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Words. Wisdom. Winners.
Let me manage you through your style!
Managing people has got to the toughest thing in the world. As you grow professionally, the demand to work well with your colleagues grows exponentially. At some point, I believe that people are paid to manage people rather their technical skills.
But it still amazes me how many manage through their managerial style. While its always easier to manage through the other person’s style. How many times has a manager asked his colleagues – “Tell me about your working style. I will manage you accordingly”
Every manager starts with the assumption that his colleagues know nothing and have to be told, micromanaged. A simple conversation will eliminate this pan-team requirement by half. Sadly it doesn’t happen.
It’s perhaps obvious. A blanket style (yours) is easier to work with. But then that’s not why you were chosen, why you are paid.
Manage people through their style. It’s immensely hard, but immensely impactful.
Culture is built floor by floor
Situation 1
A new (non-Delhi/Bangalore) joinee was part of the recently concluded Management Meet. On the 3rd day of the meet, I was in the conference room with my colleagues at 8am, working on a deal that was going live. He comes in and comments “Do you guys work this hard all the time, or is it only for these past days?”
Situation 2
Delhi is looking for a new office. The current one is just not enough anymore and spaces are being shared. One of the management guys commented that the new office should not be split into floors, rather be a large single unit.
2 different situations, but exhibit the same thing. In my limited exposure to building companies, my biggest learning has been that Culture gets built floor by floor. One floor will have a different culture from the other. And this keeps extending – as the company expands – cities, countries.
Nothing beats personal touch when it comes to building culture. But that isnt possible all the time. The challenge is always – how do I sitting in Delhi, get the same culture in any other city. And vice versa.
Which is why I always like movement of people. Its cross-pollination and works like magic. A personal interaction will always be more powerful than the Commandments hanging on the wall.
How do you garner respect?
Its easy for everyone to respect someone they don’t know personally. All the big names fall into this bracket. Millions will respect a Mark Zuckerberg, or a Shahrukh Khan, or a Obama or a Sunny Deol (sorry, went too far).
Question is, how many respect you after they know you personally! After they have observed you, after they have spent time with you.
As I see it, “known respect” is far superior, far more exclusive and far more aspirational to garner, than unknown respect.
Difference between ISB Mohali and ISB Hyderabad!
I think I was one of the first from the ISB community to visit the Mohali campus in Mar 2011, when it was being constructed. Someone thought my photography is worth something and invited a bunch of us to shoot the progress of the campus. You can check these shots here – (I expect to make a fortune of them once I am dead!)
I havent been there since, observing the happenings from a distance. However, I have been bombarded with this question to no end – from potential ISB aspirants and even alums – Whats the difference between ISB Mohali and ISB Hyderabad?
For me: A LOT
ISB Hyderabad was a gamble. It was as insane an idea as an entrepreneur waking up one fine day and saying – my aim is to IPO my company in the next 3 years! Pramath Sinha (ISB’s 1st Dean) has captured the trajectory beautifully in his book “An Idea Whose Time Has Come”, which I was privileged enough to be asked to review, and I found it fascinating.
ISB Mohali is the 2nd child of a proud parent. And for those who have 2 kids – you know the difference. You apply all your learning, all your experiences and all your effort, to make sure the 2nd is as precious as the 1st. You, at the time time, make sure the 1st isnt left ignored. Its a big balance.
For me, being part of Mohali as the 1st batch, would be fascinating. Because I go back to my time at ISB and realize how much we influenced the school in our small way, as the 5th batch of the school. SV1 got built during our batch, we had the last episode of Poseidon (ISB’s erstwhile Annual BSchool fest) during our time, we introduced the tiering process during the placement season, the Young Leaders/Torchbearers awards were introduced in our times etc etc. People dont get to play such roles at a BSchool, let alone experience such things. I think I became part-entrepreneur during ISB itself, because of the above.
And Mohali is going to experience the same. But in an even more organized fashion. The 1st batch will lay claim to have BUILT the school alongwith their own personalities.
Recognize the fact that ISB didnt have to do this. The 2nd campus wasnt mandatory. It wasnt part of the original plan. But it still went through the effort. It wasnt convenient, it wasnt the easy choice, but it happened. Seth Godin writes wonderfully on this.
Where does trust come from?
Hint: It never comes from the good times and from the easy projects!
Through ISB Mohali – it has made me trust it a lot more than previously! There will be hiccups, there will be challenges – but thats the fun!
PS:
To current students of ISB Mohali and to future ISB aspirants – its a wonderful opportunity for you to build a world-class institution. Dont be petty and transactional in your conduct. Dont think of ISB as a placement agency and demand 100% RoI on the fees! No investment in the world gives that, and if it does – please opt for that instead of an MBA from ISB.
Worse still, dont think of it as an inferior option to Hyderabad!
Whats harder?
Asking for money, or spending it wisely?
Asking for permission, or forgiveness?
Being a friend or being a boss?
Generating respect or generating fear?
Working hard or working smart?
To give or to take?
To see the world, or to experience it?
We always know the answer, before we even start! Dont we!
No one owes you their time! No one owes you their money!
