“Is Mahatma Gandhi Relevant in Today’s World?” – Professor M.S.Rao

"Future generations would wonder if such a person really walked this earth in flesh and blood" – Einstein

Every year on October 02 we celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary and recall his principles and philosophies. How far his principles are relevant today is a matter of debate. Whether Gandhi lives in the hearts of people is another debatable issue. Hence, it is time to take stock of the situation, his principles and relevance in the current context.

After the assassination of Gandhi many people felt that Gandhi would be forgotten soon and his ideologies would fade away. But it is a fact that Gandhi and Gandhism still lives both in the hearts and minds of not only Indians but also across the people globally. When leaders like Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama and Aung San Suu Kyi follow the principles of Gandhi it is very clear that his ideologies have still relevance even today even after many years of his death.

Gandhi – A Servant Leader

"You will find yourself in service to your fellow man, your country, and your God." - Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi was a servant leader who spent his entire life serving people to bring freedom to India. He underwent lot of trials and tribulations during his lifetime by spending his time in jail. He dedicated his life for the cause of India’s independence. He became a symbol of love with a servant’s heart. He emphasized on the dignity of labor who wanted to put an end to untouchability. He was an example for all of us who led from front with simplicity and humility. He was both a transformational leader and servant leader. As leadership is a not popularity contest and is a job with a responsibility involving both bouquets and brickbats he received both praise and criticism during his lifetime.

Does Gandhi Live in the Hearts of Indians?

Yes there is no doubt that! Gandhi lives in the hearts of Indians as it has been reflected time and again politicians and social activists getting support when they adopt Gandhi’s tenets of peace and non-violence. The recent Anna Hazare’s crusade against corruption is an example to prove. The support to Anna Hazare is an indication that Gandhi lives in the hearts of the people. It is not the Anna who got the support from people but it is Gandhi who got support. It is not Anna’s methods that got support but Gandhi’s methods of non-violence and Satyagraha. It substantiates the truth that Gandhi lives in the hearts of people.

He is not only a national leader but also an international leader who influenced many including 5 Nobel laureates for Peace – Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Dalai Lama, Aung San Suu Kyi, and Barack Obama. Gandhi remains relevant not only now but in future and as long as civilization exists. People have to live with peace and prosperity. They have to live with fraternity and brotherhood and which is possible only through Gandhi’s principles of non-violence, peace and love.

Professor M.S.Rao

Founder, MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Blog: http://profmsr.blogspot.com

Where Knowledge is Wealth

Email: profmsr7@gmail.com

Dear readers,

I would appreciate your comments about this article.

© 2011 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved.

This is an educational blog for free sharing of knowledge, not for commercial use. 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://profmsr.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.

“Three Box-Approach - Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva” - Professor M.S.Rao

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” - Steve Jobs

When Vijay Govindarajan sent me mail about three-box approach with links I felt excited with this concept. I decided to share it with my bloggers who regularly visit my blog. And they have also been asking me to write something different. Hence, I decided to explore this concept briefly for the benefit of my bloggers.

Vijay Govindarajan’s and Chris Trimble’s article titled “The CEO’s Role in Business Model Reinvention” in Harvard Business Review urged forward-looking CEOs to manage reinvention with a “three-box approach”. This approach emphasizes on managing the present (box!1), selectively forgetting the past (box!2), and creating the future (box!3). Leaders need to operate in all three boxes simultaneously to achieve the desired organizational outcomes.

What is Three-Box Approach?

Three-Box Approach is about managing the present, selectively forgetting the past and creating the future. It is an excellent approach coined by VG and Chris Trimble that benefits all of us – be it profitable organizations or non profit institutions. For instance, Brian Goldner, the CEO of Hasbro, Inc., successfully applied three-box approach that helped him turnaround Hasbro in 2000. He focused on leveraging the company’s core brands, reducing costs, and lessening its reliance on its licensed business. And the pastor of United Methodist church who had difficulties brainstormed with his team members and worked on this approach and benefited immensely.

Three-Box Approach vs. Hindu Philosophy

According to Hindu philosophy there are three popular deities, Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva who are called creator, generator and destroyer respectively. However, when we talk about 3 Box approach, the Box 1 represent managing the present (Vishnu), Box 2 represents destroying the past (Shiva) and Box 3 represent creating (Brahma). As all three Gods are important for human cycle all three boxes are important in making organizations stand out. This 3 box approach calls for shedding the bad and wedding the good for organizational excellence and effectiveness.

Due to the rising complexity and uncertainty it is tough to predict the future. In addition, rapid growth in technology compelled companies to explore new ways and means to meet the customer aspirations and expectations. Hence, the Three Box Approach provides solace and solutions to companies to reinvent, reignite and reimage themselves to stay ahead of others.

Here are the links to know more about it:

http://hbr.org/hbrg-main/resources/pdfs/extras/transforming-your-organization-with-the-three-box-approach.pdf

http://blogs.hbr.org/hbr/hbreditors/2011/09/the_three-box_approach_to_busi_1.html

Professor M.S.Rao

Founder, MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Blog: http://profmsr.blogspot.com

Where Knowledge is Wealth

Email: profmsr7@gmail.com

Dear readers,

I would appreciate your comments about this article.

© 2011 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved.

This is an educational blog for free sharing of knowledge, not for commercial use. 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://profmsr.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.

“Three Box-Approach - Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva” - Professor M.S.Rao

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” - Steve Jobs

When Vijay Govindarajan sent me mail about three-box approach with links I felt excited with this concept. I decided to share it with my bloggers who regularly visit my blog. And they have also been asking me to write something different. Hence, I decided to explore this concept briefly for the benefit of my bloggers.

Vijay Govindarajan’s and Chris Trimble’s article titled “The CEO’s Role in Business Model Reinvention” in Harvard Business Review urged forward-looking CEOs to manage reinvention with a “three-box approach”. This approach emphasizes on managing the present (box!1), selectively forgetting the past (box!2), and creating the future (box!3). Leaders need to operate in all three boxes simultaneously to achieve the desired organizational outcomes.

What is Three-Box Approach?

Three-Box Approach is about managing the present, selectively forgetting the past and creating the future. It is an excellent approach coined by VG and Chris Trimble that benefits all of us – be it profitable organizations or non profit institutions. For instance, Brian Goldner, the CEO of Hasbro, Inc., successfully applied three-box approach that helped him turnaround Hasbro in 2000. He focused on leveraging the company’s core brands, reducing costs, and lessening its reliance on its licensed business. And the pastor of United Methodist church who had difficulties brainstormed with his team members and worked on this approach and benefited immensely.

Three-Box Approach vs. Hindu Philosophy

According to Hindu philosophy there are three popular deities, Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva who are called creator, generator and destroyer respectively. However, when we talk about 3 Box approach, the Box 1 represent managing the present (Vishnu), Box 2 represents destroying the past (Shiva) and Box 3 represent creating (Brahma). As all three Gods are important for human cycle all three boxes are important in making organizations stand out. This 3 box approach calls for shedding the bad and wedding the good for organizational excellence and effectiveness.

Due to the rising complexity and uncertainty it is tough to predict the future. In addition, rapid growth in technology compelled companies to explore new ways and means to meet the customer aspirations and expectations. Hence, the Three Box Approach provides solace and solutions to companies to reinvent, reignite and reimage themselves to stay ahead of others.

Here are the links to know more about it:

http://hbr.org/hbrg-main/resources/pdfs/extras/transforming-your-organization-with-the-three-box-approach.pdf

http://blogs.hbr.org/hbr/hbreditors/2011/09/the_three-box_approach_to_busi_1.html

Professor M.S.Rao

Founder, MSR Leadership Consultants, India

Blog: http://profmsr.blogspot.com

Where Knowledge is Wealth

Email: profmsr7@gmail.com

Dear readers,

I would appreciate your comments about this article.

© 2011 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved.

This is an educational blog for free sharing of knowledge, not for commercial use. 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://profmsr.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.

