Management Lessons in a Forest

Management lessons from a forest visit?
Sounds weird.
Not until you read this story and see the pictures.

Ghumakkad with his PGDM students, went on a Nature Walk in Telangana State Forest Academy Hyderabad. The Academy run by the Forest Department has a program called CAFE- Children And Forest Education. Under this program, the students are taken on a 4-km Nature Trail. The trail goes through a man-made forest which is not very old. The terrain consisting of rocks and boulders has not been disturbed. It is an easy hike fit for all age groups. That is why the Academy gets regular group of students from schools and colleges alike.
As Syeda, one of our students wrote "It was like a bit close to the heavenly Nature, the sound of  the birds, the fresh breeze and pure air."

After uploading the pictures on my laptop, I was wondering whether there were any lessons from the hike? Apart from sensitising the students to Nature, Environment Conservation, Forestation and Awareness about Flora and Fauna- was there anything else? The answer came through the pictures. Am sharing some of the pictures in this story. Few pictures of the flora have been reserved for upcoming KBG (Kaun Banega Ghumakkad) Contests.

Enjoy the pictures and do let us know if you have something to add to the learnings.

Get a feel of the excitement of the students after climbing the rock face in this short 30 seconds video.

Picture story continues.

Vasudhaiv Kutukbakam वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम a Sanskrit phrase, means the whole world is one family! Peaceful coexistence at its best!

We all took back memories as well as learnings from the forest visit. Thank you Dr Dharma Chandra of TS Forest Academy.
With a large group I could not 'shoot' the birds although I could discern the calls in distance. Pictures of birds of the Academy, some other time.

Credit for plant names and research goes to Dr Chitra Shanker. Despite being on an assignment in Australia, she beat the time zones with prompt responses. Thanks again Dr Chitra.

We end with RW Emerson's famous quote on Nature superimposed on a picture of Neem flowers. PQ- the picturesque quote for you!

Thanks readers for your patient browsing. Stay connected.

    -   Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 15th Sept 2019
#forestacademy #forest #floraandfauna #nature #environment #plants #trees #managementlessons #learningfromnature #powerofobservation #firstmoveradvantage #teamwork #leadership #conservation #wildflowers #productpackaging #reusability #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh #vvism1 #vishwavishwani #vvpgdm

Leadership@Fourteen

Wearing collar tabs at a young age of fourteen? Like senior officers of the Army/Navy/Air Force! Is that possible?
Our 14-year old grandson Ansh has done it quietly.
He has been selected by his school to be a 'Director' of a volunteering program for community work. Four students, one each from 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades have been chosen for this task. He is the youngest of the directors!

This morning while he was getting ready to go to the school, from my yoga mat I noticed a lapel pin on his shirt collar. On questioning, he explained it's significance. Unlike most teenagers of his age he is so humble that he reluctantly agreed to let me take a picture. Not too sharp as you can see below.

What struck me is the spin-offs of such volunteering programs for teenagers. As a 14-year old 'Director' he is responsible for the following:

• Fund raising for different programs/activities
• Organise the events
• Mobilise other volunteers
• Participate in community work

You will agree that in doing so, these young 'directors' will imbibe many qualities and values listed below which will help them in their life after school:

• Self-confidence
• Leadership
• Communication
• Event management
• Team work
• Sensitisation towards societal needs
• Social equity
• Power of volunteering
• Empowerment and its true meaning

I felt very happy that schools are making an endeavour to shape the young minds into responsible citizens of India. Hat tip to Ansh's school and his teachers. Future of India is bright with such teenagers. I couldn't have found a better theme for Ghumakkad's Independence Day message. 

Keep going Ansh! We have a star in you.

Thanks for browsing.

Happy Independence Day to all.

   -  Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 15th Aug 2018

#Values #leadership #responsiblecitizens #volunteering #teamwork #teenagers #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh

Plants and Leadership

Leadership is like a tree-- leader constitutes the roots which are firm but hidden; and leaves, flowers and fruits are rest of the team-- results and output visible to the world. Roots like a leader, provide nutrition or inspiration to the leaves or team members respectively. This comparison we have heard before.

But plants and trees teach us another aspect of leadership. This observation came recently when I was watering a flowering 'chandni plant on a hot summer day. This plant needed protection from the heat when it was small. Three years ago, I had used my golf umbrella to protect it from intense summer heat (read the full story by clicking here). See the picture below.

Today, this plant has grown fully and stands tall to face the summer heat by itself. 

Its white flowers are a delight. 

In addition, the plant gives enough shadow for other saplings like the Brahma Kamal ब्रह्म कमल  and ferns to survive in the heat (What is brahma kamal? Click to see this exotic flower which blooms at night). 
The 'Chandni' plant fully grown like a leader, now nurtures other plants. See the picture below.

Lesson?
Leadership like the above 'Chandni' plant, is nurturing future leaders . Of course leadership is all about inspiring people, setting example, leading from the front, taking risks, building teams and all of that! But the true essence of leadership is to groom leaders for tomorrow. Leader's absence or departure should not crumble an organisation. Instead, those groomed by the leader will take on the mantle and move forward.

Be like a tree. Nurture more trees, groom more leaders. Think less of yourself.

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    Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 9th May 2016