Leadership Development Consultant
What could we offer to the leaders, when—clearly—whatever tools we had reinforced earlier did not include managing a crisis of this sort? As I was trying to make sense of my own reactions and fears, the learner in me desired to know what others were thinking. As I spoke with leaders, I found their tone to be “protective” for Satyam. It was heartening to observe that many leaders wanted to step in and help.
Satyam as an organization had invested significantly in learning, and so I asked if learning played a role in their strong demonstration of leadership. Many leaders gave credit to the leadership development we provided, stating that it helped them understand how to “lead from the front, motivate teams, talk, network, and collaborate.” We had taught our leaders to think about the impact of their behaviors on others. Some said the learning helped identify inherent strengths. One leader told me, “Leadership training has given me confidence to face any situation, including this one!” It is true that anything you repeat as a mantra gets ingrained in the individual’s psyche. . . .“no one wins unless everyone wins” was one such mantra that had penetrated the minds of our leaders. Here is one example of how we gathered strength from another. My colleague, Nicola Klein, and I launched a training program for a response team on counseling services. The program started right after a critical announcement that was filled with even more bad news. Everyone was shocked. Nicola and I were totally broken inside and forced to face a room full of distraught faces. In my mind, the voice rang again, “What’s the point? What can I tell them?” I forced myself to calm down and started the session by saying “I know what you are feeling right now because I feel it too. I am wondering how we can take this session and how we would be able to focus. Let’s not park our feelings. Instead, let’s identify them, because this is how any individual would be feeling when seeking counseling help.”
It’s been almost a year since that fateful moment, and most of us are still reflecting on what has happened. Our responsibility as learning professionals is not one to be taken lightly.
Hi Nandini
SSL was a school-and I fully agree with your comments and views.To grow and groom leaders faster than the competition was the motive behind SSL- however with root of the business hit by incident-the existence of the leaders was threatened as well. Those who stayed -showed the nerve- they are the men & women with steel- and you had a large contribution in making that steel.
Nandini,
well written piece which reflects our state of mind that time at Satyam. I was also involved in interacting with our associates ‘onsite’ (various geographies including USA, UK, Europe, Japan, Australia and other countries – at the time of Crisis Satyam was spread across more than two dozen countries). Many of them were ‘living’ abroad with their families, invested their major part of earnings & shares on real estate / dream houses (Many ‘loyalists’ bought houses from ‘Maytas’ – the family owned developers – till date they are struggling hard to come to terms of their losses). It was a ‘nerve wrecking’ quarter for all of us (starting 7th Jan – 13th April), with ‘Rumor mill’ continuously churning out ‘Truth’ (many such ‘RUMOR’s turned out to be ‘Facts’ – that scared many of us). I’m quite happy that some of us in SSL (including Nandini, myself and others) survived such a massive impact.
Thanks to the focus on ‘Leadership Development’, which helped us in being ‘Resilient’. A big chapter in my life
Regards
Bhaskar Natarajan
It’s heartening to read the stories, to once more visit the epicenter if you will. We all learned so much from one another. In times of crisis this is the way it is. There is a special bond between us that takes many years to develop in times of calm. The true leader comes forth in crisis,
While it indeed takes time to process the lessons and implement them moving forward, times such as these make us better. Our way of working is changed for the better. Our vision is expanded to include more “what if’s” and anticipate more options in better days. We are more atuned to seeing it all and more comfortable with taking action,
Heroes, like leaders, are made. Thanks to you for your courage to step forth as leaders. Serving Satyam then, and all of us now.
Dear Nandu,
I just read this for the the first time and it strikes me that the program we designed and delivered together meant as much to you as it did to me. I didn’t know but I think I know why … thank you for the time we spent together and I certainly hope we will have more chances to work together. You are an amazing facilitator but more than that an amazing friend! There are great things ahead … bigger than we can even imagine (-: