The Search for Self

Originating as a business school course, CPM was created in 1994 by Srikumar S. Rao, who serves the multifaceted role of professor, coach, facilitator, and, at times, therapist. CPM grew out of a need “to work on myself,” says Rao, who developed the course while he was an executive at companies such as Warner Communications, Continental Group, and McGraw-Hill. He holds a Ph.D. in marketing from Columbia Business School, a degree in physics from St. Stephen’s College at Delhi University, and an MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. [...]

Those who participated in CPM’s pilot at Prudential said the course was powerful. Bethan Hughes, 29, joined the course after she heard Rao speak at Momentum’s development week in Hong Kong. “I was intrigued,” she says. “I looked at his Website and printed out the syllabus to read on the flight over there. It struck me how many of the parables or words of wisdom were so simple, and yet again and again, I haven’t truly understood how they translate to my life,” says Hughes. CPM exercises such as the appreciation and gratitude exercise allowed her to look at life and her job differently. “It opened my eyes to what I have all around me rather than in front of me in the future, from how I look at my job to appreciating the golden and russet colors of the trees in autumn and the loving support from family and friends,” she says.

Since taking the course, her relationship with her manager has improved, and she is less frustrated over decisions made by her supervisors or at the corporate level.

Prudential manager Carpaneda says that since taking the course, he talks more purposefully at meetings after CPM’s exercise on “mental chatter” made him aware of his blind spots. “I felt uncomfortable in the past when I didn’t say anything at a meeting. The point is I never considered the other alternative,” Carpaneda says. “I now am much more comfortable listening. In the past, I was never able to grasp the issue; now I am a bit more patient.”

The program has been such a success that CPM is returning to Prudential for a second run, with Atterstam assisting Rao in teaching the course. Says Atterstam, “Dr. Rao’s program builds up the positive Psychological Capital of our future executives. This makes them much more effective leaders as they are much better at creating followership. The program also greatly builds resilience and increases the capacity of seeing opportunities where others perceive adversity.”