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