Gabbar Singh from the movie Sholay is presented as both a ruthless criminal boss and a model businessman from whom we can learn management lessons. Some of the lessons highlighted include conducting competitive analysis, building a strong brand through fear, implementing fair human resources practices such as considering employee opinions, using incentives and threats to motivate employees, and clearing all debts owed. However, the summary also notes that Gabbar underestimated his competition which ultimately led to his demise at the hands of Thakur.

1. 10 Great Management Lessons We
Can Learn From Gabbar Singh

2. • Gabbar was more than just a ruthless dacoit,
he was also a management and marketing
genius.
• While he wasn't terrorizing the helpless
villagers of Ramgarh, he was giving
management lessons in the Chambal School of
Management.
• Just look at all the things we can learn from
him about building a successful business

3. 1. Competitive Analysis
• When Kaalia and his gang came back empty
handed from Ram-Garh, the first thing Gabbar
asked them was "Kitney aadmi the?" Like any
great manager, he sought to find out about
his competition

4. 2. Brand Building
• Gabbar put it very nicely. When mums in a
locality put their kids to sleep saying "Gabbar
aa jayega," you're a bonafide marketing whiz!

5. 3. Fair HR Practices3. Fair HR Practices
• Before Gabbar Singh punished his
subordinates, he thought that 6 bullets for 3
people would be unfair. "6 goli, aur aadmi
teen, bahut nainsaafi hai!" So, to be fair, he
removed three bullets from the revolver.

6. 4. Seeking Feedback From Staff
• When Gabbar is about to pop Kaalia, he
doesn't just take a unilateral decision. Like a
good democratic leader, he asks for opinions.
"Tera kya hoga Kaaliya?"

7. 5. Downsizing
• No one likes to let go of their employees. But
sometimes, you just have to bite the bullet
and "fire" a few people. Gabbar Singh did
exactly that when he shot all three of his
subordinates after laughing like a maniac. "Jo
darr gaya, samjho mar gaya!"

8. 6. Clearing All Dues In Time6. Clearing All Dues In Time
• Thakur put Gabbar in jail. That didn't go down
too well with Gabbar. So, he promised "Bahut
pachtaugey Thakur, bahut pachtaogey." On
escaping prison, Gabbar immediately
proceeded to murder Thakur's entire family.
Debt cleared.

9. 7. Hostile Take-Overs
• On discovering that Thakur's hands were
really strong, Gabbar immediately wanted to
have them for himself. "Ye haath, humko de
de Thakur!" Even though Thakur was not
willing to part with his most prized assets,
Gabbar cut them off and took them anyway.

10. 8. Employee Motivation
• Gabbar wanted Basanti to dance, but she was
feeling quite shy. Through close observation,
he found out that Basanti and Veeru were
madly in love with each other. "Bahut yaarana
lagta hai." So, he motivated her to shake a leg
by threatening to kill Veeru in front of her.

11. 9. Performance Based Incentive Plans
• To make sure that Basanti kept dancing,
Gabbar linked her performance with her lover
Veeru's life. "Jab tak tere pair chalengey, tab
tak iski saans chalegi."

12. 10. Never Underestimate Your
Competition
• Even Gabbar's mistakes are a lesson to any
budding management graduate. After Jai and
Veeru killed his whole gang, Gabbar came face
to face with Thakur. He looked at the "un-
armed" old man, laughed and said, "Tu kya
ladega mujhse Thakur!" He shouldn't have,
because Thakur then beat him to death with
just his feet.