In a word- Management

If you know a person well, you can describe that person in just one word. One should have analyzed a person or phenomenon in depth to be able to define in just one word. When you think of Mahatma Gandhi, it is ‘ahimsa’(non violence) that comes to mind. When you say fire, light is associated with that. In creation, space and air cannot be seen. In the order of evolution, fire is the first element that is visible to the eye. Even though fire can be seen, felt and heard its specific quality is form. Each person has many qualities, but one quality distinguishes a person from others. If we know this, we know this person well. Similarly, management, business, education - everything should have one quality that is very specific to that function.

What is very specific to management? If you have this one quality, all other qualifications will come in handy. What is expected of a manager?  The management wants the manager to achieve the set target without fail. The employees want the manager to guide and support them. The customer wants the manager to deliver his product in time with good quality. What helps the manager to fulfill all these expectations and makes him successful? One word does it -“Foresight”

Every manager has knowledge, qualification and experience but only a few are successful. What do successful managers do differently? They foresee problems and avoid them. Experience in the field of operation and knowledge about the product, management, employee and customer can result in success only when combined with foresight. We have seen bridges falling before inauguration, defects in equipment and deaths due to defective automobiles, not to mention the serious consequences of software. No one is going to accept such failures. No doubt the managers involved in these projects will be taken to task.

A successful manager sees what others cannot see. This is possible only when he is conscious of the consequences and think of the results of each step in the process carefully. When he has seen the problem, he cannot sleep over it. He has to take immediate steps to avert serious consequences. What does a mother do when a child is born? She takes care of the baby to perfection without anybody asking her to do so. She is not thinking of anybody above her to answer if she fails. Why? She cannot fail. It is her child. She is careful all the time. How a successful manager cultivates foresight?

·         Manages himself first

·         Makes it a practice to predict and checks its validity

·         Learns from the mistakes of others

·         Observes and digs out hidden facts

·         Acts confidently

·         Keeps improving

A manager with foresight accomplishes the following by his virtues:

·         Takes care

·         Sets expectations right

·         Leaves no gap

·         Never slips

·         Exceeds expectation

·         On time every time

·         Delights all

Is there anything more to ask for? If you have foresight, you can manage.

-Arasu Ramanujam