Learning from one CMs Leadersip

Disclaimer:
This blog is mainly intended to draw similarities between how to be successful in corporate and is there anything we can learn from one person. This does not mean any other intention or thought. Please treat and read this as a case study like than anything else..

I do not have any political affiliations and I do not endorse any party but I am totally impressed the way one CM is functioning in the state here. For a few years we are experiencing a unfamiliar situation in the state after 9 years rule that put AP on map and another 6 plus years that was also quite good...(stable government) what ever people say...one year after a leader passed away...the state was in quite disturbed condition as if we did have a head of the state in place. Then comes this unknown person as had of a great the state.  When he took over many including me felt will he be able to bring a change? Today after the latest news article (http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kiran-kumar-reddy-not-ready-to-tow-congress-line-telangana-bifurcate-andhra-pradesh-india-today/1/291072.html ), I decided to write this blog about his leadership style looking more like corporate re-structuring and consolidating...

THE DECISION:

The gentleman who is a sportsman, seen everyday in KBR takes office as a real surprise candidate to head the state. Many people started talking, how, why, where and when sort of questions... Still he probably worked under the hood; a lot of relation building, a lot of strategy how and when to make the move, and finally staying in the good books of power center. With all his efforts he was made a choice by the center to head the state. THE DECISION was made.

One scene that comes into my mind when CM candidate name was announced is from Disclosure. Towards the end of the movie, after everything is settled Garvin (Donald Southerland) will have to make an announcement of corporate decision on to who will head the company (DegiCom) in Seattle. Every one roots and thinks the guy who went thru all crap Tom Sanders (Micheal Douglass) will be made head to lead. However Garvin announces that Stephanie Kaplan (Rosemary Forsyth) to head the group. This announcement was also came as a surprise to many of Sanders freinds in the movie. However they do not show in the movie how she performed but we see our CM doing good job.

In corporate one thing I learnt is that as you grow higher in the ladder, you need to be connected to some one  that believes in you, trusts you, and makes you take the position. For this you need to do same relation building, staying on radar of the senior people heading the organization and keeping them informed of your capability. If you want to be successful in corporate you need to be aligned to your leaders and not opposing them at every turn. They will make a decision at right time

THE SITUATION:

When he took office there were problems galore; there were cabinet colleagues who did not like him,the people who are planning to get a small state were making noise, he did not have many trusted people whom he can confide in, a deputy that was not playing game with him, state of affairs in much disarray and finally he was alone (to some extent) at top. He resolved all of them slowly with an excellent strategy. I do not know who are his inner circle (like many others) who advise him, mentors him, coaches him but I have to admit they are really good. He got most of his cabinet colleagues gain his confidence and play with him, he is working well despite differences with his first lieutenant, he probably earned more trust from THE POWER Center in Delhi, he might have still having his core group to advice and mentor and finally the did a great job and consolidated his position at last taking a great stand with supporting numbers and data on his view of creating small states.

Usually when there is leadership changes in corporate also similar situation arises; some people that are passed for your position may not like you, there may be a lot of issues in the group or team that needs your attention to resolve, people not liking you for your group (empire) becoming big and might want to divide (small state), and you are alone when you step into the shoes. Not knowing how the CM consolidated his position I can not give any GYAN but definitely I see a lot of similarity in successful leaders from journey.

When you see the situation today it is more better than what it was some time back. Less bandhs (Bandh is a call for non-violent form of protest that happens a lot in India to protest about a problem). There are still a few major issues that needs addressing such as the water shortage, power shortage and price hike but that is for a different blog and different time as that needs long term planning.