“Empathy vs. Sympathy” - Professor M.S.Rao

“Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” – Theodore Roosevelt


Individuals often look for empathy, not sympathy. In fact, there is a vast difference between empathy and sympathy. Sympathy is all about showing compassion when others are in problems and expressing solidarity and standing by them. In contrast, empathy is the ability to step into the shoes of others and looking at the things from others’ perspective. Empathy is essential for individuals. When you empathize with others most of the problems can be resolved in the world easily. But people often look only from their perspective not from others’ perspective leading to misunderstandings and conflicts.

Empathy is one of the essential ingredients of effective leadership. Leaders empathize with others to accomplish their objectively successfully. Before giving any task to others they empathize whether people can do it. Only when leaders are convinced that group members can do then they assign the tasks accordingly. Usually people expect empathy than sympathy. Hence, people must differentiate between these two words empathy and sympathy and empathize with others to connect with others easily and build bridges thus promoting fraternity and brotherhood. To conclude in the words of Mahatma Gandhi, "Three fourths of the miseries and misunderstandings in the world would disappear if we step into the shoes of our adversaries and understand their standpoint."



Professor M.S.Rao
Founder, MSR Leadership Consultants, India
Blog: http://profmsr.blogspot.com
Where Knowledge is Wealth
Email: profmsr7@gmail.com



Dear readers,

I would appreciate your comments about this article.



© 2011 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved.
This is an educational blog for free sharing of knowledge, not for commercial use. 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://profmsr.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.

“Frances Hesselbein – The Living Peter Drucker” - Professor M.S.Rao

"Leadership is a matter of how to be, not how to do it." - Frances Hesselbein

Frances Hasselbein needs no introduction. She is the President and CEO of The Leader to Leader Institute, (Formerly The Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management) and former CEO of The Girl Scouts of the USA. She is currently the Editor-in-Chief for Leader to Leader, the premier international leadership journal. Peter Drucker, the management legend and the father of modern management hailed Frances for her contribution to leadership. And also several international leadership gurus such as Marshall Goldsmith, Jim Collins, Warren Bennis, Peter Senge to name a few have praised her as an inspiring and thought leader.

She has been influenced by both Peter Drucker and Marshall Goldsmith. She contributed to Girl Scouts of the USA. She demonstrated her leadership skills by successfully leading Girl Scouts in America and received America’s highest civilian award - Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House in 1998. She wrote her book My Life in Leadership which is a biographical one.

She is a remarkable leader who made a difference in the lives of others through her contributions. She is a gracious woman leader, servant leader and thought leader. We can say that she is the living Peter Drucker. She walked her talk and her actions will inspire all of us to deliver goods without looking for any rewards.



Professor M.S.Rao
Founder, MSR Leadership Consultants, India
Blog: http://profmsr.blogspot.com
Where Knowledge is Wealth
Email: profmsr7@gmail.com




Dear readers,

I would appreciate your comments about this article.



© 2011 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved.
This is an educational blog for free sharing of knowledge, not for commercial use. 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://profmsr.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.

“Book Review - Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People Demand It” - Professor M.S.Rao

I read the book titled Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People Demand It authored by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner with great interest. It is worth reading with amazing takeaways. The authors are internationally known for their best selling book, The Leadership Challenge.

The authors are noted for their intensive research and passion towards leadership. Although several authors and leadership gurus highlighted various hallmarks such as example, influence and so on for effective leadership, both Jim and Barry highlighted credibility as the cornerstone for effective leadership in this book. They highlight competency, capability and integrity as the pillars to inspire others and to excel as effective leaders. The book blends research, experiences, examples, illustrations and quotes and all that make the book interesting to read.

At a time when the leaders are suspected of foul play due to the collapse of Layman Brothers, Enron, WorldCom, Global Crossing, this book throws a light for the present leaders to learn lessons and build credibility for leading their organizations successfully.

Enjoy reading this book to build credibility!



