CLARITY

OF PURPOSE IS A PREREQUISITE FOR EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT

“Management is the art of managing conversations” said my teacher and said it a long time ago when I had
just started my baby steps into the realm of learning the basics of management.

Every interaction, every opportunity and every nuance that I have encountered over the years that can be
categorized into the sphere of management has further cemented this concept in my psyche.

However, even before there is any talk of attaining the goal of effective management, it is imperative that we
identify and appreciate the building blocks enroute.

Defining a clear Purpose is quintessential in any endeavour to attain efficiency for an organisation and
effectiveness for its human resource.

People need to know why the organisation exists. They want a reason to give their enthusiastic support. They
want to be part of an organisation that is the first or best at something, does what no other organisation has
ever done, helps people solve problems, or helps people lead better, safer, healthier or more productive
lives.

One of the very fundamental traits that any effective manager can hope to attain is to have a clear sense of
what they want their organization to stand for and accomplish. Communicate their vision regularly. Ensure
that goals and decisions are consistent with this vision. Remind the team and employees that decisions and
actions need to be consistent with the vision and purpose.

I would like to attempt illustrating the subject with a few examples drawn out from my own life in
chronological order.

1.

Engineering or medicine! Which preparatory course? That’s the primary query anyone with a science
background would hear from relatives, teachers and even friends beginning from 09th standard and reaching
a level of unbearable din by the time you are in 11th if a clear answer was not ready by then.

I however had other plans. With a background of growing up in Air Force Stations across India due to my
Dad’s postings, I had very clear ambition of joining the Armed Forces. Right from a very young age with my
own interest and the circumstances the purpose of my life was very clearly defined as joining the Armed
Forces.

In a time where Internet and broadband had not made its mark, I surprisingly did not find any dearth of
material to go about my objective. Whether it be articles in the print media, talking to service personnel,
understanding the selection criteria and processes with practice on old assessment papers and guidance from
experienced officers previously associated with the Services Selection Board, I had my purpose well defined
and efforts channelised in that direction.

With a hiccup in the first attempt, I did manage to fructify my efforts by getting selected in my second
attempt with 12 SSB, Bangalore and realised my purpose by walking into Naval Academy, INS Mandovi, Goa
on 20th December 1997.



2.

It was during one of the management lectures in my Mates Phase II that my teacher asked the class on where
they saw themselves 20 years from then on. No one had clear answers and the teacher remarked that this
was the difference between Mukesh Ambani and us!

The ability of Forecasting and decision-making were critical in an effective leader.

This one incident set me thinking and it took a couple of days before I had defined my purpose – To be a
Marine Pilot in Cochin Port Trust in the future.

Once the purpose was defined, I realized that the actions and motives started becoming amazingly clear.
Incremental opportunities and related steps were automatically being identified and adopted by me to
achieve the purpose.

Whether it was purchasing a flat in Kochi close to the port during recession time or striking up a camaraderie
with the future colleagues in the port vide CMMI meetings or even getting thorough with the history and
peculiarities of pilotage in Kochi, these steps helped me achieve the purpose defined exactly after 7 years.



3.

In the year 2018 CMMI Kochi was chosen on voluntary basis to hold the All India Chapter Chairmen, Office
bearers and Wardens meeting of CMMI.

This was only the second time in CMMI history that the said meeting was happening outside of Mumbai with
the first instance being in the previous year at Chennai.

A core team was formed under the leadership of our Chairman with self as the secretary. Firstly we defined a
purpose – to create an experience like no other to the guests in terms of comfort, quality and facilities to
make the event a resounding success.

Once all team members adopted the purpose, the thought processes started becoming aligned to achieve the
same.

Time bound goals were set, roles defined, challenges identified and processes spelt out to achieve the
purpose. There was a backup set in place for each member and regular meetings held to identify areas, which
were not progressing as expected.

As the date got closer resources were realigned and processes reworked as applicable for the result.

The event was appreciated and organisers were particularly applauded for the attention to detail.


To conclude it is now my defined purpose to elevate myself to a level where DGS is proud to recognize me as
an Extra Master, the paperwork being just part of the process.


Capt R.V Rajesh Nambiar