Win-Win with Nikhil

COMMUNICATION

100

Nikhil's preferred order of communication is...


A.) Email

B.) F2F

C.) Video

D.) Text/SMS/Whatsapp

E.) Call

B
C=E
D
A

200

According to Nikhil a perfect email contains:


A.) A customized subject

B.) "Thought for the day" as signature

C.) The first line specifies what is expected from the reader.

D.) No more than one screen long

E.) 'Need to Know/Act' Distribution List

A, C, D, E

300

A perfect work meeting for Nikhil:


A.) Starts on time

B.) Is no more than 45 mins long

C.) Has regular breaks in between

D.) Includes informal talks before coming to business

E.) Has a clear agenda and follow-ups

F.) Pre-reads are sent 24 hours in advance, or not at all

A, B, E, F

400

Nikhil's ideal 1:1s are:


1.) In an informal area, with a cup of coffee

2.) Short, but frequent

3.) Have a running agenda and next steps

4.) Focuses on urgent issues

5.) Focuses on important, but not urgent.

6.) Always ends with feedbacks

2, 3, 5, 6

500

Under what circumstances Nikhil expects you to communicate directly with his manager or higher?


1.) Nikhil is on leave or not reachable.

2.) You have a feedback about Nikhil and you are not comfortable discussing it with Nikhil

3.) You are working on a project directly with Nikhil's manager.

4.) You feel Nikhil is not giving you enough visibility.

5.) You have a great news and cannot wait to share broadly.

6.) The approval authority is beyond Nikhil

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

STYLE

100

What comes closest to Nikhil's MBTI style?


1.) ENFJ - Albus Dumbeldore (The Teacher)

2.) ENTJ - James Potter (The Maverick)

3.) ISTP - Harry Potter (The Craftsman)

4.) INTJ - Draco Malfoy (The Strategist)

ENFJ - Albus Dumbeldore (The Teacher)

200

Nikhil's preferred style for Decision Making is:


1.) Consult and then decide

2.) Build consensus

3.) Executive

4.) Voting

1.) Consult and then decide

300

Nikhil's preferred mode for feedbacks is:


1.) Formally during a scheduled 1:1

2.) Openly in public

3.) Discuss it along with a few other topics.

4.) "I have a feedback I'd like to discuss."

4.) "I have a feedback I'd like to discuss."

400

What's Nikhil's preference regarding meeting your EBP or IBP?


1.) He is not available.

2.) He wants to join you every time to coach you.

3.) Involve him when you have an issue he can solve.

4.) He wants to remain at the back end, but is your resource.

He wants to remain at the back end, but is your resource.

500

What comes naturally to Nikhil?


1.) Indepth analysis and insights

2.) Connecting the dots to make the big picture

3.) Long term strategic thinking

4.) Operational Discipline and Execution Excellence

2 & 3

SITUATIONS

100

I have a bad news. What should I do?

Tell it NOW; Tell the TRUTH; Tell without FEAR!

200

I am feeling frustrated with things happening around me. I feel the leadership has lost its way. I want to share my feelings with someone. Should I speak with Nikhil or with me peers?

Whine Up!

300

I have a conflict with Nikhil's point of view. What should I do? Should I hold firm or give in? He is senior and must know more than me, but I feel I am right as well.

Hold Firm. Hold Nikhil's accountable to his value of 'intelligent disobedience'. Focus on WHAT is the right thing vs. WHO is the right individual. Use PBDM.

400

I have an urgent issue. I can be either timely, but partial; or I can be thorough, but late. What would Nikhil expect me to do?

The Third Alternative. Figure out the long term plan. If short term fix is consistent with the long term, execute it as it is. If it is inconsistent, analyze the impact of doing it later. Align expectations and consequences with the leadership.

500

I have received a problem which doesn't belong to me. I am already overworked and hate these distractions. What should I do as per Nikhil's expectations?

Hold the baton till we find the right owner. We should identify the right owner of the problem, align expectations with him/her, make the connection and then step aside.

VALUES

100

Guess Nikhil's sequence of priorities.


A.) Consumers

B.) Internal Business Partners

C.) Customers

D.) Shoppers

E.) Purchases

F.) Ego

G.) Spend Pools

A = D; C; B; E; G; F

200

Which of these is relatively less important to Nikhil?


A.) Writing Skills

B.) Sourcing Skills

C.) Office Hours

D.) Dressing Sense

E.) People Skills

C & D

300

What gives the most happiness to Nikhil?


A.) To receive high praise for himself from his bosses.

B.) To submit a promotion e-form.

C.) To deliver savings well ahead of FIRM.

D.) To receive an award on behalf of his team.

B.) To submit a promotion e-form.

400

Which of these is not a Nikhil's personal value?


1.) People First

2.) Sourcing Skills is the passport to success

3.) In a conflict, Business wins over Function.

4.) Intelligent, but polite disobedience

5.) If I am capable, I am automatically responsible.

6.) Whine Up!

7.) Be the glass during good times; be the mirror during bad ones.

8.) High Trust = Low Cost = High Speed.

9.) We are born for greatness; not comfort.

None of these

500

How and when should I involve Nikhil in my work projects?


A.) He wants to delegate. I can come to him when I need his approval as per DOA.

B.) He prefers to be engaged. I should keep him involved through out.

C.) I should involve him upfront to align the goal and the plan. Then I can lead the work without him as long as I am on track with the original plan.

D.) He trusts me. I can do all the work and I know he will approve it.

I should involve him upfront to align the goal and the plan. Then I can lead the work without him as long as I am on track with the original plan.