Channel1… skip.. channel2… skip… channel3…boring… channel4…yucks!

Phew!

Would we ever get to watch something interesting?

And then came BBC Entertainment channel. (And no I am not promoting this channel)

There are times when you channel surf and don’t find anything worthwhile to suit your mood swing. It happens. You search only what you wanna watch.

I did and I was blown and how!

I think that really prompted me to actually write this post.

I wish I was a CEO. I could implement change. A change for good. Not just myself but first for the people around me and then to the company I work for. I like to put people first and then the company. Coz relationships matter first and then the business sense. If you are surrounded by good people you will obviously have the best business running with you. Well that’s how I would like to think at any point of time in my life. Putting people first.

There is a program on BBC entertainment and it’s called “The Undercover Boss”. You may google to know more about this program but in short the concept is based on a top ranking official who goes undercover as in he/ she actually disguises as a different person and starts working in the same company as a newbie/ aspiring employee… How he/ she sees thinks from their perspective and what final changes he adopts to his/ her company policy forms the crux of the following story. It’s a one hour program and this one really makes you think.

It made me think. If I were a CEO? Wow! How many times would you have told this to yourself and how many times you would have rejected that offer outright in your mind. Many times I guess. And I regarded it as silly coz I never wanted to be in that place for the fear or seeing a much greater fall than a much meteoric rise. And here I am not talking self but helping people rise to the occasion and making them much better professionals which I truly believe in.

Anyways, coming to the point… what would I do differently had I been a CEO?

Interesting no?

And why not? Maybe someday I would…
So here’s what I would do things differently…

Bottom’s UP
First things first, spend time with each employee to see who they are, where they come from and what are their dreams/ aspirations. I know a lot of CEO’s would first meet the board and then their way down. I think when it comes to business/ money etc… a lot many times people get misled by numbers. As much as they are important, they are not the be all and end all of everything! And lastly always remember, this will what give you warriors who will do anything to make your company a success.

Training
You can’t get any better than training. Training at all levels. Training methods that have to be applied in cycles so as to keep abreast of latest trends and technologies
Have you got that potential? Then you’re the man!
I believe every person has a capability. It’s only that opportunity that he deserves he needs to be given. Always seek new talents maybe from existing employee who need to be in someplace else in the company or a new person looking out for an opening in a company

Mentor them
Mentoring is a huge word. I would always give this a prime importance. This creates minds. Leaders. Of some repute. People who believe in a thought and believe in change. You mentor what beliefs you have to the other person and create another YOU in him. Someone you would like to see, meet and talk to! And no I am not talking about hero worships! Mentoring is purely creating another genius. Another believer.

Talent first
I am not a racist and I would like to clarify this first. I have seen CEO’s the best ones who implement or should I say ignore talents but retain people of a certain kind (You can take any wild guesses here) To me when we talk business, professionalism, you have to see the talent first and then the face behind it. Nothing is more important than that. Brownie points count only if the talent is there and not who the person is and where he/ she comes from.

Talent recognition.
Tell me how many times you have missed that chance of getting a reward from your CEO. Or how many times you heard such stories from other friends and acquaintances. I think the only thing that keeps an employee with you is recognizing his/ her talent. How big or small. They would have spent 10 years, 20 years or maybe 50 years. Not because they love being in your company. Beyond a certain period it becomes a way of life coz they have never been approached by anyone from the top management to see how they have been doing. It’s like one of those marriages which worked but didn’t really work! 20 years plus is a huge commitment which only few people give to companies. Reward them. Recognize them. Respect them. These are the people who will blow the ultimate whistle for your company.

Macro not micro
This is a very silly issue I am dwelling into but can’t get my mind off it. I have seen the best of CEO’s getting into issues as small as that of your office tea boy (Well that’s too exaggerated but this will give you an idea as to how minor the issue should be for a CEO) A CEO should always focus on the big picture. When I say big picture the company goals, direction, position in the market and of course the overall business approach for the company. The lines have to be drawn very clear.

That thin line
This actually inspired me from my earlier point. I have seen enough heads sneaking and poking their noses onto other departments which is not their territory. Every head of that department has to perform his/ her function irrespective of what he/ she is additionally capable of. This seems to fade with time as a person joins an organization and lines start blurring which is another cause of chaos and madness leading to all mishaps. Another challenge a CEO gets is to ensure these lines are maintained

It’s not easy being a CEO. His shoes are either too tight or too big for you. You can’t just easily fit into them that quickly.
It’s a process. It’s an experience. It’s either too much to handle or too good to change the world around you.

Hmmm… time to think. Maybe someday I will change the world!