Articles

September 11, 2019

Distant Thunder and Sher Khan

11th September 2019 BUSINESS STANDARD

I responded to an event organizer’s request for an unconventional biodata about myself by sending something like
September 3, 2019

Directors should act on signals

29th August 2019 BUSINESS STANDARD

How do you deal with a high performing CEO, who is arrogant, in-your-face and cocky? Watch very carefully for prodromal signals and act on the 5C’s: consider, consult, counsel, coach and, if all fail, then confront
August 2, 2019

Business ‘Institutions’ essential for India’s growth

02nd August 2019 BUSINESS STANDARD

Reading recent books on business—pharma, financial services, technology firms—it appears that we love to hate business. The truth is that we just cannot do without them. So we mock them, criticize them.
July 30, 2019

Creating an innovation ecosystem

30th July 2019 BUSINESS STANDARD

Although the group had showcased somany examples ofinnovations over thelastcentury, the prevailing perception internally and externally in 2005,...
July 5, 2019

Wise leaders listen to the messages of kibitzers

5th July 2019 BUSINESS STANDARD

Kibitzer is a Yiddish word for a spectator of bridge or chess, who offers unsolicited advice in chess, bridge, sports or even business.
June 27, 2019

India needs more business institutions, not just companies

27th June 2019 BUSINESS STANDARD

My father arranged a thread ceremony for me when I was eleven years of age. I felt important as I diligently followed the elders’ instructions to follow the priest all the time.
June 8, 2019

Cautionary stories about leadership psychopathy

7th June 2019 BUSINESS STANDARD

Success can make a person rich but can also pose personal and reputational risks. After my book was published recently (Crash, Penguin, 2019), a few readers expressed incredulity about how power could actually “damage” the brain.
May 30, 2019

Competitor obsession promotes autarky and hubris

30th May 2019 BUSINESS STANDARD

Many Indian startups, designed on Silicon Valley principles, appear to be aiming to ‘destroy the enemy’ and to grab the prize of ‘winner takes all’. In the process, they are drowning in a dangerous ocean of swirling losses.
May 14, 2019

A superb CEO should better avoid chairing the same company

10th May 2019 BUSINESS STANDARD

A superb CEO retires from executive position and becomes the non-executive chairman (NEC) of the same company. Is it a good idea or a bad one? Opinions are probably loaded on both sides of the argument, and there is no yes or no answer.