Friday 2 August 2024

How to Write Your Statement of Purpose (SoP)—The Father of “Soft Leadership” & International Leadership Guru


 

What is SOP?

Statement of Purpose (SoP) is all essaying about yourself and where you see yourself in the future professionally and personally. It contains entire information about your career goals, ambitions, and aspirations in a nutshell. Why do you want to pursue a specific higher course or research? Why do you want to join a specific educational institution and what value will you add? Ideally, it should not be more than 2 pages. SoP is called by different names globally. For instance, it is known as a Statement of Intent, Goals Statement, Letter of Intent, and so on.


SoP is all about what you are where you want to reach what are your areas of interest and why you want to acquire and hone those areas. It reflects your future career path. It is different from a CV as a CV is a reflection of what you have achieved while the SoP is all about how you want to achieve. Succinctly SoP is a roadmap for your future.


SoP is needed especially for the students pursuing higher education. It is the general practice to seek such a statement by the admission committee to have a fair idea about the potential candidate. It is also needed when someone wants to pursue PhD and post-doctoral courses.


Advantages


SOP helps the prospective institution know about your areas of interest and passions. It appears like a CV but in a brief format and beyond a CV. It appears like a cover letter to your CV in a capsule format but beyond the cover letter. CV presents your academic and work experience and a cover letter provides the condensed content of your CV. Both your CV and cover letter don't present the goals and ambitions you have. Hence, SoP helps overcome where you want to see yourself in the future going beyond both your CV and cover letter.



Tips

The admission committee looks for a crisp and clear presentation of information. It must be original and well-punched. State clearly what value you will add for yourself and the institution. A good SoP helps you stand out. Although your CV is not strong with an academic profile, the right SoP tips the scale in favor of admission. Here are the nuggets to craft a good SoP.

  • Do thorough research about the university you intend to join.

  • Be specific and clear in your approach.

  • Don’t make it like a cookie-cutter SoP.

  • Be crisp and clear.

  • Write in an active voice preferably and in simple language. Don't show your strength in vocabulary.

  • Make it as brief as possible. If it is longer, the reader might lose interest in your content.

  • Get it proofread and edited by experts or friends to avoid any typographical errors.

  • Proofread several times to get the best SoP. If possible, read aloud your script to find out any inconsistencies.


A Take-Home Message

Students must know and learn about SoP and how to write it effectively to create a favorable impact on the admission committee. The researchers must be clear of their area of interest and approach the right institution and the faculty for pursuing their PhD or Post Doctoral Courses. To conclude, crafting a good SoP serves in introspecting yourself as well as in achieving your career success in a chosen institution and area of interest. Good luck!



Share if you care!


Things You Don’t Know about Professor M. S. Rao” http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2015/10/things-you-dont-know-about-professor-m.html


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


Note: I had COVID. I had a brain hemorrhage. I was in bed for five months. My right hand is paralyzed. I am recovering. Thanks for understanding and empathy. https://youtu.be/BFJrSRLHPUk


Life is great!


Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.

Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM

Vision 2030: https://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao

Substack: https://professormsrao.substack.com

X: http://twitter.com/professormsrao

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/profmsr7

Meta: https://www.facebook.com/Professor-MS-Rao-451516514937414

See the Light in You: https://www.amazon.com/See-Light-You-Spiritual-Mindfulness/dp/1949003132


Thanks for reading!

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


Copyright©2024 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 the copyright is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com. 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.

Is Doctoral Degree A Decoration Or A Qualification?—Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.—The Father of “Soft Leadership” & International Leadership Guru


 

The average Ph.D. thesis is nothing but a transference of bones from one graveyard to another.” ―James Frank Dobie


There is a heated debate within academia about the doctoral degree (PhD) whether it is a qualification or a mere decoration. Nowadays, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in India has made a PhD mandatory for acquiring a Professorship in educational institutions. In addition, a PhD is imperative for directorial positions and the posts of principal. It has become a thorny issue for people who hail from industrial and corporate backgrounds who don't possess a PhD. However, they have rich corporate experience under their belt. As they are beset by corporate pressures they don't find an academic ambiance to pursue a doctoral degree. In contrast, academicians who want to grow in academia pursue PhD comfortably as they are already in an academic ambiance. However, they don't have corporate experience. Those who have a passion for teaching give up their lucrative corporate careers and join academics. Unfortunately, they are relegated to a background in academia as they don't have a PhD despite having vast industrial experience and practical exposure.


