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7 Keys to Success
One of the hallmarks of our times is that thanks to communication technology we have a glut of information. Another is that we have a multitude of communication instruments but we seem to have stopped communicating. Similarly with a surfeit of information we now have a challenge, understanding the reality and even more so, chalking out a path of action that can lead to some positive results. What I have tried to do is to conceptualize this into 7, steps which are easy to follow and which I use myself to decide on which issues I will tackle and which I will leave alone. That way I am able to conserve my energy so that the things that I focus on get the amount of time and attention they need in order to show results.
7 Keys to Success
3. Create filters to ensure you see good information. Analyses of events, situations, trends, circumstances are always useful. That way someone else does some of the work for you. But be aware of the bias of the analyst. 4. Do unto others what you want them to do unto you: That applies also to what you must not do. And the most important of that is NOT forwarding emails mindlessly. It all comes back and so dont do it. Delete all forwards mercilessly and tell people to take you off their list for mindless forwards. 5. Remind yourself that: a. Data is not information b. Information is not knowledge c. Knowledge is not wisdom d. Wisdom is not power The key in value addition means to un-randomize data and make sense of it. The key phrase when faced with information is to ask: So what? a. Organized data is information b. Leveraged information is knowledge c. Conceptualized knowledge is wisdom d. Applied wisdom gives power An ounce of power is better than a ton of sterile wisdom sitting in books and gathering dust in the murky darkness of library shelves.
7 Keys to Success
2. How much do I care about this thing? a. Given that most things need time, effort and money to be done; I ask myself how much of each I am willing and able to devote. In some cases it may not be necessary or even possible to address all aspects of an issue. So we can choose to address the one where we believe we can create the maximum impact or where we believe we are most suited to contribute. 3. Whose support do I need? a. Most goals that concern others need the involvement of other people for their accomplishment. The key is to decide who the critical people in this respect are. Not everyone has the same priority. The prioritization must be done strictly on the basis of what the individual can contribute; not who they are. I have seen too many initiatives go nowhere because the implementing body was filled either with big names who had no time or well meaning people who were ineffective and had neither the ability nor the resources to do what needed to be done. 4. Decide what NOT to do a. A very important step in this whole process is to decide what NOT to do. This is a very deliberate step involving consideration of all factors mentioned above and consciously deciding what the things are that we will not do. For example you may decide that you will create a pressure group to work on government to influence policy but you will not indulge in activism on the street.
Then decide on what of this you are willing and able to contribute to the
cause. Then decide on what the shortfall is, if any and where you are going to fill it
7 Keys to Success
There is a tendency to talk about all the hard work that went into the task and then say, Well you see, after all the results are not in our hands. This enables us to feel good about failure. But it achieves nothing. I remember a lecture on leadership that I attended at the IIT-Madras by the famous tennis player, Vijay Amritraj. One of the several insightful things that he said humorously was, We Indians lose in sports because the British left their attitude with us along with their language. When an Indian or an Englishman win a match they shake hands with the loser and say, Well done old chap! Better luck next time. But when you lose to an American he says, You lost!!! So we need to be brutally frank with ourselves and assess results without any pretentions. 4. What if: Lastly we need to anticipate the risks and make contingency plans. One good way to do that is to conceptualize scenarios and then look at what is in our control and what is not and prepare for eventualities.
Control
Options
Decisions Certainty
No Control
Needless to say this has the additional benefit of keeping you focused on your goal all the time, since all measurement is in relation to the goal.
All copyright reserved Mirza Yawar Baig & Yawar Baig & Associates yawarbaig@gmail.com Reproduction in any media without prior written permission of the author is prohibited.
7 Keys to Success
5. Empower people
Remember that the doorman is also people. Empowerment is an outcome of respect. Not respect for special people but for everyone. Not a show of respect in terms of rituals or gestures, but genuine respect demonstrated through practice. Listening attentively is respect Responding thoughtfully is respect Disagreeing giving reasons is respect Acknowledging contribution is respect Being fair, frank, compassionate is respect Sharing benefits is respect
All copyright reserved Mirza Yawar Baig & Yawar Baig & Associates yawarbaig@gmail.com Reproduction in any media without prior written permission of the author is prohibited.
7 Keys to Success
3. Do you have tools to implement what you know? a. Finally what is to be done with what you know? How will this impact all the constituents? How can the maximum benefit be derived from this? b. Teach people the tools for implementing your solutions so that they can do things on their own. Being indispensable may seem nice as it gives the individual a feeling of power but it is very dangerous for the cause to be dependent on prima donna individuals for its success. The broader based the competence the safer is the result.
All copyright reserved Mirza Yawar Baig & Yawar Baig & Associates yawarbaig@gmail.com Reproduction in any media without prior written permission of the author is prohibited.