The trouble with mindsets!
Do I know if I have a mindset? Of course, I do; like everyone else. But I don't realise it; like everyone else. I don't know if this is a generalisation, but what the heck! This is my voice and my blog after all.
This will be a long post. May you have the patience to go through it with an open mind! Amen!
Some months ago, I was headhunted for a European role in a large American MNC. The consultant was damn confident (like they always are when speaking to you). During my interaction with him, I realised that suddenly my Indian experience of 13 years was being recognised.
Circa early 2005
When I began my job hunt during Cranfield MBA, the feedback that I received 95% of the times was on the lines, "You have a very strong CV and blue chip experience! But you don't have UK experience!" And my journey to the prospective job used to end there.
I give complete credit to Prof David Butcher - Director at Cranfield SOM. When I met him, he asked on why did I accept such an opinion. His guidance was, "Challenge this mindset!". And I did. What does "UK experience" mean? How does it differ from my Indian experience? If my 13 years with German, British, Indian and American MNC's on Indian soil wasn't enough, what would be? Could someone make a list of those organisations that operate globally but are yet to step in the Indian markets? From Ford & Toyota to Phillips & Nestle to Reuters, Unilever and P&G. Who's missing?
Needless to mention, I never got welcome faces when I politely contested their mindsets. After all, it is not easy to be told that you're wrong.
Circa mid 2005
I am on Business week MBA forums. An American, MBA alumni of a renowned school in UK makes mockery of the spoken English of the Chinese ambassador who addressed an audience in London. I asked him, "How should he expect the Chinese audience to react if and when he addresses them in their language?" No comments came back. That was another mindset.
Circa January 2007
The headhunter has called back expressing regret from the client. Reason? "I do not have European experience"!! Interesting! Very interesting indeed! The ghosts continue to haunt. Anyways. It hasn't impacted me in any way as I continue to enjoy my current role. But the experience of such a mindset was quite intriguing.
Circa 2009 (and this could very much be for real)
International citizens are flocking for a career in India. At an organisation, I am in the selectors chair. I receive the CV of a European (for e.g.). I reject the candidate. Why? Because s/he does not have "Indian experience"!
Of course, I won't do that. Else how would I demonstrate a different mindset from the rest? There are a variety of tools to help you understand your personality types, etc. Does anybody know of a tool that helps one to "check one's mindset"?
This will be a long post. May you have the patience to go through it with an open mind! Amen!
Some months ago, I was headhunted for a European role in a large American MNC. The consultant was damn confident (like they always are when speaking to you). During my interaction with him, I realised that suddenly my Indian experience of 13 years was being recognised.
Circa early 2005
When I began my job hunt during Cranfield MBA, the feedback that I received 95% of the times was on the lines, "You have a very strong CV and blue chip experience! But you don't have UK experience!" And my journey to the prospective job used to end there.
I give complete credit to Prof David Butcher - Director at Cranfield SOM. When I met him, he asked on why did I accept such an opinion. His guidance was, "Challenge this mindset!". And I did. What does "UK experience" mean? How does it differ from my Indian experience? If my 13 years with German, British, Indian and American MNC's on Indian soil wasn't enough, what would be? Could someone make a list of those organisations that operate globally but are yet to step in the Indian markets? From Ford & Toyota to Phillips & Nestle to Reuters, Unilever and P&G. Who's missing?
Needless to mention, I never got welcome faces when I politely contested their mindsets. After all, it is not easy to be told that you're wrong.
Circa mid 2005
I am on Business week MBA forums. An American, MBA alumni of a renowned school in UK makes mockery of the spoken English of the Chinese ambassador who addressed an audience in London. I asked him, "How should he expect the Chinese audience to react if and when he addresses them in their language?" No comments came back. That was another mindset.
Circa January 2007
The headhunter has called back expressing regret from the client. Reason? "I do not have European experience"!! Interesting! Very interesting indeed! The ghosts continue to haunt. Anyways. It hasn't impacted me in any way as I continue to enjoy my current role. But the experience of such a mindset was quite intriguing.
Circa 2009 (and this could very much be for real)
International citizens are flocking for a career in India. At an organisation, I am in the selectors chair. I receive the CV of a European (for e.g.). I reject the candidate. Why? Because s/he does not have "Indian experience"!
Of course, I won't do that. Else how would I demonstrate a different mindset from the rest? There are a variety of tools to help you understand your personality types, etc. Does anybody know of a tool that helps one to "check one's mindset"?
posted by Sandeep Gupta at
10:19 am
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