Preparation meets opportunity

Many of my peers, juniors and some seniors often ask me: on the purposes that each person ought to be having.  Sometimes people feel purpose-less, often there are no assignments - so people feel out-of-place or insecure, or there seem to be irrelevant assignments to be executed or there are assignments which need to be done, but your heart does not belong to it!  So what is the way out?  Well there is an antidote - life is not just about doing the allotted assignments: life is actually something else: it is about PREPARATION!  Life is about practicing, verily, PREPARATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY.  This is in fact, the best theme for life.

Just imagine the life of a committed Hindustani music singer: do you think her life is only about flitting from one music program to another program?  Do you think there are no dry days - when concert opportunities are not there?!

A singer has her major focus on the early morning riyaz: practice session.  It is this preparation time, which gets the maximum focus in her life. The singer focuses on the riyaz or practice session, which is responsible for her concert performances!  So it is preparation-focus, which ought to be every professional's obsession! And then doing the job with aplomb when opportunity comes by!!

Define your professional profile

To start a preparation-focused professional life, begin with understanding your professional profile.  For instance, as a medical representative - your profile will want certain competencies: territory knowledge (doctor and pharmacist profiles, ideal meeting timings, product prescribing behaviors, pharmacist OTC and substitution behaviour, short and quick work routes in the territory)..., detailing skills, basic product profile knowledge, competitor product and activity knowledge, and relationship management knowledge (eg., knowing how to communicate, build rapport, greet people on special occasions like their birthday, submitting greetings on festive occasions - Eid Mubarak to Muslims at end of Ramadan period etc).  

If you are a trainer or product manager, understand the product management concepts and training aspects. Focus on preparing for the deliverables.  A lecturer is not a lecturer until he can give proper lectures!  After understanding the profile requirements and parameters, develop your competencies on those lines continuously!!  That is preparation-focused behaviour.

If you are regular to the fitness center or gym, while going through the exercise and fitness equipment routine, you will realise that there is no end to the no. and types of exercises you can perform.  It can go on and on and on, until you can take it or you have the time and aptitude for it all... same way, there is no end to the depths of knowledge you are trying to master in your professional sphere!  The knowledge and activity stream for preparation is bubbling, continuous and endless!  So preparation is also an endless exercise, with several milestones in the journey for you to keep reaching!!  The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement!!  And therein lies endless opportunity.

Your professional profile is not static!

The mobile phone, whatsapp, facebook, social media, email, ebooks, internet, blogs, biotechnology, rDNA technology, MAB (monoclonal antibody) business ... these were all simply not there in 1992, when I started my work-life after M Pharma...  Now these software and social media tools are great for communicating knowledge, motivating and keeping a tab on things.  We routinely use social media whatsapp for updating marketing campaign work with each other!!  This creates a ripple effect and work dynamism.  Change is the only constant of life!!  So how can the professional profile be static?  Preparation attitude is a continuous process.

Today, training is not about providing knowledge... there is endless information, data, knowledge and insights available in the information superhighway!  The moot point is can you wade through it, get what you want, grasp the essentials, and put it across in an easily assimilable manner!?  Can we engage trainees with the learning and get them excited enough to learn and apply it/practice it!?  Are there interesting ways, using modern technology (web-based, mobile-based or social media based methods) to deliver learning experiences?  If yes, as a trainer, one has to grasp these new ways!!  The same chalk and blackboard method or reading from an attractive powerpoint is not enough!  So that makes a professional trainer's life one of continuous preparation!

Today, that is the need from a trainer!  The challenge for a trainer is to help learners acquire the necessary knowledge units, skill sets, and get them motivated enough to use it in day-to-day working.  It is one thing to handle the visual aid in the training spot, however, the fact is: at doctor clinics' - visual aids are not even opened, if they are, then the visual aid page is flashed for a brief moment - brand name is mentioned, pointer is not used... pay-off sentence is not emphasised... the real challenge is getting learners to learn and apply!

The MAB (monoclonal antibody) market

Take for instance, in 1992, B lymphocytes were mainly in HUP (human physiology) subject.  We learnt that B lymphocytes were a type of agranular leucocytes that produced antibodies which help destroy antigens (foreign bodies) in the blood stream.

