Recently I read 'The Innocent Man', the first nonfiction book by John Grisham. It is a tale set in a small town about a wrongly-accused man.
It is a definite departure from his usual novels. The style of writing is also different from his usual fiction based stories. What did not change was the amount of research done for the book.
I personally did not find it as gripping and as spectacular as his other legal novels. I wouldn’t have put down his other novels. But I found it difficult to finish this book. The writer took a neutral stance and narrated the story as factually as possible. The details were exhaustive to the point of being stretched sometimes.
It is interesting to note that the writer did not directly attack or criticize the establishment/ government for the injustice done. He demonstrates the fallibilities of the capital punishment system. The way the story was narrated leaves an impression in our minds that the establishment did not do its job properly. Though the main characters were exonerated at the end, the book does not make the reader ‘feel-good’.
Since it is non-fiction probably we can pardon the lack of diagnosis or analysis. It kind of reminds me about the news reports on crime, though the book is not as short a narrative.
I can only wish that the next book of Grisham is a fiction novel with his usual creative flair.
November 26, 2008
The case of Bonsai Manager
‘Where nature and management intersect, intuitive leadership is born’
The Case of the Bonsai Manager, authored by R. Gopalakrishnan, is a warning to managers that their growth can be stunted like that of a Bonsai plant if they do not nourish themselves. There are various characteristics exhibited by Stunted Managers which would help in identifying such people in an organization. Managers need mental food and experiential space to grow.
The author draws upon forty years of his management career and shares the valuable lessons he has learnt. He draws a parallel between the complexities in nature and those in management. He also draws upon his experiences as a manager and shares anecdotes which support his theories.
The book reflects author’s journey of self-awareness and self-discovery. He advocates that good leaders overlay the unknown facts with their gut feel and instinct, which they consciously develop through keen listening, reflection, contemplation and mentoring.
The book is a kind of guide to those who aspire to be a leader, but it is different from the other leadership books. It does not solely give information or technical skills of management. It draws examples from real life to put forth the concepts. It complements the formal management learning which is logical and analytical.
The book introduces the concept of a Stunted Managers who exist in large numbers in every organization but the characteristics of whom we missed noticing till now. The growth can be stunted temporarily or permanently. Managers tend to be too focused on the tasks at hand and develop inattention blindness. The author lists out the symptoms and also the remedies to come out of that state. The book stresses the importance of mentoring in bringing up managers in an organization and urges companies to institutionalize mentoring.
Nature has always fascinated mankind and almost everybody is strongly influenced by watching nature at work. The author shares with us the beautiful and mysterious things he has observed in nature, sometimes so much in detail that you lose track of the connection with the underlying management issue. But the book does prove that man can learn from animals sometimes.
The book cleverly switches from the behavioral theories of animal kingdom to those of human. It shows an intersection of nature with management. It shows that there lessons to be learnt from everywhere. The book makes the reader reflect upon the anecdotes and draw a few memorable lessons.
The book is an interesting read and provokes thoughts. It opens a new window in management thought. The book is a must read for aspiring entrepreneurs and managers and also those who dream of becoming future leaders.
The Case of the Bonsai Manager, authored by R. Gopalakrishnan, is a warning to managers that their growth can be stunted like that of a Bonsai plant if they do not nourish themselves. There are various characteristics exhibited by Stunted Managers which would help in identifying such people in an organization. Managers need mental food and experiential space to grow.
The author draws upon forty years of his management career and shares the valuable lessons he has learnt. He draws a parallel between the complexities in nature and those in management. He also draws upon his experiences as a manager and shares anecdotes which support his theories.
The book reflects author’s journey of self-awareness and self-discovery. He advocates that good leaders overlay the unknown facts with their gut feel and instinct, which they consciously develop through keen listening, reflection, contemplation and mentoring.
The book is a kind of guide to those who aspire to be a leader, but it is different from the other leadership books. It does not solely give information or technical skills of management. It draws examples from real life to put forth the concepts. It complements the formal management learning which is logical and analytical.
The book introduces the concept of a Stunted Managers who exist in large numbers in every organization but the characteristics of whom we missed noticing till now. The growth can be stunted temporarily or permanently. Managers tend to be too focused on the tasks at hand and develop inattention blindness. The author lists out the symptoms and also the remedies to come out of that state. The book stresses the importance of mentoring in bringing up managers in an organization and urges companies to institutionalize mentoring.
Nature has always fascinated mankind and almost everybody is strongly influenced by watching nature at work. The author shares with us the beautiful and mysterious things he has observed in nature, sometimes so much in detail that you lose track of the connection with the underlying management issue. But the book does prove that man can learn from animals sometimes.
The book cleverly switches from the behavioral theories of animal kingdom to those of human. It shows an intersection of nature with management. It shows that there lessons to be learnt from everywhere. The book makes the reader reflect upon the anecdotes and draw a few memorable lessons.
The book is an interesting read and provokes thoughts. It opens a new window in management thought. The book is a must read for aspiring entrepreneurs and managers and also those who dream of becoming future leaders.
November 18, 2008
SALE! SALE!
