A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MANAGERS

A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MANAGERS.

Some twenty years back there was an article in the newspaper ‘The Hindu’. It talked about code of conduct for managers. It was in the form of questions a Mahabharat character asking another one. I don’t remember the character names exactly. There were more than one hundred questions in that article.

Most of the questions are applicable today also. I have listed them under different headings for easy understanding. Try to answer the questions honestly. We all know the right answers. Just check whether you are following the code. If not, change yourself to become a better manager. 

 

Attitude.

• Are you a person of good principles ?
• Are life’s pleasures too much for you, to the point of overburdening ?
• Are you in the habit of starting something impulsively, abandoning it suddenly and then restarting the same thing or something else without a definite plan ?
• Are you awake when required ? Do you keep your phones off during nights ?
• Do you take blind leaps into the dark or calculated jumps with the required precision and precaution ?
• Do you yourself have an unimpeachable integrity as a shining example ?
• Can others draw inspiration from your initiative and enthusiasm ?
• Do you respectfully regard well-versed and capable persons even when they are your employees ?
• Are you prepared to accept changes for greater success any number of times ?
• Do you treat your customer as a VIP even if he is unimpressive ?
• Do you try to be economical in using words unless you have to out speak somebody ?
• Are you ever sarcastic in your talk ?
• Do you clear your work daily ?
• Do you act in anger ?

Communication.

• Do you know the importance of good communication skill – impressive writing and effective talking ?
• Do you patiently listen to others or cut them short and react ?
• Where will you tell unpleasant things to your people, in public or in private ?

Interpersonal relationship.

• Do you know the importance of  making available essential amenities to your employees, especially when they are posted in underdeveloped places ?
• Can you praise people in a natural way and get along with different types of people with ease ?
• If somebody known to you wins an award or gets a promotion, do you congratulate him by some means ?
• Can you hide your ill-feelings ?
• Do you wish to be known as a strong man with reasonable understanding who cannot be fooled or “goody-goody” boss or as a terror ?
• Can people deposit their trust on you and feel safe ?
• Can you counter a person without offending him and without losing your temper ?

Leadership.

• Do you keep a watchful eye on what your associates, competitors and frustrated employees are doing ?
• Are you sure that your people are not susceptible to the influence of your competitors, your contractors, your clients or your opponents ?
• Will you be able to ensure that your business secrets are not passed on to others by your so called loyal employees in disguise or by yourself foolishly or by other employees who are not shrewd ?
• Do you run to help your people if warranted ?
• Do you punish the guilty and honour the innocent without any consideration for personal likes and relationship ?
• Which one you use first, diplomacy or might ?
• Have you ever thought how you would have liked your organisation if you were the junior most man working on it ?
• Do you publicly pat people for their good performance ?
• Do you encourage your people for their initiative and independence ?
• Do you attends important grievances of your people personally ?
• Do you show sincere concern for welfare of your people ?

Self discipline.

• Will ever people see you in public without dignity ?
• Do you look ahead and plan things well in advance  so that everything happens as a routine ?
• Do you believe in systematic and methodical working ?
• Have you resolved to conduct yourself with dignity everywhere ?
•  Have you divided your time rightly between pursuit of virtues, wealth-generation and entertainments ?
• Do you believe in training yourself and your people under the best experts even if it costs more ?
• Are you always deep and analytical in your thinking ?
• Are you generally alert (especially while speaking) ?
• Do you suffer from false ego problems ?
• Do you respect and follow others rules even when you consider them inferior to your own ?
• Do you know how to get some part of your work done by others with your perfection ?
• Do you always wish for practical application of what you have learned ?
• Are you discreet in all your approaches ?
• Do you cleverly avoid the company of undesirable persons ?
• Do you strive to evolve a code of your own high principles ?
• Do you have at least one extra curricular activity which will keep you close to the section of the society you belong to ?
• When you make the rules are you the first one to follow ?
• Are you shy to ask for help when needed ?
• Do you admit your mistakes ?
• While you expect others to be loyal to you are you loyal to others ?
• Do you have a habit of writing down things and reviewing them periodically ?
• Do you avoid doing purely personal works during office hours ?
• Are you punctual everywhere ?
• Are your approaches are always positive ?
• Do you know that any knowledge can be learned and age is no bar ?
• Do you re-read important documents at intervals so that vague memories do not mislead you ?
• Do you keep your work place tidy ?

General.

• Are you keeping an updated version of  SWOT analysis of your competitor ?
• In crucial decisions do you consult experienced and wise men ? How many mentors do you have ?
• Do you take pains to appoint only responsible persons for responsible jobs ?
• Do you try to collect and understand the full facts of a case before taking the final decision ?
• Do you easily admit excuses offered by incapable or insincere people ?
• Are you in a habit of exercising creativity ?
• Do you observe people’s behaviour and expressions keenly ?
• Do you sincerely try to leave lasting impressions on the people when you deal with them ?
• Do you know that you can get bad brand names without your knowledge ?
• Do you know how to avoid time wasters ?
• Can you firmly say no with a smile ?