But today!?  B lymphocytes are billion dollar business!!  B lymphocytes are used to produce required target antibodies, which have therapeutic, diagnostic and academic uses.  IV (intravenous) infusion: Trastuzumab (humanized mouse based whole antibody) is used for treatment of HER 2 positive breast cancer cases. Various other antibodies are marketed chiefly for treatment of autoimmune diseases, infections and cancer. Antibodies are no more natural biomolecules produced as a part of passive or active immunity by B lymphocytes in the body!  B lymphocytes are vital economic entities: producers of antibody protein molecules that have billlions of dollars in sales!!

Genentech (now a member of Roche group) invented trastuzumab (an antibody: specifically a monoclonal antibody).  Their brand name for this whole antibody IV infusion preparation was HERCEPTIN.  In 1998, the sales of this molecule was 30.50 million USD.  In 2008 annual sales had progressed to 1.38 billion USD (1,382 million USD) - this - only in US market! In the world market (including US market), Herceptin sales was 1.82 billion USD approx. in 2008.

As per Fierce Pharma (www.fiercepharma.com) Herceptin had estimated worldwide sales in 2012 of 6.08 billion USD.  The product patent for trastuzumab (Herceptin) expired in 2014 for Europe, and in USA, it will expire in 2018.  In the same report from Fierce Pharma, we observe that Herceptin is ranked no. 8 pharmaceutical product in the world, by sales value in 2012.

Product patent expiry has opened up a market for biosimilar Trastuzumab brands.  The me-too antibody preparations are called biosimilars.  Bangalore based Biocon has launched its me-too biosimilar antibody trastuzumab under brand name: CANMAb.  International generic major Mylan has the brand Hertraz: trastuzumab biosimilar.

CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organization: www.cdsco.nic.in) has issued a pdf document in their website: GUIDELINES FOR SIMILAR BIOLOGICS: Regulatory Requirements for Marketing Authorization in India.  This is a very good document that provides an insight into the challenging and enigmatic world of similar biologics and thus makes biosimilars or similar biologics a more friendly science.

Production of antibodies from B lymphocytes still appears as a rocket science (!).  It is not as easy as purchasing the chemical active ingredient from a API supplier, sourcing the excipients and punching it all into a marketable form like a tablet (with the help of a BMR (Batch Manufacturing Record), which is also a purchasable item today).  The science and experience for handling production of antibodies from B lymphocytes is still in the preserve of a few companies.

Each B lymphocyte can produce only one type of antibody.  So it can act only on that type of antigen, which has triggered the production of the antibody.  To commercially produce antibodies, there are various companies across the world: contract antibody suppliers.  They produce research grade antibodies and scale it up for clinical use or other uses as per GMP guidelines.  Some of these companies:

A-Bio in Singapore, AbD Serotech, Adar Biotech, Aeres, Affinity Life Sciences, Agri Bio, Alpha Biologics etc.

These companies produce: 1 g to 10 g quantities of the antibody.  Big factories produce upto 10 kg of the antibody.

The general method for commercial antibody production:

a) the antigen protein is isolated and injected into mice (in two doses: primer first loading dose and after 10 days the booster dose)
b) Simultaneously tumour cancer cells are grown by tissue culture: these cancer cells are called myeloma cells
c) B lymphocyte WBC cells from the mice (in whom the antigen protein are injected) are extracted from the spleen of the mice
d) The extract is added to the myeloma cells
e) The result is HYBRIDOMAS (fusion of B lymphocyte cells and myeloma cells) (various chemicals, equipment, techniques are involved in this key step of the antibody production process: polyethylene glycol is a chemical used, viruses are also used...)
f) HAT medium (hypoxanthine - aminopterin - thymine) is used for selection and growth of hybridomas
g) Screening of the hybridomas for ensuring right antibody is produced
h) Further culturing of the select hybridomas
i) Growing the selected hybridomas
j) Harvesting the antibodies
k) Humanization techniques are used to make antibodies "human friendly" so that the human immune system accepts them.

The above major steps is very simplistic sequence of the MAB commercial production science.  There are many things involved here: fermentors and other equipment, enzymes and other chemicals, humidity and temperature control, techniques and procedures, valuable experience and many other small "trade secrets" that companies hold near and dear to them!

If only one antibody is desired then above process is applicable; the selected B lymphocytes and hybridomas will produce only one type of antibody.

If the antibodies are produced from a single clone of cells: they are called MABs or monoclonal antibodies.

