JOBS YOU CANNOT DELEGATE

A bright young manager, who had joined as a campus recruit from one of the premier institutions, had decided to leave. After holding some discussions with him the immediate supervisors confirmed that there was no hope of his staying back. The business head listened to the details of the discussions, and told the supervisor to send the employee to Mumbai. When the employee arrived in Mumbai, the business head spent almost 5 hours with the employee, at the end of which, the employee said it was his father who had influenced his decision.

The next day was a Sunday and this business head had a discipline of not attending to office issues on a Sunday. He landed up at the residence of the father of the employee in the suburbs, unannounced. The discussions continued till after lunch and the business head returned. The employee continued with the organization and today holds a responsible position. It is important to note that the employee was not even reporting to this business head. It was purely out of the commitment and an urge to retain this talent that the business head undertook this successful initiative.

Among the most important jobs, which a manager cannot delegate are those related to the hiring, motivation, development and retention of employees. Many managers and organizations do not appreciate the importance of reference checks as an important ingredient of the selection process. After all, aren’t we familiar with the reference check process that takes place during matrimonial alliance in our very own India? These reference checks are done by the parents themselves and not by their friends or relatives. Senior people in the organization would experience similar feelings if they directly interact with the customers and understand their pain area as opposed relying solely on the qualitative feedback through their managers or through surveys.

Just as you cannot delegate selection for a member in your team, you cannot delegate the motivation and retention of employee. You have to be personally responsible for your team member. For the employee, the supervisor is the organization and the accountability ends there. You can always use the organization machinery available to add to what you are doing but cannot completely delegate the process of retention. Some of the critical responsibilities of a manager are similar to those in personal life at various stages. You cannot delegate your responsibility of parenthood and a student cannot delegate the job of achieving success in the examination to someone else. If you want to take ownership for your success you also have to take ownership of the critical processes related to the people you select, motivate and retain. There is a popular axiom which says: Don’t do what you can delegate. The reverse of the axiom is equally true: Do not delegate what you must do.

Excellent story with a great moral. Don't neglect to read.

Raaaajjjeeeessshhhh.... Raaaajjjeeeessshhhh. - what!! I woke up from a sudden jerk. Raaajeeessshhh.. .I heard my wife yelling. Whats wrong with her?

Always yelling for something or the other. I can t be in peace even in my dreams. Shucks!! Angrily, I kicked my blanket and got down.
Raaajesssh.. Coming Meera..what s wrong with you. Why are you shouting like this.. .

I hurried down the stairs. I saw Meera, my sweet(??!!) wife, sitting in the couch giving breakfast to my 7yr old daughter Achala. Both looked happy,watching TV.
I got confused at the whole scenario. I came running down, expecting some kind of earthquake, but instead here everything was in place.
I looked at my wife & daughter. She smiled at me back. Now, I more got confused, what s happening here? Am I in a dream?

Meera.
Yeah Rajesh.
You called me. In fact yelled.
Yes. You are right!
Everything is fine here right? Why you screamed like that then.
It s cos it s going to be 8am now.
I couldn t understand what she was trying to say. Is she playing some kind of prank? Is this the time for all these? I have to be in office by 9am for a meeting.
Yes. It s going to be 8am.Right! So.?
Rajesh, don t tell me, you forgot.today is 27th
27th..What 27th?
Don t tell me you don t remember?
Meera gave me an I ll kill you look. Is it her birthday? No it s somewhere at the year end. Is it my daughter s? No no , we celebrated last month only right. Got it. Should be our Anniversary.
Hey Meera, How will I forget our Anniversary.
Whaattttttt????..Anniversaryyyyy???...
Got it. It s not our anniversary. Before I get killed.What s w/ 27th. What ?? what?? Come on Rajesh!! Think. Nothing hit my mind. I looked at my daughter for a clue.
She turned her face away. What s with all women? Why can t they be straight forward & say things. With so much work pressure, how on earth I am supposed to remember all the dates?.
If I say something, then Meera will pick up a fight, and I will miss the meeting, my whole day will be gone.
I made up my mind to surrender.
Meera, Sorry, I don t remember. This medicine I am taking for cough, Something happened..my memory is deteriorating ..What s today? Meera doesn t seem like buying that excuse from me.
Meera, please tell me I asked in a pitiable tone..
Rajesh..You don t remember at all? I moved my head left & right meaning NO. I kept my face like I am a patient suffering from amnesia .
Rajesh, As part of annual day celebrations, today is Daddy s Day in Acchu s school. I have been telling you for the past 3 weeks. Now don t tell me you forgot. You already promised that you will go with her to her school
I couldn t believe that I accepted for something like that. Meeraa..did I??
Yes. You did
at what time it starts..?
By 8:30am and ends at 1pm .
Gosh!! 9am!! I have such a critical meeting. How I will attend all these.
"Meera, you could have reminded me yesterday right?
Oh I didn t remind you? Great. I didn t call to your office. Or remind you in the evening and before going to bed
Might be I wouldn t have heard it. Or slipped out of my memory. Whatever!!
Meera! Can t you attend all these. Why should I??
"Rajesh. It s Daddy s Day!...DADDY ss!!!!!
Oh yeah....but...
But what????...
errrh....might be some other day...
What? You want the school to postpone the function?
No..No.actually..what..I am saying is..
What Rajesh??? What?? Tell me. You promised Acchu and are you going to disappoint her?
I stood there totally helpless. I looked at my daughter. She was all dressed up and ready to go. She looked like, she will cry any time. I saw Meera. She gave me a murderous look. I thought for a moment and my mind raced with many calculations. Important meeting. I can t miss for sure. Half a day is too much. So many deliverables will get affected. I can t face Meera again if I don t go. Might be I can postpone the meeting by an hour and for name sake visit that function and escape to office.
Meera, I will go, but I can spend only 1 hour..
No...that s not..
Before Meera finished the sentence, Acchu rushed to me Thanks daddy. 1hour. Mom, 1hour is enough mom. Please don t fight mom. Daddy, get ready soon..
she nudged me.
Do you know her school name and the route for the school or you want me to tell??? Asking that Meera threw me an angry look and left the living room.
I rushed up, got ready. Called my manager & told that I got stuck in traffic jam and postponed the meeting to 10am.
I took Achala to her school. I felt somehow entering the school, cos it s the 2nd time, I am entering her school. In fact 1st time. I once dropped her outside her school gate. The school had a big playground, Small Park with all kids playing equipments. Some stalls were put up. So many kids with their fathers moved around here & there. Suddenly I felt some one touching my hand
Are you achala s daddy? - A small kid asked. She had curly hair and bubbly smile.
Yes,,,My Daddy... - Achala responded in an excited tone. And some kids ran towards me and Achala started introducing everyone.
Daddy! this is Rohit, this is zakir, Anis, Sylvia, Divya.. - I told hello to everyone.
Daddy, Daddy, Zakir is my best friend. - I smiled at that cute blue eyed boy.
Uncle, Acchu told that you have so much work and you won t be able to come. She told she won t come in today. You don t have work Uncle? - Zakir asked me.
I suddenly felt very bad on how my daughter has understood me. No Zakir, I don t have work
Daddy, they are calling for the games. . Zakir ran to his father and waved his hands at me & achala. I took achala by hand and walked towards the stage.
They were announcing the 1st game. Fathers will be given a sheet containing questions about their kids. Fathers have to fill about their kids which will be verified with the kids response.
Achala was all excited about the game and she was all set to go. But I felt shivers. I looked at my daughter. Suddenly, I felt very far from her, and the reality hit me, that I don t know anything about my very own daughter. I blurted out Acchu..we will attend the next game..This one .. She gave me a deep stare. I thought she is going to cry or shout or do something. But instead she pulled out a small paper from her jeans pocket and gave it to me. Completely baffled, I opened the sheet.

