Thursday, 20 August 2015

“Bridging the Generation Gap” ―Professor M.S.Rao











“Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.” ―George Orwell


Currently there is a widening gap between various generations especially between baby boomers and Generation Y. At the workplace, leaders find it challenging to bridge this gap because the age and experience divide these generations. Of course, there is also a gap between Gen X and Gen Y but it is limited. Let us look at how we can bridge this gap.


Baby boomers, Gen X and Gen Y

The definition of Gen Y is the people born between 1980 and 2000 and the Gen X are the people born between 1960 and 1980. It also differs from country to country. For instance, in Malaysia, the people who are below 35 years of age are known as Gen Y.

Baby boomers came out of several challenges. They saw wars and conflicts and their parents suffering due to world wars.  Their mindsets are different. They are conventional and follow the rules of the game and expect others to follow. They are not updated with latest technology. Hence, their mindsets are totally different than that of Gen X and Gen Y. However, the Gen X are bit more flexible and ready to get along with both baby boomers and Gen Y. At times, they are sandwiched between the baby boomers and the Gen Y.

Baby boomers and Gen X opine that Gen Y are demanding, money minded, complaining, impatient, creative, fast learned, vocal, and resourceful. Gen Y expect ownership and recognition. In fact, Gen Y are luckier than baby boomers and Gen X as they were born when the world was stable. 


Bridging the Generational Gap

The Gen Y are highly ambitious, intelligent and smart. They are technologically savvy and flexible to adapt. They are often aggressive and break the rules. They care for their personal growth and have a growth mindset. They crave for employability, not employment because they know that there is no permanent employment in this world. They are curious and question a lot. That is why they are also known as ‘Gen Why’. They are often rebellious and challenge the old school of thought.  Both Gen X and baby boomers don’t appreciate such behavior. These generations complain that there is no loyalty towards organizations in Gen Y and often feel that Gen Y are fickle minded without any focus on their goals. But when we look at from their perception, the Gen Y are right to some extent. As the world has changed, they have changed. Their expectations and aspirations are different. They belong to a modern school of thought which is quite relevant to the current context. What is essential is to empathize with Gen Y to get along. Both Gen X and baby boomers must realize how they felt towards their older generations when they were young.  If they think from that perspective by keeping the present global scenario in view, most of the conflicts in the workplace can be avoided. Additionally, both baby boomers and Gen X must treat Gen Y as collaborators, not as competitors.


Conclusion

Learning new things is very hard. When you learn new things, your brain puts in extra efforts. Gen Y are agile learners because they are young. Gen Y look for learning opportunities, they leave companies when there are no opportunities for their career growth.  They believe in the acronym of YOLO – you only live once.  To conclude, adaptability is the key to leadership success. All generations must empathize and adapt with the changing times and technologies to create chemistry and compatibility between themselves to achieve personal and professional growth, and to achieve organizational excellence and effectiveness.  
It is rightly said, “A new broom sweeps better. But an old broom knows all the corners.”


“I don't need a successor, only willing hands to accept the torch for a new generation.” ―Billy Graham




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Read my ‘Vision 2030 One Million Global Leaders’ URL: http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.in/2014/12/professor-m-s-raos-vision-2030-one_31.html  


Life is great!

Professor M.S.Rao, India
Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants India
Listed in Marquis Who's Who in the World in 2013
Vision 2030 Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBCO-gWmTRk
Twitter: @professormsrao  
Blog: http://professormsrao.blogspot.com
Blog: http://professormsraoguru.blogspot.com
Global Top Gurus 30: http://www.globalgurus.org/leadership/upcoming.php
21 Success Sutras for Leaders: Top 10 Leadership Books of the Year (San Diego University) Amazon URL: http://www.amazon.com/21-Success-Sutras-Leaders-ebook/dp/B00AK98ELI




Thanks for reading!

Kindly share your thoughts and comments below, I’m sure someone out there will find your story useful.



Copyright©2015 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

This is a nonprofit blog to share Professor M.S.Rao’s passion and vision to build one million students as global leaders by 2030. Please don't cut articles from my blog and redistribute by email or post to the web. The use of this material is free provided copyright is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.in.  This material may not be sold, or published in any form, or used in the provision of business services to a third party without permission.
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Friday, 14 August 2015

“Craft Your Vision to Grow as a Visionary Leader” ―Professor M.S.Rao











“Leadership is not magnetic personality — that can just as well be a glib tongue. It is not 'making friends and influencing people' — that is flattery. Leadership is lifting a person's vision to high sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.” ―Peter Drucker


When you look at leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Lee Kuan Yew, Henry Ford, John Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Sam Walton, and Steve Jobs, they are all visionary leaders who showed the right direction to the world in their spheres. The world transformed from Stone Age to space age due to the contribution of several visionary leaders. Human progress and prosperity is not possible without visionary leaders.