When antibodies are produced from several different clones (duplicates) of B lymphocytes they are called polyclonal antibodies.

To ensure India gains, biosimilar manufacturing and marketing expertise (just as we have it for chemical based pharma formulations), the drive at Govt. and NGO level ought to be to give hands-on experiences to do various parts of the MAB (monoclonal antibody) science.  For eg., growing hybridomas, fusing B lymphocytes with myelomas, selection of right hybridomas, lectures on HAT medium and its uses etc.  When people learn by doing, talking, listening and teaching about it all, India will be the gainer and we can make a mark in the world with MAB business too!

The preparation-mindset

Not just individuals, organizations need to have this PREPARATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY mindset. It necessarily means having a knowledge rich immersive internal environment in the company, constant learning engagements in the firm and continuous opportunity spotting strategies for having the right preparation strategies.

Biocon could enter MAB business, through this preparation-mindset.  Individuals too need to have a preparation-mindset so that opportunities can be used.

In a world where the information float has collapsed, insights are shared at the speed of light: preparation for change is the key.  Preparation-mindset is vital

Training and the preparation mind-set

Training is not just about creating learning experiences for skill and knowledge development.  Today, it is about creating and actualizing the preparation-mindset.  Making trainees hungry for change and knowledge, making trainees hungry for preparing for a bigger challenge.  That is about preparation through training.

I thank you for reading this blogpost.  I also dedicate this blogpost to Ms. Le Trang M Pharm (Paris) of Hanoi, Vietnam, discussions with whom triggered this 'preparation meets opportunity' concept. Please do scroll down and read all other posts (click on older posts when required), kindly recommend this blog to your acquaintances.

A marketing grid for ROI and results

Marketing is for happy & enthusiastic persons!  It is for those individuals for whom happiness is a habit and enthusiasm is a way of life!!  Marketing is about creating a value delivery process, which finally creates happiness in the consumer.  Marketing is the creation, communication and delivery of value to enhance the exchange process, market penetration and consumption.  Marketing activities should fuel the buzz: strengthen "word of mouth" among stakeholders.  All in all, it should finally create the “feel good” in the consumer/stakeholders.  And for this, marketers have to be happy: only then can they create happiness in the target audience through their "happy marketing activities"! 

Marketers provide value and benefits.  These create cheer in the beneficiaries.  To create cheerful prepositions, the marketer’s disposition should also be cheerful!  A morose marketer cannot create happiness in the target audience.

Pharmaceutical marketers have more responsibility.  This is because patients (like farmers) do not get to choose/bargain - the price of the purchased pharma product - normally.  For instance, a typical farmer in India, takes his produce to the 'mandi' (agri market) and gets the prevailing price of the mandi for his product (he cannot choose the price for his product).  He gets the price for his product in the mandi as per prevailing rate.  

Similarly, the patient, takes the prescription to the pharmacy, and buys the brand indicated by the doctor: rarely does the patient ask for equivalent unbranded generics or cheaper equivalent brands.  In this regard, even though the patient may have a choice, he is like the farmer who is the price taker (not price maker).  Hence, pharmaceutical marketers (who are the price makers) have a lot of professional burden to justify the price for his or her product.

To make a pharma brand succeed continuously - several approaches are required to pep-up the demand: these include in-clinic activity, in-pharmacy activity, taxi tours, stall activity, group meetings (with sponsored high tea, lunch etc) and specific campaigns: targeting doctors and pharmacists - sometimes nutritionists and other paramedical/allied medical people - are also targeted.

It will be useful if one has a checklist or a grid for day-to-day marketing activities.  Here below is a useful tool, I use for organizing marketing promotional inputs (samples, small gifts, print inputs like literatures, prescription pads…), campaigns and other marketing activities:

  

In the above grid, marketing work parameters are on the left first column for the hypothetical brand: Happy D3 soft chew tablets (60000 IU).  And the first row gives the categories of people or entities to whom marketing collaterals, activities and campaigns have to be targeted.  So in each cell, the marketing person can plan the activity or collateral or strategy (direction for application of resources and efforts).

The price for instance needs to be put in a different fashion to the doctor; and in different terms to the pharmacy (where the pharmacist will be interested in his margin etc).  Promotion refers to the plan of campaigns, in-pharmacy activities, in-clinic activities etc depending on the target category. 

