Tag: india

Why are drivers on Indian roads so undisciplined?

Indian Traffic(Photo Courtesy flickr | Alex Graves)

For a long time, I believed that the chaos on Indian roads can be explained with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Most drivers on Indian roads are yet struggling to address basic physiological needs. How then can we expect them to even think of a greater good of disciplined traffic?

I am now convinced of my wrong belief that Maslow could explain this.

On my return from a recent Sri Lankan vacation, I found myself telling people that SL was quite a bit like coastal India with a few differences. The biggest being that traffic is a lot more peaceful on SL roads. I observed that a lot more people follow rules, there is visible empathy to fellow road users, there are fewer incidents of road rage & pedestrians have the right of way! While my visit was short & limited to just one province, my observations were validated & reinforced by many others who have experienced SL roads. I have heard similarly impressive stories about many African nations (though I haven’t experienced it first hand).

So, why are drivers on Indian roads like the way they are?

Update: Check on the next post on this topic Drivers on Indian roads are so undisciplined because …

Ageing Digital Inspiration – Amitabh Bachchan

amitabh_bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan)

Often, I hear folks (even those in their 30s, if not more) express frustration & cynicism about the fallouts of our increasingly digital lives. E-commerce, social networking, data privacy, personal broadcasting, “what’s the point”, etc. are issues these folks grapple with. In this context, its a whiff of fresh air to read Amitabh Bachchan’s tweets. Below is an unedited sampling of his recent tweets:

T 202 -Just back from gym .. struggling to get the weight down and tone up body … but will and must do it !!

T 202 – Get up and saddle the horse that has just thrown you off to the ground and ride it again into a gallop, to your destination …

T 202 – We need to keep at it again and again – some thing will surely give !

T 202 – Social networking, dear fellow tweeters – a power bigger than any else it was ever imagined to be …

T 202 – Your networking compels .. it comments, gives opinion, makes corrections, passes judgement, changes decisions and misguided values !

T 202 – Your networking corrects errors .. builds bridges, forms communities, spreads friendship, strengthens bonds .. creates awareness ..!

T 202 -NETWORKING ji !! I salute you ! Mankind discovered and built it .. Mankind propels it ..No where today do we connect thus ..!!

Tone up the body? Advocating the benefits of social networking to a nation whose latest claim to fame is its young age? And this coming from a gentleman who is all of 68 years young!!

The tweets reflect his childlike amazement of the phenomenon. He not only “gets” social networking & leverages it for his benefit, but also evangelizes the phenomenon amongst his fraternity.  From a young nation’s perspective, such active adoption of the changing times (& technology) bodes well.

  • it is an effective way for the ageing population to stay relevant (& thus contribute longer)
  • it helps reduce the gap between generations (& thus makes for a more homogeneous nation building work force)
  • adopting change & active learning helps keep the physical faculties in working condition longer

Bollywood has many stars ..and some SUPER STARS!

—–
Related Posts:
~ Quotes To Live By – Life Lessons from Richard Branson
~ Inspirational Leaders Need to be Performers
~ Quotes To Live By – Learning, Richard Bach

Leadership Lessons From India

Shub_IndianBusinessLeaders

Reading a print version of the HBR always reminds me of what I miss most about college – the library. In the March 2010 edition of the review, I came across a rather interesting article Leadership Lessons From India.

In the article, the authors identify common leadership traits of Indian business leaders. There are quotes from a wide array of well known organizations & leaders.  Comparisons are also made with the US leadership style & ethos.

Indian leaders prioritize their key responsibilities in the following order:

  1. Chief input for business strategy
  2. Keeper of organizational culture
  3. Guide, teacher, or role model for employees
  4. Representative of owner and investor interests

Shareholder interest (4th for Indian leaders as above), is usually the top most for US leaders.

“Employee first, customer second”, a HCL motto, seems to echo across the Indian leadership. Leaders tend to attribute company success to employees’ positive attitudes, persistence, and sense of reciprocity. Four ways leaders inspire employee commitment are:

  • Creating a sense of mission  ..led by CSR activities & interweaving CSR & strategy
  • Engaging through transparency and accountability  ..mutual accountability between management & employees
  • Empowering through communication  ..E2.0, joint problem solving & empowerment
  • Investing in training  ..development of employees & coaching

So will India be an exporter of managerial practices? The authors make a positive argument. While there are some easy practices to emulate, creating a real sense of social mission & becoming role models to employees might be harder for CEOs elsewhere.

Read the full article Leadership Lessons From India here. 

If you liked reading this post, the following might also interest you: