ATTITUDE
An educated India: A meaningful corporate journey
- Prof R S S Mani,
Come May-June every year and the corporate world is ready to provide a red carpet welcome to the MBAs. These MBA students having completed two year of professional management education are now on the verge of an exciting career. Unfortunately we often see a mismatch between what the companies seek and what the MBA graduates expect. As a result often there is a disillusion that that sets in at a fast pace resulting in partial to total alienation.
Keep Feet on the Ground
MBAs are often accused of being people in a great hurry and carrying a chip on their shoulder. It is true that MBAs are well trained and groomed but this still does not make them perfect. A sensible MBA should bid his/her time and learn as much as he/she can on the first job. The sooner he/she settle down, the impact of the reality shock is reduced. Reality shock is a phenomenon many a new employees suffer because of the gap as stated earlier. Let them appreciate and accept that indifference, resistance and resentment would get them nowhere; in fact some humility & prosperity to learn from seniors would help them cross several hurdles.
To be Patient and Persistent
Patience is one virtue that can help the MBAs do a lot better in their organizations. Very often MBAs who join as management trainees complain that the training appears to be an extension of their MBA education. This may be true to some extent but organizations have their own complexities and characteristics. The MBAs should remember that this is their entry point into the organization; hence have to develop virtues of patience & persistence. Further if they think that, that are still doing an extended MBA, let them do it with perseverance. At the end of the day it pays.
To Focus on Performance
For the initial few months the best strategy to be followed is to learn as much as one can, complete all allocated tasks on time and display a high level of enthusiasm. Till one settles down in the organization and gains acceptance of peers and seniors, it is advisable not to shoot off one’s mouth on sensitive issues like policies, procedures and practices of the organization. Also, the attitude "I know more" should be judiciously avoided.
Proving own Mettle
"If you think you are great; then prove it": this should be the sole objective of the new incumbent MBAs into the organization. They should take up projects and assignments and complete those successfully ensuring that deadlines are met with quality. The best advice is to prepare for every meeting one attends. Let them realize that the company they have joined has been running successfully without them and therefore, they should concentrate on how to add value and not fault finding. Brevity, enthusiasm & commitment can go a long way in fuelling a positive impression about a new recruit in the minds of seniors.
Review and Feedback Meeting
The new MBA entrants should ensure a continuous communication channel with immediate superior. They should continuously solicit feedback from their boss about their performance and develop on their strengths and eliminate weakness. It is also important to realize that in life one could even choose one’s spouse but not the boss! Hence the best strategy is to maintain the best of relations with him/her.
Survive, Stay on, Succeed
A high profile MBA should have the guts to stay on and contribute to the organization. It is very easy to show off one’s mettle by boasting that he/she has another job offer within 3 months but the real challenge lies in one’s ability to combat the odds and contribute. One must prove loyalty and commitment to the organization first lest one is accused of being a job hopper. By loyalty, the number of years one has spent in an organization is not important but what is crucial is to the contribution made to that organization during one’s stay.
To conclude, it is better to follow the good old adage "well begun is half done". At the campus itself one should choose the company with care. One should not be carried away by the hype or glamour or salary/perks. It is best to choose a job in a professionally managed organization, where one has a fair degree of independence and responsibility. Then one should stay on at least for a few years and contribute meaningfully to the cause of the organization.
(The author is an eminent management educator & HRD consultant and a founding and core committee member of HEF. He may be contacted at profmani@hotmail.com)
- Prof R S S Mani,
Come May-June every year and the corporate world is ready to provide a red carpet welcome to the MBAs. These MBA students having completed two year of professional management education are now on the verge of an exciting career. Unfortunately we often see a mismatch between what the companies seek and what the MBA graduates expect. As a result often there is a disillusion that that sets in at a fast pace resulting in partial to total alienation.
Keep Feet on the Ground
MBAs are often accused of being people in a great hurry and carrying a chip on their shoulder. It is true that MBAs are well trained and groomed but this still does not make them perfect. A sensible MBA should bid his/her time and learn as much as he/she can on the first job. The sooner he/she settle down, the impact of the reality shock is reduced. Reality shock is a phenomenon many a new employees suffer because of the gap as stated earlier. Let them appreciate and accept that indifference, resistance and resentment would get them nowhere; in fact some humility & prosperity to learn from seniors would help them cross several hurdles.
To be Patient and Persistent
Patience is one virtue that can help the MBAs do a lot better in their organizations. Very often MBAs who join as management trainees complain that the training appears to be an extension of their MBA education. This may be true to some extent but organizations have their own complexities and characteristics. The MBAs should remember that this is their entry point into the organization; hence have to develop virtues of patience & persistence. Further if they think that, that are still doing an extended MBA, let them do it with perseverance. At the end of the day it pays.
To Focus on Performance
For the initial few months the best strategy to be followed is to learn as much as one can, complete all allocated tasks on time and display a high level of enthusiasm. Till one settles down in the organization and gains acceptance of peers and seniors, it is advisable not to shoot off one’s mouth on sensitive issues like policies, procedures and practices of the organization. Also, the attitude "I know more" should be judiciously avoided.
Proving own Mettle
"If you think you are great; then prove it": this should be the sole objective of the new incumbent MBAs into the organization. They should take up projects and assignments and complete those successfully ensuring that deadlines are met with quality. The best advice is to prepare for every meeting one attends. Let them realize that the company they have joined has been running successfully without them and therefore, they should concentrate on how to add value and not fault finding. Brevity, enthusiasm & commitment can go a long way in fuelling a positive impression about a new recruit in the minds of seniors.
Review and Feedback Meeting
The new MBA entrants should ensure a continuous communication channel with immediate superior. They should continuously solicit feedback from their boss about their performance and develop on their strengths and eliminate weakness. It is also important to realize that in life one could even choose one’s spouse but not the boss! Hence the best strategy is to maintain the best of relations with him/her.
Survive, Stay on, Succeed
A high profile MBA should have the guts to stay on and contribute to the organization. It is very easy to show off one’s mettle by boasting that he/she has another job offer within 3 months but the real challenge lies in one’s ability to combat the odds and contribute. One must prove loyalty and commitment to the organization first lest one is accused of being a job hopper. By loyalty, the number of years one has spent in an organization is not important but what is crucial is to the contribution made to that organization during one’s stay.
To conclude, it is better to follow the good old adage "well begun is half done". At the campus itself one should choose the company with care. One should not be carried away by the hype or glamour or salary/perks. It is best to choose a job in a professionally managed organization, where one has a fair degree of independence and responsibility. Then one should stay on at least for a few years and contribute meaningfully to the cause of the organization.
(The author is an eminent management educator & HRD consultant and a founding and core committee member of HEF. He may be contacted at profmani@hotmail.com)
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