Visionary Leadership

Visionary leadership is the process of creating an idea, building a team, communicating with them and inspiring them with stories to convert ideas into realities. It transforms the lives of people to make a difference to the societies.  The leaders’ vision comes from their convictions.  It comes from their passion.  It comes from their values.  It comes from their ethics and etiquette.  Vision makes things easier and clearer for others.  It clears the clutter and makes the path free from obstacles.

Visionary leadership is not conventional leadership.  It is different and unique from normal leadership.  The primary focus of visionary leadership is to emphasize on passion and vision and subsequently on mission followed by execution to achieve organizational goals and objectives.  It links from present to future.  Succinctly, visionary leadership is all about looking into the future and predicting the future.  It is all about seeing the invisible.  It is being enthusiastic about uncertainty and complexity.


Hallmarks of Visionary Leaders

Walt Disney once remarked, “You can dream, create, design, and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it requires people to make the dream a reality.” Visionary leaders are farsighted who always look at the implications and complications while making decisions.   They go by the road less traveled.  They don’t indulge in continuous firefighting as it diverts their attention from their goals.   They are clearly focused on their goals and objectives. They constantly change their strategies, styles and approaches but not their goals.  They take more time in fixing their goals.  Once goals are fixed they commit to them and work towards accomplishing them.  They have gut feelings and follow intuition.  They inspire others.  They are attentive listeners.  They facilitate teams successfully. They mobilize people towards their dreams successfully.  They have the ability to connect their dots and charisma to connect with their people. They focus keenly on the journey to reach their destination. They endeavor to be within the track so that they don’t lose sight of their destination. They have vision and vigor and focus on long-term results, not short-term setbacks.  They are highly focused on their goals.  They lead from front.  They inspire their people and take them forward energetically. They are imaginative at heart.  They have ideas and insights and are bold to take their people forward successfully. They believe in themselves. They know where they are going.  They are undeterred by shocks and setbacks. They are prepared to risk their lives for the sake of their people. They are born optimists and radiate positive energy and enthusiasm. They take the blame in case of failure and spread the fame in case of success.  They show visual pictures to their followers to accomplish organizational goals and objectives. Vision gives kick to the people. It moves the people forward with energy and enthusiasm.  Visionary leaders are path makers and destiny makers. They combine emotions to convey and communicate their goals.  Above all, they are moral leaders who walk their talk.


How to Craft Your Vision Statement?

Vision statement must preferably be below 100 words and in present tense to have effectiveness.  It requires imaginative mind to craft one.  Here are some tools to craft a better vision statement:
  • Vision must spell out a clear and compelling picture so that there is a strong reason to pursue and persevere. It must be audacious and SMART where SMART is the acronym for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time bound.
  • It should be simple and straight, and challenging and inspiring. 
  • It must convey company’s value system, culture, ethics and etiquette.  It should never be a mere rhetoric but must be realistic.
  • It must be challenging enough to enable the people to put in their energies and efforts aggressively.
  • It must neither be too short nor too big.  It must convey the ideals and ideas of the organization for which it stands and aspires to achieve. 


Conclusion

Political visionary leaders such as Theodore Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr have provided direction to America when needed.  Additionally, John F Kennedy envisioned putting a man on the moon with his visionary leadership.  To conclude, there should not be any gap between preaching and practicing to make vision meaningful and realistic.  Companies must mobilize their people around a common cause by crafting better vision statements. The success of any company depends on its right presentation of vision statement and execution of mission statement and that is possible only through visionary leadership.


"Leadership is the ability to translate vision into reality." ―Warren G. Bennis



If you like this article, Like and share Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Professor-MSRao/451516514937414


Read my ‘Vision 2030 One Million Global Leaders’ URL: http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.in/2014/12/professor-m-s-raos-vision-2030-one_31.html  


Life is great!

