Manager in the making - 4 :: sharing Self Improvement Tools

Dear

During the decade long corporate exposure, I have undergone various training programs - from just a day long programs to few really big ones which spreads to 4 - 6 months....with long periodical sessions....

I have never been career oriented and I dont have to say much about the past 10 years (note, I meant the past 12 years until 2006) but I do have some special words for such training programs. I have always been too receptive and open to these programs involving myself fully into what ever the program is about....I dont mean being very talkative / friendly OR debating with the trainer in every possible opportunity..... I really mean trying to understand the crux of the program and asking / clariyfying on genuine doubts with the Trainer ... and more importantly, ensuring that I push up the participation levels of my co-trainees by few notches with my spirit and enthusiasm.....!! For that matter, I consciously dont sit with my colleagues / familiar faces during such training programs to avoid nuisances / distractions.....& the point is that I do this very naturally without making it too glaring for them.....

Now, my single biggest feeling about such training programs is that they teach too much when people are not really ready.....!! In particular, I have seen some really powerful tools for time management in few of these programs, mindboggling techniques on Fast reading and communication skills & my pet subject "mind mapping".....BUT, while one single tool is sufficient for one's life time, it is quite natural that the participants loose out the tools over a period of time....you see, its problem of having plenty....!!

To come to specific point to be shared gleefully with you, this year beginning, I made a very simple weekly tracking mechanism on time management..... This is a customisation of many things that I have learnt and felt but was never doing consistently... I had visited Star Zerox on 30th Jan (sunday) to make 56 copies for the format (you see you need 4 pages as a cushion for the 52 week year, right ??) and made a spiral binder of the same....

While doing this exercise, I made half dozen books instead for my own - I distributed to my direct reportee and 3 of his team leaders on Jan 2nd explaining them the importance of such tool.....and the last one was kept reserve with me....!! I am not sure if my TLs will use this for whole of the year but the way they reverentially took it, I am sure they will not throw it....!!

Now the climax of this piece is that when I explained Anoo at home briefly on this, she was so inspired and asked me if by any chance I have an extra copy....I was taken aback as I never expected this question from her.....and quite joyfully handed over the last one which I had in reserve.....The way I explained it should have touched her and who knows, perhaps she may become a better time manager than me in course of time....

A Good Manager never feels bad if his sub ordinates grew up much more than himself.... I am sorry, I should have used the word "leader" instead of "manager"..... I intend to become both !!

suchoo