THE OUTCOME:
Today if I have to measure how he performed for these two plus years, I would say he has done a decent job. A teacher in me would definitely grade him as a B plus though not A yet. I have my reason why I feel he deserves a B plus:

• He successfully stabilized the state to a large extent. I would never have written anything similar to this if I did not read the article I quoted in top section.
• He streamlined his team. He even stood and fought for some of his colleagues despite not having confidence in their loyalty to him.
• He took a stand so strong knowing his job could be at risk. This is key for any corporate leader as sometimes you just have to stand up to what you believe. I see very few such leaders in corporate today
• He stole the show pretty much in Delhi knowing the other two presenters might not like what he said with facts and figures. If India Today featured an article that is something. I only wish the headline read more like "CM did a good job" than giving any color to it.
• Most of the points he made in the presentation are so true: one that I can think of is about increasing security issues is a fact proven with other small states.

In the corporate world I see many just following the orders than questioning them. A corporate leader also sometimes must take a stand against his wishes and under the sword hanging on his neck to stand up and make his mind clear.. To quote an example that was shared in a management training course when I was working is: when the entire senior most leadership are having an off site with CEO, one Vice President completely changed the train of thought by asking one question that " Why are we not looking at how to retain the customers in long run than worrying about products that help customers" which changed the corporate strategy and the company became customer friendly now than charging for a call you put in for support :). 

We need more leaders like our CM in corporate and we need more leaders like the Vice President in our politics . The Game Changers..

Elevator Pitch

What came to my mind when I thought of Elevator pitch is that a story my juniors shared on how they got a Bollywood banner accepting to produce the story; a first of its kind ZomCom (Zombie Comedy) called Go Goa Gone. ... just under 10 mins... In first week from news reports it made 12.3 crores. Not bad for 10 mins pitch eh!!!

That is the power of pitch. Earlier I used to tell everyone, any pitch for a sale, for investment, for a job are just like a first date.. How do you impress your date in first 60 seconds.. That is what is elevator pitch is all about...How do you make sure some one can buy your product or write a check for investment or offer you job?  

WHY?

Why did I chose this topic to write today? I attended a start-up event over weekend and what I noticed is this: When you present before an audience at least one in the crowd should not their head agreeing with you. You should have a presence, voice, right body posture that shows your confidence (a little attitude) and above all a cheerful face. Many lacked this in the event. I thought is there anything that I can offer to them from my experience... and hence this effort.

I will share my thoughts in 3 sections below...THE JOB, THE SALE, THE PITCH..

THE JOB:

During any interview first question is typically "Tell me about your self". You must be so fortunate when some one ask you this as if you are truly prepared you can tell about you in 60 seconds and win the interviewer. You must have done this before walking into the interview. How about these few sound :

"I am a 20 years experienced IT leader in working with on-shore off shore models successfully in delivering solutions. Working with IBM and Microsoft has given me greater perspective on how big companies do offshore model successfully, efficiently and saving cost"

"I am a fresh graduate looking for working in Java as developer to build my career as a Individual contributor . I want to be a SOA architect in 5 years"  

"I am Mechanical Engineering student who completed B Tech with 85%. My major interest is to work in shop floor to manage the manufacturing process and possibly optimize to save for the company"

If you look at the top three of these statements they dont provide your history of your native, parents etc.. The interviewer really do not care where you come from and what your parents do or how many siblings you have and what they are doing. All the person worries is will you be able to join the firm and be useful for its growth and will the firm meet your needs... 

My Suggested reading: 

The First 60 Seconds: Win the Job Interview before It Begin  By Dan Burns

60 Seconds and You're Hired                                                By Robin Ryan (I used this)

THE SALE:

One common sense aspect of selling is know your product, know your competition and pitch right; why people should spend money in your product. You have to figure out whats your sales pitch is about.. also known as Unique Selling Point (USP). Of course if you have a brand name that sells it self. We are not talking about selling brands here but creating your own brand. 

What comes to my mind here is the fruit vendors before KBR park where many around my neighborhood go for walk. 80% of this population are people who are health conscious  When they come out and see fresh fruit many buy them. For these fruit vendors they sell for 2-3 hours in the morning what they probably take whole day to sell. Here the key is location for selling

Another example that comes to mind is selling fish on Sunday morning around here. There are few places where they set up shop on road side. The people come and sell everything in 4-5 hours.. Its about demand vs supply. These are basics of the economics. 

