50 Pebbles for MBA Students

7/29/2019 50 Pebbles for MBA Students

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What Environment You need to Create? Beware of a pessimistic viewthat is gaining currency in the world today and that is: The probabilityof anything useful happening is inversely proportional to itsdesirability. Your mission as a manager is to inverse this inverseproportionality. Then only you will be immensely trusted to lead. Avoid

the reeking herd and shun the polluted flock but emulate the gait of apeacock. The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be willingto be ruined by a pound of praise than saved by a cent of criticism.Truth is that praise is for the performance and not for the person.Always remember the mathematical logic of the Nature and it is thatIt loves you and all the others also, implying that you should loveyour fellow human beings. It is equivalent of saying that if A=B andB=C, then A=C .But if you fail to appreciate the others, it amounts tosaying that A is not equal to C which is violation of the Natures Logic.

What You need to do? Youth is glorious, but it is not a career.It is generally observed that work is less boring than wondering. So,never-ever complain about work unless it is trivial. It is said that onecannot live by incompetence alone. One requires laziness to keepcompany so that there will be no spare time nor bother as to what todo next. Laziness travels so slowly that low level life soon overtakes it.So, work hard. Hard work is considered to be the hallmark of allprogress and prosperity. Hard work alone can create the so-calledtalent. In this connection remember the words of Albert Einstein:Genius is 98 % perspiration and only 2% inspiration. So, do not gettired of hard work so easily. If you are tempted to slip into relaxing,

think of the Bee. It is always busy because it cannot Buzz anyslower. So emulate the Being of the Bee. Management by objectivesis pursuing the organizational objectives with self control. It worksprovided you make it operational in terms of dovetailing your ownpersonal objectives into the framework of objectives of yourorganization in congruence with the social objectives. At the same timeas a Business Bee you need to take a good amount of rest becauserest is half work. Unless you rest you bust. But rest is defined aschange of pace and type of work you do. Rest does not mean doingnothing. If you wrongly view rest as relaxing and doing nothing, then

it is not rest, it is rust. Productive knowledge will never be created ifwe do not infuse higher standards into the so-called higher education.So, insist on better standards in all what you learn.In this endeavor of yours, the following pebbles of wisdom will comehandy and stand in good stead for you if you internalize them in yourdisposition as an MBA Intern and as a trusted human being.


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50 Pebbles of Wisdom*

Five Avoids1. Avoid staring while looking

While one needs to carefully observe another in order to gather andinterpret ones non-verbal communication to make communicationmore effective, it is important not to stare as that can create a greatdeal of awkwardness between two persons.This can be achieved by taking in the larger picture rather thanconstantly focusing on the individual.

2. Avoid not eye contact

Avoiding eye contact is usually believed to be a sign of hidingsomething or being guilty. However, one may deliberately avoid eyecontact to signal hurt or anger or to hide ones emotion from the otherperson(s).

3. Avoid opinionated points of view

In written communication, avoid categorical or opinionated points ofview in the context of written communication and doing so becomes infact all the more crucial unlike in oral communication, where it mightgo unnoticed. In written communication it might result in greateralienation of the audience.

4. Avoid plagiarism

Any source from which matter has been taken (either as verbatim oras a summary) should be acknowledged by providing references tothat or as quotes in the body of the text or through footnotes and areferences list at the end.

5. Avoid going beyond your audiences abilities.

Make points that do not go over your audiences heads. Be aware ofthe audience you are speaking to. The medium needs to be chosen, asper its suitability to the audience, while the content would needtempering as per the medium. For example, while an elaborate

message can be sent via a letter, email, sms, the same content mayhave to be heavily edited for the audience. Like all effectivecommunication, good writing is said to occur when the gap betweenwhat one desires to say and what one is constrained to mean isnegligible.

*Several of these Pebbles are Rediff downloads modified to readsimpler for the MBA Interns. My thanks go to the Rediff participants.


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One Beware

6. Beware of Personal Hygiene

Personal hygiene has to be taken care of as it otherwise can prove tobe very offensive to the others if not controlled. One needs to be

aware of this to solve it as it otherwise can result in people shyingaway from you. It can even damage ones chances of entry into orones growth in the organization.

Four Concerns

7. Carrying oneself

One should carry oneself in a manner that reflects elegance.This requires an erect but not stiff posture. Walking with steps that arecomfortable constitutes elegant walking. Do not slouch nor stride nordrag feet.

8. Comfortable formal wear

Even among the types of formal wear available, one needs to choose atype that one is comfortable with. Wearing uncomfortable clothes notonly affects the overall impression about a person, but can also affectones confidence and ones ability to communicate effectively.

