What 'professionalism' means for me

The word 'professionalism' means two things for me - delivering what we promise and keeping our personal biases aside.  Delivering what we promise We need not be an expert. We might not even be the best in the field. But if we say we're going to deliver a certain product or service at a certain time and certain date, then we have to do it. That's delivering what we promise. Sometimes we may not be able deliver due to uncontrollable circumstances. In this case, proper communication about the delay is important. At times we might end up making errors. Accepting our mistakes and making improvements makes a big difference. When we take responsibility and deliver what we have promised...

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What kind of work you want to do?

Consider the following two scenarios: Scenario 1: You have a work that enriches you and fulfills you internally. Your senior is not your boss but your mentor. He believes in you and your ability to do any task assigned. Even when you make mistakes or sometimes dodge deadlines, he doesn't make an issue out of it but tries to understand what has been bothering you. He has his complete faith in you and every time tells you 'you can' even when you're not doing your work as per his expectations.  Scenario 2: You have a work that drains you from the inside. Your senior is a dictator. He constantly doubts your ability to do the work assigned to you. When you make an error, he gives this...

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What is a team?

What is a team? Is it a team if a group of people are working for the same business of an organization? Is it a team if the corporate hierarchy dictates people to work together in the same working space? The name 'team' itself has a positive vibe attached to it. Therefore, if a group of people working together for the same purpose do not respect and value each other, it is not a proper team. Similarly, instead of supporting each other, if a few members of the team are conspiring against one person then it's not a team either. A good team has proper communication within the team. They help one another in times of need. If one member is facing a hard time, the others come for help and support...

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My Work-Life Insights

If you've noticed I've changed the title of my blog. 'The Management Blog' didn't really seem suitable considering the contents I've been putting into this space. 'My Work-life Insights' is more like it as it's exactly what I do in here. The story behind this blog It all started some 7-8 months ago. I was working in an organization with a lot of potential in the field of research but it didn't have a proper management. They wanted me to contribute in establishing a 'system' but nobody really cared on acting upon it. I encountered unprofessional people along the way. I had so much to offer but I was upset in my inability to bring a change as nobody cared to include me in the so-called...

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The best way!

He says his way is the only way. She says her way is the only way. They say their way is the only way. But, instead of focusing on 'my way' why not focus on 'the best way' of doing things? After all, there is a lot we can learn from every person. Why not discuss things out with an open mind? Why not focus on the issue at hand instead of personal ego? There is no right or a wrong way. We can always find a best way by combining all possible solutions. It's a good thing to believe in oneself and have a deep conviction in one's own ideas. However, sometimes the ideal solution can be reached only through learning, sharing and discussion. Relevant and applicable points can be picked from his way,...

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Being a manager...

They say, "MBA is for managers." And, thus, fresh graduates enroll into an MBA and expect to be managers as soon as they get a degree. At other times, we have people with years of experience assuming the role of a manager. But, being a manager isn't just about having a fancy degree and years of experience. It isn't also just about signing documents, authorizing actions and attending meetings. Being a manager extends far beyond all these external elements. Being a manager entails that you be fair, just and responsible. As a manager, you have to ensure that you treat all your subordinates equally. In the same way, if you have to stand up for the ones you're managing then you will have to do...

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Work life & Meditation

Every time I went for a meditation camp few acquaintances and relatives of mine would ask me if I was planning to become a nun. No, I was not! I was intending to become a professional. Meditation taught me to be non-judgmental and non-reactive. Whether it was a good sensation or bad I had to let it pass. I also learnt the importance of silence through meditation. The same techniques can be applied to survive in a professional world. Whether it be praise or criticism we have to learn how to let it pass. Just because someone is too good to us doesn't mean we can trust them. Evil intentions are usually disguised in the veil of politeness. Similarly, just because someone condemns us doesn't mean...

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Feedback - what does it say?

When you're new in any organization, the first few months is the time for learning. During this phase you'd expect your colleagues to co-operate and your seniors to guide you. You're also likely to make some mistakes. Perhaps you end up doing things differently than it's usually done. You will need someone to outline the system and process for you. If I do a certain process differently, it doesn't mean I think I'm better than everyone else and I'm trying to implement my own system. It only means that I haven't understood the system yet and I want someone to show me the right way. However, few managers tend to think the other way round. This morning I made a simple mistake of numbering in a...

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Bad examples

If a high ranking official talks about fairness, integrity and professionalism but lets his personal ego and issues influence his professional decisions, then it's hard to follow the values and standards he sets. If the same official favors and appreciates even the mistakes of a mendacious worker while condemning the efforts of the conscientious one, then its easy to question his intentions. When that same person changes business partners and makes employees overwork but underpays in the name of cost-saving yet refuses to let go of the perks and allowances granted to him, then its obvious to eye him as corrupt. Big talks doesn't make anyone appear big in the eyes of others. The work one does...

