Saturday 22 September 2012

Interview-12 and Leadership-4


A leader should negotiate and bring his opponent to his knees without antagonizing him! “When” is the question that decides his success!

It happened last month. The hero was my little grandson. That was very much unexpected of him. He never behaved street smart whenever it comes to compromising values. But still it happened! May be it shows that he has started maturing or begun getting corrupt? (I know my daughter would object the second part after ‘or’.) From her point of view he might have naturally started learning the street survival techniques. After all he is now 7 years old. Now let me tell you what happened there.
Actually one day he came home completely dirty with scratches and bruises all over the body.
“What is this?” His mother shouted.
“Mom, I’ve already told you about Dhanush who beats everybody in my class or pinches us in the van.”
“So? What?”
“Today he came and slapped me because I did not offer him a seat in the school van. Immediately I had a wrestle with him. I made him have a tough time. All my friends cheered me and I think I won. So, he can’t do this to us in future”. There was a pleasure in his gleaming eyes.
“Why? You know, he is a big boy and a bully. Don’t make me to come to your school because of you little fools!”
“Mom…but uncle told me to fight back whenever people try to trouble us.”
She thought that the story was over and expected some more adventures which might invite her for a meeting with his teachers.
 After three days again he shared “Mom, today Dhanush came to me….”
“To give back what you had given on that day?”
“No; I was doing the project; my air-plane was a successful model. It flew well and glided beautifully! He ran along with me to catch it. He got it first and gave it to me safely. I thanked him. Then he asked whether I could teach him to make the paper plane. I said okay if you stop bullying others and make friends with everybody. He stared at the plane a minute with glittering eyes and then accepted my suggestion. Nowadays he has become a good friend of us, though we are one year junior to him”
My daughter smiled. I could feel the mother’s pride.

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Grammar corner:
"So, he can’t do this to us in future." This is wrong usage.
We cannot use ‘can’t do’ for future possibility.

"SO,he will not be able to do this in future": Correct usage.
 A decision is taken  to have a class on Monday by the professor.
When a decision is taken, ‘can’ can be used in future meaning: We can have the class on Monday.

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A leader has to protect his team and own responsibility in times of need! Because it pays him, later!

This also is also a true story. A small one! The team leader was called to GM’s room.
“Who had done this? We acted upon this scrap. The customer is furious on this classification. He told that he had paid all his dues. He claimed that he would sue us”
He gasped under tension. He had BP too. The team leader was worried on watching the GM teeming with anger.
“Sir, this is basically my mistake. I own it. I take complete responsibility for this error.”
“Whom do you want to protect? Do you want to play Good Samaritan?” There was a sarcastic note in his tone.
“You are right. I would like to guard one of my members.Yes, call me biased. He has done hundred good things. If this one is wrong, shall we hang him? I don’t think so. I can’t remain uninterested and disinterested. If you decide to punish, penalize me first because I only approved it. I hope I will manage the customer and he will understand.I am with my team.”
When the news was out in the office, the entire team gathered and cheered his action.
He got unequivocal co-operation from all his members whole heartedly. The team remained unbeatable and always first in completion of projects.

Vocabulary corner:
Uninterested:  remaining careless; showing no interest, indifferent.
                         He is uninterested in watching cinemas.                        
Disinterested:  Remaining unbiased; balanced.
                         The judge should be disinterested in the arguments; he should keenly   observe the case. 

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Sunday 9 September 2012

Interview part-11: What are the qualities of a leader? Part-3



A leader should be strict when the situation demands!

The Hr manager and the union leader, though a rare sight to be seen together, came and explained the new pension scheme announced by the government.
“What do we get by signing these forms?” the worker asked again. The meeting was held to discuss about the benefits of the scheme. Every body accepted and put their signatures with their photos. Only one person refused and asked the same irritating question again and again.
Almost all his friends failed to convince him. The HR manager also attempted to persuade him.
“Comrade, you will get 50% of salary and allowances after your retirement. It also covers all medical expenses.”
The union leader said “Hey friend, this is a real good deal. You get insurance and pension just for not doing anything during your retirement life.  You need not come to office. Enjoy, man. If you do not sign, our company cannot participate in this scheme because the scheme requires 100% participation”
“No. I’ll not sign.” He went away without listening to any body.
The next day the managing director called him into the room.
“Please sign this form. This is for the good of everybody in our factory.”
“Why should I? NO. I’ll not sign” the reply came curtly.
OK Man, this is the last chance for you. If you are not consenting, you are going to be fired….I mean dismissed from this company so that others can benefit from this pension scheme.”
Without even looking up the prodigal worker signed the form and coolly said “Nobody explained me about the benefits in the manner as you have done. Now only I could understand the entire thing.”

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A leader should have only one aim: success for his team; success for his country!
But no ego!
The party office was unusually crowded. There was an election for the post of chief minister. The people were disgruntled over the unexpected contest within the party.
“Will you win, sir?” the voice was very much concerned.
The old man in khadi dress looked at him, smiled and said “This is our democracy. Anybody can contest.
If he wins, surely, we would support all his activities for the development of the state.”
Again it was the same nonchalant smile.
But the old man won the election because of the simplicity and the common sense he had.
He announced the ministry on the next day. Every one was surprised to see the rival candidate C.Subramaniam in the ministry in charge of important portfolios.The ministry included not only C.Subramaniam, but also the other opponents like M.Bakthavatchalm and R.Venkatraman.
The old man was the then chief minister of Tamilnadu called Kamaraj who used the talents of C.Subramaniam, the architect of green revolution and R.Venkatraman, the pioneer of industrial revolution in Tamilnadu, in the southern part of  India for the welfare of the public.. The trio, as a team, succeeded in leading Tamilnadu to development.                               

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Do you remember Obama vs Hillary Clinton in US presidential elections? Do you know what happened after Obama took over as US president? He requested Hillary to lead Foreign affairs in his cabinet. Now Hillary is the secretary of state.
Do we have such leaders in our country, now?

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