Managerial Effectiveness

                      

Be Optimistic

“Right attitudes and right actions right most things, including life itself”, B.C. Forbes.

GK ChestErton has observed: optimism is the noble temptation to see too much in everything. Readers are all too familiar with the pessimist seeing the glass half-empty whereas the optimist seeing it half-full.The readers inclined towards literature will nod to: two men look out of the bars; one sees mud, the other stars.

We all know optimists and their counterparts. The difference between them is not in their circumstances but in their attitude.

In practical life, the optimist also runs into setbacks, failures and frustrations as does the pessimist. The difference lies in his reaction to what happens to him.

The pessimist reacts with anger, frowns and expletives. The optimist reacts with a smile, and silently explores the hidden opportunity therein.

When Newton’s dog, Diamond, jumped upon his work-desk, causing his papers to fall and reducing them to ashes, he said, “Diamond you have burnt all my mistakes.” And he began his work anew.

Reverse your thought process. Stop living at the surface. Go deep. Cultivate the habit of a concentration. Meditation helps as it opens the avenues of perception. Insight opens up new vistas of wonder.

Though simple acts of concentration on the beautiful and the rewarding, you join the mainstream of optimists. See the difference, “I have a beautiful flower in my hand.” And “I will not touch this flower as it has a prickly thorn.”

 

Make a mark in group discussion

GD is an essential round in the battle to grab a managerial position. The GD is all about working in a group to achieve a common goal. It is a test to see how well an individual can work in a team as managers have to be team leaders.

In the beginning of a career, a manager works as a member of a team and when he rises in the hierarchy, he leads a team. So, the ability to work with team spirit is the most important criteria that the panel or the jury tests in a GD. If an individual cannot work in a group, he can never be a good manager.

Team spirit

The GD aims at assessing your group dynamics. However, there is a tendency to move from a general topic to a specific, issue-based one. You, therefore, need to have a fairly good general knowledge to have an edge over the others.

All qualities of a manager — good communication skills, group dynamics, leadership qualities, general knowledge and even good listening skills — are the important ingredients to crack a GD.

The jury tests your verbal as well as non-verbal communication skills (body language).

Just like a game of basketball, where players of a team pass the ball from one player to the other for the final goal — the basket, the GD is teamwork incorporating the views of different participants to reach a common goal.

Well, you cannot learn to swim until and unless you plunge into the water. So, one should rehearse well to prepare for the GD.

                                                      Handy hints

However, to make a mark in a GD here are some dos and don’ts:

• If youre not confident of the topic given by the panel, then do not be the one to start the discussion.
• When somebody kicks off the discussion, listen carefully and gather the important points or certain lead words to form the basis of your communication.
• Always follow a diplomatic approach. Never criticise or firmly support a view. Even in the beginning of the discussion, you should not take a stand for or against the topic.
• Do not look at the panel while discussing, as you are working in a group and the jury is not the part of your group.
• Change the focus of your eyes from one individual to the other and never look at one person continuously while discussing because you are discussing with the group and not an individual.
• Do participate in the discussion. If the topic is tough it is better to repeat the idea or a point said before. Madan says GDs are all about your communication skills and group dynamics. And one must speak or participate in the discussion. He says if one gets a difficult topic, then it is better to repeat the idea of one of your group mates. In this case, one can produce the same idea with a different example. It is just like packing the same product in a different wrapper.
• GDs are not only about being good speakers but good listeners too. The panel even tests you there. So, whenever you speak, do include a point mentioned before in the discussion to elaborate or put forward your own point of view.
• Remember you are working in a group, so don’t argue or fight.
• Like a good leader, steer the group towards the goal. Bring the group back to the point when it gets diverted from the main topic.
• Be confident of what you speak.
• In the interview you can be asked questions from whatever you speak in the GD.