Mangaluru: Episode two of NewsKarnataka.com’s People @ work titled Battlefield to Business was held on September 26 at 12 pm.
Ramesh Ranjan, Editor and founder of HumanEngineers.com, a popular HR website that deals with managing the people side of the business hosted the event.
Special guest of the event was Narendren Nair, an ex-army officer and EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer Voltas Limited. He passed out from National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune and did PG in Business Management from Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune. Later he did higher studies from Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill -Kenan and also from Flagler Business School and International Institute for Management Development, Lausanne. Narendren has served in the Indian Army (11 Gurkha Rifles Regiment) for 10.5 years. He was part of the Operation Vijay (Kargil War) and he was injured during the battle which led him to drop out from army. He also the received SHAURYA CHAKRA from President of India.
Narendren Nair said that be it in battle filed or in business, change is unavoidable and this is true for everyone. “Times change, things change, and as humans, we must continue to adapt and try to stay ahead of any changes. Since 2019, children, especially from nuclear families, are adjusting to the new changes. Classes are being held, exams are being given, and so on,” he added.
He is of the opinion that war is not a pleasant thing, it is a serious business. It’s all about surviving and only one person will emerge victorious. “During the Kargil War, we were stationed in an area that served as a bottleneck for the Indian Army. There it was all about anticipating threats, gathering competitive intelligence, assessing the situation, adapting, and then launching an attack to achieve the desired results. Whatever we had learnt, we were managing and maximising our efforts.” Narendren said that it is same for business as well.
Whether in battle field or in business there is a great deal of knowledge available, as well as a great deal of pressure. “In this case, the way you make a decision is important,” he stressed.
He further said that if it’s a corporation or an army, resources will be limited. There will be a reaction when the pressure reaches its maximum. Years of practise will aid you in making the best decision possible. He stated that practise is the key to success, he said.
Correlation of battle field with business
Narendren said that one must look for gaps whenever you undertake scenario planning, absorb, or try to make sense of what you’ve thought. He went on to discuss the significance of agility, empathy, and technology in the workplace. “You won’t have all of the equipment, resources, time, or other factors accessible in every situation, so you’ll have to make do with what you have.”
He went on to say that technology provides a lot of information, but how you use it is important. We must employ both judgement and technology to do this. This is true both on the battlefield and in business.
Later, he discussed psychological value, time constraints, the significance of reading between the lines to comprehend what isn’t being said, and how to align according to needs.
“You need to work as if something is going to happen and then when the right moment comes, you will not lack in anything and you can capitalise it,” he added.
He also emphasised that we must comprehend the difference between generalists and specialists in order to maximise diversity.
“Everything has an expiry date. It’s not useful if you don’t use your resources and faculty throughout that period. If you have the opportunity and the resources, you make use of it at the correct time. This is same in battle field too,” said Narendren.
Trust and accountability are lessons that apply to both the battlefield and the corporate world. “You must trust your people, and to do so, you must train them, collaborate with them, and assign work. If that happens, this will add up to the reputation.
He also stressed that one must understand their opponents, which is equally necessary in business as it is in battle field.
Narendren further said that success is wonderful, but it can also be dangerous, since it can lead to a lackadaisical attitude, which can harm the business. Diversity may be a powerful asset if you know how to use it. You must remain committed in it and instil the reputation in the minds of the people.
It is necessary to share and follow a common vision. “Don’t be concerned about strategy or planning. More emphasis should be placed on execution,” he concluded.
