Unit 3 The Contributor s Vision of Success

Transcription

1 Unit 3 The Contributor s Vision of Success QUESTIONS: Q.1) Aastha works in the customer sales office of the passenger ship company (which offers holiday cruises). Her boss congratulates her for meeting her targets. She has achieved success because... a. Her boss is happy with her for meeting the sales target b. She enjoyed convincing customers to go for a holiday c. She is happy she managed to sell enough of tickets d. She enjoyed the challenge of selling the tickets Q.2) Phalguni applied for participating in the cookery contest show on T.V. She did not win but was chosen for the second round. How can you help her to expand her vision of success? a. "You were at least selected for the contest, which means there is something in you that is deserving". b. Look at the confidence you have gained by competing against so many people who are so good c. You went till the second round - that means you were better than some of the other participants. d. Don't worry, you can participate next year and win the contest". Q.3) Karuna and Ajitabh joined as trainees in a hotel. After 10 years, Karuna has become the Manager. Ajitabh is the Assistant Manager. He is respected highly by his team for always encouraging and developing their capability. From your understanding of success, which of the statements is correct? a. None of them are successful b. Ajitabh is successful c. Karuna is successful d. Both of them are successful Q.4) Jamnalal has started a business of manufacturing ball bearings. What course of action should he take to achieve both inner and outer success? a. Get contracts somehow and manufacture low cost ball bearings b. Work towards keeping costs as low as possible so that profit margins can be high c. Work hard and slowly build up goodwill among his customers to increase his business d. Invest in training all his employees to deliver high quality ball bearings to his customers.

2 ANSWERS & THEIR EXPLANATION Following 4 concepts are covered in Unit 3 (The Contributor s Vision of Success): - CONCEPT # 1: External and internal success includes not just meeting targets, getting bonus or being recognized by others, but also the experience and challenge of working for a target and the joy of achieving it. - CONCEPT # 2: Sometimes one does not win an external achievement, yet one feels that one has gained confidence and become stronger from the experience. To others this might look like a failure but to you it doesn t seem so this is an expanded vision of success. - CONCEPT # 3: An expanded vision of success includes both. - CONCEPT # 4: Definition of success determines the course of action an individual is likely to take to achieve his goals ANSWER TO QUESTION #1: The correct order of answers to the 1 st question is B (most contributive), D, C, A (least contributive) In option (a) Aastha is measuring the success is only in terms of external success of meeting boss's expectations (or recognition of the boss). Aastha will only keep meeting the target till the time she observes this recognition. The moment she will identify that her boss has recognized her effort her inspiration to keep performing will go off. Similarly if she identifies that her boss is not recognizing her effort, she will lose interest in performance instead of putting in more effort. In option (c) Aastha measures her success on the work (meeting the target). She may relax after meeting the target or may totally loose interest in performing when given an extra-ordinarily huge target. She is not enjoying the work or the thrill of the challenges which come with any job. In option (d) Aastha is enjoying the challenge. So she is definitely enjoying inner-success but note here the key word is "selling tickets" which is narrower than "convincing customers to go on holiday". Selling the tickets can be monotonous or even transactional (if customer s benefit is not considered). But the joy of seeing a happy customer is dynamic and ever-evolving. Option (b) clearly suggests that Aastha is getting joy in the experience and the challenge of convincing customers. Refer to Concept#1 to better understand the choice of questions

3 Answer to Question #2: The correct order of answers to the 2 nd question is B (most contributive), A, C, D (least contributive) The concept that is covered is concept #2 - Sometimes one does not win an external achievement, yet one feels that one has gained confidence and become stronger from the experience. To others this might look like a failure but to you it doesn t seem so this is an expanded vision of success. - Option (b) helps Phalguni to recognize confidence and hence believe that despite losing the contest she won something much more valuable. The focus is on inner success and it enables her to move away from failure of not winning. The inner success is long lasting and energizing while the external success had she won would have been short lived. This is an expanded vision of success (she has become stronger due to the experience). - Option (a) will enable Phalguni to see that she was selected for the contest and therefore worthy of being a participant. Here some weightage is given on the inner success (ability to contest) over the external loss - In Option (c) though the success is being measured in terms of being better than others (external), it has a positive way of looking at failure, hence it is better than option#d - Option (d) is the lowest in terms of the contributions among the given for options as it does not enable Phalguni to gain anything from the failure but just tells her to move on with no reflection and without any learning from the participation. It also focuses on attempting for external achievement again