9. Crossing of hands

In some cultures, crossing of hands is viewed to reflect a closedmindset and unwillingness to consider the other persons point of view.One should therefore observe the reaction of the other to the crossingof hands and should avoid it, if it is being interpreted as resistance.

10. Covering the audience

It is important to keep ones composure, while in a conversation, bylooking at a member of the audience, with whom one is comfortable orwho reflects a friendly disposition. Also it is also important to graduallyshift ones gaze to cover the entire audience, to prevent alienatingthem. Dont lose out on your audience.

One Destined not11 Destiny is your creation

God has created you, but management is your job. Whatever you feellike doing you may do it but do not call it your destiny. You are created

unlimited and only that is your destiny. Think dignified and actdignified. Then, people around you cannot help but trust you. If youdo not do what you can do, then you are a tragedy.


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18.One Guide

Serve as a guiding example to others whenever and wherever anoccasion arises. It is the first step towards providing leadership inevery profession.

Three Handiquettes19. Fidgeting

Fidgeting is making quick movements of parts of your body, especiallyhands. It is indicative of nervousness and can be easily prevented bykeeping ones hands resting alongside ones body, if one is standingand resting them on ones feet, if one is sitting.

20. Hand movements

Though hand movements enhance verbal communication, excessive orunsynchronized hand movements can be distracting. They can lead totoppling of things, hitting another person etc. leading toembarrassment.Be aware of the way your hands move. They can cause confusion andembarrassment.

21. Hand shakes

Handshakes need to be firm and not too brief nor too long in order tocommunicate warmth or friendliness. One should also avoid holdingthe other persons hand too strongly as it can create discomfort to theother person.A handshake usually makes or breaks the deal. Ensure you get it right.

Seven Importances

22. Importance of facial expressionsIt is important to make sure that the emotions one reflects should bein sync with what one is saying. A variation in the words used and theemotions displayed can confuse the interviewer or observer.Make sure your face conveys what you want to say.

23. Importance of Gestures

Most cultures have varied gestures that have different meanings.Gestures may be varied in the context of culturally acquired meanings,manner of greeting, gender orientation, etc. One needs to be sensitiveto these cultural variations.

For instance, while hugging and kissing on the cheeks is a commonform of greeting in some parts of the world, even with members of theopposite gender, when they are meeting the first time. It may offendthe sensibilities of some. So be sensitive to the local culture, especiallywhile interacting with a person of the opposite gender.

24. Importance of English in communication

Improper grammar and unnecessary punctuation should be avoided.Similarly, wrong spellings reflect a careless attitude on the part of the


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31. Learn to listen

Learn to listen patiently and lead to last professionally. 32 Monotony

Monotony is talking or lecturing without creating interest in the subject

and hence should be avoided always. Reading out statistics or talkingwithout modulation in the voice is an example of monotony. Monotonymakes your listener morose. Morph your metaphors and simliies tomake what you speak very lively and interesting to the audience. 33 Naivity to be shedNaivity means childish innocence and shed it in all formal occasions. Anave person is one without any wordly knowledge. You are definitelynot a nave person. Naivity is also synonymous with simpleton. 34 Obstinate neverAvoid being obstinate in group discussions,interviews,presentations etcunless you have empirical evidence to provide in support of your point.Otherwise being obstinate might lead to loss of job opportunities.Obstinacy, obstrusiveness and obstresperous behaviour all implyarrogance. So shed all such angularities.

Three Postures35. Pointing

Pointing in an obvious way is often considered rude generally.It is preferable to indicate with the eyes or a slight nod of the head inthe desired direction. One should also be careful that one uses theindex finger rather than any other in pointing.

In a Power point presentation, it is important to use a pointer (a stick)or a laser indicator, while drawing attention to an important aspect ofthe PPT. Keep more power in your ponts. Never let the PPTs exceedten in number. PPTs shall contain bullet points only and no clutteredparagraphs.

36. Poise

To maintain and reflect balance, it is important to keep the feet at adistance that is in line with ones shoulders, so that one can shift onesweight, without moving around too much or causing distraction ofattention.

37. ProximityHow close one can stand or sit to another, in formal situations, variesacross cultures and genders.Most people find it uncomfortable if a person of the opposite gender isstanding or sitting too close, while interacting.Similarly standing or sitting too far apart may give the wrongimpression. Als0, if one is standing too close to a person, who is


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sitting, it may give an impression of overbearing nature. Dont standtoo close nor too far.

38. Queue

Wherever and whenever the situation calls for, get into the habit offorming a queue orstanding in a queue and help prompting othersalso to do the same.

39. Rudeness

Do not speak in a commanding voice or loud voice. It amounts tobeing rude. Rudeness is interpreted as the defensive posture by aweak person.

