Key Note Speech - Building a Skills-Centric Organization

Please listen my views on building skill centric organization while launching the internal academy for sales and content team.

Play the audio below. 

 

 

Who is a Guru? Mentor?

Guru, as referred to in the Gurucharitra, is a spiritual teacher or guide who helps others on their spiritual journey. In Hinduism and many other spiritual traditions, the guru is considered to be a direct link to the divine, and is highly revered for their wisdom and guidance. The concept of the guru is central to the Gurucharitra, which is a sacred text that outlines the life and teachings of the guru Dattatreya.

Gurucharitra. In Hinduism, the guru is a revered spiritual teacher who is believed to possess knowledge and wisdom that can help others on their spiritual path. The guru is seen as a direct link to the divine, and is often considered to be a manifestation of the divine in human form.

In the Gurucharitra, the guru is specifically referred to as Shri Guru Dattatreya. The text is a sacred scripture that contains the life story and teachings of Shri Guru Dattatreya, and is considered to be of great spiritual significance to those who follow the Dattatreya tradition. The text is believed to have been written by a devotee of Shri Guru Dattatreya, Sarswati Gangadhar and it is said to contain the wisdom and guidance of the guru himself.

The concept of the guru is important in many spiritual traditions, as it is believed that the guru has the ability to guide others on their spiritual journey and help them to achieve enlightenment. In Hinduism, the guru is seen as a vital source of knowledge and guidance, and is often considered to be a necessary part of the spiritual path. The guru is also seen as a source of inspiration and support, and is often looked to for guidance and direction in times of need.

In the Gurucharitra, the guru is described as a spiritual guide who helps the shishya (disciple) develop spiritually and achieve self-realization. The guru does this through teachings, guidance, and support. The guru helps the shishya develop their spiritual practices, such as meditation and devotion, and encourages them to follow the path of righteousness. The guru also helps the shishya overcome obstacles and challenges that may arise on their spiritual journey. Ultimately, the guru's goal is to help the shishya become a better person and attain enlightenment.

Shri Guru Dattatreya, who is a revered spiritual teacher and guide. As a guru, Shri Guru Dattatreya is believed to possess knowledge and wisdom that can help others on their spiritual path. In the text, he is described as having many qualities and traits that make him an exceptional guru.

Some of the traits of Shri Guru Dattatreya as described in the Gurucharitra include:

Compassion: Shri Guru Dattatreya is described as being a deeply compassionate and caring individual. He is said to have a great love for all living beings, and to be deeply concerned for their well-being.

Wisdom: Shri Guru Dattatreya is described as being incredibly wise and knowledgeable. He is said to possess a deep understanding of the spiritual world, and to be able to provide guidance and wisdom to those who seek it.

Patience: Shri Guru Dattatreya is said to be incredibly patient and understanding. He is described as being able to listen to others without judgment, and to provide guidance and support without becoming frustrated or angry.

Selflessness: Shri Guru Dattatreya is described as being a selfless individual who is always willing to put the needs of others before his own. He is said to be deeply dedicated to helping others, and to do so without any expectation of reward or recognition.

Humility: Shri Guru Dattatreya is described as being a humble individual who is not interested in seeking fame or recognition. He is said to be focused solely on helping others, and to do so without any desire for personal gain.

Perseverance: Shri Guru Dattatreya is said to be incredibly determined and persistent. He is described as being able to overcome any obstacle in pursuit of his goals, and to always stay focused on helping others.

As I mentioned earlier, the guru is considered to be a spiritual teacher or guide who helps others on their spiritual journey. In the case of the Gurucharitra, the guru is specifically referred to as Shri Guru Dattatreya, who is a revered spiritual teacher and guide.

The role of the guru in the Gurucharitra is to provide guidance and wisdom to those who seek it. Shri Guru Dattatreya is described as being incredibly wise and knowledgeable, and is said to possess a deep understanding of the spiritual world. As a result, he is able to provide valuable guidance and insight to those who seek it, and to help them on their spiritual journey.

Overall, the guru is a central and important concept in the Gurucharitra. Shri Guru Dattatreya is revered as a spiritual teacher and guide, and is seen as a source of wisdom, guidance, and support for those who seek it.

Finding Purpose and making life more meaningful.

God Dattatreya learnt from many Gurus around. It is said that he has learnt from 24 gurus and those were from nature and animals. Similarly, if we look around, we have many things to learn from. Whenever I read the Guruchatria, I get the same inspiration which Guru gives. It is also said that God is within us and hence my conversation, in my subconscious mind, with my Guru went as under. Here I am in the role of Disciple. 

Disciple: What is the purpose of life?

Guru: As you know, the purpose of life is to seek enlightenment and to find inner peace. This is the ultimate goal of all spiritual paths.

Disciple: I understand, guru. But how can I find this inner peace and enlightenment?

