Winning is not about making the other person lose
A speech to outgoing students at IIM Calcutta By
Azim Premji
Overview of trasformation
pGraduation is not the end but the beginning of learning and change. I have found that people who succeed most in their careers are those who can constantly transform themselves with conscious efforts.
pBased on my own experience, I would like to share with you my thoughts on how to make continuous transformation possible. I hope you find them useful.
1 Dreams
üFirst, you have got to have a dream. Dreams are very powerful internal motivators. Great achievements are created twice - first in the mind and then in a concrete form.
üAs one grows, one may realize that not all of them are achievable. But never turn cynical. Aging is not adding on years. It is parting with one's dreams. Use your experience to reshape your dreams and adapt them to changing reality but do NOT stop dreaming
üDreams not only help us in seeing things before they happen, but they also give us the passion and energy to make them happen.
2 Perseverance
üStay on course even if you stumble. When everything seems to go wrong, you can either give up or you can let misfortune transform you into something stronger.
üThe difference between great achievement and mediocrity (Ordinariness) is not extraordinary talent or intelligence, but perseverance.
üIn fact, dreams and perseverance make a winning combination.
3 Ignorance and Wisdom
pDo not be afraid to admit your ignorance. While it is important to project what we are good at, we must be equally candid about areas we do not know enough about.
pToday, knowledge is multiplying at such a rapid rate that it is impossible for anyone to know everything. But if we can develop an index system by which we at least know with whom or where the knowledge is available, we have achieved quite a bit!
pAnd there will still be areas which we will be unable to tap. The important thing is not to hide behind a false front. People will respect us for our honesty, if not our wisdom.
4 Success
pThink about what you will take on next rather than about what you may be letting go.
pToo many people are so enamored (attracted) by the legacy of success in their current roles that they are afraid to look further. This can lead to inertia.
pIf we linger too long on past success, we will miss out on the opportunities that lie ahead of us.
pWe must learn to look at change as an exciting adventure rather than a disruption. New avenues for learning always lie just beyond the shade of our comfort zone.
5 Leadership
pContribute in every situation. The only way to keep learning is by contributing. You do not have to be the leader every time.
pWhen a formation of birds flies over long distances, each bird takes its turn in leading. This ensures that no bird gets too tired and yet the formation keeps moving at a certain pace.
pEvery person is important.
It doesn't matter whether you play the violin, the flute or the drums; you are still part of the orchestra. Leadership is not about exercising power as much as it is about contributing. This will happen when we realize that leadership is not a privilege but a responsibility.
It doesn't matter whether you play the violin, the flute or the drums; you are still part of the orchestra. Leadership is not about exercising power as much as it is about contributing. This will happen when we realize that leadership is not a privilege but a responsibility.
6 Excellence
pPursue excellence in whatever you do. Excellence cannot be forced through a process nor guaranteed by a certificate.
It comes from an all consuming passion to do one's best.
It needs an eye for the smallest of details.
It comes from an all consuming passion to do one's best.
It needs an eye for the smallest of details.
pWhen differences become small, it is the small things that make the difference. Excellence is a habit not an act.
7 Humor
pWhile you must take your careers seriously, do NOT take yourself too seriously. You have to laugh and find humor everyday.
This will help you to keep issues in their perspective.
This will help you to keep issues in their perspective.
pBeing cheerful is an attitude. Not only will it help you to reduce your own stress, but a positive attitude is contagious.
pIt can do a lot to elevate the moods of people around you and recharge you to take one more shot at the problems facing you.
8 Talent and Perfection
pWe must know what you are really good at. Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, we must focus on areas where our talents truly lie.
pA talent can be defined as that skill which we not only enjoy learning but which we can also learn rapidly.
We need to work at honing (sharpen) our talent and smoothening the rough edges.
We need to work at honing (sharpen) our talent and smoothening the rough edges.
pBut exceptional performance usually comes from doing what comes naturally to us.
9 Welcome Feedback
pAlways welcome feedback even if it comes in the guise of criticism.
pI remember the story of a boy who dreamt of becoming an artist but was frustrated because whenever he showed his painting, the teacher would look at it with a frown and find some fault with it.
pThe student improved on his work continuously and he thought he would one day hear a word of appreciation from his teacher. But it never happened.
pWhat happened next ?
Always play to win
pCriticism may actually be an expression of faith in us rather than a put down. We must learn to take it constructively because it will show us what more we can learn.
pFinally, always play to win. Winning is not about making the other person lose. It is about stretching yourself to your own limits. Once so stretched, you will realize the true extent of your potential.
pUltimately, transformation is about reaching and utilizing not only your potential but those of others who work with you.
