The Challenge of Change in the Government

 

We adore change - as long as the change is made by other person and we don't have to change ourselves.

I speak frequently on the subject of "Change". Whenever I ask the audience: "Is Change inevitable?" or "Is Change good for us?", the response is almost unilaterally that Change is here to stay. People in the audience always nod their head in agreement when I mention that in today's world - "Change is the only constant".

But when I talk about the change that is washing up on their organizational shores, they become slightly more serious, and even become quiet. In an organization, change could manifest in several forms – embracing a new structure, process or policies, adopting new technologies, moving operations to a new geographic location or completely realigning your product portfolio.

The absence of change could lead to organizational obsolescence and ultimately may be to its demise, and on the other hand, the implementation of change if not done properly could lead to organizational disintegration. Neither of the above scenarios – the death of the organization or its disintegration is desirable. These options could be avoided and a seamless change in an organization could be implemented by following some of the guiding principles of leading organizational change. 

               Change fails more often than it succeeds.

According to the Change management guru - John Kotter, it fails more than 70% of the time. The three top reasons that change fails: Too much complacency, lack of vision and absence of leadership thrust. I have been advising a lot of organizations on managing change. The best of the organizations understand the need to manage change. They plan and more importantly devote time and resources to manage the process of change. The worst plunge into it, and then much later through the implementation realize that the change effort isn't going anywhere. But then more often than not it's too late to salvage the situation, and end up losing a great opportunity.

I am currently supporting a change management effort for a massive digital transformation for one of the high performing ministries in the government. The good thing is that Change Management has been included as an integral part of the technical project management. Rather than coming at the end of the project, this is running concurrently with the project. Its early days to predict the success of the change management, but what can be said confidently is that the approach is right. Our challenge is to draw out the leadership to lead this effort and communicate with the stakeholders about the need for change.

The most redeeming feature is that the government has realized that the huge resources being put to such initiatives like digital transformation can only be optimally harnessed if they are supported by a well designed and structured change management process.

The Author is CEO & Founder People Sculptors.  Shaping People. Building Companies

 Author : Sidharath Tuli

The Millennial Mind - Youngsters prefer to be on their own

 

Recently I came across a report by the Bentley University: “The millennial mind goes to work. How millennial preferences will shape the future of workplace”. The report sheds light on some very revealing findings. But what I found most interesting was the fact that the millennials view career success differently than their parents did? Rather than striving for CEO spot, 66% of the millennials would like to start their own business and 37% want to work on their own.

According to Fred Tuffile, Bentley’s director of Entrepreneurial Studies, the answer is simple: “Millennials see chaos, distrust of management, breaking of contracts and bad news associated with business.” The report mentions that from Facebook to Tesla, millennials have plenty of positive entrepreneurial role models to look up to. He goes on to say; “While they know their chances of creating another Facebook are low. They do think it’s fairly easy to create a cool startup. Millennials are realising that starting a company, even if it crashes and burns down, teaches them more in 2 years than sitting in a cubicle for 20 years. 

Millennials are realising that starting a company, even if it crashes and burns down,  teaches them more in 2 years than sitting in a cubicle for 20 years.  

In India, we read news everyday how youngsters are opting out of cushy corporate jobs and preferring to join startups or become entrepreneurs themselves. The success achieved by the founders of  Flipkart, Ola, Snapdeal or Paytm has made headline news and inspires youngsters to do something on their own. The new age India is ready to break away from the typical career paths, to take a chance, to follow their hearts, and this is clearly evident from the hiring trends being witnessed in the country.

A budding startup ecosystem, challenging assignments, fundings, and an associated coolness quotient are attracting a lot of talent towards the Indian Startup space. A recent infographic in Economic Times showed that more and more people are opting to join a startup. In 2014, 84.8% of young job seekers were willing to join the Startups, which in 2015 has inched upwards to close to 89%. The number one reason why people are opting to work for startups is the opportunity to work on latest technology.

Startups and ecommerce companies were the top most recruiters in 2014 at the IITs. Also a lot of students at IITs were either declining jobs or skipping the recruitment process due to their growing interest in entrepreneurship. Unlike earlier years when Engineering graduates preferred to gain job experience in the industry before starting their own companies, many graduates now prefer to pursue their own dreams through their startups immediately after graduating from college.

This scenario is so different from about 2 decades ago when youngsters only had the option of being Doctors or Engineers or if you were a non-science student to become a chartered accountant or a teacher. You were idolised if you had a government job.  The scenario began to change with the liberalisation in the 1990s, and the advent of large private companies and MNCs thereafter. Slowly and steadily with the changing times, having your own startup started to gain social acceptance.

Today, role models like the Bansals of Flipkart, Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal of Snapdeal and VVS mani of Just dial have demonstrated that you don’t need to spend decades toiling at someone else’s company and learn an industry before you can become a success in your own right. The bottom line is that creating a Startup is becoming a socially acceptable alternative to getting a job or going for a MBA after graduation.

The Author is CEO & Founder People Sculptors.  Shaping People. Building Companies

 Author : Sidharath Tuli

Teachings Values through Ramayana

The Ramayana is one of the greatest epics of Hindu Mythology. Written by the Hindu sage Valmiki, the Ramayana is not just a story, but also an educational medium used by the ancient sages to espouse the importance of doing your dharma (duty) in relationships. The Ramayana depicts characters that we should aspire to be like, such as the ideal father, ideal son, ideal brother, ideal leader, ideal wife, etc. 

Learn how you can use one of the greatest gems of Hindu Mythology, namely the Ramayana to teach your family moral values and ethics with the following suggestions.

Sibling Relationships

If your child has any siblings, focus on the love the brothers had for each other. Why did Lakshman, who was used to all the worldly luxuries due to a prince, decide to give all of that up voluntarily to live with his elder brother for 14 years of hardship in a forest? Because he loved his brother and could not bear the thought of having to live 14 years without him.

