8 Proven Mantras For Management Graduates Transitioning To The Corporate World

Future management leaders must embrace adaptability, continuous learning, and integrity. By focusing on innovation, teamwork, and delivering results, they can drive organizational success and national progress.

By Ram Charan

India is on fire—confident and youthful, it stands influential and at the centre of global attention. It is highly likely that India’s GDP will grow exponentially, from $4 trillion now to an astounding $30 to $40 trillion in the coming decades. We are entering Bharat’s golden era; its time has finally arrived. Today, the youth entering the corporate world to start their careers have the chance to shape this destiny, and in doing so, their personal growth will fuel India’s progress.

According to a recent EY report, the share of India’s working-age population in relation to the total population is expected to reach a record high of 68.9% by 2030. With a young median age of 28.4 years, India not only gains a competitive advantage in its workforce but also harnesses the consumption potential of a vibrant demographic. 

This presents a unique opportunity for the younger generation, including management graduates entering the corporate world, to play a key role in propelling the country’s economic growth.

Given the significance of this responsibility, it is essential for future management leaders to broaden their perspectives and look ahead. 

As you prepare to begin your career and climb the corporate ladder, consider the next 60 years of your professional journey. This is a path you will define, facing challenges and reaping rewards while contributing to the nation’s development.

Decades of globe-trotting and a career spent working around the world have taught me eight time-tested “mantras” that can bring you joy, peace of mind, and success, especially if you are venturing into the corporate world.

First, you will be a very different "Vidyarthi" or student than you have been. You will be graded by hard knocks of massive realities, by different kinds of people and by different standards.  Prepare yourself for this radical change in your mindset and psychology.

Second, you will move your learning mode from a compressed knowledge environment to learning from the hard knocks of daily experience. In the 1970s I began to work with the chairman of Unilever in London. As we began to talk, he took out a thick notebook and began to write what I was talking about. Here is the chairman of the world's largest consumer company and he is making notes! I was already in his awe. And now it was a lesson for me. 

It got reinforced by every chairman and CEO I have worked for. Take notes. Copious notes. Sift insights. Discover what's new! This habit forcejes you to be an alert listener. As you navigate your work life, you will discover that listening is highly valued, and it is intuitively graded by the participants in real time. Learn about PM Modi’s' exceptional listening habit.Third, don’t ever be obsolete. You must learn at the speed of change, at the least. Two hours every week is like the duration of a university course. Marc Andreessen reserves two hours every week to learn about external trends. He co-heads one of the most influential firms in the Silicon Valley tech space. Marc invented the browser Mosaic. 

Fourth, make yourself dependable. Here you leave your pride of high academic achievements behind. What matters is demonstrating that what you promise, you deliver. The sooner you demonstrate it, the sooner you will be noticed. It is a sure step to go up the ladder in any organization. 

Fifth, keep your focus sharp and relevant. This is what Nobel Prize winners and aspirants do. Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos had a maniacal focus on the customer. Everything was for the needs and convenience of the customer. He built a multi-trillion-dollar market value company that sells ordinary merchandise. 

Sixth, help other people succeed. Identify people’s greatest strengths and provide opportunities for them to develop. Word will spread and you will become a talent magnet. Your personal capacity grows accordingly. 

Seventh, keep building external people networks. Reach beyond your industry to people in diverse sectors and the government. They will broaden your knowledge base and expand your range of thinking. Your judgment and ability to act will improve. 

Eighth, preserve your character! Once blotted, it is hard to recoup. In this world, character is it. Your word is it. In all work, know right from wrong. No winking!

Incorporating these eight habits into your life will equip you with the resilience, insight, and integrity needed to navigate the corporate world with confidence. Remember, each challenge you overcome and each connection you make is a step toward not only your own success but also toward contributing to India's growth story.

(The Author is a mentor to the Ramcharan School of Leadership at MIT-WPU, a Business Consultant, and an Author)

[Disclaimer: The opinions, beliefs, and views expressed by the various authors and forum participants on this website are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs, and views of ABP News Network Pvt Ltd.]

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