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Management Styles

I'd always been the kind of person who've believed in motivating a person through love. I regarded fear motivation as a wrong practice. Appreciation and kindness seemed to me the best way to get work done through people. Democracy and freedom in work was important. But, lately a few instances where I've had the responsibility to manage has made me think differently. How you motivate and manage largely depends upon the kind of people you're dealing with. If it's proactive subordinates or team members who take their work seriously, are dedicated, willing to learn and understand what is expected of them then appreciation and democracy works the best. However, if you're dealing with people who're...

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Change - Is it always necessary?

“Nothing is permanent except change.” Change as such is not only inevitable but also necessary. Organizations like everything else keep undergoing a continuous process of change. Whenever an old leader is replaced by a new one or when an old management is replaced by a new one then change becomes an apparent phenomenon. Obviously management philosophies and style differ according to individuals in charge. However, when one is replacing someone then there seems to be many instances of not just necessary but also needless changes. Everybody has this inner need to make a difference and stand out. Bringing drastic changes seem to be their way of standing out. Critically evaluating a process or...

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Rules or Results?

Recently there has been a lot of changes at my workplace. Restructuring and a new management has created a kind of chaos that has directly affected the quality of service it has been providing its customers. Besides the negative impact to the external customers there's also a lot of confusion and resistance among the internal staffs. While there are a lot of reasons that led to this situation, one of the key problems is that policies and procedures have become the center of focus more than the end results. Having a system is important in ensuring uniformity and fairness. However, at what cost have you established the system? Is following rules more important than delivering results? I've...

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Think before you speak!

John Mayor sang, “Say what you need to say.” But, in the context of an organization, you need to be careful before you say what you need to say. You’ll have to consider: What you say. Whether what you say is important or not. When you say it. To whom you say. And, finally how you say it. Everything you speak about may not be all that important. Does a minor issue need to be voiced out? Another important factor is timing. Perhaps you’re really freaked out before undertaking a particular assignment. Should you voice out your fear at the moment you’re afraid? Or should you wait until you’ve accomplished the task. You could later tell your colleagues how afraid you really...

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Leading by Example

As managers and supervisors, getting the support and respect of your team members, getting the work done through them and keeping them motivated is a big challenge. You can enforce rules, read out instructions or give lectures on the way you expect your colleagues and juniors to behave. However, the best way to manage and lead is by setting an example. You can never extract good behavior by setting a bad example. I have observed two kinds of behaviour at work. I have worked with someone who was punctual, polite and diligent. He completed all his work on time, stayed calm, highly organized and was always ready to help. When there was a problem, he focused on finding the solution rather...

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Pros and Cons of Part-time Work

Image Source: www.eurekastreet.com.au I worked full-time at four different places for almost 1.5 years. (Full-time in each of them - 1 month in a bank, 9 months in an INGO, 3 months for an individual and 5 months for an NGO.) Currently, I'm working part-time in four different places - all at the same time. Recently a colleague had asked me, "Isn't full-time better than part-time?" Well, the truth is - it isn't a matter of one being better than the other. It's a matter of preference. Thus, in this post, I'll be highlighting the benefits and drawbacks of working part-time based on my personal experience. Benefits of working part-time Flexibility: The best part of working part-time...

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Focusing on the Product

Really? For how long?Image Source: 123rf.com The Marketing Mix composes of 4 Ps – Product, Price, Place and Promotion. Out of the four Ps, in my last post, I discussed about how companies rely on cheap promotion like the senseless use of sex appeal to promote their product. In this post, I want to focus on the first P, i.e. the Product and let me limit my discussion to food companies. When I was a child, there was a Nepali brand of biscuits that used to be very fresh, delicious and crispy. Now I prefer Indian biscuits because that Nepali brand has lost its original taste as well as quality. Their taste is either slightly musty or each piece of biscuit in the packet have dark edges...

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Senseless use of Sex Appeal

Image Source: vertorstock.com On my journey back home along the roads of Golkhupakha to Gongabu there is a hoarding board of an advertisement above one of the roadside shops. In the ad, there are three girls in skimpy clothing. Whether they are the same girl or different ones, I couldn’t tell from a distance. And, then I wonder if it is perhaps the advertisement of a boutique or a clothes showroom that sells summer clothes for uptown girls throughout the season. As I take a closer look and scan at the wider length of the board, I see the name of a certain carpet at the bottom right corner of the advert. The funny thing is I never notice the carpet in the picture. (Not that I wouldn’t...

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Be Selfish!

I live in a world where altruism is demanded, respected and rewarded. Altruism means placing the welfare of others above one’s own welfare. The foundation of altruism lies in selflessness and it entails in sacrificing personal benefits for the benefit of a larger group. The opposite of altruism i.e. selfishness is, however, condemned and considered immoral. Being selfish is rated as petty, bad and immoral. But, just like Howard Roark in The Fountainhead, I believe in selfishness. As far as your work life is concerned, you need to learn to be selfish. Selfishness, or rational self-interest (in the words of Ayn Rand) is a fuel that drives you to success and good work. It is what helps you...

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