What are the highest-pressure situations you have been under in recent years? How did you cope with them?

The highest pressure points has been trying to do business without having adequate stocks, not being able to commit a delivery date or completion date for projects undertaken which eventually get delayed. This resulted in angry clients and demotivated sales team.

To manage the pressure, i had regular meeting with clients who had already paid advance amounts assuring them of quick installation on priority for delay caused. 

Also sourced material locally for smaller projects , which kept the sales figures going and kept my sales team and my employer happy, which in turn motivated them to go out and bring more business.

The highest pressure situation was undertaking different task done within short period of time within only6 days.

It was mandatory to participate in pre proposal conferences to know what should go into the proposal, complying with the RFP. The conference of USAID was firm up within6 hours.  The conference with US Army Corps of Engineers were ended within3 and the confernece of ISAF was finished within5 hours. That was really important because% of proposal’s success was depending on the conference material and presentations.

·                 I participated in3 pre proposal conferences in different locations for different nature of projects. During each conference I was creating a check list to be compiled and cross-reference all the requirements of each factor.

·                 I increased my working hours from hours to hours

·                 I utilized administrative assist cooperation in my official hours to assist me in printing several documentations, scan the legal and supporting documents.

·                 I utilized Finance Department cooperation for verifying financial standing capability from company’s banks on fast track procedure.

·                 I put engineers into work, to prepare the budgets, and project schedules.

·                 I invited two subcontractors to understand their strength, and knowledge. From8 am to5pm I speech and described scope of works and technical requirement to let them know the needs of our company and client.   

·                 On4th day I collected all required documentations from our subcontractors, I modified and printed.

·                 The5th day was the due date of two proposals. I reviewed the proposals before i finished them and finally printed, sealed at6am morning and delivered before due. I was awakening for hours. It was really hard to manage but sometime we need to sacrifice for the sake of company’s stability to grow our business.

·                 On the6th day I finished3rd proposal, I started evaluation in according to the requirements, to compliance the evaluation criteria, finally was printed, sealed and submitted before the deadline.

·                 And after two weeks we succeeded and signed two NTPs. But one of our proposal was unsatisfactory, because of low price.

Our all team remain peaceful, approachable during all trials.

Reasons for high work pressure

1. I was under high pressure to manage multiple activities comprising engineering design & development, procurement, administration and project management.
2. % of the jobs were highly technical in nature and I had to review the design concepts after office hours.
3. Being a member of Procurement Committee and Recruitment Committee, I had to spend almost6 hours per week in meetings.
4. Aside for above, the routine work of administration, travel and transport was quite high.

To manage the high work pressure, I maintained the following approach

1. Delegating some of the routine activities and supervising the activities at regular intervals.
2. Monthly meeting with my department colleagues to share information and build teamwork
3. Listening more in the meeting and participating in discussion with sound logic. This approach  increased my visibility in meeting and also motivation
4. Taking food at regular time and exercise as and when possible
5. Sleeping for at least6 hours and socializing for2/3 hours on every week ends
6. Remain calm and confident in every move 

From last two years our oil works in india is in loss due to crude oil prices going down day by day .its a big pressure in business that how to handle staff and expenses after that I started trading and shut down the industries with same staff. In ready garment trade started trading textiles instead of woolen prodect