My suggested reading:

Sixty-Seconds to Yes!: A power Method of Mastering Sales and Influence by Don Spini

THE PITCH:

I call this as The Pitch as impressing some one to invest in you and your idea is the top of the pitching. Your idea should be special, you should be THE right person to take that idea to market and over all you must paint a mental picture for the investor to see your dream as their vision. 

While I was working in a start up in US, our CEO is the ultimate pitch man I know of.. If you listen to him talk you will feel so absorbed .. we used to joke that "people sign contracts not knowing why they did". The point I am making here is you have to be THE BEST sales person as an entrepreneur. Here also watching at least 20 people pitch the ideas last Saturday  I am sure many of them did not even practice once what they want to share...

One person surely has caught my eye during this event.  This is a young  girl just out of college. She was talking about a shoe store for women... I did not truly understand what she her USP or idea is but for sure know what she means.. with 3 girls in house and the way they buy shoes. Not knowing much about this girl, not knowing much about the idea, if I were looking to invest I would spend time to know more about the pitch she was trying for one fact that she knows her USP but not able toe explain well. If I were to sell her store idea not a investment pitching but selling her product I would go with this..

"Are you tired of looking in stores spending hours to shop designer footwear delivered at your door step  We provide all answers at one sop; Visit us in show room, pick your brand and model give us your size and we deliver" May be not exactly the but similar on these lines..

There are a number of books and articles on internet on how to pitch right with videos. However I feel this is all about common sense. Are you able to to show in your body, talk and expression your passion - you are a sure winner

THE D-DAY TIPS:

I will take a shot here on what I think will make you better in pitching by just thinking of these little things.

• Have Have to studied your audience where you are going? 
• Have you prepared your best the day before?
• Did you make sure all your collateral material is readily available?
• Is your mind in clear state to start?
• Are you dressed right not the best? 
• Take a deep breath before your walk into that room to face your destiny and imagine you are going to come out smiling with a win - Self Confidence...

If you notice I am not answering these question but making you think...So for all those who are trying to go out today to win a job, sale and investment, I hope this will help a little... All the best

Seek and Share....

In the last year I came across a few instances where all the person needed was some one just to make them think what is the direction they should take.... They wanted to share the problem they are looking at or thoughts that are not clear for them..In these situations my suggestion is to share as you dont know where you get a  solution or suggestions to solution or make you think clearly. I will just share what happened in each case...I write you decide (ABN Phrase copy here- We report you Decide)

About 6 months back.
..

There is a general fear among many students that UPSC Civil Services is very tough... What I learnt talking to working IAS, IPS and others who prepared for that is: the exams and preparation is not tough, but it is a test for your sincerity and dedication for a couple of years. Choosing right topics and finally a peaceful environment to prepare are key too. I was chatting with some one from our college about 6 months back.. I was really happy she was clear in her mind she wants to attempt UPSC Civil Services. All I told her was that is right decision. After that a couple of times a few encouraging words why she should take UPSC seriously and work for few years to clear them. Now she is in Delhi preparing for the exams. I wish her all the best and pray she clears... UPSC... However the point is I never realized till I started talking to another student in college in same lines that - what she told me made me think of this topic... the 2nd student preparing for Civil Service in Hyderabad told me that when every one in college - professors, students and others were discouraging students that they can not clear UPSC Civil Services what I told one student that with time and effort she can do it.,. made many think in that direction...I felt all I did was just a pat on her back that she is in right direction... thats all. A clarity of thinking is the direction here

About 2 months back...

