Common Man's Leadership Fundas - Series 2

Some one has correctly pointed out - "Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches". Similar is the case with leadership. Only the leader knows where the shoe pinches. Assuming leadership role is not easy as it’s generally thought, currently spearheading a large scale project in Gujarat and have been gaining tremendous learning's during this phase. Some of the learning’s as a leader has helped me to grow personally and at the company level also, sharing some of the learning's with the masses.

Stretch the limits: One of the foremost qualities that a leader should have is the ability to stretch himself only than will he be able to exemplify to his subordinates and they shall emulate the leader. Though the simple & literal meaning of the phrase means "work hard" but they have to be taken in a very deeper sense. The leader has to go beyond limits I remember a statement from a prominent business magazine wherein a leader turned entrepreneur mentioned - "A leader has to get the job done by going to the lowest level - he says get the hands dirty, work at the grass root level put in efforts results are bound to follow".

Plan: A four letter simple word never understood by me in my B-School and just mugged up by me but although realised that its not that easy to make plans and stick to it- though my mentor always insisted that i should have a plan before doing any activity but never realised that planning would make such a big difference. The idea of creating a plan and actually sticking to it sometimes gives me a nightmare but still i have learnt it the hard way planning is must to carry out any task successfully.

Feedbacks: Feedbacks are like medicines they are bitter they are difficult to digest but a true leader has to take the feebacks in a positive sense. One has to understand that the feedbacks in the longer run will be helping in making the process efficient and effective. One of the art that the leader has to develop not only the ability to receive feedbacks but also the ability to give feedbacks which is important to learn and grow.

Ownership: A leader is responsible for the acts of his subordinates. Owning the responsibility and the courage to accept that things have gone wrong is one of the qualities that a leader should possess. It does not mean that the leader does not get the credit if things go in a proper way but seldom do leaders realize that accepting responsibility for what has gone wrong actually puts them above the pedestal of common beings. A leader has to own his subordinates his role is like a potter he has to pat his colleagues for a good job done and he has the right even to pressurize his subordinates if things do not go in a planned manner. One of the lines that i remember from Narayana Murthy's sayings he says: "A true leader criticizes in private and praises in public"

The common man is learning the hard way but I hope the learning’s are useful for the masses in their professional lives.

Common Man's Leadership Fundas - Series 1

I was not able to post a blog for a long time as of now but just gathered the momentum to post it today as i have quite a few thoughts coming on to my mind. Although what makes me write this blog is my intention to put my thoughts and share with the masses probably my learning’s in life may be useful to the masses to quite an extent. Readers may be surprised that my previous two blogs concentrated on the rural markets and now why have i suddenly shifted the focus to a wierd subject called "Common Man's Learnings", essentially because i have learnt some important lessons in life the hard way which can be useful for the readers and probably they can take cue out of it and use it in their life. Very recently i had a good opportunity to join an organisation which has been a leader in outdoor based education and in the process of making a right choice I took a plenty of time and i lost the opportunity to join that organisation I don’t know whether I will get a chance in the future or not.

Am I a Crass?- The offer was rejected and this question kept on coming into my mind, I went on into a deep frustration fighting constantly within myself waging a war within myself that whether staying back with the current organisation was right move? still finding answers though i know 2.5 years in any organisation is quite a long time but in order to really develop and gain an understanding and to develop a business acumen it takes time.
Lesson 1 Understand the business well and gain a critical understanding of how successful businesses are run.

The second thought is that i need to carry out a professional course and the risk involved in it what if dont get into the course? Backups are one suggestion but what if backups dont work i should not get back into the mode of frustration though i will not but the fears linger in mind.
Lesson2: Practice soliloquy that is the art of speaking to oneself try to find a mentor in yourself helps to overcome fears

I come from a family where I have seen struggles through my life but the struggles have made me stronger but the moot question is till when should i struggle? Why should i take the path of principles and struggles? Is this going to pay me off why I am like this what values am it talking about?I have seen my father struggling even today tears ooze out of my eyes when i see him striving hard its true that he is a real hero.
Lesson3: Understand that struggle is for good but to some extent encash opportunities when in struggle.

Truly speaking I feel i am in search of a mentor Swami Vivekananda found solace in the arms of Swami Ramkrishna Parmahansa. I am yet to find such a mentor i know i think a lot positive but how do i put an end to my thoughts. One of the person who of course comes to my mind is my current mentor SRR or Sridhar Rajagopalan my current boss the man who has given a direction to my thoughts and ignited the passion for this field called education. The other person is Ranu Kawatra whom I met during a trip called Khoj. Mr Ranu had been the Regional business Director for Gillette in Middle East he suggested to me carry on with my passion and this passion would help me achieve this vision.
Lesson4: Identify mentors observe them and try to emulate them try to learn maximum from them. Keen observation is essential in life.

Common Man's Learnings series is going to bring on the struggles/the happenings in the life of a common man lets hope the he comes out of this and sees light at the end of the tunnel

Reaching the Rural Masses Profitably

In my previous blog i had mentioned as how we can cater to the rural markets and what are the strategies. In this blog I would fundamentally like to focus on the 4A's that has been in vogue in the recent times and creating waves in the rural markets. Kotler had already mentioned the traditional 4P's i.e (Product, Place, Price and Promotion) which would hold good in the traditional mode of marketing, but in a country like India where 65% of the population lives in villages it's necessary that marketers focus on the 4A approach which would help them in catering to the rural markets in a more convenient manner. Let us know understand what I mean by the 4A approach.
a) Awarness: The first and the foremost thing would be to create awarness in the rural markets. The masses residing deep in the Indian villages are not much literate to understand the features of the products or the services. The marketers need to understand this point that how can they create a deep impact on the awarness level of the rural markets so that they are able to sell their products easily.
b) Affordability: Affordability is another significant factor where the rural marketers have to concentrate. Companies have to focus on low cost solutions and also the scalability of the solutions. The rural masses will not be interested if the price is too high for them to own the product or service. Another interesting point to be noted here is that in reducing the cost companies cannot reduce the quality of the products.
c)Acceptability : Customisation is the key mere lowering the price or creating awarness is not enough all the factors should go hand in glove with each other. For instance Sampoorna TV launched by LG has been a great hit in the rural areas and its because it has combined all the above factors and than forayed in the rural markets.
d) Accessability: Rural markets are tough to penetrate physically also given the pathetic state of infrastructure in the country it becomes hard for the companies to decide upon their logistics. Companies have to plan their logistics carefully before foraying into the markets.Marketers need to understand that the physical conditions in rural areas are entirely different from the urban areas. Its not just one factor that will work all the factors have to go hand in hand and only this would help companies to provide value to the customers residing in the rural areas.