Leadership, work & culture – 10 lessons from 16 years in the corporate world

Recently had an opportunity to interact with management students from Sri Balaji University in Pune during annual business convention.

Idea was to share useful and relevant lessons with the future leaders on the topic of "Next-generation leadership and navigating the future.”

I took this opportunity to 10 lessons I have learned during my corporate career spanning over 16 years around the world, across multiple functions, roles, and industries while working for Tata Group companies along with inspiring leaders and amazing colleagues and clients.

1.   It is all about value creation.

They say, add so much value that they can’t ignore you. As simple as this. You will be rewarded in proportion to your contribution. Solve complex problems, be more reliable and trustworthy, bring in more revenue and clients, demonstrate leadership and accordingly, you will be recognized and rewarded.

Of course, there are other variables as well, but value creation trumps everything else.

In my first job at Tata Consultancy Services Limited, my boss and mentor Jerry had to tell me "not to come to the office on Saturdays and Sundays”. While not recommending working on weekends here, I was so excited to do more in the first job and hardly used to leave the office. There was a strong drive to do more, learn more and contribute more.

Recognizing the efforts and contribution, my managers sent me to work around the world (including the United States, Canada, China, and India) to work on important assignments.

2.   Some of your decisions will be right while some will be wrong and that is okay.

Nobody gets everything right. Not even Mr. Ratan Tata (e.g. Corus acquisition by Tata Steel or timing of it) or Elon Musk (e.g. broken glass of a bulletproof vehicle). 

What can be done of course is to increase the probability of success and take necessary risk management measures. Also, ensure that failure does not kill you and there is room to bounce back. 

While everyone loves success, there is no need to be too hard on you if something goes wrong. That is life. If you are good enough, you will figure out a way forward in any situation.

As Mr. Ratan Tata quotes "I don't believe in taking right decisions. I take decisions and then make them right.”

3.   There are opportunities everywhere.

“Money is lying on the streets. Those who have it in them, can go and take it.”

This is what our Professor (a successful serial entrepreneur) from London Business School used to tell us while teaching “New Venture Development” using amazing stories of other world-class entrepreneurs. 

4.   Brutal honesty will take you a long way.

In one client (who was upset and angry over failed delivery) meeting in the United States, Managing Director of the largest technology Company from India candidly said, “We screwed up. But we will fix it. Please give us another chance.”

The client appreciated this candor. Not only the relationship got saved (which was on the verge of a breakup) but it also got strengthened over time.

It is even more important to be honest with ourselves regarding our strengths and weaknesses, sweet spots and blind spots, capabilities, and resources. This aids in better decision-making as well as helps to build win-win partnerships.

5.   It is your responsibility to protect your interests and none else’s.

My good friend Mani (one of the best intellectual property experts from India) jokingly used to say “Mahesh, you need not be a bull or bear (like in stock markets), but you mustn't become a "bakra" (poor goat who gets sacrificed). ”

It is a competitive world out there. Given the limited number of growth opportunities for a large talent pool, sometimes people do resort to funny tactics to get ahead of others.

It is absolutely up to you and you only to be aware of tricks and traps set up by others and ensure that you do not fall prey. There are sharks in the water.

It is important to carefully build and invest in important relations and partnerships, communicate appropriately, brand and market yourself well (with honesty), and also build options.

6.   Many of you will fire your bosses (change in jobs and companies) and will get fired as well.

We live in a fast-changing world. The life span of successful Companies has reduced significantly. Half of the S&P 500 companies will be replaced within the next 10 years. Some sectors and skills come into fashion while others go out of fashion.

Bottom line is that change is here to stay. Your only responsibility is to be prepared, adopt and change before the change is forced on you. And your value is as much as the options you have developed.

7.   Don’t complain find solutions.

Every challenge is an opportunity says Jack Ma from Alibaba. 

Instead of complaining about problems, blaming government, systems, others including companies, colleagues and even parents, what is critical is to solve these challenges and create opportunities.

8.   You have to have an “A” team.

You win or lose with your teams and not all by yourself. Lone wolves are seldom appreciated. Even Venture Capitalists (VCs) do not invest in companies with single founders.

It is important to have and work with “A” teams to achieve more and get spectacular outcomes. Even more intelligent way is to hire people better than you and then let them do the magic for you.

9.   It is a marathon and not a sprint.

Human beings tend to overestimate the short term and underestimate the long term. While we live in a world where instant gratitude is appreciated, things take time and patience can be a great virtue.

Whether it is a career or any other aspect of life, it is important to think and act long term with patience and persistence instead of getting carried away by the short-term.

Like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos says, “All overnight success takes about 10 years.”

10. Take care of yourself, your health and your family.

I did this mistake in the first 15 years of my career. Till then, it was all about work and work. Too many clients, projects, companies, business plans, locations, and whatnot. But all that came with the cost of neglecting health (skipping meals and exercise, dealing with a high degree of stress with too much multitasking). Fortunately, the realization came in time and I was able to take corrective action.

An employee is always replaceable in any organization. But the same is not true with one’s health. Health has to be a priority. Also to have a dysfunctional family while focusing on career and money is not worth it either.

11. Take care of others. 

It cannot be all about “I me and myself”. Greater joy comes from helping, caring and sharing with others.

As legendary Zig Ziglar used to say “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”

Victor Frankl in “Man’s Search for meaning" explains what gives meaning to life and reason to live is purposeful work, love, and courage to face difficult situations. Most of this is about others.

With this, I wish all the success to new entrants in the corporate world many of whom will attend great heights with focus, dedication, smart work, and strategic thinking.

About the author - Mahesh Dumbre is an ex Tata Group executive who enjoys building businesses, working with startups, investing, teaching and writing.