Balancing Diverse Roles – Lessons from Experience- A Talk at Department of Business Economics , DU

Balancing Diverse Roles – Lessons from Experience "Good afternoon, everyone. Visiting South campus after 40 years revives several memories and there is a lump in my throat and eyes turn misty. As future leaders in business and economics you will discover that success is not just about mastering financial models or strategic frameworks-it is about learning to balance various roles life demands of you. Today I will share how navigating these multiple identities shaped my journey and the art of balance transformed me and will hopefully ignite a thought process in your careers and lives. Because in the end leadership is not about choosing one role over another, it is about harmonising conflicting situations to create a n impact and meaning in organisations and our lives. We need to analyse and resolve what can be referred to as “Role Conflict “ and proper “ Capacity Planning” It is both disturbing and many a times disruptive. Is the management of the organisation ready to accept disruptions. Good writer disturbs you. In my opinion over the distance some disruptions ought to be welcomed and we experimented. For instance while working in the railways in order to push out freight trains on chocked sections , we opted a few strategies a) cancellation of poorly patronised trains on a few days after widespread publicity so that passengers were not inconvenienced b) ran long hauls ( that is clubbing 2 or more empty rakes ) , c) running of freight convoys on particular days of a week and d) revised the time table by adopting compaction of trains ( that is mail/express trains of similar speeds ran in a convoy ) . This resulted in remarkable fluidity in operations. Mind you, it was in the pre- Dedicated Freight Corridor Era. I will come to DFC later. Role Conflict and Capacity Planning ought to be used effectively in both public and private sectors and perhaps in all organisations. Let me first share with you the trajectory of my career once I passed out of these hallowed portals. Back then opportunities were restricted and limited , prior to Thatcherism, Reaganomics , privatisation, globalisation and the epochal budget of 1991. After MBE I worked briefly with a consultant to the World Bank and as a research associate in FICCI and CMA. Thereafter I joined The IRTS after cracking the Civil Services examination in 1987. Have you ever felt you are living three lives at the same time- your demands as a student, your dreams of a brilliant career and you as yourself. And it so happens that none of these seem to fit together? It is ike spinning plates, afraid that one will crash with the other. This is the reality and challenge of balancing roles. In here we need to adopt a strategy of Task Overload . This can be achieved only through delegation of powers and duties. And this is not just a personal struggle. It is a management challenge, an economics lesson and a vital human truth. Students of management and economics present here will one day lead organisations, but before leading them and others they must learn to lead themselves., which text books alone will not teach . These are battle scarred moments learned and ironed out on the field which reinvent and refasion you. 1 .The Challenge of Multiple Roles During our careers several work commitments are to be fulfilled and deadlines are required to be met. In real life there is however fierce competition, unbridled ambition. This I and several others have witnessed close quarters among friends, bathchmates, colleagues and in various families and in general among different relationships. Many a times personal interests and hobbies get compromised to in order to fulfil targets set by companies or say the govt which is quite not appreciated by families who expect quality time to be spent with them. A conflict arises. So how does one deal with such a situation? We keep postponing happiness in pursuit of that elusive deadline to achieve a corporate or govt goal by burning the midnight oil or even work on holidays and while on leave . In here we need to adopt a strategy of Task Overload . This can be achieved only through delegation of powers and duties. Why should one suffer by continuously working. Various works and jobs can be distributed so that , we can be free for at least one day in a week to recharge our batteries. Railways is a 24x7 organisation and so are several others. I recall my boss insisted that all his junior’s reported at 6.30 pm at the badminton court everyday to sweat it out and every Sunday we had a cricket match . Alternatively , he and his junior’s had a free day . This can be achieved through proper rostering of duties. Recall the mess up in Indigo and non -compliance of important DGCA norms by the airliner. During my career I have been on field during festivals like Holi or not partying on New Years Eve. And the same has happened with my colleagues both in govt and private sector. This has both a physical and psychological impact on the individual concerned. Simultaneously in our work hierarchy we need to balance the egos and sentiments of our seniors , peers and juniors which requires immense skill, tact and the power of skilful navigation. While theory maybe taught in HRM and Personnel management one actually learns how to tread without skidding on the ice only while working on job. In the railways we have to deal with organised labour very proficiently which is a real test of skill, patience and tact. I recall for one full year I would be gheraoed while working at Bikaner and similarly had to face a combative and hostile trade union on Southern Railway and South Western Railway . But I navigated the challenge by remaing fair and firm. These days there is a clarion call for what we call me time, personal growth, health and hobbies. I will give 100/100 points here. And throughout my career i have allowed my juniors to explore various avenues for personal growth. 