On this episode of The Shape of Work podcast, our guest is Prakhar Agarwal, VP of Operations and Technology at Combustion Research Associates (CRA) which makes solutions for the Energy, Defence, and Aerospace sector.

In this episode, Prakhar shares his distinct career interest in sustainable energy and mobility that convinced him to study Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley.

In addition, we discuss with Prakhar:

• Using local experts within teams, projects and platforms to think deeply and guide architectural discussions
• The importance of cultivating a culture of ownership in the organisation
• Performance management that makes a difference
• Effective ways to reduce employee attrition

1) Using Local Experts within Teams, Projects and Platforms to Think Deeply and Guide Architectural Discussions

Teamwork and collaboration are crucial considerations for a successful organisation. People can manage school and colleges alone through textbooks and other resources. But later in life, when challenges become higher, we realise the importance of teams and working together.
About local experts and architectural discussions:
Companies or leaders need to plan in three levels: short-term, medium-term, and long-term. Long-term people should be reliable, able to identify and train local experts. They should take responsibility for their decisions.
He also said hiring depends upon the volume and stage of the company. The hiring requirements of a company with hundreds of employees and an MSME company cannot be the same.

2) The Importance of Cultivating a Culture of Ownership in the Organisation

Ownership in an organisation, especially, manufacturing is a very well-read topic. There is a Japanese concept known as ‘kaizen (continuous improvement). It emphasises ownership at every level of the organisation is essential for consistent growth.
Sense of ownership makes a lot of sense in manufacturing, where people on the shop floor are often neglected. Every individual should feel like they are part of the organisation.
This creates a sense of responsibility. Therefore, a culture of ownership increases productivity, retention, and maximum participation.

3) Performance Management that Makes a Difference

Companies should develop a system of feedback for effective performance management. Feedback should be honest, in-time, and in a proper way. Employees also need to take feedback constructively.

4) Effective Ways to Reduce Employee Attrition

The best way to reduce attrition is to be kind, humane and invest time in the employees. Companies should focus on branding the work and build a good work narrative.


Follow Prakhar on LinkedIn