Connecting with the heart makes things work: Ashwani Prashara, CHRO, RIL - Hydrocarbons
Reliance is a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest Oil & Gas Exploration and Production players in India. Reliance is also among the first companies globally to adopt an Oil-to-Chemicals strategy, heading towards its goal to achieve net-carbon zero by 2035.
Ashwani Prashara, Chief Human Resources Officer, RIL - Hydrocarbons, has more than 40 years of global experience across the entire gamut of HR with expertise in driving HR transformational initiatives, Change Management, HR Capability Building and Industrial Relations. He has previously served in various HR leadership positions across companies such as Honeywell, Whirlpool, BILT.
He shares how the 10 Tenets of Leadership Capital Building resonate with him in working at Reliance and insights from his journey as a leader.
Which of the 10 Tenets resonate with you?
Ashwani Prashara (AP): All of them. You can't pick and choose one and say that this is what really matters.
Let us take any project that you want to work with. And you start to look at the Ten Tenets. You must have people, get the team together. With technology, you can get to innovation in a much faster, quicker, agile manner.
For every project, there must be an outcome which is nothing but achievement. Now, when you have people together, you need to get trust going, because trust is what will ensure that the project gets along in, you know, rubbing off each other's shoulders.
So, with trust comes cooperation and when you trust each other, you cooperate.
And, when you cooperate with each other, you rub off each other's capability as well.
Community Engagement Capital
“Lastly, we recognise that serving the community that supports and sustains us is our Corporate Moral Responsibility, not just a legal Corporate social Responsibility.”
IN ACTION AT RELIANCE
The work done by Reliance Foundation is a shining example of Community Engagement. Reliance Foundation has touched 69.5 million+ lives since inception. In FY2023, Reliance spent Rs 1,271 crore on developing communities.
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People Capital
“Reliance's greatest strength is our human assets, not just our financial assets. The greatest value creators are brains, not machines.”
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People Capital demonstrates the value of “One Team”. At Reliance, we develop People Capital by creating new jobs and investing in our people through training programmes and proper feedback mechanisms.
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Technology and Innovation Capital
“In this age of exponential change, mastering latest technologies is not an option. It's an imperative for survival and disruptive growth.”
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When we invest in Technology and Innovation Capital, we accelerate our growth and demonstrate “Excellence”.
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Capability Capital
“Reliance judges its leaders by their expertise to plan, execute, review and improve. Indeed, New India needs leaders whose capability must always exceed the complexity of the problem they are expected to solve.”
IN ACTION AT RELIANCE
When we grow in skills, competence and capabilities, we not only earn trust and respect from our colleagues, but we are also able to achieve great things to the fullest of our potential.
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Achievement Capital
“Reliance rewards and honours achievers who exceed expectations. Aiming low is not acceptable.”
IN ACTION AT RELIANCE
When we grow in skills, competence and capabilities, we not only earn trust and respect from our colleagues, but we are also able to achieve great things to the fullest of our potential.
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Relationship Capital
“We fully understand that people are not robots and money is not the sole motivation that drives them to deliver peak performance. Healthy inter-personal relations create happy organisations.”
IN ACTION AT RELIANCE
We build strong Relationship Capital and strengthen our Reliance Family – exemplifying the value of “One Team”.
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Trust Capital
“Reliance places highest value on trustworthy people. For organisations as well as individuals, there is no better way to earn respect than to be trustworthy”
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We earn Trust Capital by investing in our skills and growth – so that we gain the trust and cooperation of our colleagues in fulfilling our roles. When we invest in learning and self-development, we can perform with self-confidence and an “Ownership Mindset”.
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Cooperation Capital
“This means 1+1 becomes 11 when people co-operate and teams collaborate. It's an integral part of our SOP.”
IN ACTION AT RELIANCE
We earn Cooperation Capital by investing in our skills and growth – so that we gain the trust and cooperation of our colleagues in fulfilling our roles. When we invest in learning and self-development, we can perform with self-confidence and an “Ownership Mindset”.
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Empathy Capital
“The world is increasingly coming around to realise that powers of the heart are superior to powers of a cold rational mind. Compassionate Capitalism needs Compassionate Leaders.”
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At Reliance, we demonstrate “Respect” by expanding our Emotional Quotient – the outcome is Empathy Capital.
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Integrity Capital
“Honesty and uprightness are non-negotiable principles at Reliance.”
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Integrity Capital forms the foundation for all values and leadership tenets.
Read Case Study10 Tenets
With trust comes relationship. Trust is the foundation for a relationship. And when you have a fantastic relationship at work, you get 100% cooperation. And that is what teamwork is all about.
You can't deliver project without community engagement. So that's where community engagement comes into play.
Every project would have their challenges. They could be personal challenges. They could project related challenges. That's where the team needs to come together on the empathy factor.
If you empathise with people during the times when they need it most, that is when they will deliver their best. It's really connecting with the heart that makes things work.
Finally, there is no compromise on integrity. If you look at it holistically, that's the Ten Tenets. To me, all ten are my favourites.
Could you share examples of 10 Tenets in action?
AP: Let me just take We Care, which has been at the heart of Reliance's journey.
We Care is all about connecting with the heart. Once you connect with the heart, you've got the mind. In everything and anything that you do, if you manage to establish that engagement on the people front, you'll do wonders.
How can colleagues imbibe these 10 Tenets to build their leadership capabilities at Reliance?
AP: If I pick the word 'tenets', there are two words that come to play: principle and belief. Never, ever compromise on principles and always have strong belief in whatever you do.
And on principle and belief, go with courage and conviction. Persevere and persist, and you will get to whatever you want.
Can you share a few insights from your journey as a leader?
AP: I've been very fortunate in my career journey because of one thing. I've had the opportunity to work with absolutely fantastic leaders, fantastic people. And that's what has kept me going.
If I were to reflect on it, if I were to think about it, there are a couple of things that come to mind.
One, leaders that I've admired, I've continued to admire are people with humility. It is a difficult trait to acquire, but humility in people has stayed with me.
The second reflection that I have is never, ever shut doors to learning. One can learn from anywhere, from any quarters, from anybody. Just keep an open mind.
I will leave you with this reflection. Don't ever shy away from treading on a road not taken.
Jigar waalon ka darr se koi vaasta nahi hota, vo wahan kadam rakhte hai jahaan raasta nahi hota.
(The courageous are unafraid, they tread where there are no roads.)