Management Perspectives

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” - Leonardo da Vinci. Many of the best discoveries/theories are so simple that they look obvious in hindsight. So are the best performers who focus on the basics and keep it simple. And so are the best gurus. To say mothers are the best management gurus is not an overstatement. However, many times, they are taken for granted.

The discipline of management faces a number of problems, including access to a few, and a vast majority mothers. Incidentally, many of the management lessons are already being conveyed by mothers to their children in a simple manner, as many times, what seems to be advanced already exists.

Unfortunately, this role of mothers is not well recognised and celebrated. We requested industrialist Mr. Harsh Goenka, Chairman, RPG to share his insights on management learnings from his mother. Here are his five significant learnings.

1.Knowing what to prioritise: Given the large number of tasks involved in managing a household, mothers have a very good capacity for prioritising. Instinctively, a mother ascribes various deadlines and practical prioritises the day’s activities.

2.Honesty and transparency: It is not about what you do wrong; it is what you do after that. Mothers are the first ones to teach honesty. People sometimes cover up their mistakes, fearing punishment. I learned from my mother the importance of honesty and creating an organization culture that enables freely discussing mistakes and looking to constructively correct them.

3.Multi-tasking: Mothers are the ultimate multi-taskers. This also means that one needs to be less of a perfectionist. Knowing to balance multiple actions and also doing only as much as is necessary to get the job done is an important skill for any manager. While all of us have finite time available, being able to handle different tasks optimally helps lead functions and organisations effectively.

4. Treat people fairly: It is a very innate human need to be treated fairly and mothers do that very well. Firstly, with regard to her children every mother is impeccably impartial and fair. Nobody likes discrimination. Also, people expect what they deserve, and if that is denied to them, they tend to lose faith in the leader. I learned this early on, which has kept me in good stead.

5. Trust people: When you trust someone, without a doubt, you inspire loyalty. Most managers take the approach that ‘people must earn their trust’. I have learned that this approach is more effective the other way around. We must trust people until there is a reason not to. By changing this approach, we can inspire true ownership and responsibility.

These five learnings are essential for any management professional. As we review management literature, we find repeated mention of their importance. These five learnings are especially important in the post-COVID-19 era because it has reaffirmed the importance of prioritising what matters most.