Sirajuddin Aziz
Self-improvement must remain a lifelong quest. Any change that one expects must find that change within oneself. While in pursuit of improving, it must be clear that the quest is for improvement, not perfection, because that cannot happen. There is a saying: formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.
Self-improvement involves seeking new and fresh information that must relate to the then obtaining circumstances. Knowledge of the past doesn’t help in keeping pace with the changing environment. There has to be a cautious updating in the knowledge base. With so much happening in the tech universe, special care has to be exercised in letting raw information creep into the body of knowledge, for it must first pass through critical evaluation/tests of validation.
The poetic composition of H. W. Longfellow is an impelling plea for us to learn from others. He wrote: “Lives of great men all remind us, We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us, Footprints on the sands of time.” Indeed, history’s pages are soaked with people of outstanding intellect and wisdom. A continuous indulgence in reading biographies and autobiographies, including a lot of history books, will instil qualities required to lead, influence and manage people and events. It is one singular aspect that I vehemently focus upon when in conversation with younger colleagues… exhort them to read… just read, from current affairs to romance to Archie comics… read is the message. A major source for self-improvement is books; make them your eternal companion.
Mediocrity should have no place in the development of skills and attributes of personality. It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.To learn and improve, it is important to be humble. Anyone who harbours the abhorrent trait of arrogance can never be a recipient of new knowledge.
As leaders/managers, it is also critically important to develop within oneself feelings of empathy; the need for understanding and caring with genuineness and sincerity must be kept in focus. In doing this, a manager is able to foster an environment of trust and loyalty. This can be achieved through active listening, giving attention to what others are saying. A complete faith in what is being said is the best.
Integrity, though innate and divine, can also be achieved and enhanced with focused attention or transparency in all types of transactions—with or without involvement of money. The leader must at all times maintain a high degree of ethical standards. The moral compass must be alive. Only then can others witness that, even when stressed or tempted, the manager leads by example.
The need and importance of seeking communication skills cannot be underestimated. It is absolutely important that, as managers, you must articulate vision and strategy with clarity. There should be no room for ambiguity. Communication is a two-way street; clear conveyance of expectations and equally clear feedback on results achieved is vital.
Self-improvement demands of oneself a very strict regimen of self-accountability. A manager who is confident will never shirk responsibility for both action and results. The ability to hold oneself accountable and derive problem-solving through acceptance of circumstances is possibly a great feat to achieve, but this can happen only where the manager rids himself of the attitude of “I am right.”
While it is significant to be decisive, it is also important to be seen as someone who takes decisions not on the spur of the moment but based upon sound and stable understanding of business issues. The element of decisiveness must not come at the cost or peril of losing out on maintaining a flexible attitude. In the midst of crisis and challenges, a sound manager will have to resort to altering and amending decisions on a continuous basis. Inflexibilities, if any, take a back seat. The need to slow down, reflect, and adapt must remain in sharp focus during the day’s work.
Managers must be able to learn from mistakes while taking decisions because not all decisions are perfect. Open-mindedness is a necessity. It allows for adoption of changed approaches to a given situation.
The state of mind must remain in the positive zone. To achieve this status, one has to train oneself to avoid harbouring negative tendencies. Much of what is experienced during the workday must be consigned to the limbo of forgotten memories… a lot must be ignored and a lot must be forgiven. Those who practise this tend to lead a peaceful life. They usually have strong skills for developing stable interpersonal relationships. They focus on solutions rather than problems. They surround themselves with positive influences and maintain optimism.
Towards self-improvement activities, it is also important to develop an attitude of patience. Those who are patient do not suffer from undue stress. They have a placid, tranquil and calm demeanour. Learning is lifelong. There is no expiry date for seeking self-improvement. It is never too late to improve, both skills and personality traits.
The writer is a Senior Banker & Freelance Columnist.
