The Master of your KPIs: A memoir and management book rolled into one

The Master of your KPIs, the latest book authored by Pankaj Lochan is worth picking up for several reasons.

For one, the author does not preach or sermonise. In fact, the first part of the book makes for a very smooth and interesting read. With his personal experiences and feelings as the head-manufacturing and P&L, Lochan, as the protagonist, manages to open his heart and let the readers in, giving them a full view of all that is going on inside—in the most undiluted form.

So what starts off as an autobiography, ends as a valuable training session on management of key performance indicators or KPIs.

Such an honest account of a senior leader’s journey to his new workplace—the efforts he had to put in to win the hearts of the existing staff who seemed reluctant to accept a new head, and how he finally managed to get everyone on the same page— and the success that came by slowly, is as believable as it is inspiring.

Not for a second will the readers feel that the author is making tall claims. Why? Because the readers are as actively involved in every achievement and struggle as the author himself, so vividly have the incidents been described. Torn between his family at home—trying their best to cope with the challenges of relocation—and a workplace with its own share of unique problems, the author comes across as the most resilient professional capable of clearing any mess, however deep it runs, with a calm head and strong human connections. And yes, the value added to the entire journey by the presence of a supportive spouse is something that Lochan gratefully acknowledges throughout, leaving the readers completely floored.

When the cover says ‘A Comprehensive Guide to Building, Managing and Mastering your KPIs’, it is not misleading at all. If the first part of the book brings out the storyteller in Lochan, the second part gives a peek into Lochan the management educator. After a truly engrossing account of his personal experiences in Part 1 of the book, the author does offer a comprehensive toolkit in Part 2, to help readers manage and improve their KPIs.

So yes, it is that perfect combo of a memoir and a textbook that entertains and imparts knowledge without allowing monotony to set in.

For all those looking for a genuinely meaningful read, this is the perfect choice. It manages to provide the feel of a novel even while offering useful management lessons. Coming from an author who has successfully played human resource and manufacturing roles himself, the insights from this work are worth imbibing and applying.