Thus the idea is to use the above grid to creatively produce inputs and strategies without any loose ends.  This helps bullet-proof marketing activities.  This approach will provide better marketing results.  (If you want to see the above image in bigger size, click on the image).

Pharmaceutical marketing is responsible marketing.  Communication (messaging) and other marketing activities are addressed to educated and important customers/opinion builders.  Scientific accuracy is vital in the communication items.  It is after all a matter of health, life and death.  Pharmaceutical marketers can ill afford to be irresponsible.

In today's challenging scenario pharmaceutical marketers in India, have to creatively produce marketing collaterals, campaigns and strategies: while having to balance three things - marketing costs, profit targets, and justified product price-to-patient.  In today’s context, with NPPA keeping a beagle eye on MRPs of pharmaceutical products, it is inevitable pharma marketers control marketing costs and get the best bang for the marketing buck.  Resource constraint and competitor pressures (in the market) with the focus to deliver best ROI (return-on-investment) is the marketer’s stress today!

And despite all these challenges, pharma marketers should have a happy positive attitude; enthusiastic frame of mind, and pharma marketers have to create happy stakeholders too (patients, patient attenders/family members, doctors, other opinion builders, pharmacies, and intermediaries)!

This blogpost says: three cheers to pharma marketers - whose life is a bubble on water, you never know when it will burst - despite a good track record.  Marketers are not umpires, they are players!  So they get-out, get-hurt, or sometimes lose-out!  This blogpost raises a toast to all the pharma marketers out there who wear their best smiles to suppress the worst stresses.  Marketers smile because it is their best proven engagement tool.  Thanks for reading this blogpost, please scroll down and read all other posts, and kindly recommend this blog to your acquaintances.

The growing cholecalciferol (Vit. D3) market

Lanolin, obtained as a bye product of sheep shearing, is a raw material for Vit. D3 manufacture.  Please see this link (click here) for an interesting insight!

DO YOU SUFFER..

* Muscle pains, back pains and general tiredness without any specific reason?  Could be Vit. D3 deficiency!

Do you know!?!

* 50% of the global population suffers Vit. D3 deficiency!

* 80% of the Indian population suffers Vit. D3 deficiency!

Vit. D3, the fat soluble vitamin is more than a metabolic participant, Vit. D3 has hormone-like behaviour in the body.  Vit. D3 is born from cholesterol (an interesting steroid molecule with vital body functions), please see the graphic below (!):

Sources of Vit. D₃

Vit. D₃ is chiefly synthesized in human skin (and skin of vertebrates) by using UVB rays of sunlight (a photochemical reaction occuring in the epidermis of skin).  Vit. D₃ in small amounts is also available in foods: milk, liver, dairy products, eggs, fish, cod liver oil and some plants.  Certain lichen produce Vit. D₃ (vegetarian source).

Vit. D₃ is commercially synthesized by four companies in the world:

a)      Fermenta Biotech, Mumbai

b)      Dishman Pharmaceuticals, Ahmedabad (their plant is in Netherlands)

c)      DSM (Netherlands company)

d)     Zheijiang Garden (China)

Cholesterol is extracted from wool lanolin/wool alcohols left behind when sheep are sheared.  The cholesterol obtained from wool lanolin, is chemically converted to 7 dehydro cholesterol through a 4 step process.  The 7 dehydro cholesterol is then irradiated with UVB rays and purified to obtain a resin-like substance (Vit. D₃). 

Irradiation of milk/organic foods also causes Vit. D₃ production in the irradiated substance.

1 IU Vit. D3  = 0.025 microgram

100 IU = 2.50 microgram

Doctors recommend: 60000 IU/week for 4 to 8 weeks, followed by 1 sachet/chewable tablet (each of 60,000 IU) one per week. This is particularly for diabetics.

Recommended upper tolerable limit of Vit. D₃ (9 years to 71 years plus, including pregnancy and lactation): 4000 IU/day.

RDA: 400 IU to 600 IU (as per age and patient status).  In elderly it is 800 IU.

Market picture in India

Vit. D₃ market is rocking!  The May 2014 MAT (moving annual total) value is Rs. 252 crores (Rs. 2520 million) and has registered 40.8% growth in comparison to May 2013 MAT value (which was Rs. 179 crores market; MAT MAY 2013).