4 Answer to Question #3: Right answer sequence is - D (most contributive), B, C, A (least contributive) The concept that is covered in this question is Concept#3 i.e. Both of them are successful. One has achieved external success and one has achieved inner success. An expanded vision of success includes both. - Option (d) recognizes both external and inner success as important ingredients of success. An expanded vision of success includes both inner (respect from team) & external (role of a manager) - Option (b) recognizes inner success and places it higher than external success as inner success is more long lasting. - Option (c) recognizes only external success which is also very important. Option 3) scores 2 marks - Option (a) - LAST OPTION The important point here is that external success is important BUT it is important to go for it along with internal success Answer to Question #4: Right answer sequence for Question 4 - D (most contributive), C, B, A (least contributive) - Option (d) - Here Jamnalal is focused on 3 different things: customer satisfaction, employee development and high quality of the product. - Option (c) - Here he has moved higher from profits to building goodwill "among customers" so the definition of external success has widened. Thus, this option is higher than Option (b). However, the reason for doing so is to "increase business" - Option (b) - Here he may have make profits (external success) but his goal of inner success is not getting met. - Option (a) - Jamnalal may at best have short term external success but even that will not last (so this is the last course of action). Refer to Concept#4 to better understand the choice of questions

5 Unit 4 The Contributor s Vision of Career QUESTIONS: Q.1) P. T. Usha is regarded as one of the greatest athletes of our country who has also started an athletic training school for young girls. She said that she wants to ensure that India wins in international events. What does that tell you about her? a. Her career is focused to make herself famous as an athlete b. Her career is focused on improving her own capability first as an athlete and later as a coach in athletics c. Her career is focused to make herself famous as a coach and as an athlete. d. Her career is focused on making Indian athletes win international events and she is working towards achieving that purpose Q.2) Dilip is a commerce graduate and has been offered a job from a bank. Which approach should he use so that he can grow in his career (as a contributor)? a. He should enquire about what kind of projects are done by the bank b. He should ask about the salary package and join if it meets his expectation. c. He should find out whether there will be opportunities to expand himself and contribute to the community. d. He should consider if the work is interesting and whether he will enjoy it Q.3) Harsha is a postman. When is he focused on expanding his capacity to contribute most? a. I am just a postman who delivers letters. There is nothing much to learn in this role. b. I can help out whenever any co- worker is sick or absent. That way I can learn new skills also. c. I can learn the local language so that I can help not just myself (it will help me ask directions in local language) but others also (I can read out letters or write for anyone). d. I like my job and I should make sure that all the letters reach in time to the right person. Q.4) Tanuja is a computer teacher in a school. What should she do to choose both an external and inner growth vision? a. Apart from doing her work well and helping the school, she should volunteer to teach the nonteaching staff on how to use computers / software so that their work becomes easier. b. Beyond doing her work well, she should think how she can help her school e.g. suggest anti-virus software for the computers c. She should do her work well and also read up on the latest developments in computer software. d. She should make sure that whatever work she does is always up-to-date / completed.

