The Indian Boss At Work - Review

What does it take to be a boss in India? Some years back, an ASSOCHAM Survey revealed sixty-two percent of Indian employees had abusive bosses. Bulk of the employees quit jobs because of bad bosses rather than to seek better employment opportunities. Employees were moving because of bad management, bad supervisors and bad work environment. It is difficult to say whether the situation has changed since that survey. But the fact remains that Indian bosses are a lot to be desired.

In that   pitiful backdrop, here is an exciting book. ‘The Indian Boss At work–Thinking Global Acting Indian’ by Steve Correa (SAGE Publications India/ New Delhi) which is a journey into the kaleidoscope of Indian business. It explores the ‘context and forces’ besides documenting worldview of Indian leaders. It ‘unravels the secrets to building successful companies based on generational learnings, attitudes and capabilities.’

Correa has three decades of corporate experience in HR and has worked across a wide spectrum of enterprises, ranging from major global corporates to family-led professional businesses. He has diverse industry exposure that spans across India and abroad.

With a foreword by Krish Shankar, CHRO, Infosys and president, NHRD, it includes chapters by Harsh Mariwala, chairman, Marico; Som Mittal, former president and chairman, NASSCOM; Naina Kidwai, former chairperson, HSBC; Manu Saale, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz Research & Development, India; Rajiv Memani, chairman and regional managing partner, EY India; Ashok Malhotra, MD, Reflective Lenses Consulting; Ravi Uppal, former MD and group CEO, Jindal Steel & Power; Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chairperson, Biocon; Renana Jhabvala, national coordinator, SEWA; Jawed Habib, hairstylist and businessman have contributed to this book.

With a set of FAQs, for instance, what are the winning traits of Indian bosses? What cultural influences have shaped their mindsets? What makes them adaptable in any business situation? What can the West learn from India on leadership–the book focuses on various aspects of business. Simply put, it is about discovering Indian-ness and the Indian leader. The best brains in business reflect on their ‘Indian-ness’ that helped them transform into global leaders.

The book has been attractively chaptered:   What Is Indian-ness?; How Time (KAAL) and Place (Desh) Influence; Facets of the Indian Leader; Origins of the Indian Leader; Impact of Indian Family; Ancient Inheritance to Modern Day Legacy; The Indian Psychology of Leadership; The Indian Boss (Karta) at Work ;When Cultures Collide; Women Power (Shakti) and What the Future Holds for Young Leaders.

The narrative is absorbing and eye-opening. This book is an honest, insightful and nuanced look at the Indian leader drawing on deep understanding of India’s cultural DNA, but also the author’s multifaceted experience in local and international companies Steve sets out a vision for Indian leaders that should inspire us all.

Brilliantly argued, it captures the essence of ‘Bharateeyata’ and uses it as a lens to analyze the complex Indian leadership ethos. Lucidly written to engage with the reader, Steve draws over Indian and global experiences in the corporate world. It lends significant insights from Indian leaders. A deeply researched book with ample data, the book is a fountainhead of business wisdom.

From winning traits and cultural influences, to leadership, this lucidly written book unravels the various secrets to building successful companies, based on generational learnings, attitudes and capabilities.

The Indian Boss At Work is a must-read for leaders of all categories — industries, private and public sector and! It provides an important reminder about circumstantial leadership: the uniqueness of India as a nation, its leaders and individuals as part of a ‘global leadership playbook’. It should be in the essential reading list for future business leaders .Students, practitioners and those who truly wish to leverage on Indian leadership will also benefit from the book.