At the top-level, it is all about making decisions. Delay in timely decisions leads to loss of not only time and money but also mental energy. Managers have to be very careful while making decisions. The first step is to collect the right information from the right sources. The Chief Executive spends a lot of time collecting and analysing various information.
Such information is categorised by Kautilya as three types: “The affairs of a king (leader) are (of three kinds, viz.) directly perceived, unperceived, and inferred.” (1.9.4)
This is the most authentic form of information one can gather. Seeing is believing. A study of sick factories revealed that various labour problems happened when the production manager spent more time in his cabin than on the shop floor. In Japan, a manager who spends the most time on meeting people in the workshop is highly respected.
Directly meeting people in their work area gives one the best insights into the real issues the employees may face. It exposes one to ground level realities and also gives an opportunity to meet everyone on a personal front. As they say, the best leaders are the ones who know their employees by their first names.
A matured leader can analyse any given situation within moments. He acquires the ‘knack’ of quick decision-making.
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