A friend and student of mine who is working in SP Mahila University called me up and asked me to talk to a person who moved back from UK to council him. Yes it is a big word...counselling as I do not have necessary educational qualifications to be a shrink nor counsel  however I try to use my life lessons and teach out of them...so having faith in me this friend sent this guy from UK to me. He came to our office one day... and wanted to talk for 30 mins... So we started talking... I was surprised that he was holding a very good job in UK and his mom asked him to come back to India.. No problems there as parents wants their children to come back to be before their eyes. This person landed from UK not knowing the Indian market for what he is looking for jobs. Any ways while talking to him I learnt of certain advantages he has to attempt Civil Services. After talking to him for late into evening hours. We spoke for an hour about preparing for civil services .. while he was planning to leave.. he made a comment... "Sir you are the first person to encourage me to take up UPSC Civil services while my own family told me I can not do it...you made it sound so simple ..." Again all I did was make him realize his advantage that he can take the exam a few more times to clear it, if needed... I felt I did it again... just a tap on his shoulder. I did not hear back from him so far.. but I hope he is in right track...
Here also I did not give a solution but asked him to look for various options that will eventually lead him to a solution possibly

About a week back:

I started using Face Book actively to to network with SVUCE and APRSK alumni... I keep adding a lot of SVUCE / APRSK folks and accept a lot of requests from them too..A few days back I came back from my morning walk and was on FB as the news paper guys did not show up yet.. Some one pinged me wishing me.. I checked that he is from SVUCE... I started talking to him. He is working in core engineering in a  very reputable firm that is fast growing. All of a sudden he asked me out of blue in first conversation that he wanted to move to software job...Of late one thing I am asking all students is not to move to IT Jobs if they can avoid while they are from Core Engineering branches: Civil, Mech, EEE, ECE and Chem Engg. I keep clearly telling them, it is not that they wont be successful in IT/Software but they have to plan and grow well otherwise they might get frustrated after 5 years...

So back to our story... this guy wanted move to software jobs. After a couple of mins of chat, I asked him to give his number or call me. Later that afternoon in lunch time we connected. The first question I asked him was why is he planning to change. He was also pretty open and told me he wants to change for financial benefit. It took me just 5-10 mins to make him think why he should not leave the existing job and what are his options... Also asked him to connect with our alumni in his company. That is all I spoke to him...I was not sure at the end what and how he received the whole topic. Around night 10 pm I got a message in FB thanking me for helping him. Boooooom it hit me that there are many in this world who just needs someone they can trust and share the problem. It is not that everyone is looking for solution... but a path that they can take I felt  that might possibly lead to a solution...
Finally I spoke to a friend of mine where his brother is going to college (to support him this student felt his money is not enough) who is willing to help..
I think all I did here is to give him a process to think himself to come out of his situation and to improve his own position in his present job..

Ohhhh... I am sounding like a swamijeee... Umm not sure good or bad... but at the end I felt all people need, anyone, is a pat on the back to assure some one is always there... to show them right path ...

I remember one quote from one of very famous author from AP... the quote is in Telugu "Penchukonte perigedi sneham, panchikonte tarigedi baadha" meaning in English translates to " Friendship grows by nourishing it and pain is relieved by sharing" 

Management lessons from Hollywood movies

Most of us from AP are having three things we are very fond of: Politics, Cricket and Movies. We grew up watching so many movies. We watch Telugu movies produced by Tollywood depending so many factors: be it the hero we like, the heroine we like, might have liked the story , might have liked the director or just a song to see the movie a number of times.. Most of my generation we remember all epics, ramayanam, mahabharatam, etc etc, that we watched in movies. Now our kids watch them in cartoons and learn.

After going to US and working for a start-up called Viacore that was acquired by IBM, I learnt a lot from our CEO Fadi. He is an Egyptian who can speak fluently about 6 or 7 languages; Arabic, Italian, French, English, Farsi, Spanish and some more. 

I remember at one of his all hands meeting that he conducted when we won Cisco account for a five year contract. He showed a clip of Gladiator and spoke about sieging the opportunity at right time, called Carpe Diem. He explained like many of us he watched so many movies as a kid but when he grew up he started analysing the movies. He started thinking how a scene was shot or what the scene teaches for people. From then on I started looking at movies in a different perspective. I looked for what is learning in some good movies and many good scenes. I always use cinema references in my conversations with students.

