In this episode I will speak on key no 6, which is “Emotional intelligence”, in short EI. When EI is measured, it is called Emotional quotient. Dr Reuven Bar-On, a psychologist, first coined the term ‘Emotional quotient’ or EQ in 1985. However, the term Emotional intelligence was popularized by Daniel Goleman with his seminal work and various bestselling books on the subject since 1995.

Emotional intelligence can be understood as the ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions and also the ability to understand and influence the emotions and behavior of others. The intelligence that we commonly understand and measure, especially in an academic context, is IQ or Intelligence quotient. I have seen so many managers, including myself, spanning over 40 years, who I feel would have done better, may be 2X or even 3X, if they possessed more EI skills and competencies. Unfortunately, I suspect, many managers even today are not paying enough attention to understanding and developing EI competencies. I can say emphatically that what really matters for success, happiness and lifelong achievement is a definite set of emotional skills and not just cognitive Intelligence that we are fond of acquiring through academic qualifications.

Listen to this episode to know more about Emotional intelligence and its importance

A large number of organizational failures are attributable to communication failures. Despite  its obvious importance, some managers assume that good communication happens by default on its own.. A manager should be well-versed in not only delivering but also in receiving, understanding, and responding to messages. Communication is not just words. It is estimated that only 10 per cent of communication happens in words, while 30 per cent happens by sounds and a whopping 60 per cent by body language.

Fortunately, it is possible for everyone to improve on their communication skills. Brian Tracy, the renowned public speaker, author and coach said “Communication is a skill that you can learn. It’s like riding a bicycle or typing. If you’re willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life.”. Chester Barnard, renowned management scholar said that the primary function of a manager is to develop and maintain a system of communications. Herbert Simon, a Nobel Prize winner in economics, feels that communication is essential to the functioning of an organization, especially with regard to effective decision-making. 

This episode is an introduction to the various aspects of communication in relation to managerial success covered in the book  Seeds of success- a manager's handbook" by RSR Murthy

Managers are also leaders and have to possess  leadership skills as they deal with people. One of the important functions of management is direction, which involves the practice of leadership principles. The World economic forum study identifies 10 essential skills, one of which is leadership and social influence, for employability, by the year 2025. Listen to this episode to understand and learn about leadership in the workplace. 

In episode 1, I spoke briefly on key no 1, which is understanding what is management, to succeed as a manager. In episode 2, I spoke on key no 2, “Strategic thinking”. These are part of my book “Seeds of success – a managers handbook” which identifies 10 keys to be a leader at your work place.

In this episode I will speak on key no 3, which is gaining sound “Business and financial knowledge”.

Peter Lynch said “Know what you own and know why you own it.”

Ram Charan, the internationally renowned management scholar and writer said “Learning to speak the universal language of business will advance your career”

Listen to this episode and start your journey to towards gaining business and financial knowledge.

Strategic thinking - Key No 2 - 10 keys for leadership at work - Seeds of success-a manager's handbook

The foundations of strategic thinking are creative thinking and critical thinking. In simple words, creative thinking is the ability to generate new ideas. Critical thinking is the ability to evaluate those ideas and choose the most appropriate of those. The World economic forum has identified both creative thinking and critical thinking as essential to increase employability and success in the work place. According to Michael Porter, the marketing and strategy guru, “Strategic thinking rarely occurs spontaneously.” Edward De Bono, says creative thinking is not sitting by the river, and hoping a brilliant idea will strike. What the 2 learned scholars tell us is that we have to make a conscious and proactive effort to increase our strategic thinking. 

I give you a brief idea of what is strategic thinking in this episode

Season 2 - Episode #1 - Key No 2 - What is management - Seeds of success-a manager's handbook -10 keys to leadership at work - An understanding of what is management is key no 1 to succeed in the workplace. Management as a field of knowledge and practice is different from technical or functional knowledge. Inability to understand the difference between management and technical skills can be disastrous for organizations and individuals in their careers. Know the difference and be a leader in the workplace

Welcome to episode 21 of the “Seeds of success with RSR”. 

Habit 7 is: “Sharpen the saw”. Habit 7 is focused on continuous growth and improvement and embodies all the other habits. The purpose of  this habit is to emphasize the need to take time out to invest in oneself. This is necessary to remain efficient, sharp and productive. It applies to all walks of life, be it in the form of knowledge acquisition, gaining new skills to grow in career and professionally, or taking care of our body and mind to remain healthy and energetic.

Listen to this episode to know more about #Habit 7 from the 7 habits of highly effective people by Stephen Covey.

In this episode, we will discuss about habits 6 of Stephen Covey’s highly effective people. Habit 6 is: “Synergize”.

“Synergy” means, "two heads are better than one." It  leads to the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. Lack of synergistic thinking in organizations is number one reason for loss of productivity and profits, and for individuals in personal life, it leads to conflict, and resentment.

Highly effective people practice synergy in all that they do." It is the habit of creative co-operation, teamwork, open-mindedness, and engaging in finding new and better solutions together.

According to Stephen Covey, habit 6, alongwith habits 4 and 5, can solve any human problem.

Listen to this episode to know more about Snergy.

This episode deals with habit 5 of Stephen Covey’s highly effective people. Habit 5 is: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood.

Very often, we expect others to understand us, rather than we understanding others. This is a problem arising from an inadequate appreciation of what is “Effective communication”. Covey asks: we spend years learning to speak, write or read. How much time do we spend to learn how to listen? Pretty little indeed. As a result, we become poor listeners. 

Stephen Covey says: “If I were to summarize in one sentence the single most important principle I have learned in the field of interpersonal relations, it would be this: Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” Seeking first to understand requires empathetic listening.

Listen to this episode to know more about empathetic listening and how it helps in building human relations and mutual trust