Christmas season is the season of discounts. But this year it started as early as September. The newspapers are filled with ‘up to 50% off’ ads. So what’s new – you may ask.
What’s new are the discount sales of real estate developers. Earlier I’ve seen press ads, pamphlets, occasional TV ads and kiosks. These days I keep getting calls on my phone from developers about their upcoming projects. There are poster ads about their promotional offers on walls everywhere. There are SMSes and radio jingles as well. There are ads painted on buses and trains. Recently, when one of my friends was looking for a place to rent, she found lot more ads for sale.
Offers of reduction in rate have become a passé. Free furniture, in some cases a piece of land or another smaller apartment, is thrown in as freebie offer.
For projects which have already started, the realty developers are strapped for cash to proceed further. They need anchor clients to go ahead. They have been able to defer the starting date of their upcoming projects. There are quite a few developers with vacancies in completed projects which they are trying to sell in the market. With Banks becoming wary of accepting the real estate property as collateral, their assets have suddenly become worthless.
As with other industries, discount sales are usually to induce sales in slack season or to push the older stock. Do they always work? They used to. In the current scenario, no one is willing to hazard a guess. Come festive season, every retailer has fingers crossed hoping that those who are window shopping would step inside.
For those who are looking for a second home, this is the best time to buy. For those who are yet to book their first apartment, I suggest you stay put. Interest rates are expected to come down and so are the prices of real estate.
As for discounts for other things, consumer confidence is at an all time low with the increasing job cuts. Everyone is in ‘wait and watch’ mode. So am I.
What’s new are the discount sales of real estate developers. Earlier I’ve seen press ads, pamphlets, occasional TV ads and kiosks. These days I keep getting calls on my phone from developers about their upcoming projects. There are poster ads about their promotional offers on walls everywhere. There are SMSes and radio jingles as well. There are ads painted on buses and trains. Recently, when one of my friends was looking for a place to rent, she found lot more ads for sale.
Offers of reduction in rate have become a passé. Free furniture, in some cases a piece of land or another smaller apartment, is thrown in as freebie offer.
For projects which have already started, the realty developers are strapped for cash to proceed further. They need anchor clients to go ahead. They have been able to defer the starting date of their upcoming projects. There are quite a few developers with vacancies in completed projects which they are trying to sell in the market. With Banks becoming wary of accepting the real estate property as collateral, their assets have suddenly become worthless.
As with other industries, discount sales are usually to induce sales in slack season or to push the older stock. Do they always work? They used to. In the current scenario, no one is willing to hazard a guess. Come festive season, every retailer has fingers crossed hoping that those who are window shopping would step inside.
For those who are looking for a second home, this is the best time to buy. For those who are yet to book their first apartment, I suggest you stay put. Interest rates are expected to come down and so are the prices of real estate.
As for discounts for other things, consumer confidence is at an all time low with the increasing job cuts. Everyone is in ‘wait and watch’ mode. So am I.
November 12, 2008
November 11, 2008
Loyalty- the new forbidden word
If there’s anything that is fast disappearing from the face of the earth apart from the money invested in stock markets, it is loyalty in relationships. There was a time when ‘one job, one wife, one car’ was the mantra. Companies valued loyalty in employees and vice versa. Loyalty was synonymous with marriage once.
Today loyalty is seen nowhere and so is politeness in the method of exit. People are being laid off unceremoniously there is no time for procedural politeness. People are being dumped from relationships impersonally (welcome to the world of SMS!). Employees change jobs at a drop of a hat. Loyalty is long lost is certain fields such as politics.
Once upon a time, people planned their careers and post career retirement in the same firm. Now instances where employees have moved on within a month are common. Companies have also become short sighted when it comes to retaining employees. Cost cutting for showing better quarter results has become more important than losing good people from the organization’s point of view. Life has become fast paced and so everyone wants results faster. The fact that promotions based on seniority have lost sheen shows that no one is ready to spend 25 years in one organization to become a part of the management. Also there are instances where those who are with an organization too long are looked down upon in the social circles as it would seem to others that they don’t have enough talent to go to a better place/ position.
If short term goals are the reason for lack of loyalty in jobs then what about relationships? Hectic lifestyle is making sure that not much time is given to cultivate a long term relationship and also people don’t have the patience to wait and the give another chance to partner. Communication between partners has become impersonal with the advent of technology. Social acceptance of the issue has also made sure that there isn’t any stigma attached with moving-on in relationships.
There is a positive side to the issue – people wanting an exit due to genuine reasons can do so easily without much heartburn.
Does this mean that ‘loyalty’ is no longer there anywhere? It is still alive in the minds of consumers. You are loyal to the doctor who has treated you well. You are loyal to the service providers who have shown that you are among their most valuable customers. You are loyal to the insurance company/ bank and such institutions who value your long term association. You are loyal to those brands which have exceeded your expectations as products. But increasingly even these are changing. You are willing to change everything you are loyal to in pursuit of better service, more value-for-money and better product.
Society evolves over a period of time. True. We have to come to terms with the idea of being disloyal. But whether it is for the good of all is a debatable issue.
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