Guest lecture by Upendra Namburi, GE Money

Bridging the gap between theory and practice, we had Upendra Namburi, and alumnus of our B- school and presently the Vice President - Partnership Cards to address us students. He is an eloquent expert on product development by using consumer and market insights. I feel its best to learn from someone who's been in the helm of affairs. His presentation was not ostentatious with fancy Power point slides (After all, he seemed to be an ardent supporter of cutting the fluff and focusing on good ideas). He made 5 pertinent points about his career's learnings: 

1) Buck stops with me: The attitude while performing any job should be "What all would I have to make this yield the final outcomes". A job done with a sense of ownership yields positive results. 

2 )Keep on eye the ball : It is important to keep a tab on the action and your key result areas ("numbers"). 

3) Walk the Talk: Leaders ought to do what they preach. Those who do, can motivate people to follow them.Set an example before your preach. 

4) Face your Ghosts: It is important and often a painful process to recognize your weaknesses. Once you do, identify work that seems difficult to you and try to do it yourself or seek assistance from those who possess the skills that you lack.   

5) Murphy Rules: It is about the Execution: No, its not about ideas. Its all about who executes, and who executes it well. 

All in all, I think he spoke about what is really a reality in the corporate life and the unwritten rules that guide it. I sought a clarification about the first point: often people in the organisation do not like it when you overstep their authority or so as to say "organisational role" if you are the kinds who takes initiative and "want to do it all'. I liked Namburi's answer, he explained the thin line between THINKING that you own it, and DOING a job as if you own it. The attitude should be such that "I am responsible for the results" though the action may be manifested through a team. That is called being a team player I guess.

Upendra Namburi's blog : Loyalty Redefined