ABILITY AND CAPACITY DECIDES RANK - Chanukya's way

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ABILITY AND CAPACITY DECIDES RANK - Radhakrishnan Pillai

 

 

It is never degrees and certificates that can guarantee the results a manager

can produce. Some of the best managers never completed their formal education.

Neither Bill Gates nor Henry Ford did an MBA before starting their respective

companies.

 

A CEO has to focus on the results that a person can produce while recruiting his

team of managers, not only their qualifications.

 

Kautilya says,

 

 

" From the capacity for doing work is the ability of the person judged. And in

accordance with the ability, by suitably distributing rank among ministers and

assigning place time and work to them he should appoint all the ministers "

(1.8.28-29)

 

 

While the job responsibilities are being delegated to team members, Kautilya in

the above verse gives five areas for a CEO to focus upon.

 

CAPACITY

 

Capacity of doing work is the key factor in understanding a person's ability.

Only an able person can bring out the best results. In many organisations,

managers are recruited based on influence. However if the person is not capable,

the professionalism of the company suffers. One may get the `chair' based on

influence but the `chair' will not let you be there for long.

 

RANK / DESIGNATION

 

Rank and designation should be given based on one's ability. In the current

corporate world, we find that ranks are distributed freely. Even freshers are

given senior positions without examining output. The distribution of

designations should be done based on the results produced. This is the key to

success, particularly for many family-managed businesses in India.

 

PLACE

 

A person needs to be appointed at the right place. In most industries if a new

branch is being opened a preference is given to the local person. He would

understand the details in that particular region much more than others. In the

tourism industry every traveler prefers a local guide to an outsider as locals

explain in more detail.

 

TIME

 

Timing has to be assigned to the person. First, the time to join the project.

Then, the time frame has to be agreed upon. Time-bound targets have to be set in

order to bring out the best in a person.

 

 

WORK

 

The work expected to be done by that particular manager has to be defined.

Management by objectives (MOB) - a concept coined by Peter Drucker or KRA (Key

result area) gives a definite focus on the work the manager is doing. This

should be followed by a proper and regular feedback system.

 

When the above areas have been taken into account, it saves a lot of future

misunderstanding and complications. Clear communication and an agreement to

achieve the defined results not only make a person effective but also the

organisation productive.