Hence, those who want to progress in the academic world are compelled to pursue a PhD. And pursuing PhD is not an easy thing. There are so many challenges while pursuing a PhD. I have seen few people who are highly capable with industrial experience leaving PhD in the initial stage itself due to non-cooperation from their guides and due to highly egoistic academicians.


Few mischievous guides in India exploit research scholars in the name of research. They deliberately delay the research process to draw more attention from their research scholars or seek some favors. Having fed up with mischievous research guides few research scholars have given up pursuing a PhD forever. It is also observed that there are PhD holders who don't have any academic stamina but bag doctoral degrees by manipulations. These days AICTE has made PhD mandatory for becoming professors and directors. Previously people with considerable industry background enjoyed the status of professorship. However, the recent tightening of the noose by AICTE to possess PhD for becoming professors forced educators from industry backgrounds behind in academia.


Some of the research scholars help pile up their guides' resumes with their publications. Some of the research scholars shell out their personal money to meet their guides' miscellaneous expenses. Some guides compel their research scholars to spend money when they go for paper presentations. If research scholars don't spend money their PhD will be delayed. Few unscrupulous guides in India have vitiated research and academic ambiance for their selfish gains.


For a few academicians who regularly sharpen their saws doing research for PhD and post-doctoral degrees, research is a passion. Such passionate academicians feel let down by unscrupulous guides who claim to the super persons with big egos and who have the habit of disagreeing with what is produced and created by the research scholars.


I have seen few experts in academics have a passion to acquire a PhD and ultimately end up without a PhD due to such unscrupulous guides. Few guides think of themselves as demigods and treat their research scholars with sadism thus leaving a bad impression among the ambitious research scholars who have a passion to make a difference in research and acquiring a PhD.


Unlike other postgraduate qualifications that can be acquired through examinations where the evaluators don't know who the examinees are, a PhD has to be done with the supervision of guides. As a result, completion of a PhD is in the sole hands of the guide.


I have seen a woman faculty with strong academic credentials who was awarded as the best teacher from a prestigious education institution pursuing her PhD in Indian education. The guide deliberately sent the thesis to a foreign country for evaluation and almost after a year, the evaluators returned with comments that they were not experts in Indian education and that they would not evaluate the PhD thesis. The woman faculty was upset about the way the guide deliberately did in this way thus delaying her PhD. She would have acquired a PhD within 4 years and now it is almost 7 years and is still struggling with her PhD with her guide who happens to be a woman.


Few guides trouble their research scholars when the latter don't meet their personal demands and expectations. Sometimes it could be money or writing papers for guides so that guides can publish in their names and take credit for publications.


If you want to grow academically you must possess PhD in most of the countries. Having a PhD helps widen your research skills thus becoming a successful academician. However, the road to acquisition of a PhD is a tough task with several challenges for research scholars especially in a country like India. To conclude, the acquisition of a doctoral degree has become a decoration for industry experts, a qualification for academicians, and a paper degree for passionate researchers in India.


If a journal ever says they are having difficulty in finding reviewers―this is good! It means you’re in a small pool of people and working on something nobody else is.” ―Sir Peter Ratcliffe

Have the strength of a horse, the hide of an elephant, and the work ethic of a bee." —Laureate Fraser Stoddart tells us what he thinks makes a good researcher.


References

Amazon Books: http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM

ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1855-7969

Web of Science: https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/KYQ-4976-2024

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=DZskGgsAAAAJ

KUDOS: https://www.growkudos.com/profile/professor_m._s._rao

Substack: https://professormsrao.substack.com



Share if you care!


Things You Don’t Know about Professor M. S. Rao” http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2015/10/things-you-dont-know-about-professor-m.html


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


Note: I had COVID. I had a brain hemorrhage. I was in bed for five months. My right hand is paralyzed. I am recovering. Thanks for understanding and empathy. https://youtu.be/BFJrSRLHPUk


Life is great!


Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.

Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM

Vision 2030: https://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao

Substack: https://professormsrao.substack.com

X: http://twitter.com/professormsrao

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/profmsr7

Meta: https://www.facebook.com/Professor-MS-Rao-451516514937414

See the Light in You: https://www.amazon.com/See-Light-You-Spiritual-Mindfulness/dp/1949003132


Thanks for reading!

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


Copyright©2024 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 the copyright is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com. 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.




Thursday 1 August 2024

Tips for Successful Internal Branding Efforts—Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.—The Father of “Soft Leadership” & International Leadership Guru


 


When you look at a company like Infosys it has built a strong internal brand internally based on values. Infosys worked hard to create such a prestigious brand for many years and it has lived up to it so far. Similarly, when you look at companies such as FedEx they have successfully built their brands internally helped them brand themselves externally well, and reap returns accordingly. In this context, we will discuss Internal Brand Connect.


Employees represent the image of the organization. If employees are well groomed through the right organizational culture and climate, they will reflect the same outside the organization thus enhancing the image of the organization.


Internal Brand Connect helps the employees connect with other employees effectively. It paves the way for the quick passing of information and enables quick decision-making. We often talk of branding the organization externally. However, internal brand connect helps in branding internally. As external branding helps connect with outside people internal brand connect helps connect people within the organization thus they can feel proud of their organization. It ultimately results in organizational effectiveness and excellence. It helps employees understand the organizational vision and mission. It enhances employee engagement and productivity thus enhancing the bottom lines.


Companies cannot build external brands by ignoring internal culture. If you want to grow outside you must grow inside first. If you want to grow global you must grow local first. Similarly, when you want to build your brand externally you need to build your brand internally first.



Tips for Internal Brand Connect


Organizational culture depends on the organizational climate and the employees' connectivity with others. Efforts must be made to make sure that all employees consistently speak with one voice with clients and customers as it sends a strong message. Here are the tips to connect employees internally.

  • Build a healthy organizational climate

  • Provide efficient internal communication.

  • Conduct meetings, functions, and parties regularly to connect all employees

  • Make the expectations of customers and clients to employees clear periodically as it helps them project and present the right culture to outside people.

  • Align employees’ attitudes and behavior as per the vision and mission of the organization from time to time so that they stay glued to the track.

  • Above all, harness their energies constantly as per the organizational vision and mission.


Companies must first build their brand image internally so that they can build their brands outside successfully. When employees take pride in their company that is automatically reflected outside thus elevating the image of the organization outside successfully. It is also rightly said that if you want to win outside you must first learn to win at your home. Similarly, internal brand connection helps in a big way for organizational productivity and performance.


Share if you care!


Things You Don’t Know about Professor M. S. Rao” http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2015/10/things-you-dont-know-about-professor-m.html


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


Note: I had COVID. I had a brain hemorrhage. I was in bed for five months. My right hand is paralyzed. I am recovering. Thanks for understanding and empathy. https://youtu.be/BFJrSRLHPUk


Life is great!


Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.

Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM

Vision 2030: https://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao

Substack: https://professormsrao.substack.com

X: http://twitter.com/professormsrao

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/profmsr7

Meta: https://www.facebook.com/Professor-MS-Rao-451516514937414

See the Light in You: https://www.amazon.com/See-Light-You-Spiritual-Mindfulness/dp/1949003132



Thanks for reading!

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


Copyright©2024 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 the copyright is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com. 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.




Tuesday 30 July 2024

See The Light In You—Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.—The Father of “Soft Leadership” & International Leadership Guru


 

 “See the light in you. Your life is in your hands. Enjoy every moment by looking at the positive aspects. Build a new foundation with the bricks thrown at you. Turn your scars into stars. Life is great.” ―Professor M.S. Rao

Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” ―Buddha


People talk within themselves throughout the waking time which is known as internal conversation, internal monologue, self-talk, inner speech, inner discourse, or internal discourse. It is quite natural and normal. However, some people argue in their heads which leads to internal conflict, anxiety, and depression. Most challenges in individuals arise due to the arguments within their minds. When people feed their minds with negative information they evolve as negative individuals whereas when people feed their minds with positive information they evolve as positive individuals.



Don’t Waste Your Precious Mental Time


If you are depressed you are living in the past if you are anxious you are living in the future, if you are at peace, you are living in the present.” —Lao Tzu


When you argue in your head, you poison your mind and waste your precious time. It may have adverse effects on the people around you. People often think that wasting time is physical. It is mental as well. People waste more of their mental time and less physical time in their lives. When you think about negative people and unpleasant events from the past excessively you waste your precious time mentally. Research shows that people waste 30 percent of their time thinking about their unpleasant past that cannot be changed. So, learn to live in the present without thinking about your unpleasant past and worrying about the future. Feed your mind with positive thoughts and work constructively and creatively to achieve success.



Avoid Becoming A Chronic Overthinker


Thinking too much leads to paralysis by analysis. It's important to think things through, but many use thinking as a means of avoiding action.” ―Robert Herjavec, The Will To Win: Leading, Competing, Succeeding


Overcome the paralysis of analysis. Avoid thinking as follows: I wish I succeeded as an entrepreneur. I wish I was born into a healthy family. I wish I had a regular education. I wish I had education from eminent educational institutions. I wish I had a mentor or coach in my early life to become successful. Avoid irrational imaginative internal arguments. Be realistic and practical. Be positive and confident. See the light in you to lead your life with peace and happiness.



Avoid Imaginary Irrational Arguments In Your Head


Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.” —Dalai Lama


Here are some tips to avoid arguing in your head. Don't take unhealthy criticism personally. Be thick-skinned. Avoid the individuals who enjoy arguing with others. Don't react to them. Ignore them. Act positively. Detach from negative individuals and attach to positive individuals. Have self-awareness. Understand the power of internal monologue and leverage it constructively. Write down the journal. For instance, whenever there is an issue or conflict in my mind, I write it down. It serves as a therapy. I get relief and a solution for it. Additionally, I unlock the power of my subconscious mind to find solutions for problems and resolve conflicts effectively.



Rehearsing Arguments Is A Double-Edged Sword


Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” —Saint Francis de Sales


Research shows that rehearsing arguments in your mind ends up causing more harm than good leading to mental illness and damaging your body. It adversely affects your mind and body. However, litigation lawyers often rehearse a lot mentally before they actually argue in the courts. Before writing an article or research paper, I play out the whole scenario. Before uploading a video on my YouTube channel, I play out the whole scenario. Before I attend an interview podcast or webinar as a guest, I play out the whole scenario. It helps me contribute my best as I anticipate probable questions and rehearse my answers. So, playing out the whole scenario is a double-edged sword. It all depends on how you use your mind and subconscious mind.



Master Your Mind To Lead Your Life Mindfully


A mind at peace does not engender wars.” ―Sophocles


Avoid war in your head. Remember that the internal enemy is more dangerous than the external enemy. So, avoid your internal arguments to check your internal enemy. Calm down your irrational argumentative mind to lead your life mindfully and meaningfully. Your mind is a masterpiece. You can use it either for constructive or destructive activities. It is under your control. Don’t make a mess of it. Use it constructively to build a better world. To summarize, use the power of the subconscious mind positively to stop arguing in your head to excel as a positive individual and perceive others positively. You can talk great things with others and inspire them. Remember, you are what you feed your mind. So feed your mind positively to excel as a healthy individual. To conclude, avoid imaginary irrational arguments in your head to lead your life mindfully and meaningfully.


Nobody can bring you peace but yourself.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson


References

https://www.amazon.com/See-Light-You-Spiritual-Mindfulness/dp/1949003132

https://youtu.be/gN7Odm7qOWY

https://youtu.be/A2uAu_rlJJw



Share if you care!


Things You Don’t Know about Professor M. S. Rao” http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com/2015/10/things-you-dont-know-about-professor-m.html


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


Note: I had COVID. I had a brain hemorrhage. I was in bed for five months. My right hand is paralyzed. I am recovering. Thanks for understanding and empathy. https://youtu.be/BFJrSRLHPUk


Life is great!


Professor M.S. Rao, Ph.D.

Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM

Vision 2030: https://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao

Substack: https://professormsrao.substack.com

X: http://twitter.com/professormsrao

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/profmsr7

Meta: https://www.facebook.com/Professor-MS-Rao-451516514937414

See the Light in You: https://www.amazon.com/See-Light-You-Spiritual-Mindfulness/dp/1949003132


Thanks for reading!

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


Copyright©2024 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 the copyright is acknowledged and reference or link is made to the Blog http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com. 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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