Vit. D₃ is marketed as chewable tablets (biggest segment and fastest growing dosage type) (Rs. 87 crores May 2014 MAT value), capsules (mainly soft gelatin capsules) and sachets (powder).  All contain 60,000 IU/unit.

Uprise D₃ (Alkem group), Tayo (Eris) and D3 Must (Mankind) are the top three brands in descending order (with MAT May 2014 values of Rs. 22 crores, Rs. 16 crores and Rs. 6.00 crores respectively). 

Vit. D₃ is used in animal feeds, dietary supplements, drugs and for fortification of foods (like milk and other dairy products, milk mix beverage powders etc).

Global 2011 annual market estimate of Vit. D₃ is USD: 400 million (40 crores USD or approx. Rs. 2400 crores per annum).

Vitamin D3 has an interesting profile.  This fat soluble vitamin is synthesized through a photochemical reaction in the human skin, and then undergoes interesting chemical changes in the body that are summarized in the below graphic:

In the above graphic, we see how cholesterol is converted to 7 dehydro cholesterol, effect of sunlight that provides UVB radiation converts this cholesterol to previtamin D3, which spontaneously isomerises to cholecalciferol.

The Vit. D3 thus formed is equally broken down fast!  Manufacture of Vit. D3 is a continuous process... but the moot point is DO WE GET ENOUGH SUNLIGHT - atleast 30 minutes a day?!  The answer is NO, for most of us!

Hydroxylation plays an important role for further conversions.  The first hydroxylation in liver by 25 hydroxylase converts cholecalciferol to calcidiol.  The kidneys then convert calcidiol that enters it through blood - to calcitriol. This is the second hydroxylation, where calcidiol (25 hydroxy cholecalciferol) is converted to calcitriol (1,25 di hydroxy cholecalciferol).

The conversion of calcidiol to the active form of Vit. D3: CALCITRIOL is as follows:

Calcitriol is a hormone like substance (chemical messenger): it binds to plasma VDBP (Vitamin D Binding Protein) and circulates in blood.  Calcitriol binds with VDRs (Vitamin D Receptors) that are present in a wide variety of tissues from head to toe, to exert beneficial actions!

Vitamin D₃ (through mainly its active metabolite: calcitriol in blood) has important benefits:

1)      Improves intestinal absorption of calcium, zinc, magnesium, iron and phosphate (absorption is mainly in duodenum and jejunum)

2)      Regulates level of calcium and phosphate in blood (along with parathyroid hormone)

3)   Required for bone mineralization (influences osteoblast (cells that help form bone tissue) activity) and normal BMD (bone mineral density)

4)    Required for bone remodeling (also influences osteoclast (cells that cause resorption or removal of calcium from bone) activity)

5)    Vit. D₃ stimulates immunity: especially binds with Vit. D₃ receptors of monocytes, T cells, and macrophages.  Causes production of CANTHELICIDIN from monocytes, an antimicrobial substance.  This antimicrobial chemical has activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

6)      Helps in insulin production and insulin sensitivity at peripheral tissues

7)      Strengthens immunity: helpful in influenza & bacterial vaginosis, useful for monocyte – T cell – B cell functions, and for diabetics/other patients who suffer low immunity (body’s resistance to disease)

8)      Required for bone mineralization in aged, diabetics, postmenopausal women and other target groups: helps reduce falls in elderly

9)      Useful in cancer management: Helps reduce inflammation, has antiangiogenic activity (does not promote extra growth of blood vessels that encourages tumour growth), and decreases cell multiplication (tumour growth)

10)  Supports management of autoimmune diseases: multiple sclerosis, diabetes…

11)  Supports management of Parkinson’s disease

12)  Useful in management of osteomalacia (softening of bones in adults), osteoporosis (increased porosity and fragility of bones, leading to brittle bones) and rickets (weak bones and reduced growth of cartilage in children, leading to decreased height gain, bow legs and susceptibility to fractures): Vit. D₃ is required for adequate mineralization of bones

13)  Helpful in fracture healing

14)  Supports management of depression

15)  Useful in heart disease, stroke management and hypertension management (Framingham Heart Study has also supported the benefit of normal Vit. D blood levels: >30 ng/ml)

16)  Pelvic floor abnormality results in urinary and fecal incontinence – it is also linked to low BMD etc: Vit. D₃ helps in alleviation of these problems in the aged

