Few days back, i was invited to judge a Quality Circle Competition by CII Confederation of Indian Industry at Amritsar Hotel Radisson Blu. 11 Teams from various industries participated.
The hall was jam-packed with businessmen and industrialists from various industries. Some of the best presentations were from teams from the companies Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, Vardhman Industries, Rockman Industries Ltd, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, and Claas India Ltd.
Quality Circle is a management concept under which few selected workers form a group to analyse the problems faced taken one at a time and their respective solutions with time bound action plan.
Resulting into extraordinary financial and performance results which differentiates it from Kaizen. As share in the Book “The Toyota Way” by Jeffery K. Liker.
When I reached the venue, everything seemed normal. Starting from Weather to Valet Parking or warm welcome followed by a welcome drink or a big Projector projection along with sound system.
But as soon as the presentations started, i was freezed. I was really surprised to see the enthusiasm level of the teams. It was a tough competition.
Level of competition, energy and enthusiasm was increasing moment by moment and presentation by presentation. With each presentation starting, expectations of everyone present were rising.
Out of my curiosity, when i asked them, “How did you keep yourself Energised all the time!” I was doubly surprised at the answers.
Most of them replied, “Really!!!” “Do we really look motivated or energised ????” “Are we looking feeling high!” ” Are we full of Motivation??” And i was taken aback at the response.
Something which was apparent to everyone in the hall, persons depicting the same were unaware of the same. Perceptions were different from the reality.
They never felt that they were enthusiastic, energetic or motivated. None had consumed any energy capsule or was thinking either positive or negative consciously. How come it was possible!
When i observed minutely, i started feeling how it could have been for them. Every participant of every team had a pressure to perform. Everyone wanted to deliver its best.
In the pressure of performance, they practiced and rehearsed again and again. They had accepted a challenge out of daily monotonous life of going to office at 9am and returning at 7pm, tired, consumed and exhausted.
Now they had just one chance, PERFORM OR PERISH. They had accepted a challenge which demanded few actions, not generally performed in day to day life. The challenge inspired them to move ahead. It kept them on their toes.
Once agreed by wish or pressure, they had to take a stand to deliver. They couldn’t back out. No choice of going back. They groomed themselves. Took part in Training and development activities.
All this reminds me of a Management Development Program cum Performance Enhancement Project through staff training undertaken at one of the venders of Hero Group, where we had received extraordinary unparalleled results within 6 months.
Coach Sushil Arora
Management Consultant?
