6 People Management Lessons I've Learned In My 26-Year Long Corporate Career
Kapil has 26 years of multi industry Leadership specialization of IT, BPO & KPO Organizations with core functional experience includes setting up of the Organizations in India (HR, Legal, Administration & Operational framework), Preparing and Implementing Strategies for growth of accounts and more.
Since the early days of my career, I have been fascinated by the basic rudiments that make a company grow or bust. In my total experience as a professional for 26 years, I spent a quarter of my life with some of the largest organizations in the world, I have realized people management to be of most significant skill leaders can embody to make an organization a success story. For an entrepreneur or a business professional to ace their career, a healthy blend of aptitude, knowledge ideas, values, intrinsic traits, flexibility, and good interpersonal skills are required. However, to transition from a good professional or entrepreneur to a good leader, one must acquire this super skill of all skills people management. If you're in quest of a long and rewarding corporate career or to venture a successful business, you must be excellent with people. Following are the six people management lessons I've learned in my 26-year long corporate career.
Treat People With Respect
The oldest trick in the book, treat people the way you wish to be treated is applicable in walks of life. A humble or polite attitude is the main ingredient of building a respected work environment and goes beyond how you deal with people. Respect can mean a lot of things at workplace, it can be by means of giving people the attention they need, speaking with kindness, listening to their ideas or feedback, providing ample number of opportunities to express themselves without the fear of judgment or backlash. When you treat people with respect, you inculcate a healthy work environment which fosters trust creativity and catalyzes growth.
Provide Constructive Feedback
Sharing feedback is very important for the growth of your teammates and the company. Providing precise feedback in a right way at the right time promotes a positive environment among people and the feedback is received in constructive manner. However, it may seem straightforward and easy at first but demands a certain level of emotional intelligence and strong communication skills. To transform feedback into a constructive message, it should always be delivered in a tone which underlines personal growth or advancement. The feedback should have a correlation to business goal or a strategic outcome, while emphasizing the scope of progress on an individual level.
Appreciate & Recognize
Recognitions hold a very important place in building a work environment which is productive and positive. Celebrating achievements and the people, who make it possible, goes a long way in strengthening the core values of your company. Appreciate and recognize people on a company wide platform such as town halls or on Intranet for their achievements, for putting extra efforts, for thinking out of the box, being a good team player, for being resilient. When team members feel recognized, they know they are valued and it boosts their confidence about the work they do.
Provide Opportunities To Grow
A fulfilling career is a journey which commands learning, unlearning, and relearning. The world that we know is changing rapidly; people are looking for new opportunities to upgrade their skills, knowledge, and abilities to succeed in their careers. Leaders also need to adapt to this dynamic atmosphere and inspire people to set realistic learning goals and assist them with resources which can help them attain those goals. I've never underestimated the role a Learning and Development team can play in a company's growth.
Be A Mentor
Great mentors aren't bosses but life guides. They guide you through your professional journey, get past challenges and prepare you for what lies ahead. They know how to leverage your skills and put you on the right path. They listen to your ideas and help you turn those ideas into reality. Leaders must introspect whether they're playing the role of a mentor or a boss who has a very transactional relationship with their people.
Treat Your Team Like Family
Placing trust in your people, letting them experiment fearlessly, supporting them at the time of need or crisis, pushing them to be their best isn't that what a family does? A team should be no different. As a leader, we must create a team that operates like one big family, which enhances the sense of belonging with one another, they'll always outperform themselves.
Finally, as a leader, if you know how to get the best out of your people, support them through difficult situations, identify their strengths and areas of improvements, foster a culture of learning, give constructive feedback and lead by example, you'll be able to face the biggest roadblocks and come out with flying colors. Your people are your real strength.
Since the early days of my career, I have been fascinated by the basic rudiments that make a company grow or bust. In my total experience as a professional for 26 years, I spent a quarter of my life with some of the largest organizations in the world, I have realized people management to be of most significant skill leaders can embody to make an organization a success story. For an entrepreneur or a business professional to ace their career, a healthy blend of aptitude, knowledge ideas, values, intrinsic traits, flexibility, and good interpersonal skills are required. However, to transition from a good professional or entrepreneur to a good leader, one must acquire this super skill of all skills people management. If you're in quest of a long and rewarding corporate career or to venture a successful business, you must be excellent with people. Following are the six people management lessons I've learned in my 26-year long corporate career.
Treat People With Respect
The oldest trick in the book, treat people the way you wish to be treated is applicable in walks of life. A humble or polite attitude is the main ingredient of building a respected work environment and goes beyond how you deal with people. Respect can mean a lot of things at workplace, it can be by means of giving people the attention they need, speaking with kindness, listening to their ideas or feedback, providing ample number of opportunities to express themselves without the fear of judgment or backlash. When you treat people with respect, you inculcate a healthy work environment which fosters trust creativity and catalyzes growth.
If you're in quest of a long and rewarding corporate career or to venture a successful business, you must be excellent with people
Provide Constructive Feedback
Sharing feedback is very important for the growth of your teammates and the company. Providing precise feedback in a right way at the right time promotes a positive environment among people and the feedback is received in constructive manner. However, it may seem straightforward and easy at first but demands a certain level of emotional intelligence and strong communication skills. To transform feedback into a constructive message, it should always be delivered in a tone which underlines personal growth or advancement. The feedback should have a correlation to business goal or a strategic outcome, while emphasizing the scope of progress on an individual level.
Appreciate & Recognize
Recognitions hold a very important place in building a work environment which is productive and positive. Celebrating achievements and the people, who make it possible, goes a long way in strengthening the core values of your company. Appreciate and recognize people on a company wide platform such as town halls or on Intranet for their achievements, for putting extra efforts, for thinking out of the box, being a good team player, for being resilient. When team members feel recognized, they know they are valued and it boosts their confidence about the work they do.
Provide Opportunities To Grow
A fulfilling career is a journey which commands learning, unlearning, and relearning. The world that we know is changing rapidly; people are looking for new opportunities to upgrade their skills, knowledge, and abilities to succeed in their careers. Leaders also need to adapt to this dynamic atmosphere and inspire people to set realistic learning goals and assist them with resources which can help them attain those goals. I've never underestimated the role a Learning and Development team can play in a company's growth.
Be A Mentor
Great mentors aren't bosses but life guides. They guide you through your professional journey, get past challenges and prepare you for what lies ahead. They know how to leverage your skills and put you on the right path. They listen to your ideas and help you turn those ideas into reality. Leaders must introspect whether they're playing the role of a mentor or a boss who has a very transactional relationship with their people.
Treat Your Team Like Family
Placing trust in your people, letting them experiment fearlessly, supporting them at the time of need or crisis, pushing them to be their best isn't that what a family does? A team should be no different. As a leader, we must create a team that operates like one big family, which enhances the sense of belonging with one another, they'll always outperform themselves.
Finally, as a leader, if you know how to get the best out of your people, support them through difficult situations, identify their strengths and areas of improvements, foster a culture of learning, give constructive feedback and lead by example, you'll be able to face the biggest roadblocks and come out with flying colors. Your people are your real strength.
