Redefining Horizons

Lubricant or Leverage? Excellence in Execution (e@e) has traditionally been considered to be associated with productivity. Productivity, on the other hand, has traditionally remained linked to improving machines, methods and means. As industrialisation evolved, interventions aimed at e-in-e started considering ‘human beings’ as a possible avenue where results could be reaped. But such considerations remained limited to rewards and remunerations, much as lubricants to a production or production-assisting entity called man. Higher remunerations and better rewards, it was believed, would somehow elicit higher productivity. This approach to e@e confined it to the lower rungs of Maslow’s pyramid [i] . E@e, often associated and pursued only with professional life, should not be limited to the confines of work areas. It must originate from within and end up defining the person himself /herself. It is then e@e becomes a leveraging tool. If viewed and approached from the higher strata of Masl...

This is a true story! The Plot It was a well-orchestrated corporate training program which by all parameters of evaluation could be considered a success. I was the choreographer, conductor and trainer. CEO of the company, a brilliant innovator, research scholar, and educator, a man with a vision, is on a mission. All his employees are handpicked, high achievers, brilliant brains and wonderful individuals The CEO had recognised the need and defined the desired outcome-state. He was clear as to what he wanted. Challenging and interesting, I customised the entire training program, to suit the demand, in line with their vision statement. When I discussed the blueprint of the proposed programme, the CEO insisted that all his employees go through the programme.   Methods - Surreal or Real Most training sessions abound in sermons of lofty ideals and ideology delivered from self-assumed high pedestals, a touch of authenticity added incorporating generous mix of quotes and a f...

  Truth Not always Obvious   Prima facie, M [1] is ‘just another’ employee of the firm. He was one amongst the 20, I was hired to train. Outwardly shy, to the point of being withdrawn, he spoke only when asked to. But, as the session progressed and activities rolled out, I saw him, a different person. He was the natural ‘centre of gravity’ and literally made group activities come through. Though everyone in the group was individually brilliant and did their very best, both individually and collectively, his sense of commitment to the group and accomplishing the task was palpable. He was commitment personified . As I stood watching the group [2] strive and accomplish various tasks assigned, I realised I was witnessing a group’s success mantra unfold at work.   Profitability and Productivity   Profitability is an inevitable survival-ingredient for organisations involved in commercial activities. Business strategists consider productivity and profitability as insepa...

  Men From Skies The whole world watched in horror, live on TV, the crowd either ignorant of the consequences or hopelessly desperate to find space inside or outside, running along the huge military aircraft taxiing out for takeoff. Few smuggled themselves into the undercarriage space that offered safety till the retracting landing gear claimed its space and spill out human remains before landing. Many clambered onto the wings and held on to each other and whatever else they could hold. Hopes seldom secure one against airstream of a plane in flight. Sooner than they thought, they gained height, only to fall from the sky. Men rained down from the skies above!  Those who managed space within the aircraft escaped, at least for now. The human tragedy that unfolded itself in Afghanistan in the month of Aug 2021 will haunt humanity for long. The photograph of Major General Chris Donahue, Commander U.S. Army 82 nd Airborne Division, walking back, consumed in the ‘night vision de...

  INDIVIDUAL - CURRENCY AND PARITY VALUE The Currency Independent currency is a powerful symbol of sovereignty. It comes in different denominations, each different in looks, dimensions and security features. Differences aside, each one carries a statement of promise lending it credibility and making it legal tender, an instrument for value transfer and a medium of exchange. But there is a catch about the value “assured” to be transferred. Face Value Each note carries a promise that assures value at par with the printed face value. The value, said to be guaranteed with commensurate gold reserves, keeps fluctuating based on supply and demand, interest rates, inflation, public debt, and other macro and micro factors. Socio - political environment, itself speculative and make believe nowadays, influences currency value. Experienced as, purchasing power parity and expressed as exchange rates, a strong currency may equal many of a weaker currency. Transaction an Imperative Infla...

Caveat If the story narrated resembles any award function, it’s NOT intended! Advice To enjoy and get the best out of this article, as you read, try visualising being there watching it all. Lessons, you can draw thereafter. Visuals The dancers vanished from the stage after the scintillating sequence and the applause soon waned. The master of ceremonies took the stage wielding her mike like a sword. She surveyed the audience attempting to dramatise the occasion and even more dramatically announced “ It is time now for the final award ”. Silence consumed the crowd. Stars, mega, super, budding, fading, fallen and even self-assumed shuffled in their seats. The churn within notwithstanding, actors all, they put on their most detached looks as cameras panned. Fans waited to cheer. They create and nourish stars and celebrate anyway, even as the stars they created were kept safe, from them and their miserable existence, by bouncers. The fans crowded a real-life planet and nourish...