Professor M.S.Rao, India
Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants India
Listed in Marquis Who's Who in the World in 2013
Vision 2030 Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBCO-gWmTRk
Twitter: @professormsrao  
Blog: http://professormsrao.blogspot.com
Blog: http://professormsraoguru.blogspot.com
Global Top Gurus 30: http://www.globalgurus.org/leadership/upcoming.php
21 Success Sutras for Leaders: Top 10 Leadership Books of the Year (San Diego University) Amazon URL: http://www.amazon.com/21-Success-Sutras-Leaders-ebook/dp/B00AK98ELI




Thanks for reading!

Kindly share your thoughts and comments below, I’m sure someone out there will find your story useful.



Copyright©2015 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

This is a nonprofit blog to share Professor M.S.Rao’s passion and vision to build one million students as global leaders by 2030. Please don't cut articles from my blog and redistribute by email or post to the web. The use of this material is free provided copyright is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.in.  This material may not be sold, or published in any form, or used in the provision of business services to a third party without permission.

at 1 comment:

Professor M.S.Rao’s Message to Indians on India’s Independence Day (2015)












View video of my Independence Day message URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R0N2bIp5Vk&feature=youtu.be

Dear brothers and sisters of India,

Happy Independence Day!

It is an honor to share some thoughts with my students who constitute the majority of the Indian population. You are the force of India! You are the power of India! You are the leaders of this great country! Many revolutions are successful with your support.  You have transformed the Indian society extraordinarily. Because you think what is possible. You think what is feasible. You make things happen. And you see that India becomes prosperous.

Around 2000 years ago, India was the leader in the world. Long ago, we had the greatest civilization on the earth.  We were one of the richest countries in the world. We had great leaders like Ashoka who ruled not only India but some parts of Asia. Where do we stand now?  We are at the crossroads of Indian history. 

68 years ago, we got independence from the British.  When we look back what did we achieve?  Let us ask ourselves honestly. It is time to take stock of the situation. It is unfortunate that India still lives in poverty and malnutrition.  We have several challenges currently. The major one is corruption which has become a cancer to our Indian society. It is very sad to note that corruption entered into all areas of the Indian system. Remember, the day corruption enters into educational institutions and the armed forces, the country will collapse like a house of cards. Therefore, you must strive for a society which is free from corruption. That is the need of the hour indeed!

India has 29 states and 7 union territories. India is a country of contrasts in many aspects. India has 22 official languages and Indians speak over 1600 dialects. India is a land of unity in diversity. We are identified through different cultures and communities but connected by a single common thread – Indianness. India is indeed incredible!

India is a great country where a minority Sikh was the Prime Minister of this great country; minority Muslims became the presidents of this great country; a Dalit leader like Dr. Ambedkar could rise and wrote the Indian constitution that protects the rights of all  Indian citizens.  Indian land provides ample of equal opportunities to all citizens irrespective of their region, religion, language, caste, creed and community. We are the large hearted people in the world. Eulogizing India, Roman Scholar, Romain Rolland once remarked, “If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India.”  

We Indians are known for hospitality. We welcome all communities and cultures with open arms. We have a great heart to accept and accommodate anybody and everybody on the earth. That is the greatness of India! Our Indian soil is rich with diversified cultures and is highly sacred with religious tolerance and secularism. You must be proud that you are born on this great Indian soil.

India has sheltered many religions, cultures and communities.  It is the land of all religions and nations on the earth.  We belong to a country that taught the world about non-violence and Satyagraha.  We belong to a country that taught the world about tolerance and secularism. We belong to a country that taught the world about fraternity and universal brotherhood. It was Swami Vivekananda who put India’s greatness on the global map in the Chicago Conference. He conquered America without any bullet.   

India is not an emerging country. It has already emerged as a great country in the world. India is the origin of ‘zero’ and India is the origin of the Information Age. Albert Einstein once remarked, “We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.”  

Indian civilization is one of the oldest surviving civilizations in the world. Mark Twain rightly remarked, “India is, the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only.”

We have the largest speaking English population in the world. We are the largest surviving democracy in the world. We have championed the self-determination of people from Asia to Africa.  We are the global leader to support democratic movements across the world.  We are the number one in many areas. . We are the trendsetters, not trend followers. That is the greatness of India! We are the leading contributor to the United Nations peacekeeping missions. We are preparing to take our seat on the United Nations Security Council very soon. It is time to capitalize what we have, and move on aggressively to make a mark globally.

