Recently, I read a book "Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager" by Suzette Blakemore, Kory Kogon, James Wood. It stresses on the mastery of four foundational behaviours to be successful in influencing people without a formal authority. The book covers some scenarios in which the project leads displayed these traits and led the projects to successful closure.    

The character depicted in the movie "Sir" embodies all the foundational behaviors. The film centers around a junior lecturer who inspires underprivileged children, their parents, and even the initially adversarial village head, without any formal authority. The story is based on a true event where a Math teacher coached 30 disadvantaged students, all of whom were admitted to IITs. The real-life individual who inspired this character must have demonstrated all the foundational behaviors that led to this remarkable success. While I have not had the opportunity to closely observe the actual person, these are my thoughts on the character portrayed in the film.

Balu, an aspiring junior maths lecturer in a private college, was assigned to a government junior college with the objective of achieving a 100% pass rate in the intermediate board exams. However, he faced several challenges.
- Firstly, the parents of the students did not value education and preferred to send their children to work for income rather than attend college
- Additionally, most of the students were disinterested in their studies and preferred to indulge in activities such as playing cards
- The socio-economic conditions of the area were also unfavorable for education, with caste-based discrimination affecting the children
- The village head and the management that tasked him with this mission were also against Balu achieving his objective
- Lastly, Balu did not have any formal authority over the students, making it difficult for him to take any action against inefficiency

Despite all these challenges, Balu not only achieved a 100% pass rate but also coached his students to secure high ranks in Engineering/Medical entrance examinations. His determination to achieve the objective was evident, as he talked about his plans with his colleagues during their journey to the village.

Demonstrate Respect:
Balu exemplifies respect in all his dealings with students, parents, and even the head of the village. In his initial conversations with the parents and the village head, he articulates the significance of education and how it can lead to gaining respect. In a gentle manner, he sensitively acknowledges the challenges the parents are encountering and encourages the children to concentrate on their studies to bring pride to their families. By exhibiting respect, he inspires the students to adhere to the objective.

Listen First:
Balu follows the principle of "Listen First" in all his interactions. Whether in individual or group meetings with parents, he first listens to their concerns before explaining the importance of education. When faced with the issue of caste-based segregation among the children, he demonstrated the same approach by first listening to their perspectives. He then questioned them about how they would handle similar situations in their future jobs, prompting them to consider the long-term consequences of their behavior.

Set expectations/Goals:
Balu establishes clear expectations from the outset, emphasizing the importance of passing the examination. When confronted with conflicts between students, he divides them into two groups and explains them different topics, communicating that a common test will be conducted on both subjects and that no additional class time will be given. This clear expectation incentivizes the students to collaborate, reconcile their differences, and work towards achieving their shared goal.

Practise Accountability:
Balu consistently exhibits accountability in all his actions. He takes responsibility for the students' future, which he emphasizes during their first meeting, and follows through on that promise. He is also accountable for their playtime, demonstrated when he arranges for an indoor cricket game during a rainstorm. After a brief separation due to management's political maneuvering, he apologizes to the students for not being present when they needed him. He then takes it upon himself to devise a solution to continue conducting classes despite being expelled from the village, successfully achieving their shared objective.

Final note : He established a brand. Brand refers to what is said or done about us when we are not present. Even though, Balu disappeared after the results were announced, his students honored him by transforming the location where he taught them into a fully operational coaching center that offers education to disadvantaged children. By carrying on his legacy and working towards his goals, his students are keeping his memory alive.

Thanks,

Regards,

Prasanth Tadepalli
Note: Opinions expressed by authors are their own.
Pic credits: Bookmyshow