My name is Achala. My birthday March 21st. I am 7yrs old. I like butterfly. Superman. Dairy milk. painting. dancing. I am in 1st standard A section.
I like Dora. Mango. Apple. Fried rice. Jelly. I don t like banana. I drink boost.. I like yellow color. My nick name is Honey dew
And the list went on with small, small spelling mistakes. I looked at Acchu. Daddy, read it, I know they will keep this game. So I wrote it 2 days back itself, to give you if you come. If they ask anything about me, write there. Ok Now go & attend the game . Most of the things, my daughter has written & gave me, I never knew anything about it. I suddenly felt a lump in my throat. I went to the stage waved my hand to Acchu and got the question sheet.

Since Acchu gave the sheet, I came to know about her & I answered almost all the questions. Then they asked Acchu on stage and asked the questions to her.
We got the 2nd highest mark in that game. Acchu came running towards me and hugged me. They gave a toy guitar . Everyone congratulated us. Thou I won that game, I felt like a loser. I know, I don t deserve this. I don t know anything about my daughter.
She looked very happy showing that guitar to her best friend, zakir . What a kid she is. Understanding that her dad is totally hopeless and don t want to let her dad down, before others she prepared that sheet and gave to me. The lump in my throat started getting bigger and my heart became heavy. I caressed her hair. What a beautiful smile she has and such big eyes. Does she miss a wing to get qualified as an angel? I have never admired my daughter or even watched her in all these years. She has that cute dimple of Meera s as well as her eyes. Does that curling lip edges when she smiles, is mine? How I missed all this in my life.

Achala pulled me to the stalls there and I got some eatables and ballons for her and zakir.. She kept talking about the next game and suddenly my mobile rang. Oops!! Is it already 10am. I looked at Acchu . Suddenly her face became dark. She looked totally upset and asked in an low voice Daddy! You have to leave now?

I looked at my mobile. My manager was calling. It s already 10am. I looked at Acchu. I looked around. All those happy kids with their fathers. I thought about my school days, where my dad used to come for all sports day, annual day, sit with me, cheer me up. Every day morning, while dropping me to school, he will wait near the gate until my head disappear. Evening, he will come & pick me up in his cycle, and I will be telling him all the stories that happened that day in school.

I saw Acchu. How many untold stories my daughter has kept in her heart to say me? I thought about all those days, where I yearned for a girl child and I wonder, how much of my time I gave her.

I pulled her closer, gave a kiss on her fore head No Honey! I am not going. I will be here only.we will attend all games and roam around whole day.ok?
Really? - She asked in an unbelievable tone.
Yes sweetz
Thank you Daddy! - Achala kissed my cheeks and ran to her friends. School teaches you something or the other always. This time, back to school has taught me a wonderful life s lesson. I called my manager & told that am running high fever and can t come in today. I know, I can handle things tomorrow. Today my daughter needs me more than anyone can need me in this world. With a lighter heart, I got up; ran towards Acchu, lifted her and gave her a big swing. She erupted into an uncontrollable laughter.

The lump in my throat started melting away.

Give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you ...!

Cross examination of Grandmom

A very gud one for a hearty laugh.

In a trial, a small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, an elderly grandmother to the stand.
He approached her and asked; "Mrs. Jones, do you know me?"

She responded, "Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams.
I've known you since you were a young boy, and frankly, you're a big disappointment to me..
You lie, cheat on your wife, manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs.
You think you're a big shot when you haven't the brains to realize
you never will amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher.
Yes, I know you.."

The lawyer was stunned!
Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked,
"Mrs.. Jones, do you know the defense attorney (the opponent's lawyer)?"

She again replied, "Why, yes, I do. I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster.
He's lazy, bigoted, and has a drinking problem.
He can't build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the worst in the state.
Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women.
One of them was your wife. ..
Yes I know him."

