"Managing people is at the core of leadership" - Interview with Rajkumar Sabanadesan, Senior Consultant at Pleinert & Partner Finland

We continue our series of interviews where we ask our team members about their passion for people management and their thoughts on present challenges and future trends. This time we present an interview with Rajkumar Sabanadesan, Senior Consultant at Pleinert & Partner in Finland

Q: Rajkumar, you joined the Pleinert & Partner Team in May 2021. We help clients be more successful and competitive in their markets through innovative people management. What is your core motivation as a people management professional, and what are your interests in addition to people management, in business and outside of it?

A: My core motivation in life is to help people: I've always had a passion to do something good in life. Feedback from my early clients as well as the encouragement of my closest friends convinced me that people management is the right path for me. Coaching leaders and managers is my way to contribute, and to make a positive impact.?

It's a bit difficult for me to make a clear distinction with my work and outside work interests. My interest in people, and my enthusiasm to be constantly learning new things about humanity, shows in my career choice but also in my interest in politics, history, literature and movies. Outside all that, I enjoy cooking and have also recently taken up cricket, a sport that I enjoyed very much while growing up in Sri Lanka.

Q: Where do you see the most important current challenges for client organizations in people management, in general and in your area in particular?

A: I think that one of the biggest challenges for leaders and managers is understanding that people management is not just a small part of leadership. It's not something you can outsource to HR, while you concentrate on 'more important things'. Managing people is at the core of leadership, and failing to understand this can lead to serious consequences, as any organization faced with low indicators in the work satisfaction survey will tell you.

Q: What are the main trends in people management that organizations should be aware of and proactively taking advantage if possible?

A: There's a generational change happening at the workplace that affects everything, but leadership in particular. The so-called baby-boomer generation that is now either retired or retiring soon, and the so called Millennials are entering positions of power. What leaders need to understand is that there are huge differences between these generations that have a direct impact on people management.?Studies show that Millennials value free time over a salary raise, they need autonomy, regular feedback, and a deep sense of meaning. Understanding this is crucial for someone who is in a position of leadership today and in the next decades. Understanding what motivates the people in your organization is key for getting the most out of them - so I think that's the main advantage right there. Studies show that people who are motivated and committed to their organizations are much more productive.

Q: People management is rapidly evolving. What are your thoughts on the future in the mid term?

A: The only certain thing in today's world is change. We cannot know what the next trends are in technology or how these changes affect the future of work. What I think is fairly certain though, is that the role of people management continues to grow.?In an ever-changing world, understanding how people think and work, and what motivates them is more important than ever, and the importance of it continues to grow. I believe that in the future, what makes or breaks an organization, is how well the leadership understands this.

Rajkumar Sabanadesan has comprehensive experience in coaching leaders and managers dealing with difficult organizational situations. Specialized in leading change and meaning, with particular strengths in leading people in crisis situations, using brain-based coaching. He has over ten years of prior leadership experience from private, public and non-governmental organizations.