Professor M.S.Rao
Founder, MSR Leadership Consultants, India
Blog: http://profmsr.blogspot.com
Where Knowledge is Wealth
Email: profmsr7@gmail.com



Dear readers,

I would appreciate your comments about this article.



© 2011 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved.
This is an educational blog for free sharing of knowledge, not for commercial use. 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://profmsr.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.

“3Is – Imagination, Intelligence and Information” - Professor M.S.Rao

Although Einstein said that imagination is more important than knowledge, it is still a debatable issue to decide which is superior between imagination and knowledge. It is true that knowledge comes from various sources such as information, observation, reading, training, teaching, experience and practice. When we look at knowledge acquisition through information it is sometimes the excessive information that is killing the imagination. Therefore, people must learn to differentiate between chalk and cheese and between important and unimportant to manage their time as well as to take adequate information for enhancing their knowledge base.

Research reveals that currently knowledge gets doubled annually unlike in 19th century where it took almost 100 years to double knowledge. It shows the explosion of information and the load it is creating to human minds. People have to be very choosy about intake of information as unwanted information leads to contamination of their minds apart from wasting their time.

When we compare and contrast between knowledge and imagination, it is the imagination that is more important as knowledge comes from the imagination’s imagination. Intelligent individuals are able to articulate their knowledge effectively. There are individuals who have vast knowledge but limited intelligence. In contrast, there are individuals who have tremendous intelligence but limited knowledge. The fact is that the individuals with tremendous intelligence with limited knowledge are more powerful to articulate than the ones who have vast knowledge but limited intelligence. To conclude, human mind is very powerful as it created several things through imagination. However, this imagination is always supported by intelligence and information. Hence, blend all 3is - imagination, intelligence and information effectively for achieving all round success.


Professor M.S.Rao
Founder, MSR Leadership Consultants, India
Blog: http://profmsr.blogspot.com
Where Knowledge is Wealth
Email: profmsr7@gmail.com



Dear readers,

I would appreciate your comments about this article.



© 2011 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved.
This is an educational blog for free sharing of knowledge, not for commercial use. 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://profmsr.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 Passion Greater Than Paycheck?” - Professor M.S.Rao

“Follow your passion, and success will follow you.” - Terri Guillemets


People often search for paychecks ignoring their passions assuming that their passions won’t pay off the desired dividends. There are number of people who entered into careers purely for want of paychecks but ended up in a great fiasco.

There are two passions people must not ignore – passion for good spouse and passion for good career. When people prefer paycheck while choosing their careers they end up in disaster. Similarly, when people prefer money to honey their end up in a nightmare. Passion gives mental pleasure while paycheck gives physical pleasures. In fact, money will follow you when you follow your heart. Hence, find out where your heart is. Work on sincerely and relentlessly. Of course, you will no longer feel that you are working as you are following your passion.

In my personal life I always followed my passions than paychecks. I love to live and lead a simple life by pursuing my passions rather than getting stressed out by chasing money. I chose teaching career although not lucrative as teaching is my first and last passion. Although I got better offers with paychecks I chose teaching as a career. Given the choice between passion and paycheck I would certainly follow my passion than paycheck.

Here is the secret for your success. If you work in your passionate area regularly by investing one hour everyday for few years you will find remarkable improvement in your life and career. If you continue work in your passionate area one hour throughout your life you become a living legend. For instance, the runaway success of Apple’s iPod was possible as Steve Jobs passionately spent four hours a week, 50 weeks a year for 12 years, brainstorming with software, hardware and design experts to come up with the most brilliant ideas. Hence, invest your time wisely in your passionate areas and you will excel as a living legend over a period of time.


Professor M.S.Rao
Founder and Chief Consultant,
MSR Leadership Consultants, India
Blog: http://profmsr.blogspot.com
Where Knowledge is Wealth
Email: profmsr7@gmail.com



Dear readers,

I would appreciate your comments about this article.



© 2011 MSR Leadership Consultants India. All Rights Reserved.
This is an educational blog for free sharing of knowledge, not for commercial use. 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://profmsr.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.