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It does not matter you went to one of the leading business schools in the country and have a fancy MBA degree to your merit.
What is really required to survive the corporate rat race is patience, humility, gratitude and focus, says Prof RSS Mani.
A leading business school may well teach you the basics of management principles and perhaps even train you to deal with difficult life situations.
However, in real life, the corporate habitat demands you tackle challenging situations and individuals in a far superior way.
Here are some skills you must acquire in order to make it to the top.
1. Listening skills
Every MBA programme emphasises on presentation skills BUT overlooks this important aspect of communication.
Most people tend to believe that speaking is the most important aspect of communication and listening is an inferior activity restricted to the ignorant.
Thus the common tendency is to HEAR and not LISTEN.
Needless to say effective listening skills is the hallmark of a successful manager.
2. Being goal-focused
MBAs are rightly perceived to be people in a great hurry.
They are seen as extremely impatient professionals who want to achieve all laurels in a great hurry.
However they are unfortunately not ready to invest in time and commensurate efforts to achieve these goals and laurels.
As a consequence the quality of work suffers and they gradually lose focus.
Not being focused on the goal often results in constant job hopping and poor quality of performance.
For the initial few months the best strategy to be followed is to learn as much as you can, complete all allocated tasks on time and display a high level of enthusiasm.
No task should be perceived as mundane or routine and must be completed meticulously.
3. Computer and Internet skills
In today’s computing and internet age, mastery of these skills are expected by most employers.
However the problem is that most MBA graduates have mastered PowerPoint but have poor skill level of Microsoft Excel.
Similarly, they are comfortable with emails and Facebook but are unable to use search engines and LinkedIn effectively.
4. Corporate business etiquette
It is often noticed that most MBAs lack the finesse and grooming that is actually required in a corporate assignment.
They often come across as being casual, rude and snobbish and this ruins their interpersonal relations at the workplace.
Business etiquette skills seems to be lacking and this creates a bad impression at the workplace.
Basic manners, etiquette and appropriate grooming are often overlooked. This could ruin their credibility.
5. Humility
One of the most important attributes we seek in an MBA is humility.
More than often we hear that the new joinees come with chip on their shoulder and tend to be over-confident.
They should learn to respect their seniors and indulge in active listening and not show off their power of theories and concepts.
Let us appreciate and accept that indifference, resistance and resentment would get you nowhere; in fact some humility would help you cross several hurdles.
6. Patience and persistence
Patience is one virtue that can help MBAs done a lot better in their organisations.
Very often MBAs who join as management trainees complain that the training appears to be an extension of their MBA education.
If you think that you are doing an extended MBA; DO IT; don't forget you are now being paid a salary to do so. Hence do not complain!
7. Teamwork skills
This is one of most important skills that an MBA needs to develop.
Our competitive environment makes us very self focused and we begin to believe that we know it all.
If you think you are great; then prove it.
This should be the sole objective of the new incumbent MBA into the organisation.
Do take up projects and assignments and complete them successfully.
Ensure that deadlines are met and quality is of the highest standards.
Prepare for every meeting you attend. This will increase your confidence and also impress your superiors.
Let us realise that the blue chip company you have joined has been running successfully without you. Concentrate on how to add value and not fault finding.
Let us always remember the acronym that TEAMS means together each achieves more success.
8. Gratitude
We must be conscious of and admit that there are many people who contribute to our success.
These include family members, our professors, guides, mentor and such.
Hence it is our duty to recognise their contributions and keep in touch with them.
Very often many people take a very opportunistic approach and tend to overlook their contributions.
This not only speaks of indifference but also displays a poor sense of character.
Do remember that the attitude of gratitude will ultimately determine your altitude.
9. Resilience
If you are a high profile MBA then have the guts to stay on and contribute to the organisation.
It is very easy to show off your mettle by boasting that you have another job offer within three months. But the real challenge lies in your ability to combat the odds and contribute.
You must prove your loyalty and commitment to your current organisation first.
By loyalty, I am not referring to the number of years you have spent in an organisation but to the contribution you have made to that organization.
10. Practice ISR
Every one of us must learn to practice individually socially responsibility (ISR).
In today’s world everyone talks about Corporate Social Responsibility.
However we must remember that each one of us must be responsible citizens of society and contribute to its well being at all points in time.
We need not wait till we retire to start contributing to the society.
We may contribute towards causes such as education for the underprivileged, cleanliness, afforestation, support for geriatric patients , and such to name a few.
Through ISR we can all contribute to making the world a much better place.
To summarise, let us work towards being better human beings contributing towards a better society and a better nation and be successful HR professional too.
The author of this piece Prof R S S Mani is Vice President-Institutional Development, ITM Group of Institutions.
Lead image used for representational purposes only
Photographs: Reuters