FOR ESAF, EVERYDAY IS WOMEN'S DAY

ESAF was formed from a dream to build a just and equal society untouched by discrimination based on caste, gender or economic status. Gender disparity, therefore, is one of the many societal issues that ESAF has actively been tackling since our early days. Though we celebrated International Women’s Day on 8th March, women's empowerment is not just a one-day event for ESAF; for us, every day is Women's Day! Empowering women is not just a drop in the bucket; it's a ripple that can transform communities.

Now let us reflect on why women's empowerment is so significant to us. For starters, women play a pivotal role in the development of our communities and economies. They can become powerful agents of change in their families and communities. ESAF has propelled innumerable women from humble beginnings to become resilient leaders.

We empower women by providing them with diverse skill training and leadership development programmes and by creating marketing avenues for their ventures. Our support does not just end with these; we also provide financial assistance in the form of Mahila Sree accounts, and loans and grants to help women entrepreneurs. This not only helps women start and expand their businesses but also creates job opportunities for others in their communities. By assisting thousands of women to shatter the glass ceiling and embark on their journey towards financial independence, ESAF is not only promoting gender equality but also contributing to economic growth and development. To take this mission forward, we have instituted the Sthree Ratna Award, honouring women trailblazers. I recollect with great satisfaction that in 2010, the Supreme Court referred to ESAF’s study on the ‘economic contribution of women through their unpaid work’ in the civil case of Agarwal vs National Insurance Company. Our study enabled the court to declare a verdict in favour of the victim. Yes, for us, women's empowerment is more than just a fleeting notion; it's a daily commitment.

The role of women in the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) framework of ESAF is critical to our success as an organisation. Their perspectives and experiences are essential for shaping our business practices and social responsibility initiatives. By prioritising women's empowerment, we are positioning ourselves for long-term success.

World Water Day in March is a reminder of the urgent need to safeguard water resources for the future. The SDG 6 of the UN, ensuring clean water and sanitation, is interlinked with SDG 5, gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls. The reason is that women from underprivileged segments are the worst affected by the lack of clean water and sanitation. We have been doing our bit through Nirmal and Jeevadhara loans to support families struggling without proper water and sanitation services.

As we move forward, our focus on women's empowerment will never get diluted and we will continue our efforts to build a world free from gender-based discrimination.

LOOK AROUND AND SEE THE IMPACT WE MADE

As you all know, customer-centricity is the cornerstone of ESAF and its success. From the time of its inception, we have always remained true to this core principle, regardless of the customers’ location or socio-economic background. We simply exist to serve them according to their convenience. As I often say, financial aid is merely an extension of our passion to serve the community. We must imbibe the spirit of service, and understand the magnitude of impact ESAF creates in the lives of our customers. We need to work in unison to serve society in the best way possible.

No organisation can sustain itself without giving adequate consideration to customer well-being. Now the horizon has been widened to include even the well-being of the society as a whole. For every decision, irrespective of its significance, customer well-being should be the focal point. Service from the heart and service driven by monetary benefits can be easily differentiated, and a customer would be the first person who could feel the gap. Remember, we should always think that a customer is more intelligent than us, no matter whether he is a micro banking customer or a retail customer.

As an organisation, we have always sought to grow along with our customers. The business aspect of our services can only be met through customer-centricity. A good service attitude can help us to hit two birds in one go. It ensures customer satisfaction from a service perspective and meets the company goals from a bottom-line perspective.

Even when our business was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, we did not forsake our customers. We stood by our principles of customer-centricity and service. We recognised the financial strain the pandemic put on our customers and stepped up to the occasion. The introduction of the Pratheeksha Kiran loan was one of the many empathetic steps we took to assist the livelihood restoration of our customers. We also restructured loans and provided them with repayment holidays.

As a socially responsible financial institution, the onus is on us to lend our hands to uplift the poor and low-income families, so that they can dream and strive for a better tomorrow. Together, we have the power to become a ray of hope for millions of underprivileged people reeling under the darkness of financial turmoil.

The true reward for our hard work comes from witnessing the positive impact of our interventions and the gratitude of our customers inspires us to strive forward. As Don Alden Adams once said, “To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.” As servant leaders, let us all aspire to serve integrity and sincerity.

