A Working Manager's Blog

 'Leading from the front', an expression that arose from the military, has an equal relevance in any civilian organization. That much is a no-brainer.  So, why do I need to emphasize on such an obvious, mundane, thing?  Because, it is hardly practised in the corporate world. My experience in companies big and small in India tells me that everybody is driven by a sense of growing at the cost of others. I must appear as the most sincere, hard-working and goal-oriented achiever to my boss even if it means downplaying - if not berating - others' achievements.  With whatever management qualities we have, we often end up remaining managers rather than elevate ourselves as leaders. Yes, being a leader does not have immediate benefits. Sometimes, especially in the eyes of short-sighted and extremely result-oriented bosses, a leader is judged as inferior to a manager who delivers even if it leads to flattening the morale of the team or vitiating the work culture.  Yet, o...

It came as a surprise to me that a big proportion of work force in India gives high marks to flexible working conditions. I believe, it is the new mindset after Covid 19. Whatever the reason, firms and other employers should not ignore this aspect in their overall HR thinking. The latest Indeed Hiring Tracker (report for the July-September 2024 quarter) reports that 42% of job seekers in the white-collar category mention flexibility in working hours as a non-negotiable factor in choosing new roles. Flexibility now comes immediately after traditional top considerations, viz. better pay (56%) and career advancement (47%). Look at this trend in the context of the preferences of employers: Even the most progressive employer fears giving too much flexibility/ leeway in working schedule, work from home, etc. and yet would not want to make his good employees unhappy. Further, they want to reduce workforce using new technology, including the AI. They also want employees to leverage new tech....

I have no claim to spirituality, nor do I care much.  However, I believe that sound spiritual health is essential for a sound emotional health, and these two shape our overall health and well-being.  From a more materialistic point of view, when we are spiritually, emotionally and bodily in good shape, we take right decisions and succeed in our professional life too.  Professional ethics is one small, doable set of rules that have a spiritual tinge but need not have the heavy burden of morality or spirituality. When we are part of a highly competitive, result-maniac corporate world, we are prone to set our ethical values aside for small gains. However, with my own experience and in discussion with senior managers, I have discovered that sticking to some ethical values in the face of greed and inducements goes a long way in one's career. Let me give the example of moonlighting or doing a part-time job.  Who does not like to earn on the side? The lure is too much to re...

Way back in 2013, Google issued an exhaustive set of guidelines for its own people who manually rate websites. It has updated the guidelines over the years. But you need not go through the elaborate set of dos and donts. One of the most important takeaway from the guidelines is E-E-A-T. It expands to Experience - Expertise - Authoritativeness - Trust. As you would have guessed, Google says that websites that have experience-based content, and content that is of top quality and shows your authority on the subject get the top ranking in its view. Such content leads to gaining trust of the website visitors, which in turn leads to loyalty and other gains. In terms of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) of web content, the qualitative aspects mentioned above lead to enormous long-term benefits. While the usual technical/ off-page/ on-page SEO techniques that SEO professionals learn and then apply universally result in short-term visibility to search engines, long-term results require the conte...

I know this topic would look state to many who come to this post, especially those who have been already dealing with customer service for years and have put AI-based solutions in place. However, I can bet that even five years after its publication, this post will still be relevant, because even if organizations are fully aware of it and convinced of its value, operational deficiencies do not allow its proper implementation. That happens even in some of the most valued global companies. Let me take a minute to emphasise the need to build trust, instantly, with a hassled customer - a point often given a priority lower than the technical aspects of grievance redressal (e.g. how big is is the knowledge-base of the chat-bot). Customer support demands trust. Not only a bonding between the brand and its consumers, but  trust of an intense level that the customer must quickly develop when he or she is in a critical mood. If the brand - represented by its physical office, website, app, pho...

In the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, senior marketing and sales managers encounter numerous challenges due to the dynamic nature of the market. I would say that among these, the biggest problem they face is balancing short-term sales goals with long-term brand building . This tension arises from the intense competition, rapidly evolving consumer preferences, and the need to deliver results under constant pressure from stakeholders. The Conflict Between Short-Term Sales and Long-Term Brand Building Senior managers are under extreme pressure to achieve quarterly or even monthly sales targets, driven by shareholders’ / top management's expectations for consistent revenue growth.  At the same time, they are expected to invest in initiatives that nurture the brand’s equity, which requires time and often delivers intangible benefits in the short term. This dual mandate can lead to conflicting priorities.  For example, aggressive price discounts or trade promotions mig...

With a decade of experience in various fields of management, I have gained first-hand experience, which I suppose helps me understand management issues from a holistic perspective. In addition, I keep studying and keeping myself update on different aspects of management, especially marketing and sales.  In the middle of my career, I feel empowered to contribute to problem solving in an organization and to hand-hold managers when they are faced with indecision or dilemmas. It is also my desire to contribute to the wisdom, however small my contribution may be, in the field of managing corporate affairs efficiently. With these goals, I have started this blogging journey. I hope to provide useful content and interact with learners as well experts in the field in a meaningful way. [As I will be working for one or the other company at least for some years, and will be in positions where I have a lot of inside information, ethics demands that I will not divulge any confidential and/or str...