17)  Beneficial and supportive for cognition (thinking) and retarding macular degeneration (in eye)

18)  Deficiency causes periodontal disease…

19)  Helps maintain levels of certain important enzymes like nitric oxide synthase, glutathione etc

20)  Supports pregnancy health

21)  Required for nerve function, vasodilation, hormonal activity and neuromuscular junction activity

Vit. D₃ is a secosteroid with hormone like activity – regulates over 200 genes in the body

Lack of adequate exposure to sunlight on daily basis is a crucial reason for VDD (Vitamin D Deficiency) (Hypovitaminosis D) or Vit. D₃ insufficiency/deficiency in modern life.

Normal levels of Vit. D₃

Vit. D₃ levels are measured as serum circulating 25 hydroxy cholecalciferol (calcidiol) levels: normal level is minimum: 30 ng/ml (cut-off value) (max. up to 74 ng/ml)

Hypovitaminosis D (VDD: Vitamin D Deficiency)

Vit. D₃ insufficiency: 25 hydroxy cholecalciferol (calcidiol) levels: 20 to 29 ng/ml

Vit. D₃ deficiency: 25 hydroxy cholecalciferol (calcidiol) levels: less than or equal to 20 ng/ml

VDD is defined as serum (blood plasma) 25 hydroxy cholecalciferol levels below 20 ng/ml.

Target groups of people susceptible to VDD

a)      Incidence of VDD is more in obese

b)      Elderly and those with inadequate exposure to sunlight

c)      Malnutritioned individuals

d)     Breastfed infants and mothers

e)      Diabetics/prediabetics (IGT)

f)       People with fat malabsorption

g)      Patients who have undergone gastric bypass or bariatric surgery

h)      People with dark skin

i)        Patients on anticonvulsants, glucocorticoids, antifungals and anti-AIDS medications

  

If most of your life is in the "shade" of buildings, vehicles, and offices or homes - it is time to get your 25 hydroxy cholecalciferol blood level tested!  Discuss the above insight on cholecalciferol with your doctor or healthcare provider or well-wishers... it will help you!  WISH YOU GOOD HEALTH!!

Thanks for reading this blogpost, kindly scroll down and read all other blogposts, kindly recommend this blog to your acquaintances.

Humility: doorway to success

Mr. Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons (Tata group): mature, intelligent, progressive and humble leadership.

Dhirubhai Ambani was an approachable, highly successful, Gujrati businessman: humility was his asset.

The concept of humility is vital.  This attitude is the doorway to enduring success.  Humility means acceptance of situations (positive and negative) with poise, fearlessness and open mind.  Hence, humility helps in continuous learning, adaptation and more success moves.  It makes connectivity possible with the person, since he or she is approachable (due to a humble nature).

Life is a picture of contrasts: like the seasons' of nature, we have to face all sorts of weather patterns!  Cold, heat, monsoon, drizzle, snow... yet our adaptability through knowledge, strength and humility will help us get through the turbulence, and also ensure we experience salubrious weather - with equipoise.

Humility

Humility is an interesting concept, which is emphasised often in human behaviour virtues and for good inter-personnel relationships.  Humility is not being a doormat - yet it is not throwing one's weight around.  It is a sense of balance, where fearlessness is not misread as pride, yet the down-to-earth behaviour (as a matter of fact attitude) is not making you a taken-for-granted being.  Humility is a totally tough trait to practice, since it appears different in various contexts.

In some cultures, a person who feels humble is seen as weak, and in other sub-cultures, a humble person may be inferred as inconsequential, not-smart and non-assertive.  A humble person being aloof may be interpreted as a smart, over-confident and proud.  Hence, practice of humbleness is to be done in relation to the cues in one's environment.

So what is the practice of humbleness?

Humility is being approachable, confident (fearless) and cheerful.  Humility helps one manage criticism, hostility and negative strokes, with tact, inventiveness and humour.  Humility helps one keep the mind open for new: ideas, interests, knowledge, adaptations, conversations, learnings, behaviours, approaches, relationships, activities, improvements, progress, successes ... and in short, smiles!  Humility helps maintain poise in the face of adverse or most favourable circumstances!!  Actually, humility, also helps one know the limitations, and the person is consequently, realistic yet assertive, and the person knows when to say - NO: emphatically!  Humility, actuates a person to action, a humble person can approach any individual and do business with!  A humble person is also approachable - ideal trait for business!!

