June 28, 2005

What does it take to be a SUCCESSFUL MAN-AGER!!!

Let me start from the scratch.Everyone starts his career from the lowest and this is true in each and every field be it IT or Non-IT field.So consider that you are in the software field so it means that you will start your career from the post of Software Trainee and may reach to some height in your career as the time keeps on progressing.Now the question which arises in mind is why a fresh graduate or post grad needs to start from the bottom of the career ladder and climb upwards.

Can't he not directly go to the top of the ladder in one shot.The answer to this question is very simple and it is a straightforward "NO".So what does a person gain when he starts climbing this ladder.As you have guessed it is "Experience".So what does this complicated terminology "Experience" mean?Seems very difficult.Isnt it.With Experience,the person gains knowledge about the various business aspects as well as his brain keeps on maturing each and every second.This knowledge growth will help him reach higher positions in his career and the maturity will help him scale new heights in his career.

So,now the question arises is whether every "Experienced" person is "Mature" or does he have enough knowledge about the business.The answer to this question is again "NO".That is why we have only one person like Bill Gates,Larry Ellison.They have used their experience in the enhancement of business by study of the various aspects of business.So,who accompanies them in various decision making activities.It is the Management Level of the company.Now what is this "MANAGEMENT".It is proper execution of your activities.Every person is a Manager in his day to day life since he/she has to do various activities everyday but not every person who is a Manager is a "Successful Manager".One one hand we have people like Vivek Paul(Vice Chairman of Wipro) who has helped Wipro scale new heights in all businesses be it IT or BPO.What could be the reason for his success.Does he have his own "Management Mantras" which help him?The anwser should again be "NO". So, what qualities does a Successful Manager have?The simple answer is all qualities of a Manager plus some other qualities.

I would list down some of the qualities,which have come to my mind after few years of IT experience.Experience is always "Few" since everyday we have something new to learn and would appreciate the contibution of the readers of this article towards this area.

1.
Manager is a normal Human Being(and he is also bound to make mistakes) and whatever he/she says is not always TRUE and so, it is very important for the listener to analyse his/her statements.
Conclusion :
A "Good Manager" should be a "Good Listener".

2.
Since people work under him so it is his reposnsibility that every person in the team has some work irrespective to the quality of the work and he/she should not be on "Bench"(IT terminoloty to refer to a person who is idle).
Conclusion :
It is the sole responsibility of the Manager for the assignment of work to the various members of the team.

3.
We expect only things to be said about us.Whereas when we have people working with us(or may be under our leadership),we should expect people to come out with our bad qualities as well.
Conclusion:
The Manager should be on the look out to improve this own managerial skills as well as the attitues and gelling between his team members.During this course there is a high possibility that people in the team may come out with his weaknesses.So,in short Manager should be Open Minded and should take things in the correct way.

4.
There is always a difference between people who work and people who pretend to work.
Conclusion:
He should keep not only his eyes open as well as his ears open since,everywhere we have people who work and some(or should i say most),who pretend to work.

5.
Some issues need discussions whereas some can solved without even stepping into the Discussion Room.How many people do we see who are active as well as attentive in meetings?Many people pop off all the elements from their Mind Stack(Could not help myself from using Technical Language) when they enter the Discussion Room.
Conclusion:
It is Man-ager's responsibility to forsee whether meeting is required to get the solution for a particular issue else only mockery will happen inside the room resulting in wastage of time.So,call for meetings only when required.

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4 Comments:

At Jul 21, 2005, 12:30:00 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I Liked the article a lot (made a lot of sense to me).

points 3) and 4) are the ones which are seen and felt always.

U should have also included about the necesity and the true meaning of one - on - one meetings.....

So am eagerly waiting 4 u 2 open ur company and guess who will be the first two employees of it ;)

 
At Jul 30, 2005, 1:52:00 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Himanshu
Your article deals well with the predicament of a person about to start his career

The qualities you have listed are interesting traits and you have driven home the point well

Keep writing
You are observant and keep observing and inspiring

 
At Oct 15, 2006, 6:03:00 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thats infact a very infomative and will surely hepl in bulding right attitude for going up in the management lader.

 
At Nov 28, 2006, 1:41:00 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I liked this article..
I am agree with ur points but slightly having a different view on "on bench".
This is some time requirements of the service company to put some % of work force on bench. I am not sure it is some certificate requirement etc.
But now thw point comes, is on bench means just step into office and do some orkuting, chating and catch back the first available shuttle...

This approach is creating the negative impact on personalty of a person in terms of tech growth or mental growth..
Ofcourse manager is responsible for assigning some work.
We ourself can do some work can think something else...
I feel we can't blame on manager.
World is open for us..we can go ahead and take the challange...

In my few year of IT experience I never ever got a chance of bench...:)

That's all
Ajay Modi

 

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