6 ANSWERS & THEIR EXPLANATION Following 4 concepts are covered in Unit 1 (Who is a Contributor?): - Concept#1 - The Contributor is purpose-focused, and is thus willing to learn and do whatever it takes to serve the purpose - Concept#2 - Opportunities to face challenges and one s own development are more important than salary and perks - Concept#3 - The Contributor is willing to try out and learn new things, diversify if needed, volunteer for new responsibilities, take on new roles thus expanding his/her capacity - Concept#4 - The Contributor recognizes and seeks both external growth as well as inner growth within him/herself Answer to Question # 1: The order of the answers from most contributive to least contributive is d (most contributive), b, c, a (least contributive) The purpose for which P.T.Usha has started her academy is absolutely clear. What this means is that she will do All that it takes to achieve this purpose. In the process of achieving that she will earn lots of fame however that is not the objective. If she achieves her purpose and even if does not become famous, it will not bother her. In option (a), the focus is on becoming "famous" only as an "athlete". In option (c), the focus is on making "herself" famous as a coach and an athlete. Pursuit of fame will not drive her to more efforts, infact if she is unable to garner fame soon then she will most likely give up her work In option (b), the focus is on improving her capability as an athlete and as a coach. Even this purpose is very high because it will keep driving her for putting in more effort. However this is just a means to an end. There needs to a goal for which she should use this enhanced capability. Imagine a person who has lots of medical degrees but does not treat patients. What use are the degrees of then? In option (d), the focus is on making "Indian athletes" win events (purpose-focussed). Not only does she have a purpose but a high one too. This one goal will keep pushing her to become better and will pull her up if she ever falls. Refer Concept 1 for further explanation.

7 Answer to Question # 2: The order of the answers from most contributive to least contributive is c (most contributive), d, a, b (least contributive) As a graduate who is a 20 year old, the focus should only be on improving my capabilities. Even if money & fame is what I look for, I should still spend my time investing in my own capabilities because only then there is a DEFINITE chance of earning that money & fame. This question and the options are absolutely relevant to all our students. In option (b), Dilip is focussed only on the "salary & perks". He is willing to commit to a job without bothering to know what it is all about but rather only basis the money it pays. In option (a), Dilip atleast goes beyond salary and tries to find out what kind of work he would be doing. Thus he is going to decide basis the kind of work that gets done in the bank. He is trying to gauge basis this information the nature of work that he might be expected to do. There are better chances of his not getting disappointed. If you read this option carefully, by asking the nature of jobs that the bank does he could be actually taking a decision based on the banks reputation. Nonetheless it definitely is better than the earlier option In option (d), Dilip goes beyond salary, finding out "what work he would be doing" to assess if he would "enjoy" doing it or not. He has moved multiple steps beyond just enquiring about the company & the salary. He is trying to understand whether he will enjoy the work or not. Thus his decision will be more thoughtful. In option (c), Dilip is focusses on the "opportunities of development and contribution" in his work. This is obviously the highest because his consideration is not just himself but he has extended it to the community as well. For better understanding, refer to concept#2 Answer to Question # 3: The order of the answers from most contributive to least contributive is c (most contributive), b, d, a (least contributive) Whenever I choose to do something more (provided it is sincere with all the effort), then unknowingly I am increasing my capacity to contribute. This choice varies from person to person. Let us look closer at the options. In the best option i.e. (c) He has chosen to expand his capacity to an extent that will not only benefit his work but also his customers In option (b), he offers himself to substitute for a sick colleague so that he can also learn in the process. Here there is consideration for fellow mates. The difference is that the effort in the earlier option is

8 going to be conscious and consistent. As a result the capacity increase in the earlier option will not only be more but also definite In option (d) He likes his job SO he will do it well and focus on delivering letters on time to the right person. This is not bad but isn t this not the duty of a postman? Hence this option does not get very high marks as this is Duty and not contribution In option (a) there is complete resignation. He will not love his job, continue feeling that he is very ordinary and over a period of time lose the confidence and belief that he is capable of taking on higher responsibilities For better understanding, refer to concept#3 Answer to Question # 4: The order of the answers from most contributive to least contributive is a (most contributive), b, c, d (least contributive) External growth is in terms of promotions, bigger roles, salary hikes etc In order to achieve this, one has to do his work well. Inner growth implies expansion of capacity to contribute MORE to self, team and society In option (d) there is no intention of increasing any capacity. All effort is only on doing my work well In option (c) there is intention to add value to self so that I am better able to do my current job. This definitely is higher than earlier option. This will enable me to achieve higher external growth In option (b), Tanuja has moved from factors that affect only self to the team. In option (a) Tanuja is consciously making an effort to achieve internal growth by reaching out to her non-teaching colleagues. Let us not look at it as pure charity, in the process of doing this she will develop so many capacities that she will be much more impactful in her current job too i.e. conscious pursuit of inner growth helps me achieve external growth too For better understanding, refer to concept#4