Three Sensitivities

40. Sensitivity to the audience

One needs to be sensitive to the nature of the audience in choosingthe vocabulary, content, illustrations, formats and medium ofcommunication. A discomfort in respect of these in the audience wouldhamper communication.Dont take your audience for granted. Make sure they understand whatyoure talking about.

41. Sitting posture

While it is important to ensure that one is sitting comfortably, oneshould resist spreading out on the chair as it indicates sloppiness.Similarly, unnecessarily do not lean forward as that can make theother person uncomfortable. It is bad manners. Also sitting on the

edge of the chair can reflect nervousness. Similarly, one should avoidshifting too much as it can indicate discomfortIn the case of ladies, one can cross ones legs, if they remain joinedtogether. Dont sit like youve just got out of bed.

42. Steering clear of short forms and structuring

People may not be aware of the meaning of various short forms andmay thus find it difficult to interpret them. Short forms can at times beculture-specific or even organization-specific and may, thus,unnecessarily complicate the communication.

Tempering test43. Temper the content formality-centric

The level of formality that is shared between the sender of a writtenmessage and the receiver of it should define the use of salutations, thevocabulary, the content, the format and even the medium in a letter.Courtesy helps in creating a balanced impression about thecommunicator.Temper the content as per the level of formality between you two.


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44. Unfolding is wrong

When you are in an interview or group discussion or dialoguing withboss / your senior, please do not rest your hands on the others table.It amounts to disrespecting the others.

45. Beware of Vicious circles

Every easy grade you score without efforts marks out yourunemployability at placement courts. This gets you into a low level lifeof a vicious circle. 46 Wear Formals

When attending formal group discussions and interviews, be attired informal dress. For boys generally blue shirt and a pair of black pants, ifnot a tuxedo and a tie. Similarly, attend office in regular formal dress.Boys shall never wear a pink or a dashy dress when you go out. Whileat home, it is your choice.

47. Work is worship

Do not make hard work a joke. If you do, just remember the oak. Onlyhard work stands you in good stead. Work is equivalent to worship.

48. No Gebra-phobia

When you read a book you read with the mind of the author but notwith yours. Then go beyond and use your mind and your analyticalskills to extend what the author has said in the book. Go beyond thebooks with cases and shed xenophobia of quants. Acquire quantsas your adorable tools to create comparative advantage for you.

49. Avoid yapping and yahing

In your interviews and formal conversation totally avoid using yap oryah instead of yes. If you do not avoid these in interviews, it

amounts to bad manners. It is akin to your boat yawing on high seasand getting you into trouble.

50. Be zappy and zealy

During the two years of your MBA Program, stay clear to conductyourself as a Management Trainee,(MBA Intern) Always live livelyand make the two-year stay an excitingly a zappy and zealy sojourn.


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Five Career Needs of Every Professional: Finally, here are fivecareer needs propounded by a management guru for your careercreation and development. They are:(i) self learning;(ii) selfassessment;(iii) peer discussions;(iv) career counseling and (v) lookbefore you leap.

Self learning is already emphasized earlier as an ongoing process.Career advancement requires structured form of learning. You needto identify the competency requirements of your career-life at everystage and acquire them for diligent deployment as and whennecessary.Self assessment is essential to guide you as to where you stand incomparison with your peers/others in interviews for job promotionsetc.Peer discussions are essential for building social capital via sharingexperiences etc. and social capital in turn enhances the reputation andperformance of the organization you are working for.Career counseling- receiving professional mentoring- is required forevery one from time to time to identify where exactly one is located onthe professional path. Remember, career path is the road map of yourcareer.You need to look before you leap. You need to be clear about thegrowth path and growth potential of the job you leap into. Sure,monetary considerations weigh considerably; but they should be partof a secondary criterion. Money without the career potential is akin tohaving an AUDI to drive on rural roads. So, make career potential asthe top criterion for a great leap forward.

Five Effective Executive Habits: Once you are firmly placed onyour career path, make sure you cultivate five effective habits. Theyare: (i) Know where your time goes; (ii) Focus on results ratherthan the rigmarole of work; (iii) Build on your and yourorganizations strengths; (iv) Focus on a few strategic areas; and(v) Make effective decisions to remain transparent and trustworthy.

Five Managerial Mind-Sets: The world of the manager isradiant enough to requiring the ability to synthesize insights from fivedistinctly different mind-sets. They are: active, reflective,collaborative, worldly and analytical mind-sets. The manager needs to

be action-oriented to fulfill the task guided by a thoughtful sequence ofsteps. Then a networking and collaborative approach is essentialfollowed by a worldly or smart mindset without which nothing can beaccomplished in this world. Finally, an analytical and logical mindsethas to provide the basic rationality to achieve success.-----------------------------$$$$$$$-------------------------------

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50 Pebbles for MBA Students