THINK ABOUT A ONE PER CENT INCREASE IN YOUR OUTPUT EVERYDAY

The success of an organisation is evaluated by the advancement and refinement it attains over a time period. The process of continuous improvement is the most efficient of the various paths to progress. Everything hinges on what you do each day. It is the distinction between who we are and who we could be. Long-term objectives are direction setters, but we should focus on designing the system to accomplish them. The process is to set targets of improvement for each day. Small goals help us to not be overwhelmed; it is easier to carry out and to remain consistent.

Perseverance is the key element in daily amelioration. Minor improvements are disregarded and often overlooked because the results will not be as rapid or massive as expected, but in time, they accumulate and transmute into a compelling force. Remember the saying, mighty oaks from little acorns grow. Therefore, never be in a fluster worrying about the current status of success, but rather make sure we move forward every day in the felicitous trajectory. As the Chinese proverb says, ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.’ Consistency helps to take forward the impetus to build the potential for big gains.

Proper assessment and foresight are essential to determine the immediate next action in a process. Even though we may have the big picture in our minds, it is still challenging to split the image into smaller segments. The Swiss cheese technique—taking little bites to poke holes in a complex project—facilitates this and enables us to once more split these components into manageable, achievable, tiny goals. At this point, I would like to quote a pearl of wisdom from the book of James Clear, ‘Atomic Habits’. The progression rate of realising one per cent better every day is non-linear. The initial efforts are hoarded as the potentiality for a major breakthrough that would generate dramatic transformation at the end of the tunnel. Potent outcomes are most often delayed.

The most efficacious solutions to the challenges and issues at the root level are discovered during the daily process. This procedure averts potential setbacks that could be lurking in shadowy places. The importance of this lies in the fact that a stitch, in time, saves nine.

The modest and prudent tasks bring the big gain closer, providing a reason to exult and find motivation. Celebrating the small steps every day rather than fretting over the mountain’s height boosts tenacity and stability. The progress we obtain in meaningful work stimulates momentum. Things get easier and we fall in love with the process than with the result, leaving us content and happy with our everyday efforts. Every small goal and tiny gain matters in the long run to success. We turn into masters of what we do, enabling us to focus on various areas of enhancement.

MANAGEMENT WISDOM IN FOOTBALL

Every game teaches us some management wisdom and football is no different. The great game comes with principles like collaboration, perseverance, teamwork, discipline, and time management, stuff that are significant both on and off the field.

Also, the game of football is an amalgamation of insight, passion, dedication, sportsmanship, and leadership, something relevant for a successful corporate career. Now, let’s have a closer look at the values football brings forth vis-à-vis management. A thoughtful image of being connected is illustrated in football. Invisible threads link everyone in the team, and the members trust each other to make passes since they know precisely where the other person stands. As the team gets closer to scoring, we notice how the rapid passes with fantastic teamwork bring glory. Putting team goals ahead of individual ones is what it means to prioritise the team.

Also, spare a thought about the coaches. The coaches of the teams identify the merits of each member and deploy them in respective positions that give better results. As mentors or leaders, we are expected to identify the merit of the members of our team and utilise them for a better output. Effective communication from the leader to find solutions to problems is another wisdom we can learn from this great game. The way the coach decides to introduce fresh legs by recalling a tired player is a classic example of taking decisions to find solutions. Also, it is important to note the way the coach instils confidence in the players who are recalled and are about to take up the challenge.

Systematic practice culture and efficacious communication nurture the team’s progress. The idea is to sharpen the strengths and identify the vulnerabilities. Here lies the importance of perseverance that helps us to hone our skills, plan and enhance our abilities. The confidence to take the bull by the horns originates from hours of preparation, something very much relevant to the leaders at ESAF. Also, understanding each other’s strengths and weaknesses helps in building teamwork.

Proper homework about the topic and the competitors instils discipline and helps us to have faith in the process. Bringing together a group of people with diverse personalities, talents, and learning styles calls for patience. We must resist being frustrated and work with endurance to fight till the very last whistle. The game also reminds us that our best effort should come within the time frame. Something highly important for the game as well as for us. The importance of teamwork also conveys the fact that superstars can never guarantee victory. Remember, Spain won in 2010 on the merit of sheer teamwork. The innovation by the Netherlands football team in the form of Total Football also explained the importance of teamwork. By displaying the magic of team spirit, football inspires us to be better team workers. Let us remind ourselves that we are team players combining our efforts and abilities for the betterment of society.