The defense attorney almost died.

The judge asked both lawyers to approach the bench and in a quiet voice said:
"If either of you rascals asks her if she knows me,
I'll send you to jail for contempt of court !

The Law of Germination

This law says whatever is planted requires some time before it comes to
fruition. `Every idea, everything you plant, requires a certion action, a
certain amount of time before the outcome is realized. You need to sow your
ideas, allow them to germinate, give them lots of energy and then you will
reap the rewards. The only way something will grow is if it receives energy.
You have to apply a lot of energy, but be patient. You'll get what you
choose, but you must give it some time. Sometimes people become impatient
when they want to acquire higher incomes. If it dosn't happen for them in
the first couple of days of couple of weeks, they give up. They quit. It
didn't work because they misunderstood the law of germantion. You cant force
things to happen. If you plant a carrot, it's not going to do you any good
to sit there and, as the little shoot comes through the ground, try to yank
it a little bit every day. That isn't going to make the carrot grow any
faster. What you often have to do with some of these ideas, especially these
wealth-building ideas, is relax and let them take their course. It will
happen, it simply requires energy applied consistently over time. So keep
giving it energy and be patient. Remember, force negates. This is going to
require some thinking and some change and it is a process that will occur,
but you have to understand the law of germination.


Money Making Habits -

Most people know what they need to do to become wealthier. Most people know
their finances would be in better shape if they refused to buy on credit.
Most people understand the need to save a certain percentage of their income
for retirement or contingencies. Most people know that if they watched less
television they would have more time to generate income. once these habits
become a part of your lifestyle, you will be on your way to financial
freedom.

Suggested Money Making Habits

- Read a postive, personal development book for 30 minutes per day.
- Plan the next day before you quit for today.
- Listen to an instructional audio tape in your car.
- Watch sixty fewer minutes of television.
- Refuse to gossip. Speak positively of others.
- Write a Thank You note to someone every day.
- Save 10% of your income.
- Refuse to buy anything on a credit card for which you canot pay cash.
- Create one MSI(Multiple Souece of Income) per month.
= Attent a mastermind group once a month.
- Work on your goals every day.
- Take a sucessful person to lunch every month.
- Find a mentor and do what he/she says.
- Start a date night with your spouse.
- Write one page per day of your novel.
- Exercise to relive stress.
- Read a book about selling.
- Do something kind for someone every day.
- smile.

A Nice Story With A Message

A worried woman went to her gynaecologist and said:

'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 01 year old, and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together.

So the doctor said: 'Ok and what do you want me to do?'

She said: 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.'

The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: 'I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too.'

She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request.

Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care of 02 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest sometime before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose to kill the one in your arms.

The lady was horrified and said: 'No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!
‘I agree’, the doctor replied. 'But you seemed to be ok with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution. The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point.

He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb. The crime is the same !!!

If you agree, please forward. Together we can help save precious lives!

Learn from Yesterday, live for Today, hope for Tomorrow..

NEED & GREED

This one makes so much sense...

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican fishing village.
A tourist complimented the local fishermen on the quality of their fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

"Not very long." they answered in unison.

"Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?"

The fishermen explained that their small catches were sufficient to meet their needs and those of their families.

"But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

"We sleep late, fish a little, play with our children, and take siestas with our wives.
In the evenings, we go into the village to see our friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs.

We have a full life."

The tourist interrupted,

"I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."

"And after that?"

"With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man,
you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant.
You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City , Los Angeles , or even New York City !

From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."

"How long would that take?"
"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years." replied the tourist.
"And after that?"

"Afterwards? Well my friend, that's when it gets really interesting, " answered the tourist, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start buying and selling stocks and make millions!"

"Millions? Really? And after that?" asked the fishermen.

"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."

"With all due respect sir, but that's exactly what we are doing now. So what's the point wasting twenty-five years?" asked the Mexicans.

And the moral of this story is:

Know where you're going in life.... you may already be there