Managing Environment

While discussing "Managing Environment", I am not going to discuss global warming,pollution etc. Substantial awareness has already been created about these by the media, though action being taken by developing countries
to address these issues is very slow.

I want to express my thoughts on how to manage the environment in our day-to-day life. While doing business with the Government, it is absolutely essential to manage the environment..Being aware of the environment in which business is going to be conducted is necessary for any successful business-man. One should be prepared to incur the necessary cost for such "environment management".Many multi-national companies opting to start business in developing countries include such costs in pre-operative expenses.My view is that this is applicable to almost all the countries of the world. The Bush family business dealings are one example of managing environment.

Is "managing environment" applicable in our personal life?. I would think the answer is "yes". When our child reaches the age of four, we want to admit the child in the best school nearby. All parents want to give the very best education to their children. Once we choose a particular school, we make enquiries as to who will be in a position to help us to secure such admission. We contact that influential person and through his efforts,try to get the desired admission. This is one aspect of "managing environment" in our personal life. This goes on and on in various other aspects also.

I can quote an example from my life. Early in 1962, I was selected as an Upper Division Clerk in Bharat Heavy Electricals,Tiruchi. Had I joined immediately, I would have been the first clerk in that organisation. As I did not want to start as a clerk, I rejected the offer. After some time, I became jobless, I then thought that it would be better to start with something.. I did not know how to go about doing this. I came to know that a sub-inspector in our locality knew one Achuthan Nair in BHEL who mattered. Though I did not know the police official personally, I directly approached him with a request to help.He appreciated the fact that I wanted to start working life as an officer, but lamented that I did not have the resolve to stick to that decision. I explained the family situation to him. He promised to speak to Mr Achuthan Nair.Here it was necessary to find out and determine as to who could help. I lasted in this job for just five months.

After a certain stage in official life, only man management can take you to higher levels. At very senior levels, man management is very necessary. In my career, I have turned foes into friends through "environment management".

For successful "environment management", here are some tips:

1)Be aware of the environment in which you operate. A proper appraisal of the environment (what they call as scannning the environment) is a pre-requisite for any movement forward.

2)Be flexible. Do not be rigid. Where money has to be spent,do so. Do not stick to high moral grounds. There is no such thing as an ideal situation in life.

3)Do not be reluctant to approach people. God helps only though people.

4)Be prepared to take decisions immediately. We learn in life only through wrong decisions. Also,be tactful.

5)Do not loose heart. Do not ever give up. Like the devil in the Vikramadityan story, pursue your goals relentlessly.

Even in the Army, there are four Lt.Generals of equal calibre, But only man becones the General. He is that person who is the bes t in "managing environment". This may be happenning in your Office also.

If you have listened carefully to the lyrics of the most famous song in the film "Slumdog Millionaire", it talks about "manaing environment".

JAI HO