Six Packs of Corporate Governance

I wish I too had six packs!

Is it easy, is it long term?

How do I build it (Initial effort) and how do I maintain it (Continuous maintenance effort)? How do I show if off (Recognition and publicity)? Will my peers accept that it is a great six pack (Endorsement)? What will I get in return (Payback)?

Well this what I did and where I am today.....

Initial effort:

I read and surveyed a bit to understand what works and what does not. Surveyed to find where I can get help (Gym/ Personal Instructors). I created a detailed work out plan. Made some compromises on some of my other activities, like stopped eating fatty food and drinking beer. Broke my work out plan into Immediate and Long term. I started to work on my plan with some support from a instructor. Build my regimen and built my focus.

Continuous maintenance effort

I am getting there!! Ob it is tough, need to get up early every morning! Jog and work out. Eat right. Every day and every meal. No exceptions really. Abstain from some stuff (crispies, colas and chips) and focus on some stuff (veggies, greens and fruits). I cannot stray and remain focused to build my six pack and I see the lines and shapes coming.

Recognition and publicity

Friends say, hey where is your beer belly? Hey getting washboard abs? I get motivated and energised. I believe in my work out plan. I start wearing tight T shirts and V cut shirts. A little show off and publicity wont hurt me.

Endorsement

I feel I am getting there. Will John Abraham envy me, will I replace Michael Bergin in CKs ads? i want to get the endorsement that I have arrived and am in the right league. I benchmark with others at the Gym and with my personal instructor. (no pun intended)

Payback

Here comes my ego massage and my returns. What is my payback? My well maintained six pack get me the envy of other men and ogling and attention of women. I think I have earned it.

At this stage I introspect and analyse. What I see is that these steps to build my six packs are similar to building an organisation with good/ sound corporate governance.

Initial effort

A company needs to understand where it stand and what it needs to do to build a world class CG. It needs to take tough decisions and shed some bad practices (creative accounting). It may need professional help. Planning and positioning is the key activity
I read and surveyed a bit to understand what works and what does not. Surveyed to find where I can get help (Gym/ Personal Instructors). I created a detailed work out plan. Made some compromises on some of my other activities, like stopped eating fatty food and drinking beer. Broke my work out plan into Immediate and Long term. I started to work on my plan with some support from a instructor. Build my regimen and built my focus.
Continuous maintenance effort

Building a world class CG structure is not a one time effort. It needs to be maintained every day and every hour. In every action and inaction of the organisation. In every person. It is continuous and real time. Move from adhoc to structured decision making. From opaque (chips) to transparent (fresh fruits) decision making.

I am getting there!! Ob it is tough, need to get up early every morning! Jog and work out. Eat right. Every day and every meal. No exceptions really. Abstain from some stuff (crispies, colas and chips) and focus on some stuff (veggies, greens and fruits). I cannot stray and remain focused to build my six pack and I see the lines and shapes coming.

Recognition and publicity

Eventually the organisation wants to get recognised for its efforts internally and externally. With its employees, suppliers, customers and investors. It will publish its CG to capture the value.

Friends say, hey where is your beer belly? Hey getting washboard abs? I get motivated and energised. I believe in my work out plan. I start wearing tight T shirts and V cut shirts. A little show off and publicity wont hurt me.
Endorsement

The organisation will look for some endorsement. Benchmark data, peer level comparison, awards etc to know that it has done the right things and it has arrived. Can the organisation not be the Top 10 for CG best practices?

I feel I am getting there. Will John Abraham envy me, will I replace Michael Bergin in CKs ads? i want to get the endorsement that I have arrived and am in the right league. I benchmark with others at the Gym and with my personal instructor. (no pun intended)
Payback

Its payback time for the company. The envious men are its competitors and peers. The women ogling and in attention are prospective and current investors.

Here comes my ego massage and my returns. What is my payback? My well maintained six pack get me the envy of other men and ogling and attention of women. I think I have earned it.

Well now that I see a simile between the building of my six packs and building a world class Corporate Governance structure for an organisation. I ask myself are there any other similies? Maybe there are the six packs are the six pillars of Corporate Governance. These in my view are:

• Tone at the Top


• Organisation Culture


• Corporate Ethics


• Corporate Social Responsibility


• 360 degree feedback


• Risk Management

Is there a quick way to build the six pack, maybe. If CG different in India and in other countries. Yes, in some ways but the basic stucture may not change. But if i was to sustain and maintain it. It is sheer dedication, commitment, some compromise and all the time. What are each of these six packs of CG made of? What are the individual tissues that make the muscles for each pack?

Loneliness

How can one be lonely at work, surrounded by the clatter and chatter of over 200 persons, ringing of phones and the occasional "how are u?" "What new?" How can one be lonely where there are constants emails coming in and the mobile phone ringing? How can one be lonely when there are numerous meetings and conference calls in a day?

Loneliness is not about the people and the technology around you that talk to you or meet you. Loneliness is about not being able to share ones inner most thoughts and views. It is about not being able to behave in a way one would like to, say what one wants to, do what one want to and so on and forth. Loneliness is when one wears the corporate masks when one greets fellow colleagues, or responds to emails and interacts in meetings. It is when we speak what others want to hear, do what others want us to do and often hear and see only what others want us to hear and see.

Oh dear can I be different from my company? Am I am a Japanese employee a couple of decades ago whose identity was merged with the employer? Am I an individual in my own right? Am I what I think I am or am I imagining what I am? The answer to these questions lies in the believing in oneself.

Do I believe that what I am doing is right, am I enjoining it and am I becoming a better individual doing what I am doing?

If the answer is Yes, I don't think I would be lonely. Otherwise I am caught between two ends. A split personality perhaps? Or confused? Indecisive? Everything but a star performer, long term player or a blue eyed boy?

Can we all chase our passion? Can we do what we believe in? Maybe Yes. The answer is in starting somewhere. From zero it can only go upwards. Start and if convinced and passionate, it will soon cross 25%. If you are a influencer or a leader you will soon cross 50%. It will be a mixture of happiness and joy and loneliness and confusion. If other are in awe of your ability to change the environment and the culture it will move to over 75%.

You will then have arrived into an area free from loneliness. In an empty meeting room, in the washroom, as you drive alone or in an empty office the joy and achievement of chasing your belief and passion will scare the loneliness away. And more importantly the passion will attract thought . Joy will bring energy. Achievement will follow. Loneliness will disappear.

Follow your passion (your inner belief).