What I Learned Being President of Schindler India!

Voltaire once said, “Perfect is the enemy of good”; as it’s very important to keep improving and learning throughout your life. And one of the greatest sources of learning is the experiences of others; especially of those, who are leading and taking care of an organization of people on a daily basis; people like these are always full of knowledge, and learning from them is a very valuable process.

That’s why we interviewed Ashok Ramachandran, President of Schindler India (a company with a net worth of ₹5 Billion), and asked him questions, which gave insights about his learnings while being on the top position.

Here are the questions and responses that can help every young professional gain guidance and follow the right path while achieving their goals:

1. Can money be a measure of success?

Definitely not. It’s a byproduct of success. I have never worried about money because I think over a lifetime of good work which I equate to success, money comes to you no matter what & offsets the downs of any period of financial struggle. Legitimately earned money isn’t necessarily a bad thing because it feeds you and gives you a lot of independence, but can’t be equated to success. Efforts and goals which do good for the greater society and to your team is the real measure of success. Money is the by-product of that which will definitely come anyways.

2. What is your perception of failures while running a big company?

The trick is in knowing that there exists a difference between failing and quitting. My life has been about failures, and it has taught me a lot more than successes. And running a big company as CXOs is no different; we fail every day. It’s just that people don’t believe that we can. The question is, whether you give up after failing, or just get up ready for the next bout? That is the difference between failing and quitting. I always believe that failure is important; but we should fail fast, learn, and not commit the same failures again. We should also be open to discussing the failure’s with the team, and remain candid and humble always. This kind of failure is a success in my view.

3. Which leadership quality increases the trust and bond between a leader and team members?

Credibility. The leader should be seen to be credible – someone who says what he means and does what he says. If the team is constantly trying to double-guess the leader, it’s not a good place to be in from a trust point of view. The second biggest thing is that the leader should lead with love – be humane and empathetic in his approach. Finally, it’s about being candid with feedback on receiving and giving with the full intent of making the other person even better. One should not lead by power or title but by actions and words. Being emotionally connected with your team is also critical. These qualities build a bond that lasts the test of time and situations.

4. Can you share one quality that is very rare in young professionals?

Patience. Everyone wants results instantly, which while not necessarily a bad thing, is symptomatic of the instant gratification generation and hurts them under certain circumstances. Every growth story has its gestation period, and to ride the wave, one needs to spend the boring, unnoticed hard hours in the sand. I don’t think young professionals are willing to go through that curve and want to be CEOs the moment they enter an organisation.

5. Which productive habit helps in managing a firm in the long run?

Finding time for oneself. With the number of commitments that I have throughout the day, to ensure my mental health and alertness, it is essential that I give myself some nourishment in terms of time spent playing with my kids, exercising, eating right, pursuing hobbies, etc. If you want to be a CXO and lead a company, giving 100% of your time to only work will not just make you less efficient, but will also burn you out. Spending a lot of time with people internal and external is key. Networking outside and learning what is happening out of your organisation and finally bringing it back and sharing with people is key.

6. What one thing a person should not take for granted?

Good times. It’s very easy to fall in love with yourself and your role when things are going right for you. But it takes only a moment for that bubble to burst. My advice to people would be for them to always be on their toes as bad times can hit you any moment, so whilst you enjoy your highs – don’t take it for granted that it’ll remain with you forever. Secondly is about communication. We can never think that people have understood. We should communicate messages constantly and ensure that message has gone out in the right way.

7. Can you share one of the valuable lessons or advice, that can’t be included in the above question?

Always strive to deliver that extra in everything you do. Almost to the extent of wanting to WOW the consumer of your work. These incremental efforts over a while compound and deliver ‘Obscene Success’. My self-coined word for crazy, maniacal success that makes you well-wishers awestruck and your competition envious.