We had great leaders like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi, and Bhagat Singh.  Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was a great patriot, a visionary leader, and an orator, who founded the Indian National Army. There are five followers of Mahatma Gandhi who bagged Nobel Prizes – Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, Aung San Sui Ki, Dalai Lama and Barrack Obama.  There are a huge number of followers for Mahatma Gandhi across the world.  Our ideas and ideals are followed by great countries and great people across the world.  That shows our strength!  And we must make sure that Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals and ideas are emulated by everyone within India to make our country stronger and greater in the world.   

We are proud to have a strong judiciary in India. We are proud to have a strong media that checks everything. Thanks to the media that it highlights any irregularities and brings corruption into the public attention.

India is successful in the Green Revolution that fed millions of Indians. We have withstood the recent recession.  Many great countries and developed countries like US and UK have been hit hard due to recession.  But we are not hit hard due to our strong inherent systems.  It is said that if America catches cold the world sneezes.  The world may sneeze, not India and Indians.   

The global equations are changing rapidly.  Now it is our time.  A BRIC Report says that India has an important role to play in the years to come – BRIC is the acronym for Brazil, Russia, India and China. India has several strategic competitive advantages over these three countries and especially over China as India’s population is young and the Chinese population is old. However, let us not rest on our laurels.  It is time for us to work hard and work smart to take India forward economically.

Presently Indians are going to America to work. We Indians don’t have to work anymore under Americans and foreigners.  The day is not far away where Americans and foreigners will come to India and work under Indians. We will show the world what we are! We will show the world the might of India!

Let us be duty-oriented rather than rights-oriented.  Let us not ask what the country has given us.   Let us ask ourselves what we are giving back to our country. There must be change in the attitude of the people. There must be change in the mindset of the people.

We will work together. We will walk together.  We must make a pledge that we will make India a developed country very soon.  We will make India a Super Power on the earth. We will never rest until we accomplish our goal.

We had seen enough failures, separations and humiliations at the hands of foreigners.  Enough is enough!  Let us look back, learn lessons and move forward with confidence and optimism. It is time for India to be established internationally.   

We will protect our independence by all means. We are Indians first and Indians last.  No power under the sun on the earth can separate us. We are one.  We will live together and we will die together. We will protect our independence by all means. We will put our motherland on the top of the world.  It is our time to raise our voice and to stand out as the number one country in the world. 

We will walk as brothers and sisters.  We will share both sorrow and joy.  We will share both pain and pleasure.  If India is to be a great nation we must stand united ignoring the differences.  We should stay united by looking at the commonalities. It is our time to establish ourselves internationally.  We will not rest until we become a Super Power.  We will bring back the lost glory.  We will see to it that we become the number one nation in the world.

Be disciplined. Be tolerant towards others. Empathize with others. Respect all communities.  Love your mother, but don’t hate another person’s mother.  Remember, as your mother is precious to you, another person’s mother is equally precious to him/her.

The sky is the limit for you! You have abundant opportunities currently. You are born in the right time of Indian history. You have great potential and powers to take on this world. Bharat Mata is calling you. Develop a positive, right and strong attitude. Shoulder the responsibilities. Lead India and lead the world.

Thank you, God bless India. Jai Hind!




If you like this article, Like and share Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Professor-MSRao/451516514937414


Read my ‘Vision 2030 One Million Global Leaders’ URL: http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.in/2014/12/professor-m-s-raos-vision-2030-one_31.html  


Life is great!

Professor M.S.Rao, India
Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants India
Listed in Marquis Who's Who in the World in 2013
Vision 2030 Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBCO-gWmTRk
Twitter: @professormsrao  
Blog: http://professormsrao.blogspot.com
Blog: http://professormsraoguru.blogspot.com
Global Top Gurus 30: http://www.globalgurus.org/leadership/upcoming.php
21 Success Sutras for Leaders: Top 10 Leadership Books of the Year (San Diego University) Amazon URL: http://www.amazon.com/21-Success-Sutras-Leaders-ebook/dp/B00AK98ELI




Thanks for reading!

Kindly share your thoughts and comments below, I’m sure someone out there will find your story useful.



Copyright©2015 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

This is a nonprofit blog to share Professor M.S.Rao’s passion and vision to build one million students as global leaders by 2030. Please don't cut articles from my blog and redistribute by email or post to the web. The use of this material is free provided copyright is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.in.  This material may not be sold, or published in any form, or used in the provision of business services to a third party without permission.
at 2 comments:
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