Turning Executives Into Wizards

Part I

This website's very heading starts with 'HOW'. Some visitors to this site have expressed an impression that instead of step by step guide, we are leaving it to the visitors to 'guess' the 'how" part from the example of business wizards like Elon Musk and others and review of books connected with the topic.

The point is well taken. We indeed thought that each reader would draw their own lessons and try to follow the wizards on their journey to wizard hood

Now, we have done some brainstorming got some step by step guideline. But, wizardry is still your own pursuit as both businesses and individuals vastly vary and so does the environment as is shown by the Corona.  It is impossible for us or for that matter anyone to hold anyone's hand and lead her/him to wizard hood

Note: Reposting as the topic is more important now due to the radical changes in environmental caused by AI/CHAT-GPT

Step I - Omniscience

(I) Omniscience: In its original meaning the word means "all-knowing entity" that is  God Almighty. But in common sense, it connotes knowing everything about yourself, soundings and activities. In this connotation, the dictionary cites this sentence:" Volkswagen  Golf features the Marvel -worthy superpower of omniscience an ability to tell you about looming hazards and delays"

Now in this context, we invite your attention to your score in the last 'Acumen Test' reproduced again below for the new visitors to the site. If you score 100% you are well on your way to 'omniscience'

Some of you may say these are the matters of details, but please remember the saying 'the God is in the details'.The details are in the data bank and books but you are away from these or it is embarrassing to refer for such elementary data. Remember the lesson from Sanskrit verse:"pustaksthtu ya vidya wa parhastgatam dhanam,karykalesamutpanna na sa vidya na tat dhanam" which means the knowledge in the books and wealth is in others possession when calamity or opportunity arises that knowledge and wealth are of no use.

Acumen Test

There are now tsunamis of data or big data and still in the flow of informal business talk, say on a golf course or on a flight, most people get stuck for figures and stall the conversation or give off-the-cuff figures when talking about the company they work for. Some basic agreements or a preliminary understanding of big deals is taken during such informal meetings and only formalised during prolonged, formal negotiations by what one businessman calls "whereas people".

Despite supercomputers, some facts and figures must be assimilated and should be at the back of your mind. Actually, there is an imperceptible mental process always going on with the following steps: data > information > knowledge > perception > wisdom > acumen. The last one is the sine qua non of sharp-shooters.

Test your own acumen about the company that you work for. Students can select a company they aspire to work for.  

Here is a list of 22 items for you to answer without referring to any document or asking anyone else. Give yourself 1 point for every correct answer to items 1 to 21 and give one point for each correct answer to item 22. How do you find the correct answer? Look up the company’s annual report on its website after you finish the test.

And, you are the judge yourself. If you score 100%, congratulations! Well done. And, if your score is lower, repeat the test after some reading up on the company.

1. Company type

1. Listed company

2. Private company

3. Proprietary

2. Industry category

1. IT / e-commerce

2. Manufacturing

3. Travel and hospitality

4. Service sector

5. Others

3. Sales and profits for the previous financial year

4. CAGR for the past five years

5. Number of employees

6. Percentage of women employees

7. Percentage of differently-abled employees

8. Names of directors on the Board

9. Names of independent directors on the Board

10. Names of women directors on the Board

11. Key CSR initiatives

12. Recent R&D/innovation successes

13. Energy-saving metrics

14. Business outlook

15. Foreign exchange – inflow and outflow

16. Number of markets served

17. Pending legal cases against the company

18. Taxation demands and appeals

19. Shareholding pattern

20. Rank in the following lists

1. Best companies to work for

2. Top 100 companies

3. Most innovative companies

21. Awards and recognition

22. Five strengths and five weaknesses of the company

Part II

Step II - Omniattention

It is aptly said that surest way for a company to go down is each one doing own job accurately without considering at all what and how the other persons are doing, and their problems or overall company problem. This statement emphases the importance of each employee should be mindful of the total picture and go beyond once responsibilities and do once best to help remove other bottlenecks.

 

To achieve such an attitude one needs the quality of omniattention. That is paying attention to the problems and difficulties and if a solution occurs it should be told to the concerned person. You will perhaps be surprised to know the ancient Sanskrit literature deals with this under the heading "ashtawadhan" , means paying attention to 8 things concurrently. And, what’s more, its higher role is "shatawadhan" that means Omniattention

In the current digital age, many things occur concurrently and the faculty of omniattention is absolutely necessary. The practice of giving job description to each one needs to modify because it is against the need for omniattention

We give below the graphic form what aspects or role plays an individual office should be paying attention to. It looks daunting but it is an attitude and enhances company performances as well as helps an individual to raise own 'visibility, and consequently the chances of transfer to better position or promotion.

In essence, each one should be acting like a CEO keeping an eye on the overall business an n act '' me and my job" and let the rest go by,It is not difficult. It is an idea of creating (4Cs)  'constructive companywide  "chat centres". Give your comments and let there be constructive discussions.

Test

Just remember or in future note down how many different things you handled outside your job description to 100 matters,