These I noted some time back… Wanted to share with others… Knowledge shared is better.. right???

June 13^th 2012

Movie:                                 My Cousin Vinny

Scene:                 Court scene in the end where Marisa Tomei is a Hostile witness. She and Joe Pesci are in love.  She is on stand and Joe shows her pics and asks her questions. She acts very hostile to answer and finally she shows her expertise in automobiles which makes the Judge, Jury and the whole courtroom accept her version. The kids arrested for are released based on her expert witness

Management Lesson:    You dont know which corner you get help from by impressing everyone around you. You have to seek help and sometimes bring the best in people around you even though they dont like to be helping. Its all about playing to the other person strength and using the same.. Who said watching movies is waste of time.

June 16^th 2012

Movie:                 Notting Hill

Scene:                  Caught the end of “Notting hill” Julia Roberts who is a famous film star in movie and Huge Grant who is a book shop owner in UK. Anna Scott (Mrs Roberts name in movie) walks into Huge Grant book shop... She says after some dialogues “I'm a just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her"

Management Lesson:    Watching this I thought of a 2nd management lesson: During performance review time every employee acts like a girl asking for love (rise and benefits) from his/her manager irrespective of their work if they did really well or really horrible during the year

July 6^th 2012

Movie:                                 Scarface (Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer)

No scenes here but overall movie teaches something.. Being a huge fan of mafia movies, I love the discipline and the commitment in most of them

Management Lesson No: 3

Tony Montana (Al Pacino) moves from Cuba to US... He believes he can become what he wants to. Pursues the goal and becomes top in his area of expertise that is being a mafia don. Everyone has a talent that they are good at. First know what your talent is. Look for that inner strength and go for it. You will excel in your area of specialization.

Management Lesson No: 4

Tony Montana would not hurt family and kids and asks all of the people working for him to follow the same. He fights serious enemies and kills the assassin Roberto when he does not listen to him (Montana). Similarly you also should believe in what you stand for and ready to face worst enemy for it. Live by principles you believe in – good or bad…No one cannot judge you but for your own

June 16^th 2013:

Movie                   Ocean Eleven

Scene:                  Entire movie

Management lesson:

Given right team you can deliver any project can be completed.. You need a good executive sponsor (Rubein), Great team leads (George Clooney and Brad Pitt), right team… who fits everything like the small Japanese guy to experts like Matt D. If you execute everything with precision and planning you can deliver any project with success on schedule and in budget …

Once Bitten Twice Shy.... and a Third time....

Once Bitten... Twice shy... a Third time... you stop doing what you do. People don't know their actions will result in people losing faith to help... the few who does help..Read on to see from my vantage point...

Some time back in history in another avatar of my life I was teaching engineering graduates just after finishing college in Tirupati, the same college where I studied. when you are young and bubbling with energy you want to do so many things... one such I picked up is to see whom and what I can help and was always there to do so... In those days I used to wonder...why my professors who are so matured and full of wisdom and really awesome people, never thought of helping students in attendance or accommodating a seat etc etc. Wondering about... I joined the same teaching fraternity... and became one amongst them. Still being young and green behind years wanted to change something. Every year I was in charge of all M Tech Admissions. Don't think it is a great job as it is mainly clerical work, sorting the applications by reservation categorises, sorting them in order of merit, verifying the attached copies of certificates..and preparing the merit list to announce final admissions for the year. 
One year there was this guy who was wait list number 1 for the State government department quota. One of the people in the list was not going to come join and unless he declines the admission, we can not release the offer to wait list candidate. Our Head of the department was not willing to help in anyway. I persuaded him to the best of my ability and made him agree if there is a telegram (yes no cell phones, emails then) from the person not joining that he is rejecting the seat HOD will offer to wait list person. Around Tuesday I told the wail list candidate that he needs to get a telegram from the other guy. He called the selected person and asked him to give a telegram. On Wednesday when we received the telegram our HOD raised another objection, if the candidate can not join by Monday next he wont make the minimum attendance requirement for taking first semester exams. Well ... tough times... so I called the wait list guy and told him the issue. He said let him worry about joining on Monday but first he needed a letter of admission. By Thursday finally we issued admission letter. He went to Hyderabad on Thursday evening and Olaaaa... He magically got his leave approved, granted, with department relief letter and joined on Monday. This is only one I am writing and in 7 years I was there I did many such things... however by 7th year I started noticing people who take help, usually forget and don't remember at all. I am no Tagore in Chiru movie but expecting these people to help others. That was not happening..If people only expect everyone to help and not give back, that to me is a crime... We are born as human beings and expected to be sane and helpful. Then all of a sudden it stuck to me why the senior professors have no enthusiasm to help as they might have seen their share and decided it is not worth helping the students and let them fend themselevs. 