Guru: The key to finding inner peace and enlightenment is to let go of attachments and desires. When we are attached to things, we are unable to see the world as it truly is. We must let go of our attachments and desires in order to experience true inner peace.

Disciple: But guru, isn't it natural for a human being to have attachments and desires?

Guru: Yes, it is natural for human beings to have attachments and desires. But it is important to understand that these attachments and desires are the source of suffering. When we let go of them, we can find true peace and happiness. Life is not just about existing, my dear. It is about living with purpose and meaning.

Guru: One other important aspect of a happy life is to have a sense of purpose or meaning. This can come from many different sources, such as your career, your relationships, or your personal interests and passions. When you have something that drives and motivates you, it can give your life direction and make it more fulfilling.

Disciple: How do I find my purpose?

Guru: Finding your purpose can be a deeply personal and individual journey. It's something that may evolve and change over time, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. A good way to start is to ask yourself what brings you joy, fulfillment, and a sense of accomplishment. You can also think about your strengths and passions, and how you might use them to make a positive impact on the world. It may take some exploration and experimentation to discover your purpose, but the important thing is to keep an open mind and be willing to try new things. The journey towards a happy and fulfilling life is ongoing. It's important to be patient and kind to yourself, and to keep working towards your goals and dreams. With dedication and perseverance, you will find the happiness and fulfillment that you seek.

Disciple: I agree, guru. But how can I make my life more meaningful?

Guru: There are many ways to make your life more meaningful. One way is to focus on your relationships with others. Nurture your relationships with your family and friends, and be kind and compassionate towards others.

Disciple: That is a good idea. What else can I do to make my life more meaningful?

Guru: Another way to make your life more meaningful is to engage in activities that are fulfilling and rewarding. This can be anything from pursuing a hobby or passion, to volunteering and helping others. When you engage in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment, you will find that your life has more meaning and purpose. Remember, the key to a meaningful life is to be present in the moment and to live with purpose and intention. May the universe bless you on your journey towards a more meaningful life.

Disciple: But why do we need to do this all? There are millions of people who are living without doing this all. What is the final goal?

Guru: Do you think all those million people are living a happy and healthy life? The final goal, my dear, is a state of happiness, fulfillment, and inner peace. It is a state in which you feel content and satisfied with your life, and in which you are living in alignment with your values and goals. 

Disciple: How do I achieve this final goal?

Guru: The path to achieving the final goal is different for everyone, but there are some common principles that can guide you on your journey. Firstly, it is important to cultivate a sense of mindfulness and presence, so that you are able to fully engage with the present moment and let go of distractions and worries. Secondly, it is important to let go of negative thoughts and emotions, and to cultivate positive ones instead. Finally, it is important to have a sense of purpose and meaning in your life, and to strive towards goals that bring you joy and fulfillment.

Disciple: That is helpful. Can you give me some specific examples of how to apply these principles?

Guru: Of course. Here are some examples of how you can apply these principles in your daily life:

Practice mindfulness: Try setting aside some time each day to sit quietly and focus on your breath, or to engage in a calming activity such as yoga or meditation.

Let go of negative thoughts and emotions: When you notice yourself feeling negative or stressed, take a deep breath and try to let go of those thoughts and emotions. Instead, focus on the present moment and on the good things in your life.

Cultivate positive emotions: Make a conscious effort to surround yourself with positive people and experiences. Try doing things that bring you joy, such as spending time with loved ones, pursuing a hobby, or volunteering.

Find your purpose: Take some time to reflect on your strengths and passions, and think about how you can use them to make a positive impact on the world. You may need to experiment and try out different things before you find your true purpose, but the important thing is to keep an open mind and be willing to explore.

By incorporating these principles into your daily life, you can work towards achieving the final goal of happiness, fulfillment, and inner peace.

Disciple: How can I let go of negative thoughts and emotions?

Guru: One way to let go of negative thoughts and emotions is to practice mindfulness. This means bringing your attention to the present moment and letting go of any distractions or worries. Another way is to practice self-compassion and talk to yourself in a kind and understanding way. You can also try engaging in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment, such as spending time with loved ones, pursuing a hobby, or volunteering.

Disciple: That makes sense. Can you tell me more about the importance of gratitude?

Guru: Absolutely. Gratitude is a powerful emotion that can have a huge impact on your happiness. When you cultivate a sense of gratitude, you are able to appreciate the good things in your life, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. This can help you to feel more positive and hopeful, and can even improve your physical health. Try starting each day by thinking of three things you are grateful for, and see how it affects your mood and outlook. Remember, it takes time and practice to cultivate a happy life, but the effort is well worth it. Keep striving towards positivity and contentment, and you will find true happiness.

Please respond the survey, I am conducting, as a part of my research by clicking on >> Leadership Competencies required for managers while handling crisis situations. 