In the spiritual land, humility helps in progress: to realise the connection between the soul-force of an individual (jivatman) and the supreme Soul (paramatman).

So in short, for even-mindedness, approachability, learning, cheer and progress, humility is a major virtue.

In inter-personnel relationships, humility helps engage in mutually acceptable, likable and progressive transactions.  When a person is humble (yet not a doormat) it means the individual is committed to reasonable and mutually beneficial relationship.  That is why humility is a most sought after trait in leadership.

Humble persons are not weak, they are strong, open-minded, fearless, learning oriented, believe in mutualism (win-win), tactful, cheerful and have equipoise!  Humility is then a characteristic, which is infectious!

The nub of the matter is that one should knock off the imagery that being humble means acquiescence and weakness.  Humility is not about compromising and being weak.  A humble person is strong, able to negotiate, smile, be confident (fearless), problem-solving, learning oriented, poised, not agitated, progressive, positive, energetic, approachable and likable.

In organizations, humility as an organizational attribute is key to organizational success.  A humble organizational personality is approachable, confident and enjoys enduring success.  A humble organization is strong due to adaptability.  Humble organizations are business savvy.

Humility, hence, needs to be measured, tracked and actualized as an organizational value, this will contribute to organizational progress.

As a case study, a simple Likert scale questionnaire was administered in a corporate setting: it produced interesting results:

In the above picture we see the results of a simple questionnaire where 28 respondents were asked to respond to a simple statement: I AM USUALLY OPEN-MINDED.  12 people strongly agreed with this statement.  13 people only agreed, while 3 were neutral and none disagreed.  This meant that organizational sample members were mostly open-minded hence, learning oriented.

In the second statement: I AM USUALLY OPEN-MINDED ONLY ON SELECTIVE ISSUES OR SELECTIVE PEOPLE, responses were interesting.  Some sharp respondents highlighted the word ONLY and hence disagreed with the statement because they were open with people on all issues, indicating they were highly confident and humble.  Others strongly agreed, with this statement, meaning that although they were open-minded, they were selectively open-minded on the issue and people involved.  So this means, those who agree and strongly agree with this statement, are selectively humble.  So this implies: 12 people are very humble and 12 people are selectively humble and 4 are neutral. 

This interesting trait of selective humility or selective open-mindedness needs to be understood by managers!

22 people of 28 respondents strongly agreed or agreed that THEY SEEK FEEDBACK FROM PEERS, SENIORS AND JUNIORS EVEN IF IT IS CRITICISM.  3 people were neutral, around 3 employees did not believe in seeking feedback.

An important dimension of humility is SEEKING HELP TO LEARN.  All 28 respondents amazingly believed in seeking help to learn - if they did not know a skill or a relevant learning. A learning oriented organization is an open one and will certainly be more adaptable to the eddies and flows of business environment.  Hence, this valuable trait of SEEKING HELP TO LEARN in the corporate where this Likert scale was administered, is a good phenomenon (since 28 people ie., all respondents showed SEEKING HELP TO LEARN behaviour)!

Open-minded refers to the trait of listening to all views, while learning - definitely requires open-mindedness, but it appears here in this context - that people are ready to learn and are thus open minded especially when it is vital for their job.  

This co-relates well with the first two responses.  We found that most people were open-minded to all issues, and for selective open-mindedness, 12 were open-minded to all issues and 12 people were selectively open-minded, but overall, job oriented learning culture is evident in this setting where the Likert scale was used.

The practice of humility involves COMPLIMENTING OTHERS FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENT AND SKILLS.  27 people in the surveyed corporate setting agreed they compliment others for their achievements and skills.  There is a strong encouraging culture, it appears in the corporate.

To encourage honest feedback while administering the Likert scale on humility related matters, respondents in this setting, were not required to provide their names on the questionnaire, this approach is well known to help people to come out honestly, when answering.

The challenge at the individual level in business practice or as an employee is to continuously apply what is learnt as theory and also improve one's learnings' constantly through experience.  I did the above Likert psychometric scale for attitudinal survey  for humility in daily work practice as a part of my mission to continuously learn and practice learnings!  My wish is that various concepts should not be only in the books!!  I thank respondents of a particular corporate setting for participating in the above survey.

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