Give Your Team Enough Freedom: Amit Munjal, Founder, Doctor Insta

The brief I was given and what I did in the first 100 days at work 

After joining ING Bank, I was given the responsibility of looking for possible merger and acquisition opportunities in North America, Europe and Asia. I spent the first 100 days traveling extensively and meeting the senior management of different companies all over the world, studying their pitches on why we should acquire them and pay them the amount they were asking for. I was also responsible for liaising with our consortium of banks to arrange cheaper financing for these acquisitions. 

The worst mistake I made 

Since I had a background in finance, I would initially put more emphasis on financial projections when the real substance was in operational indicators and client satisfaction. Thankfully, I had a great mentor in my French-American boss who guided and advised me like his own son. I was able to rectify my mistake and complete some valuable acquisitions at attractive prices. 

The best leadership lesson I learnt 

I learnt that it is crucial to believe in and give 100% to what you do because cynics don't create, sceptics don't contribute and doubters don't achieve. This made me embrace a participative and permissive style of leadership where I learnt that it is important to give your team enough freedom to complete deliverables. It is equally important to be there for them if and when required for guidance or trouble-shooting. 

My biggest innovation 

I identified and implemented a profit maximisation opportunity for five different businesses of the company which had high operational costs. I set up the SSC (shared service centre) for all these five businesses at one location - Atlanta, and was able to consolidate these functions, and optimise the employees needed, thereby saving the company millions of dollars. This led to a reduction in costs and increase in profits and value of the parent company. 

How I had fun at work 

We made sure to celebrate small victories within the team, which quickly made the workplace my second home. It was a regular practice to throw beer and pizza parties, and arrange team getaways for whitewater rafting or bowling. 

How I managed my work-life balance 

If you really enjoy what you do then lines get blurred between work and life - and this is how it came to be for me. I lived my life by Warren Buffet’s maxim - “I always tap-danced my way to work”. 

(As told to Brinda Dasgupta)