2 . LET US VISIT SOME SIGNIFICANT MOMENTS IN YOUR LIFE There are always some Aha moments and low moments both in personal and professional life. I first begin with some low moments. This includes missing family functions, holidays etc as various project deadlines had to be met. I thought it was a sacrifice for the price of success, but later realised that this success without connection with family and friends made one feel empty. I will now recount a couple of incidents. For instance, instead of celebrating Holi with my family I was at an accident site. On a New Years eve instead of joining the celebrations I was in the process of migrating our computer systems in anticipation of the Y2K problem. These were when I was at a much junior level. Even as recently as a few years back, I could not attend a MBE reunion at Sikkim as I was deputed to oversee preparations for the Kumbh Mela in 2019 at Prayagraj. These are certain Critical Incidents and Career Inflection Points which we get etched in our memory banks . It can serve as a guideline for the organisation to plan ahead effectively for the future.Invest in employees. They are not marrionates and puppets. Yes, I did not connect with family and friends and missed out on some precious moments but wonder was I working for a larger plan? Now next look at some Aha moments. Let us term it as a Reflective Practice. How does an organisation – be government or private sector enhance quality output? By increasing the period of “ Meaningful Hours” working. Thus productivity and output would increase manifold and we would provide more to ourselves and the organisation. “Balance isn’t about equal hours—it’s about meaningful hours.”- For me I chose meaningful hours in writing books, articles blogs which have been published in several newspapers and magazines. My books will be on display from tomorrow at The World Book Fair at Hall No6 , stall no 12 or conducting various Art of Living courses. Experience has wizened me to realise that life is all about choices and it lies within our power how to prioritise our choices. Do not merely slog…work hard, but work smart . This should be your mantra. Your bosses peers and juniors should be fully aware that you are a performing asset and not a liability to the organisation. The power of projection, and I am not talking about filibustering, is of paramount importance. People are street smart and can easily understand your net worth. Some believe only in networking , I would suggest that youngsters should possess both the qualities: that of networking and enhancing the reputation of your net worth. Unfortunately I lacked the former. Believe me, Once you project that image one can squeeze me time and fun time while working whether in public or private sectors . 3 . Some Lessons Learned – Here I focus on : Boundaries , Adaptability, Resilience) • psychological resilience • Boundaries and Prioritisation: “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” — Goethe said the German writer. For instance in train operations, which was my forte during my years with the railways, I had to acquire the knowledge, courage and conviction to say no ( recall Tapsi Pannu in Pink saying No means No ) when pressurised to give instructions down the line, which went contrary to the norms. This was never taught to us at Railway Staff College. Next is Setting boundaries and Prioritisations. This requires enhancement of core competency. Also, it requires discipline in life to do justice to various roles but , and this important, learn to be flexible and adaptable. The mind needs to be agile and productive. Let us coin a term for it – say enhancing the “ Agility Quotient” to be more productive to the self and the organisation. • Adaptability: It is essential right from your junior level and even when you reach the higher echelons of any organisation, flexibility is paramount. It is essential to develop tact as one is dealing with several departments manned by humans. On several occasions one has to placate the egos of various individuals. But never compromise on your financial and intellectual integrity. Honesty both professional and financial is extremely vital and be sure your image and reputation travels faster that what you think. Who is an achiever , who is a laggard. I recall on a particular zonal rly I was being forced by the GM to load coal from particular areas and coal sidings which I had refused point blank since it was violating the extant rules and procedures. The individual literally threatened me as my boss wrung his hands helplessly. But I had the full support of Railway Board which realized that I was treading the correct path. Thus my GM and boss did not succeed in pressuring me. So much so I was threatened by politicians who were jailed at that time and I received calls from jails. But I stood my ground. It looks simple in hindsight but the pressure at that time was immense and it took all of my moral courage to hold up to the challenge. All along I was polite but firm. A management jargon which comes to my mind here is “ Boundary Management”. We need to be fair and firm and realise our limits and boundaries and work within those parameters. • Resilience: Everyone makes mistakes . Who does not ? To err is human. However growth springs from recovery. Very briefly my story is one of faith and miracles. And I recovered combatting alcoholism thru the AoL and learning the unique rhythmic breathing technique of SK.I was resilient during this entire period by the grace of the Almighty. All that I wish to say is that whatever strife or struggle one faces while working an individual should be mentally resilient to combat challenges. This is nothing but enhancing “ Psychological Resilience” . The mind should be robust to take on challenges and produce results. • My personal style is that of the Art of Delegation. I sincerely feel that all juniors should feel empowered and encouraged to perform more. The more one appropriates work one gets cut off from the roots . For a tree to become a banyan the roots should be stronger. Thus my advice to all of you is as you climb up the ladder one should learn the art of delegation which in turn will allow you the luxury of time to pursue finer aspects of life. • I would now like to share some Aha moments of my career: • While working as Director MIL RAIL, I was awarded the Chief of Army Staff Commendation medal for troop mobilisation during Operation Smiling Buddha 2 (Pokhran 2). As Sr DOM Bikaner, i was again involved in troops mobilisation during Operation Parakram, when our temple of democracy, the Indian Parliament was attacked, For this we received an award from Railway Board, for seamless troops movement. 