Election campaigns

The elections in the state of Maharashtra are just a few hours away. I am sure you will see and hear about the campaigns in all possible media. Some make it attractive with the celebrity quotient, some bring in the political heavyweights from their own parties. but spare a thought for the independent candidates. In a few hours, we all will exercise our constitutional right... and as always we will be unsure if we have made the right choice or not. How will we decide? The representatives from the area never release a quarterly report of the progress as corporates do. Forget quarterly , an annual report would be a big relief. But that's for another day, as the situation gets tense, lets talk something humorous.

Let me take you some years back. I was all alone at home and thought of taking a siesta. Just then, I heard a knock on the door. As no one was in the house, I reluctantly pulled myself up and went to open the door. And as I did that, there stood a lady who was a complete stranger. Even stranger was the way she was standing. She just smiled,held a carrot in her left hand and pointed to it with the right. I asked her how I could be of help to her. She said," This election, when you exercise your vote, remember the carrot. I politely said "Yes ma'am". And once she left, I just couldn't stop myself from laughing.

There have been innumerable number of candidates who have visited my place as part of their election campaigning, canvassing for votes. As you know, they hibernate for five years post elections so I do not recall any of those faces. But this lady and the proverbial carrot for the voter rabbits will remain etched in my memory forever.

As you all go to vote, ensure that you have done your research on the candidates you have to choose from and not fall for the vague promises and proverbial carrots.

The Corporate Dahihandi

Dahihandi is a very popular term with Indians - atleast Mumbaikars. For those Indians who do not know about it and foreigners( I am not too sure if any read this blog...) please visit http://www.dahihandi.com/ to get acquainted to it.

I believe you must see a Dahihandi LIVE to be left amazed at how easily human beings can achieve a target with good team work; a task which would seem daunting and impossible if you are alone.For those who haven't seen it LIVE and for my article to make sense further( I know it never does... but I am trying), I suggest you see the video below:

After working in a corporate setup for about 2 years now,I can't help but draw comparison at how closely this Dahihandi resembles the corporate world. The so called corporate ladder.

The corporate ladder has no rungs. Rungs in this case are people. And just like the Dahihandi, the base has to be the anchor.

As in the Dahihandi, its important for you to realize that your very existence there doesn't depend on the people above you but the ones below. So as you move up the ladder, you need to know that if your sub-ordinates are to move in random directions, you will fall flat on your back; never mind the support and affection the people above you have for you.

So a great manager is one who can ensure that his team has his support. For if the ones below him move, it results in two consequences:

1. As in the Dahihandi, he is likely to fall flat. This is just physical damage.

2. Even more dangerous effect; your superiors are going to pour down on you - literally as in the Dahihandi

A colleague of mine writes in a social networking site " I want to get to the top and I will." Very good ambition; I was impressed by the determination and the confidence in the line. And many others I know share this spirit.But seldom do these people realize that there are only two ways of getting to the top where they aspire to be:

1. Your subordinates are good enough to take your place so you can be pushed up to the next level; similar to Dahihandi again

2. Your superiors, the people above you, can pull you up, that is you are good enough and diplomatic enough to be in favor and consideration; again like the Dahihandi

I am sure a high percentage of people who have read till this point in the article are either youngsters who are starting off or some managers who have a team to handle. To all those managers/Team Leads, I just hope that they find this article relevant.

To sum it up" Corporate ladder is not made of rungs but humans, nor matter how much your superiors favour you, if a sub-ordinates move out, you will fall flat on your back and your superiors will literally pour on you."

After having worked with different managers( not all in my reporting hierarchy) in my corporate stint, I have also observed that the managers who are great with their sub-ordinates are likely to climb up this ladder faster than the ones who find it difficult to adjust.

I am normally not bothered as to who read my blog and how many comments I received, but I would enjoy the spirited youngsters and managers/Team Leads( whom I have written about earlier in this article) to share their views on this if possible.