The Hindu Business Line : Now, ‘bullet proof’ managers!

The ‘Bullet Proof Manager’ series has three modules — public programmes, exclusive programmes for corporates and ‘train the trainer’ programmes _ which impart skills such as communication, emotional intelligence, motivation, priority management, stress management and problem-solving.

Skills for the rough and tumble of the corporate world.

Anjali Prayag

Our managers are getting younger and our teams bigger.”

While this may be an exciting statement for a company that’s on the fast path of growth, it tends to throw young managers into a whirlpool of projects, deadlines, hiring, training, motivating, retaining and sometimes even firing employees.

Most managers become managers for one of three reasons: academic qualifications, seniority or performance.

“But not many of them are ready for the job simply because they are not trained for it,” says Naresh Purushotham, Founder-Director, CrestPoint Consultants, a licensee for the Denver-based Crestcom International’s ‘Bullet Proof Manager,’ a training programme that’s currently being used in 55 countries and 20 languages across the world.

In India, over 100 companies have subscribed to the Bullet Proof series to train their managers. When asked why the name ‘Bullet Proof’ was chosen for the training programme, the company chairman, Hal Krause said: “The manager’s world is filled with snipers. Our aim is to make them bullet-proof.”

The ‘Bullet Proof Manager’ series, currently running in its fourth edition, is a video-based live facilitated programme held once a month for 12 months with each session covering two essential skills that managers require to develop.

The sessions are conducted by international names in the training industry including Lisa Ford, Harvey Mackay, Bob Johnson, Tom Hopkins and John Tickell. “These are star trainers charging a daily fee between $25,000 and $50,000,” says Purushotham.

The ‘Bullet Proof Manager’ series is offered in three different modules — public programmes, exclusive programmes for corporates and ‘train the trainer’ programmes. The skills imparted under the programme include communication, emotional intelligence, motivation, managing priorities, stress management and problem-solving.

Key elements of the programme are worked out to suit the mid-senior level manager, says Lakshmi Kruti Vasan, Founder-Director, CrestPoint Consultants. For instance, the training programme is held once a month, therefore there is no information overload. “In fact, information is broken into smaller bytes, which helps in retention.”

Managers are also given time to practise what they have learnt in the session for the next 30 days. They are expected to share the knowledge with co-workers and peers to ensure practice and retention.

A typical ‘Bullet Proof Manager’ series comprises 25 per cent video instruction; 30 per cent group discussion; 20 per cent practice, drill and role play; 10 per cent networking; and 15 per cent ‘train the trainer’ sessions.

“Managers are prepared to teach the skills they have learnt to others in their organisations and this helps the company get a return on investment it has made on the training programme,” says Purushotham.

Wipro has been using the Bullet Proof series for over four years now in its Global Managers Programme and Future Managers Programme. Over 1,000 Wipro managers have benefited from the programme, says Selvan D., Senior Vice-President, HR , Wipro Technologies.

Philips Innovation Campus has developed a leadership pipeline using the programme for its managers across the company. Y. Krishnamohan, Senior Director, HR, Philips Innovation Campus, says the short module approach helps managers assim ilate ‘key things’ better.

Narsing Rao, Head, Bangalore Operations, Interwoven Software Services, says that the education system today does not help young engineers deal with difficult situations in business. “Young engineers need to be trained in stres s management.”

Spheris India, a Bangalore-based BPO, is dependent on lateral hiring for its talent pool. “If we are promoting people from within, we train them and all our managers go through the Bullet Proof Series,” says Suresh Nair, MD and CEO, Spheris India Pvt Ltd.

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