A pioneer of modern Indian entrepreneurship, JRD Tata was the longest serving chairman of the Tata groups. Despite not having a formal education in business, his vision and strategy for the Tata group of companies have transcended time and created an unparalleled precedent for businesses all over the world.
The Tata Titan was known for his zeal for perfection and philanthropy. Tata Airlines (later known as Air India), one of his first business ventures, created quite a stir in the international market with its legendary reputation for delivering quality. It is said that JRD used to maintain a book of blue notes which would highlight areas of improvement in detail, however small the issue was.
As we celebrate the 117th birth year anniversary of the fountainhead industrialist, let’s look into the ways in which his legacy continues to inspire us. If you are an entrepreneur yourself or an entrepreneurship enthusiast, these values are sure to help you succeed.
1. To be a Successful Leader, You have to Lead with Affection
What makes a successful entrepreneur? The answer simply is a good leader. While investing in big projects, you might often have to lead a team of skilled professionals. The best way to ensure they are motivated to deliver their best is to inspire them to do so. JRD Tata was an exemplary leader, who was accessible and approachable by everyone. We have stories about how any Tata employer could write to him in case they felt their immediate managers were not living up to the Tata values. He was quick to spot and hire talent and nurture them as well. He focused on individual strength rather than shortcomings which were instrumental in creating strong teams throughout the organization. By his own admittance, he was a man of consensus. However, he never backed down from stating conflicting ideas, if he ever felt the need.
2. Never be Satisfied with the Second Best
JRD Tata chased perfection in all that he did. There are so many incidents to cite for his dedication to excellence. During the 40s and 50s, Air India was known for its punctuality and hospitality. JRD himself flew aircraft of the airline once every 15 days. During one such instance, he was flying with co-pilot Capt. Vishwanath. JRD checked for the ground speed at which they were flying. When Capt. Vishwanath replied with “145 miles per hour”, JRD wasn’t satisfied and did his own calculations instead. After the calculations, he concluded that they were flying at 145.5 miles per hour. The long-talked-about punctuality that Air India was famous for once is a result of this precision and accuracy.
3. Bigger the Risk, Greater the Success
JRD believed in diving headfirst into passion projects, and managing the risk that often accompanied them. His vision was to contribute to India’s industrialization through core-sector evolution. However, the times at which he dared to initiate these projects weren’t particularly conducive to his dreams. India at that point had barely recovered from the ‘drain of wealth’. Natural resources were sparingly available. Setting foot in these circumstances meant capital-intensive projects and vulnerability towards government interventions. Yet JRD never backed down and steadfastly steered the company. The result is a successful establishment that went from 62 crores in 1939 to more than 10,000 crores in 1990. His unwavering commitment and hard work towards his vision in the face of all adversity are what inspiring sagas are made of.
4. Build the Society
Long before terms like ‘Corporate Social Responsibility, ‘HR’ were coined, JRD Tata incorporated them in the Tata group. He was the first to move from a dynasty-based employment selection process to a merit-based process. Tatas were the first to have a human resources department to that end. Whether it was the employee grievance address or introducing paid leaves, JRD was a pioneer in providing the best employee experience. Even outside work, his commitment to society, especially a newly independent nation was unmatched. The Tata values reflect his dedication to uplifting others and his commitment to building a more humane experience at all fronts.
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