I went to US and saw all my deeds were coming to reality as a unknown Telugu family took so much care of me in a land where I had no friends and family. Till today I am very good friends with them and they keep in touch. I learned something here... a unselfish helpful act never goes unnoticed as GOD helps you in mysterious ways. 

Now I am at a point of my life where in age I am like my professors that time back..I saw so many incidents in my life and still do what I can to assist people. A latest incident brought back my memories of those days again. It happened very close to me. Some one who got a offer thru a persons help in their office while leaving bad mouthed the person. It is like biting your own hand that feeds you. Do people ever know that using others will make them very bad people... a person that was there for you in your worst nightmares, who helped you making thru and who was doing so many small things which you know were helpful for you.. you talked about him ... not nice

One thing that people who take help and behave badly don't know and will never realize is that it makes the next person that seeks help will be looked with a doubt.. So people if you get help... and think it that is it saved your skin, it helped you put food on table, it have comfort and consolation when you were in need don't forget them, and talk bad about them if they said something for your good is not to your liking...Some one gave their wisdom that we should not let people whom we help to remember.. I liked it bit i want them to remember it not to help me back or give me anything back but not to shot my confidence in people down. I would like to continue to do what I can with God's wish. 

At the end... a person who tires to help will know first time bitten and second time might feel a little shy- a third time the person will be careful to help others including stop helping at all. This is what I observed in my college and in work. As fare as me I move on and continue to see how I can do anything to better others in anyway I can irrespective of these happenings... 

Presentability in Companies

I was planning to write something for sometime.. But the question always remains what is that you want to write about? What will help others to do something with your writing? How can people benefit with your writing? not that really I am here to change a lot ... a whole lot but trying to see what and how I can make a difference... For some time one thought was coming to me many a time.... What is the new way to let people who are looking for jobs at any level should know .. and BAAAMMMM this morning while my morning walk talking to one of my senior from college the word came to me : PRESENTABILITY... Is there a word called presentability... not sure.. then why presentability... 

About 6 years back when I moved back to India from US... the buzz word in everywhere is soft skills and communication skills..then after some time I started using "employability" .. today I think it is all about presentability... let me go over these three in what I can explain ... not sure it has to make sense to all :)

Communication Skills: I keep telling where ever I address any one: students, my teams in corporate and every where... what is communication??? Communication is not what I speak but what others understand from what I say, act and think. My communication with other party is complete when the other party receives my message, understands and acts on it the right way I intend them to act...Ok Ok... some of you might be wondering what is this babble about...I will present a couple of examples to make my point (from my vantage point)

For a teacher the communication is not how much time you taught, not how much you know, but have you conveyed what you know to your students?? have they understood what you taught, are they going to use it effectively...these are key measures to know the communication is complete between a student and teacher.