You can also teach your child the importance of standing up for his siblings with the example of Surpanakha. When Surpanakha was insulted by Lakshman, her brothers Khaara and Dooshan rushed to avenge her not caring of the fact that it could lead to their death. When Rama and Lakshmana did indeed vanquish her brothers, Surpanakha sought her other brother Ravana's aid, setting the wheels for the grand battle between Rama and Ravan, good and evil, into motion. 

In today's materialistic world where disputes between siblings are commonplace, stories like these need to be extolled and repeated time and again. Parents need to encourage their children to not only spend time with their siblings, but also stand up for each other and be there for each other when required. Such deep affection can be cultivated only when parents encourage such growth, and keep emphasizing the importance of love amongst siblings.

Differentiating between Right and Wrong

You can teach your child to choose right over wrong even when wrong may feel more right by giving him the example of Bharat, who was awarded the honour of ruling the mighty kingdom of Ayodhya. Bharat could have just accepted the throne and the absolute power and luxury that came with it but his sense of right and wrong would not permit him to do what most others would greedily do. Instead, upon learning that his mother Kaikeyi had unjustly managed to get Rama banished from Ayodhya, he immediately went into the forest to look for Rama and offer him his rightful position as ruler of Ayodhya. So great was his devotion to his brother and so strong was his desire to be fair and just, that when Rama refused to return to Ayodhya before completing his 14 years in exile, Bharat placed Rama's footwear on the throne and ruled Ayodhya in the name of Rama – as Rama’s emissary until he returned to regain his rightful position. 

This teaches your child that even if something is extremely desirable, he should only accept it if is attained in a just manner without hurting or affecting anyone else in an unfair and unjust manner.

The Value of a Promise

Dashrath had granted Kaikeyi two boons when she had saved his life on the battlefield. The day before Dashrath was to retire and crown his eldest son Rama as king, Kaikeyi demanded that Dashrath grant her the boons she desired as promised. Her first desire was that Rama should be exiled to the forest for fourteen years, and the second, that her son, Bharat, be crowned King in his stead. Dashrath was naturally heartbroken at the prospect of having to send his son into exile for fourteen years, but for this noble hearted clan, honouring one’s word is the highest duty. Even when Dashrath began to falter at the prospect of actually following through on his promises due to his love for his first born and pleaded with Rama not to leave, Rama reminded his father of the value of a promise given and left Ayodhya to keep his father’s word. When Bharat begged Rama to return to Ayodhya, Rama once again reminded Bharat that he could not and would not dishonour his father by breaking the promise he had made to Kaikeyi.

If Rama, a prince who had been brought up in the lap of luxury and who stood to gain a position of absolute power and luxury if he disregarded his father’s promise, willingly chose to live a life of exile and hardship for 14 years in a forest, what does it teach our children? It teaches them not to tarnish the value of their promise for small and unimportant things like eating their veggies or finishing their homework and so on.

Love and Respect for Parents

Rama's insistence on keeping the promise made by his father also shows the deep love and devotion that he had for his parents. He willingly chose to spend 14 years in exile in a forest to protect his father’s much respected honour. Such was the regard he paid to his father. Dashrath too loved his child so deeply that when Rama left for the forest, Dashrath could not bear the thought of being away from his son for 14 years and breathed his last.

This demonstrates the love and respect Rama had for his parents. He listened to every command his parents made, he honoured their promises and ensured that no one could accuse them of being unfair. He did not go against his parents’ wishes even though being passed over for the throne was unfair to the firstborn son of the ruler of a mighty kingdom. He obeyed his parents and is immortalised for doing so. It also showcases the love parents have for their children. Hopefully, the fact that Dashrath dies pining for his son will make them aware of the attachment you have for them and will make them more respectful of and more devoted to you.

Beware of Bad Counsel

Kaikeyi was fundamentally a good natured woman, but was convinced to send Rama into exile and insist on her son Bharat being crowned king by the venomous counsel of her maid servant whom she consider loyal and wise. Manthara’s vicious scheming not only poisoned Kaikeyi’s mind into demanding those two appalling boons, but also ruined her life. She lost her beloved husband to heartbreak and her son Bharat, for whom she asked for those very boons, chastised her for dreadful behaviour.

This is a very important lesson for your children. It teaches them to stay on guard against vicious counsel. It teaches to be vigilant in order to avoid being scammed. It teaches them to be firm of mind and not let their minds get swayed easily by people. It teaches them to question their behaviour and think of the consequences of their actions before making any big or small decisions.

Protecting the Weak

Jatayu, an aged demigod in the form of a vulture, witnessed Ravana kidnapping Sita and taking her forcefully to Lanka. Disregarding his old age, Jatayu tried to save Sita by fighting Ravana valiantly but failed. Rama and Lakshman came across him where he was lying breathing his last. Jatayu informed Rama about Sita’s whereabouts and Ravana’s plans before breathing his last. Moved to tears by the gallantry and courage of the aged Jatayu, Rama gave the bird its last rites as though the bird was his father.

This teaches your child that he must always stand up for the weak. If his friends begin bullying a younger child, your child’s moral code will not allow him to just stand by as a meek spectator. The fact that Jatayu was so old and still tried to take on the powerful Ravana single-handedly, teaches your child to be courageous and be unafraid to take on any challenge that comes his way and accomplish it to the best of his ability. 

Therefore, retell the Ramayan to your children not just for its piety, but also because the magnum opus teaches your children to have strong morals and live a life of righteousness. The Ramayana will enrich their lives and help you mould your children to be the leaders of tomorrow with strong cultural and traditional influences.

  

Author : Vidya Bhushan Sharma