4 Maintain Balance in Life 3 pronged strategy • work–life integration • equilibrium strategy • holistic well-being “Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management.” — Betsy Jacobson ( an American management consultant ) When we learn to balance our roles, we don’t just survive—we thrive. It is essential how I evolve or model my roles as a bureaucrat, my role in the family, my role in the society. How do I balance all these? In my life when I feel real lack I head to the Art of Living Ashram to have darshan of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, besides writng is a therapeutic exercise in my life. I watch plenty of movies webseries and listen to music. I also give quality time to exercise, though I may not have a six pack abs.It is my fervent suggestion to all youngsters present they choose a hobby, if they don’t have one and regularly exercise. 10k steps alone not enough says Rujuta Diwekar. Walking just an activity .Time flies and soon past 30 , you put on weight , have health problems. Recall the pandemic . Health is the greatest blessing - said Buddha It is up to you but I would suggest dive into spirituality, not religiosity. These will give you peace of minds and clarity of thought and purpose in life. Through out our careers there would be situations when everything is not hunky dory. There would be an off day. Sachin or Virat cannot score a century everyday whenever they play. Our trains run late , airlines run behind schedule , targets are not always met on time and so on and so forth. There is no point in fretting over all this . An organisation needs to adopt an “ Equilibrium Strategy “ to ensure “ Proper Equilibrium of their workforce “ and “ holistic- well being “ of the employees. Government of India has taken initiative like the GEP – one can attend Art of Living Courses , attend Vipassana Meditation etc so that staff and officers feel refreshed. We undertook Art of Living Courses for Loco Pilots – who in their testimonials after the course mentioned that some of them slept like a child after ages . Some of them used to see only signals during their sleep. So one can appreciate the efficacy of such programs. The job of a loco pilot is extremely stressful . You can realise lives of so many people are at stake. The other day I met some officers of a top notch law firm in Gurugram who were so keen to take up such courses as they felt extremely enervated , sapped of energy as they were putting in long hours. To my mind sleep deprivation is a major disease , which reduces our efficiency and output. As students too – you would be having phases of brain freeze . Do you not? 5. Survival of the fittest Charles Darwin is often associated with the idea of “survival of the fittest,” though the exact phrase was coined by philosopher Herbert Spencer, an English Philosopher and Polymath) . You can call it the “ Darwinian Leadership “ theory. Indian Railways operates one of the world’s largest rail networks with about 68,000 route kilometres, carries over 1,500 million tonnes of freight annually, and transports more than 23 million passengers every single day. One Australia every day. Indian Railways currently carries about 25–27% of India’s total freight traffic, with the majority (around 65–70%) still moved by road transport. Indian Railways carries the majority of India’s long distance passenger traffic, accounting for about 15–18% of total passenger movement nationwide, while road transport dominates with nearly 80–85%. So, it is about Indian Railways visa vis roads in particular. Capex ( 3 lakh crores this financial year). Dedicated Freight Corridors, SPVs, Vande Bharats ( 160), Bullet Trains . For context , let me tell you that the railway track network serves two varied markets. The passenger market and freight market. Freight crosssubsidizes passenger services. So the primary objective of an operating officer is to optimize efficiency of both services. DFC ( Dedicated Freight Corridors) is step in this direction basically a corridor where only freight trains run leading to over all. In the ongoing turf war with other competitors to increase its share of freight , passenger and parcel traffic , Indian Railways is adopting various “ Adaptive Strategies” by doubling , quadrupling , electrification of lines , inter-modal transportation , SPVs( give CERL , KRCL – example) , adopting Dedicated Freight Corridors and in future are planning Dedicated Passenger Corridors. Successful organizations survive by continuously adapting to change, fostering innovation, engaging employees, and aligning culture with strategy. They don’t just rely on past strengths—they reinvent themselves to stay relevant in disruptive environments. On a personal front I remember the era of working when I first joined the railways…all pen and paer, file pushing. Gradually computers came into usage and there came a time when they replaced pen and paper. For a not so tech savvy person like me, this was an immense challenge and I had to really apply myself to learn the nuts and bolts of this way of working. There was no other way to survive. This made me realise the importance of keeping abreast of changing technologies. It is so vital to have a “ Competitive Advantage” over your competitors to survive. My advice is to undertake a SWOT analysis of the organisation you would be working in and those of your competitors. To be ahead in the game and acquire skill sets. In pursuit of refashioning your skill set do not comprise on your integrity.It would also be prudent to constantly upskill. I embraced the opportunity of doing and executive MBA from MDI at Gurgaon, even after putting in several years of service. I got to interact with officers from govt, public and private sectors. Another skill which comes in very handy is being multilingual. I would further advocate be the language of your choice, learn atleast 20 new words, 20 new quotes and 20 new ideas and note them down everyday, diligently. Some kind of T20. One should read and travel a lot, whenever you get an opportunity. 