Sunday, May 16, 2010

Some Things to keep in mind

Disclaimer: I try to follow all the below and try hard. Have formulated some of these rules through the mistakes I have made. The below are from my twitter account so some words have been shortened. You can follow me @roshandsilva


Never say anything bad about anyone. The A$$h0!$$ will communicate it to the person out of context.


Treat your team members as adults and individuals. Delegate power and set easy goals, measure performance.

As a leader be gracious and magnanimous. The wins are always of the team and the failures are yours personally.

Criticize in private and defend in public. Never underestimate the value to a subordinate of a leader who bats for him.


Leader's professional life will be lonely. Surround yourself in personal life with people who love you unconditionally.

Battle cynicism and people hiding under their desks. Get everyone to come out, bat for the company all guns blazing.


Prep ur team for an iterative process of market discovery. Many CEOs don't realize how disconcerting change and pivots are for team.


In tough times, forget sales, investors, focus on your team and making sure existing customers get high quality delivery.


Never tell people what to do. Suggest and steer. Let them come up with solutions and suggestions.


Management is baggage. Make sure the producers outnumber the bean counters by a healthy ratio


CEO travel is overrated. Plan outcomes and expectations, decisions before the meeting. Meet to close not to gettoknow.


Important as a leader to belv in God. Helps to ensure you do the right thing and endure the inevitable pain!!


Never let what other people say or do upset you. Focus on bettering yourself and doing good. Have faith that it will pay off


Take things at face value without discounting for bullshit. It will ensure that in the long run people throw less of it at u.


Genuinely wish for peers to do well. Leadership similar to golf. You play only against yourself. Others achievements/ failures don't affect ur handicap. 

    Some CEO tips from Twitter

    Feeling a bit lazy on a sunday so thought I would cross post some of my tweets. Here goes the first series: essentially a random set of tips for CEOs

    • Most important rule: You might be tech/sales/BD/product guy but in a startup CEO is most imp. HR guy
    • Sacrifice air/hotl miles, spend time in office w/ team. Listen, co-ordi and measure - let others acquire miles,see exotic places
    • Imp CEO lesson: u r not a judge. Be a mavrick, treat diff. People differently based on the badges and scars they have earned.
    • Set audacious goals - imagine you are trying to overthrow a dictator. Ensure team w/ skills to scale such heights. Not done it before.
    • Ensure u connect with each individual and commit to taking care of whatever is most imp. For them so they can focus totally
    • Another lesson: Remove separation between two txns with one entity and link them together if u benefit #reliance style
    • Talk abt other party's P&L while keeping ur cashflow mind w dealin w bigcos. Few CEOs and BDguys knw tis trick& so do smll deals
    • If u r doing a deal with some1 with no cash down, can u get further with money on table. can they give u credit to give cash??!!
    • And finally - as the CEO be the good guy at the top and 'Do what you say you will do' - people must trust u to b sensible
    • Never indulge in mud wrstlin/street figtin-is not done by CEOs - startup or big co. Boardroom battles are fine ;-)
    • trust ur team.B clear that u will not police,violation of trust is death. U r after all overthrowin dictator
    For more such stuff follow me on twitter - @roshandsilva

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