YUVA (Youth) - LEAD THE CHANGE
When I usually meet the wannabe Managers who are fresh out of college or else an year or
two in system, I just love their spirit, passion & zeal. However, it is very important for a
youngster to be a good learner because quite often because of un-directed passion, we
often get trapped in our over zealousness & cause harm to our own selves.
This write up is a tribute to all wannabe young future managers. Hope this offers enough
learning to you.
Being a youngster – we possess youth, which is a strength and also a challenge. While on
one hand, we are active, agile & energetic on the other hand we will lack wisdom &
maturity. Let me share with all of us a few principles which will help definitely :-
1. Whenever we fail, we must accept that we fell short. Quite often I see youngsters getting
trapped in trying to prove themselves right even when they weren’t right. Simply stated, if
we have to explain why we failed or why we are not wrong & that we gave our 100% - it is
also an indication that we didn’t knew what was 100%. Accept your failures & understand
why you failed in the first place.
2. When you feel that you didn’t achieve something due to others (Vendors, Service Providers,
Other Departments, Other Functions, Your Superirors, Your Team Members etc.), it is
actually you who couldn’t get them to do what you needed them to do. You failed to make
use of all possibilities. Don’t reason out. Accept that you fell short.
3. Many people come up to me & share that they feel they deserve to be appreciated for their
daily jobs. It is not going to happen. You need to be exceptional to get recognized.
Organizations generally do not develop a culture where appreciation is a tool to get work
done. You need to be great to get recognized. Average is out. Great is in.
4. In 2014, if you want to do anything – Put it through the three lens test –
a. Is it essential for you to do? What would happen if you do not do it? Would it impact any part of your
career or job or your current role?
b. Does it help you in short term or long term? (Can you apply it anywhere in short term? If not, when &
where can you apply it in long term?)
c. Would it make you better at what you do? Would it make your perform better?
If the answers to any of the three lens is a “NO”. Don’t pursue it. The distinction between a
need and a want is critical. Quite often I see people running after a want, thinking it is
their need.
5. Never reject criticism & feedbacks. That is a problem I see in approach from many
youngsters at times. Many of them think, they know everything & that is the first step
towards bigger failures – Personal as well as Professional. Accept criticism & be open to
understand why something negative is being told to you.
6. What we don’t understand, we don’t accept. As a human being, even the most scientific
minds don’t understand electricity, but we use it. Our biggest strength can be our biggest
weakness, when we take it too far. Find a mentor who can help you change & everyone of
us needs a mentor/ guru.

7. “What has got you here, will not get you there”. It is a principle of life that what you are
good in will become obsolete or useless after a while & in worst cases it will become your
biggest weakness. You need to be open to “un-learn” & “re-learn”.
8. Remember as a professional your success as well as failure is short lived. Don’t take either of
them seriously. Maturity is required when you deal with either of the two by not becoming
over confident or under confident.
9. People like change when it happens to others but if we can’t accept changing ourselves
whether it is by attitude, by behaviour, by approach, we don’t deserve to lead others.
10. Last but not the least “If you are going through hell, keep going”. Chances are by the time
the hell lasts, you would have reached the doors of heaven (Learning, Leadership,
Opportunity).