To get noticed - Demand and Perform

In the current fast paced industry, it is imperative for executives to keep stretching the extra mile to out-perform previous achievements, to exceed expectations, to distinguish against colleagues.

But it is surprising that kids exhibit the same behaviour already. Maybe it is in the genes...

My babies have already started competing against each other. It is amazing that my twin 1 already realizes that twin 2 is her competitor at home. They of course do not know how they look yet, but know like whom they look !! They are competitors for love, affection, grasp, embrace, food.

My twin 2 realized much early in life that to grab attention, she needs to demand. This was her first instinct. She used to screech for her slightest need. She demanded attention, demanded embrace. We had no choice but to stop what we are doing and attend to her. And, as she grew up, she realized that people notice and enjoy when she performs something new. So, when she is in a good mood, she tries out all new things like getting to a crawling position, clapping, winking.. She knows that everyone looks at her and not her sister when she performs !!

Now my twin 1 is not far behind. Though slow, she understood the pre-requisites to grab attention by watching twin 2 and our reactions. She is doing the same things now of demanding attention. She performs by giving a wide smile rather than trying out new things. But, she has also learnt to perform.

So, babies know that only if you demand and also perform, you can get noticed. This is a lesson for executives. In a competitive world, you need to distinguish yourself, get yourself noticed to move ahead than other peers.

Stand apart, move fast !

Training is 10%, Attitude is 90%

In the corporate world, we depend a lot of training programmes to get our executives prepared for the new challenges, new technology, new domain, new skills ! Rather, we most of the time, depend only on training as our risk mitigation for something new and unknown.

In my experience, training is only an initiation, but does not result in skill upgrade immediately. And, the time to acquire varies very largely across individuals...

This fact only got re-inforced with my kids. For my kids, every day, every situation is a training. My twin girls have the perfect setting for a comparison (though I am strictly advised not to do this !).

They have been brought up exactly in the same environment (my home), exactly under the same trainers (I mean parents), exactly started with a clean slate (fresh neuron cells). Should this not translate to they acquiring exactly the same skills in the same timeframe !

But alas, as expected, they are learning differently, at their own paces with varied skills. So, it makes me think aloud.. What is the reason ?? Should they not be same since we almost maintained the external factors same ??

The truth is that training is only the beginning and not the end. Capabilities, Aptitude, Interest, Attempts, Desire differ from person to person, baby to baby ! I sum all this under "Attitude".

So, more effort is needed in Attitude to acquire skills !! When babies have attitudes, should we say more about mature adults !!!

Well folks, training is nice to put on paper as a solution, but the truth lies elsewhere...