>>Article – Indian Express – May 2004
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Who is a “Discerning Executive”

Correlation of dictionary meaning of these two words- Discerning and Executive would indicate a discerning person fit to execute. In marketing parlance, we have discerning customer. Similarly in certain connotations, the Executive is an effective manager who would implement the policies of the company. The management literature is full of various attributes required to be an Executive.

But then, who is this Discerning Executive- an executive who is different from the multitude of Executives. Some of the following traits may be attributed to this call Executive.

He must be a person with dedication to the cause and posses an unquestioned integrity. One should not only have such integrity but also appear to have such integrity. This is in addition to or different from loyalty. Sometimes, it is possible that blind loyalty. Sometimes, it is possible that blind loyalty may result in unhappy consequences to the company. Instead, he should be able present his views objectively and influence decisions of the company in right direction.

Knowledge in his field of operations, he should co-ordinate his knowledge and the workings in a wider context. At first, the totality of the company’s operations is to be kept in view, its contribution to the industry to which the company is related, to the economy around and larger context to the economy of the country.

A deep sense of history is necessary. But this historical sense, one can know in a better way the behaviour patterns of the people with whom he comes into contact. It helps more so to view a particular situation as a parallel and sometimes identical situations happened earlier. The present situation could be tackled effectively by knowing what has happened earlier in identical circumstances. After all, the business is a part of history in the making, dealing with men, matters and situations.

He should have a social awareness- an awareness of the obligations of the company to the society and how much he could in turn influence the society of which he is a member, to help the company to fulfill its social obligations. This social awareness may also help him to stand out from being merely a Five star culture executive. In his personal characteristics he should be what we call, a tall Man, above the skirmishes of the corporate jungle.

Ultimately, by his very being an executive, his achievements and his achieves for the company should be truly epochal so as to make people identify the company he is working with.

All these are not Eldorodo. We certainly come across a Discerning Executive, and he company he works for. They together flourish, enriching the quality of lives of fellow beings.

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