And I see it everyday
- The customer who thinks he should have got 2 units, because we were selling a “pair” of shorts
- The customer who thinks the order should reach him within 24 hours, because he has paid for it
- The customer who thinks that its OK to refuse the order at his doorstep, if he hasnt paid for it yet
- The customer who thinks that he should get an additional 5% off because he is buying 20 vouchers
are all right! The business has to make sure that they are understood, its not the customer’s responsibility. He doesnt owe us his time! He has other options.
We only have him!
Indian ecommerce is over-invested
It was so heartening to read about Avnish Bajaj talk about how the Indian ecommerce is over-invested (in the short term). I have maintained that a large part of the reason why ecommerce is nothing but a subsidized sales industry right now, is the investing world. A lot of institutional money has flown in, with unreasonable expectations. And due to this built the philosophy that transactions are the only metrics that matter. Acquisition costs, servicing costs are secondary.
India is a market with atbest 10mn online shoppers. Let’s assume 20Mn. I can get that ENTIRE base registered on my site, by spending no more than Rs 50 CPL or a total of INR 1Bn (or $20Mn). Most companies have got funding higher than this amount. What happens then?
1. You start commoditizing your products, to gain these customers faster (in the hope that they will be yours forever).
2. You start ignoring costs because you have a buffer to play with
Basically – you create a shit hole for yourself.
So what does this mean – dont get in ecommerce? That would be foolish!
1. Raise money cautiously and through investors who have a long-term view. Ofcourse, always raise more than you need. That Capital Raising 101! But figure how much is much!
2. Get into categories with lesser competition, if your value prop isnt distinct. This lowers your CPL/CPA because you are not fighting against similar offerings on google! There are atleast 15 categories I can think of consisting of no players and scale of 100 Cr and upwards
3. If in the same category, focus on creating a brand that customers love (before that, get an investor that can spell brand with a B). Not become a sales setup. Flipkart has done it really well. Rest others are experiencing transactions ONLY because they advertise. You should advertise for scale, not for survival!
Well done Avnish, for being the sole glimmer of hope for your industry. It is obvious that you have been an entrepreneur yourself! :)
5 Things that an MBA is not!
The number of ISB counselling requests have gone up considerably. I guess the fact that this year ISB became India’s largest BSchool (with Mohali) has got to do something with it.
With it, unfortunately, the quality didnt go up. People are still not thinking right about an MBA. Or atleast are not being forced to. At times I wonder who is to blame.
I dont tire telling people what an MBA will and should not do. So here it is:
5 things that an MBA is not
1. A Placement Agency
Please! Dont think of an MBA school as a placement agency. Its not the source for finding jobs. Linkedin perhaps does a better job. It is only meant to equip you with tools to find (or figure) the best job. And then offers you an opportunity to take a shot at it.
But dont blame the school if your dream company doesnt come. Or your dream role isnt offered. Honestly, the school didnt sign you up for that and thats the cruel truth. It just promised education, not a job.
2. A 100% ROI investment
In the same breath, dont expect your placement to pay off your your MBA cost, in the first year itself. If that was the case most Wharton grads would commit suicide.
How many investments have you made in your life, that paid for itself in 12-24 months? If there are many, you are probably smart enough to not require an MBA!
3. An opportunity to party and have fun
An MBA will suck the last drop of blood out of you and then ask you to take a vodka shot! Its rigorous (especially 1-yr programs) and require 16 hour days, most days. Get ready for that. Party schools are made famous by the 5% who came in with that agenda.
4. A place to learn management
Nothing can teach you management. No class, no professor and no case study. An MBA equips you with the skills to manage, but doesnt tell you how to manage. Its obvious because almost all managers are MBAs but few of them are good. So don’t think that you will do an MBA and will be fit to become a GM, if you have never led a team, made decisions or handled budgets! It will be easier, but it wont be automatic!
5. A place to slog and get grades
The worst mistake you can make during an MBA is to focus on grades and not on the learning. Its unfortunate that in India, the trend doesnt die. But as far as possible – escape the temptation. Consulting might require it, but honestly, the ones who get in dont really slog. It usually comes naturally. For the rest – pick courses you want to learn – specialize in areas you wish to and strengthen your fundamentals. The dean’s list will happen by itself and if it doesnt, the world will still survive and so will you!
Before you step in for the MBA interview – ask yourself – are you stepping in thinking that an MBA will be this magic wand that will change your life! If yes, take a break and apply again!
Do you want to change?
If you continue doing what you do, you will continue being what you have been.
Nothing changes, except when you want to change!
I have been home for almost 1.5 months now. And have learnt some awesome things that I wouldn’t have otherwise.
– You don’t need to go to office to get work done.
– It’s awesome when your son wakes from his sleep at noon, and comes to say hello for 5 minutes. Everything else stops
– Your body can stand on one leg. You won’t be fast, but you can still move! And that matters the most
– But not being able to move fast sucks. Sucks big time.
– It is not about where you go to take a break. Even your balcony, in the evening, seems like a whole new world!
– After everything else is done, it is your family that stays with you! Nothing else matters.
Pits a change I didn’t want. But it’s a change I am thankful for!
The power of 1!
It doesnt matter how many people buy the deal. One bad review kills it all
It doesnt matter how many people buy the deal. One compliment makes all the difference
It doesnt matter how many people, anymore. YOU are powerful.
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