Harshavardhana Gourineni : Rolling Forward

Secondly, you need to be able to listen to your team. Internal feedback is very important. Often, the manager is not open to hear his/her  employees and builds an authoritarian model of interaction. Having studied and worked in America, I am more inclined to the Western style of management.  I believe in enabling teams and individuals without placing strict measures of control.  I like a management style based on personal accountability and mutual trust. We strive to create and maintain such a positive and vibrant atmosphere in our companies.

How to win the love and respect of your employees?

It may sound cliché, but the main thing is honesty towards employees. You must be responsible for your words and keep your promises. Labor assessments, financial criteria and such should be clear and transparent. This approach, of course, creates a relationship of trust and respect.

A successful leader should be enabling and molding successful employees. Ultimately, the achievements of employees affect the growth of the company, and the growth and development of the company boost the professional and financial growth of each employee.

What should a leader never do?

This question can be answered in many ways.  I will forgo any commentary on unethical conduct, as I would hope that is well-known and understood that a leader can ever do that.  I will, however, make another point.

A leader should not avoid making decisions.  A leader, in the world of business, is literally paid to make decisions.  It is one of the leader’s utmost responsibilities.  Failing to make a decision will stagnate the company and both confuse and demotivate the employees.  It’s not possible to always make the right or best decision, but a leader must always make a decision.  The ball has to keep rolling.

Every leader has to deal with problems from time to time. How, from your point of view, should you deal with problems?

I believe that every problem is an opportunity to develop a solution. It is commonly said that everything is a learning experience, and I take this to heart.  Significant problems have the capability of depleting an individual leader, which can ultimately cascade down the organization.  It is important to maintain a positive mindset, believe in your own capabilities, and move forward in a constructive manner.

What business accomplishments are you particularly proud of?

During my time in the Amara Raja Group, I’ve been a part of several key projects and initiatives while running Mangal Industries and Galla Foods. For Example, I drastically changed the organizational structure in Mangal Industries to reflect my management style and it paid immediate dividends.  Under my management, two failing business units had turnarounds and now are consistently profitable.  Another exciting initiative that is ongoing is the digital transformation of our organization consisting of many projects in industrial automation, IIOT solutions, and robotic process automation.  However, what I am most proud of is the fact that along with my brother, I have been able to provide some support and relief to my grandfather, the Chairman of Amara Raja Group, and allowing him to take a step back.

Disclaimer: The views, suggestions and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Forbes India journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.