Vinnie Bhadra
Posted On Monday, February 28, 2011 at 12:54:00 PM
Many management gurus claim that by observing out-of-boardroom techniques sometimes give you the best management ideas. This Women’s Day, we speak to three women from unconventional professions as they share the management lessons they learnt during their tenure.
Sajita Nair, Rt. Indian Army CaptainMost people associate armed forces as being only a man’s profession, right? Sajita Nair, however shares a different prospective on this common misconception that most people harbour. Nair retired from the army in 1999 as a captain to be with her family. “I will not completely deny the fact that people do not show resistance against a lady army officer. Women are expected to go the extra mile and prove their worth. But fortunately, for my colleagues, it was like working and training with a woman was natural for them,” says Nair.
Having served the Indian army for five years and hailing from an army background, there are a few learnings that have stuck with this brave heart even after the end of her stint. “The training and the life we lead as army personnel teach us many things, which later become a way of life for us,” adds Nair. Ask her about the challenges of working as a woman in the army, she replies, “There is not a single problem that is specific to a male or female army personnel. It is the same for all - survival, crisis management, team safety, etc,” concludes Nair.
Management lessons learnt at the battlefield:
- Handle perceptions with dignity
- Effective crisis management should be a well-established job requirement
- People management is the most important trait a leaders hould be equipped with
Archana Tyagi-Sharma, DIG, CISF
Archana Tyagi Sharma is one of the eminent police officers working with the Maharashtra cadre and she ensures she addresses herself as a good police officer and not a good 'lady' police officer. “When I joined the police force, luckily for me, there were a few women officers who made their mark. So, the path was fairly open for me. But while working in a male-dominated profession, you have to be strong enough to gain an unbiased reputation,” says the tough cop who is currently posted as DIG, CISF, Airport Zone, Mumbai. An 18-year tenure as an IPS officer of the Maharashtra cadre has had her traveling to various parts of Maharashtra. It’s a career that has seen Tyagi raiding beer bars, busting heroin consignments, building the cyber crime cell, cracking murders, deporting illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and preventing law and order situations from cascading into something bigger with timely dialogue. “As a woman in such a hardcore profession, there was the pressure initially to establish my reputation and show that I am as tough as a cop is required to be. However, this was a struggle not only with colleagues and seniors, but also more with the public I was willing to serve, as they were not sure if a woman can handle a crime scene,” adds Tyagi. Today, she handles a team of more than 5000 policemen and women.
Management lessons learnt during crime patroling:
- Make sure that you are fair and just with your team members
- Listen to your people
- After delegating a task, make sure you monitor for effective output
Krushna Patil, youngest Indian woman to scale Mount EverestKrushna Patil is one of the lucky few who has had the ‘on top of the world moment’ and that too at an early age of 19. She is the youngest Indian to reach the top of Mount Everest and has also climbed Mt Kilimanjaro (Africa) and Mt Vinson Massif (the highest peak in Antarctica). “My joy knew no bounds when I reached the top; I knew I had done what most people consider impossible. But at the same time came the realisation that half the journey was still left, the journey back down,” adds Patil, who is an ardent adventure sports fan. This young lass from Pune, was initially disheartened by the lack of encouragement from the people around her. “But, after my expedition, I have seen the attitude of people change towards me and they sit up and notice what I have to say,” adds the feisty youngster.
Management lessons learnt on the mountain-top:
- Nothing is impossible, so do not believe when people say that to you
- Young or old, age should not be a factor when you want to achieve your goals
- Working in sync with your team is vital as it will help you achieve bigger goals
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