If you are in corporate:  As a leader, manager or a person in key position... are you believing in what you are telling?  are you confident that the project can be delivered? are you certain you know all elements and components of other groups where you are interacting and integrating? then comes the communication to your teams..is what you are talking coming our of your heart or out of your mouth... trust me guys I was in a meeting where a senior leader took over with lots of fanfare and lo and behold his first meeting I know what his agenda is... I lost interest to work under his leadership...if you dont exhibit the body language that you truly are a believer of what you are talking you lost your mission... in first 5 mins...what you think, what you talk and what you exhibit should be in sync to be a successful person in corporate ladder.. well one factor to be successful

Soft Skills: To me soft skills is so misused word, and so mush used to define what people can not explain..One day I was in my college where I did my undergraduate education... and was talking to students.. I asked a student what could be the reason why he will not get thru a job interview as I know our college produces so many GATE rankers and subject wise they are superior to many other colleges...the answer was "Sir we lack soft skills" 
Obviously my question was "what are soft skills in your opinion?" His answer is "I could not talk in interview as I don't have soft skills". Well I don't want to write the complete transcript of our conversation here but, the point is people misunderstand communication skills and soft skills to be same. I met at least a dozen chairmen of private engineering colleges in my state who always tells me the students lack soft skills.  What is soft skill.. some thing that can not be taught... networking, to impress a person (like your first date), situational awareness, following thru the conversation and knowing when to step in and what to talk, to agree or disagree with reasoning, and so on and so on... Why people are indiscriminately using the word "SOFT SKILL" in academics where a professor with 35 years experience do not know what a situational awareness is. Sorry to side step with an example here but when a Vice Chancellor asked him on status of something the principal should have easily said " Sir I am following up and initiated this action" instead he tells later "VC asked me to do this so I did it". If a professor of 35 years plus experience can not understand why and how I will expect a student coming out of a college to understand that , but students with any of these traits will definitely be successful...Students MUST ask questions and a whole lot of them. To put an end to Soft Skills - in my opinion if you have one chance to impress your date about 60 seconds so the date can not walk away ... what would you do?? Same with your job interview situation... if you have to impress your interviewer in 60 seconds what would you say...If you can do this.... you have a doctoral degree in soft skills.... Am I right folks???

Employability: The term I started hearing a lot while at Microsoft and after that many times is "employability". What is this word?? The way I think of this is you have a water leakage at home and called for a plumber. He comes and can not fix it. Do you think he is employable as plumber?? definitely not.. may be he can be a good carpenter, may be he is a good electrician but definitely not a plumber.. similarly in jobs my definition of employability is " if you can adopt to any work assigned, learn quickly and deliver it in timely manner" you are employable. Another most expected employable character is: can you manage triage situation? Are you a person with good analytical skills to isolate the issue and present well? Are you capable of making sure you define the problem in simple terms?? Here again I want to quote an example my research supervisor, a professor in TAMU shared.. He was a expert witness for an insurance claim, His job is to explain how clay when comes in contact with water makes the soil warp and creates fissures in soil increasing seepage under the structure, there by causing fractures inside the house in walls.. where did the water come from, from the beautiful flower beds we all want to see from our windows while working... Now I know .. I lost many of you... with lot of Civil Engineering words.. my professor also realized he was in same situation with jury he is answering to.. so what did he do.. he said imagine you are making a chocolate pudding and you added water to the mixture. It is hard to stir and mix. However you ran out for an emergency when you come back what do you see: a dry mix with a lot of cracks... Bingoo.. all the heads started nodding... See this is what simplifying the explanation means.. if you have this with right analytical skills, you might land a good job.... ha ha ha .. don't quote me on this eh !! 

now comes my real term... PRESENTABILITY
What is presentability? I learned this from a friend whom I was working with...He said "sir I can not present them before the clients" Yes the work presentability came to my mind after this. Now you all might be wondering I will be able to tell a lot about this when I coin this word... I will try my best..

• Like I said before: Are you some one who can impress my client and your date in 60 seconds
• Can you gain their trust after the first meeting?
• Can you present everything in simple terms (remember the chocolate pudding)
• Are you sure what you are saying and writing is being received by the client? are you able to communicate with your client? 
• Finally are you able to get your second and subsequent dates with your client to take care of the business? 
• If you think you are capable of all the above you have arrived and you are presentable...

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