6 OPPORTUNITIES IN LIFE AND ORGANISATIONS • strategic opportunity mapping One should seek and create opportunities and not rest with existing laurels. Do not tread the soft path. I have worked on 8 zonal rlwys, 2 deputations besides post-retirement I became the CEO of CERL and currently working as advisor KRCL. This not only adds value to your CV but gives you opportunities, get to know ppl across the country. Two terms come to my mind a ) Growth Mindset and b) Enhancing Career Capital. While you step in to managerial roles keep in mind how are you are growing and is there an increase in your career capital or are you stuck in the same place where you began? In my case I began writing for Life Positive E magazine. Soon I was contacted by FPJ Mumbai and started writing for them. Subsequently I wrote for the Hindu, Sakshi times and am currently writing for the Pioneer, The Daily Guardian Review , Kashmir Age, Telangana Trends .com. I began my foray into writing books, first non-fiction and then began writing fiction too. Over a period of time I have been interviewed by various TV and Radio channels and appear for various podcasts. What I wish to convey is do not be bogged down by work pressure but cultivate a talent which you can pursue lifelong and also simultaneously earn. This I would put as “ Strategic Opportunity Mapping”. It is not a negative term , but actually enhances one’s target audience and outreach and growth prospects. All organisations ought to do profiling and later turn it into strategic opportunity mapping . More recently during the Pandemic, I was incharge of the migrant specials that were run for the returning migrants. This experience also turned out to be an opportunity, when IIM B asked me to write a paper on the Migrant Specials. 7. Burnout vs. Balance • : I request any two students to raise their hands if they’ve ever felt overwhelmed by deadlines. Pause. Share your experience very briefly. Do you feel “ Emotional Exhaustion “ while studying and putting in so many hours . You are commuting daily , attending classes and then back home again studying ? It would certainly take a toll of your physical and mental framework. So how does one maintain “ Sustained Productivity” ? How do organisations manage emotional Exhaustion and ensure sustained productivity . They need to provide the much needed Me Time , Free Time , counselling of their employees. I had already mentioned about GEP earlier. I can totally empathise with you. In the very early years of my career in the railways, I would work day and night, no exercise, smoking and drinking thrown in. I was young at that time so I did not really feel any visible symptoms. But the damage was silently happening. And very soon , when I was out on an inspection at Saharanpur, which is a town in UP, out of the blue I collapsed due to high blood pressure and was admitted to the ICU. It took a heavy toll on my health , mentally and physically. The point here is you need balance in life at every point, without which the risk of burn out is very real. And balance can only come from discipline in life in all aspects. So if you want to be in the race for the long term, physical and mental fitness are paramount. I would also like to mention, there is no harm or shame in seeking professional help rather than struggling cluelessly. This is nothing more than what one can call proper “ Energy Management”. For otherwise , there is bound to be burn outs. 8 Lessons from Experience Indra Nooyi balancing Life and work Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo, is widely admired for her candid reflections on balancing life and work. She often emphasized that while professional success demands sacrifice, organizational support and family understanding are critical to making it sustainable. 🌟 Indra Nooyi’s Approach to Work-Life Balance • Acknowledging trade-offs: Nooyi openly admitted that it was impossible to “have it all” perfectly. She often spoke about the guilt of missing family moments while leading a Fortune 500 company. • Organizational support: In her memoir My Life in Full, she highlighted how companies offering flexible policies—like paid leave or childcare support—make a huge difference for working women. • Family understanding: She credited her husband and extended family for helping her manage responsibilities at home while she focused on PepsiCo’s global growth.My wife has been extremely supportive. • Practical routines: Nooyi was known for her discipline—early mornings, structured schedules, and prioritizing tasks to maximize productivity. 9 . Conclusion In conclusion, balancing diverse roles,and my lessons from various experiences have clearly taught me that one needs to be adaptable, prioritise and be mentally resilient, without compromising. Over the years I have realised on proper and effective “ Knowledge Transfer “ from seniors to juniors also among peers . This can happen if the organisation believes in “ Reflective Leadership” and “ Experiential Learning”. For an organisation to survive in the market it is essential that these traits are adopted. “A leader is best when people barely know he exists. When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” – Lao Tzu Thanking for your time and listening to me . If there are questions from the audience , I would try answer them. Before I concluding . Just follow the instructions . End with a quick 5 minute meditation . Jai Gurudev