Success motivates our people

Ashish Srivastava, Director-HR, Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance Company has over 18 years of experience in Manufacturing, FMCG and Financial Services sector and joined this company from the HSBC Group, where he worked for over 7 years. Prior to the current role, Ashish was the Head of HR for HSBC's Retail Bank in India & he played a key role in partnering with business & growing it.

In an exclusive interview, he talks to TSI's Latika Sharma about his leadership and motivational skills.

Q: How do you motivate your people?

A: Success motivates. And we have been trailblazing our way through the Industry landscape.

Our people are doing well. Very well in fact. And a lot of it is because of our unceasing focus on learning and development. As an organization, we now intend to take it to the next level of evolution and we have many "Admired Organizations" to behold and ask "what can we do more and do differently for our people". That's the question that I ask my team constantly and I push and have them stretch their capabilities to ensure that our people are ready for the next round of challenges that Business reality is all poised to throw our way!

Growth in an evolving organization is inherent. Our structures ensure that merit is acknowledged and rewarded.

What however steals the thunder is the way we constantly communicate with our people. We trust them and we know that their collective intelligence is an immense asset, more so when you view the success story of Canara HSBC. Be it critical meetings or important industry related information to ensure that they can do more with Less!!

We intend to be an "Employer of Choice" and we are doing everything to ensure that everyday our people are excited, engaged and fully empowered!

Q: What is your leadership style?

A: I see myself as a Coach and a Guide. I 'm empowered and given independence, and I ensure that this tradition is extended across the organization. It's important to provide space to each individual to be successful.

Fortunately, I have a self-directed team and yes, they make my role fulfilling. The fundamentals remain the same, adherence to values and playing the strength of each team member, unique in their capabilities and temperament. I specifically encourage decision making linked to each individual's personal effectiveness in their roles.

Q: How do you maintain a positive work environment at your company? Give few examples.

A: Our values are the heartbeat of our organization. We live these values everyday and in every instance. It's a way of life.

You see that values transform the environment you breathe in, the positivism it instills cannot be replicated and we see proof of it everyday. Let's look at organizational health parameters <as a sweep of the arm> as the Employee Satisfaction Survey where we have scored very well and are the best in HSBC India. Take attrition, for that matter, ours is contained at 15% whilst our competitors are losing their cool over the enormous attrition and retention challenges!!

Our culture encourages an openness that is unpretentious, and easy to live and adapt too. And yes! We are happy with what we have created.

Our structural and institutionalized award system such as the Value Ambassador Awards, or the tradition we have created with the Quarterly Townhalls editions where the CEO and senior leadership team stands before people and answering and addressing their perspective and questions. Mera Idea is our way of harnessing the collective intelligence, and we know the greatest step starts with a brainwave – an idea. An idea is the nucleus of innovation and we treat it with care.

Q: What are the challenges you face in HR and how do you overcome them?

A: Business is paramount, and its realities make for our challenges. It's varying in its demands today and seeks innovative solutions. On the spot, instantly!!

Human Resources, as I had said before, has donned not only the cap of the conscience of the organization, but also a facilitator, consultant and a close business partner whose know how and foresight is today expected to propel the business to an entirely different platform of performance and excellence. Fortunately for us, we are aware and better prepared with our business and intrinsically involved in all critical decisions.

And if you look at the demographic composition, our Gen Y today is donning some heavy-duty roles. 30-31 year olds show a surprising amount of maturity and responsibility; however the preferred method of communication is "on the go!" They are connected group, very savvy with technology and electronic and social media, so we engage with them differently. The fundamentals remain the same -

a) employees have to have information in time for critical decision making
b) the ease of flow of information through their departments and channels and
c) relevant cross functional information is instantly accessible and the problem should require a trans-disciplinary approach.

Clearly, technology is to our advantage. We know how to wield its powers and at the same time remind ourselves never ever to lose the "Human Touch".