect employee. Mrs. Moody at her interview with Jecinda, after she left the company and started her own.

20 years later, Mrs. Moody interviewing Jecinda for her own company after the company shut down forever. The other interviewer asked Jecinda if she had anything to ask before they wrapped up. Jecinda in return asked them, are you a perfect Manager? Mrs. Moody and the other hiring manager looked at each other. Jecinda was not surefire if they were both a perfect manager.

“That’s why I oppose the idea of hunting the perfect employee, thank you so much for the opportunity. If anyone have something different to share, I will better share this stage with you”. There was a huge round of applause as Jecinda finished her speech at the International Conference on ‘Talent Acquisition And Global Workforce Management’.

                                                                                                                                                       

Author: Mr. Rajesh Bhandari

Program Director: Brixton College, BBA Program, Mahendranagar

President: PVP Nepal Province No. 7, Nepal

Cell: 9805422784

Mail: tfabodoc@gmail.com

The Millennials Vs Baby Boomer

                                                       

How would it be when a lately joined employee oppose the manager’s working style who is having decades of experience, or perhaps a student opposing teacher's, lecturer's and professor's management style. If you think you know the answer, I have a better story to share with you.

I don’t like the way you talk, and your management style aren’t updated, you seem to use the one that has been values decades ago, a new comer at his boss, who had almost couple of decade experience at the organization. Who are you to teach me as to how I should talk and behave? You are just in, what do you know about how corporate function? Mr. Avinash and his anger toward his newly entrant employee Mr. Pankaj, during a product training session with 17 new recruiters from different colleges, and institution. The team unquestionably varied with different skills, abilities and perspective. They even had their graduation from Ivy league institution across the planet.

Mr. Avinash, turned red, clue less and shattered. The boss who had been governing the business from the past two decades with great administrative acquaintance, was defied by the new recruiter.

Mr. Avinash surely did not had a good day, with a new guy at his 24, was the worst experience dealing with the millennial. But the manager was probably not going to see Mr. Pankaj as lightly as he would have dealt with someone who always nod their head on what manager has to say about the way they think, behave and command. Mr. Pankaj never turned out to be the one alike. The very next day, Mr. Pankaj was called upon for a meeting at the senior manager desk, you have a complaint over, yes sir Pankaj replied to the senior manager. You are not at all supposed to talk like the way you did, our employees never counter argue with any of our seniors, they just nod their head for what we say. And I think that is the best idea to move ahead in life and career.

 We had run this company from the last 4 decades and we now have 16 more official branches and huge chunk of clients. A new guy talking like that to the manager is probably not good sign of yours to make the future. Pankaj opened, yes sir, but manager needs to be more empathized on what their employees feel about the way they behave and treat.  This is different time, if we are same like the one who used to be a decade ago than what changes have we made? And what is the difference? I am probably not the one to nod my head, I presume Mr. Avinash needs a broader perspective to lead a crowd like us sir. The senior manager was no exception.

I don’t understand this millennial generation, what they think about the baby boomer? Do they ruminate they discern much more than we do?  He continued, I have brought the company at this level, how could I forget all my hard work, all ups and downs. And we have a system where we want each of our employees listen to us and obey our command. If they need to seek out for a great career and promotion ahead they must provide their consent over the idea of their boss. I will show him who I am. Mr. Avinash during his meet with Baby Boomers. Showing his frustration over Mr. Pankaj among many other co-fellow members.

Mr. Avinash could not digest the way Pankaj contrasted his style, and guts to oppose profoundly entrenched culture and the manager’s behavior towards employees. Months slips into quarter, a quarter slips into a six months and a year gone by, company witnessed, less morale, demotivated, and less productive employees despite the incredible recruitment. Manager and senior leaders surprised to see their plummet first year result.

The company called out for a meeting with the senior management along with Pankaj and 4 more from his team. Top level managers shared how great they have done from the last couple of decades, but this time around the company has lost its way. they blame the new comers and millennial, that they were not aligned with company’s objectives. At the mean time Pankaj raise his hand gently and asked if he could put his viewpoint forward at the underlying issues that the company has faced recently.

Only hiring talents doest help organization to prosper, employee value his/her managers style of leadership that goes with the need of our times, obsolete style makes employees depressed, less passionate and Leading with empathy means you’re fostering an environment where people feel at ease—clearing the path for them to perform at their very best. What does that look like? At its core, it’s about hewing a know-how with employee needs in mind. Display employees that the company is invested in supporting them so that they’re, in turn, willing to invest their time and energy in supporting the company.  

As he went on to speak, he told, I have seen the company’s great results over the past decades, on the flip side a deep downfall and most talented have left out. We cannot compare what and how we manage team then, but now if we need to take leadership then the managers must manage their level of egos and accept the fact that the new generation are better updated, with new perspective of the world they are supposed to lead. If employees don’t find their manager shrewd, then they don’t value their experience. They may even check their manager’s ability to lead them. Then only they will stick to the company for a long time. Millennial are better exposed even before they joined the company. I perceive the company need to have that humility to a great extent and it is the management style that can make or break the team. He concluded.

No managers at the company had encountered a millennial like Pankaj. It was hard for the managers to have that humility. The session was indubitably a new turn around for most of the managers, what they perceive about their skills and capabilities as strength once was now no longer in need or needs some more dimension to be added if they had to deal with the present generation of workforce.

25 years later when Pankaj had to lead a huge chunk of crowd, he had opened the doors for only those who see things differently and he never taught them a single thing.

And 25 years from now if Pankaj wants anyone to replace him with the finest substitution possible, he/she got to see what will be the next future style of leadership. Does this easily apply to all organizations? Maybe not. if it does to any company, I would want to build or work for.

Writer: Mr. Rajesh Prasad Bhandari

President: PVP Nepal, Province no. 7

BBA Program Director, Brixton College  

Phone: 9805422784           

Email: tfabodoc@gmail.com

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