(Opinions are purely personal & does not represent my organizations, current or past) 

Author's books are available on Amazon, Flipkart, Pothi and BookGanga. You can buy the print copy of Vitality in Human Resources on amazon. Click >> Vitality in Human Resource: Adding human dimensions in HR processes    

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Circle of competence

When you look around, everybody is glued to the mobile, internet and on social media. We receive a lot of information on social media like WhatsApp, twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn etc. This gives the feeling that we know everything, and information is the power. What we forget is that we have just the information and not the knowledge. I have seen people hardly learning from those messages and information about what they are consuming daily. Most dangerous part is people making their opinion based on that or taking decisions without understanding enough. 

During the current pandemic, people have a lot of dilemmas. Should we take the vaccine or should we not? Is one of the dilemmas created by social media. However, very few people tried to contact their doctor and take his/her opinion instead of believing the news on social media. In today’s times, the perception of knowledge usually engulfs your true knowledge. Hence, our knowledge graph looks as under.

As you see, the circle of competence is the area that matches your experience and skills or ‘what you already know’. However, we think otherwise claiming that we have knowledge & skill in other areas also. This is because of the lack of reflection and insight we have.   

You must be knowing that Warren Buffet writes a letter every year to CEOs and shareholders of different companies where he invested. He does this to set expectations.  He referred to this concept in the letter he wrote to shareholders on behalf of Berkshire Hathaway. 

He says, “Intelligent investing is not complex, though that is far from saying that it is easy. What an investor needs is the ability to correctly evaluate selected businesses. Note that word “selected”: You don’t have to be an expert on every company, or even many. You only have to be able to evaluate companies within your circle of competence. The size of that circle is not very important; knowing its boundaries, however, is vital.” – Warren Buffett 

Knowing the circle of competence is not only useful to investors but also everybody. Everything which comes under your knowledge, skills, and competence comes under your “circle of competence.” Wise person knows exactly what his or her circle of competence is. Knowing your circle of competence increases the success rate and better decision making. It doesn’t mean that you can’t expand your circle of competence; however, your perception about the knowledge you have, needs to be corrected. 

Identifying the circle of competence is easy but overconfidence is the major hurdle in identifying it. We actually ‘think’ that we know better but in reality, we don’t. We need to understand that we may have limitations to expand our competence in certain areas where you need specialized expertise. For example, if you are a salesperson and you wish to become a data scientist, it is beyond your expertise. You can, but then you need to learn different skills to become a data scientist. 

One of the solutions to expand the circle of competence is moving from a “know-it-all” to a “learn-it-all” mindset. We are not superhuman who have all solutions and all knowledge. Our mind brings out solutions based on our past experiences. However, the mind does not relate those experiences to the contexts. Good news is, we can condition the mind to understand the context and that’s why learning is crucial.

(Opinions are purely personal & does not represent my organizations, current or past) 

Author's book are available on Amazon, Flipkart, Pothi and BookGanga 

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Ambition

Company hired the Mckinsey & Company to benchmark and design the strategy for the expansion plans. It was expected that this exercise will result in some new ideas and businesses where company can further explore. I was one of the project team members along with other cross functional members from editorial, marketing, circulation etc. fifty percent members were from the company and fifty percent from Mckinsey. It was a great development experience where we learnt the thought process, platforms etc on which the Mckinsey works. It was a great learning about the way of working and identifying the core issue and proposing solutions.

There were a lot of initiatives parallelly going on like SAP implementation, new design of newspapers which company are publishing, lean six sigma roll out and convergence project (Convergence in media is linking one media platform to different platforms and design the content as per the platform and consumer behaviours.) Global top consultants were advising the company on those projects also.  

While we were discussing the progress of one of the projects, our Managing Director told me to leverage the learning from those consultants, develop the internal talent with those learning. In short, working on such projects was a great development opportunity for us. He also mentioned that consultants are good, and they have the huge data and we should use that data to improve the business, learn the way they approach the solution and their approach toward the design thinking. Personally, I gained a lot while working on those projects.

It was mid-summer in 2006. We all were in the final workshop with the management team and few cross functional senior members. Different workstreams presented their story. Finally, there was a presentation from the consultant on the recommendations. Every member in the boardroom was given voting pads.

Data was presented. The government was planning auctions of licences for radio frequencies. Members were asked to vote if the company should invest in FM, Events, Televisions Channel- entertainment or news or info-entertainment etc. Based on the presentation 90% participants voted for FM radio Channel. Finally, the consultant put the final slide on the screen with his recommendations to invest in FM Radio frequency. For other ventures like television etc we had a gap in capabilities. The workshop concluded with a lot of deliberations.

Next day, the Managing Director invited the meeting of the management team where I was also a part. He asked for feedback about the workshop and views of the participants. After listening all, he declared, “We will not go for the radio licence, we will invest in television channel.”

There was a pin drop silence, “We have a good benchmark, the team has done a wonderful job and our strategy is in place, but I believe that we should have ambitions. Unless you don’t have dreams, we will not be successful. We should take decisions considering our ambition. I believe that we understand our business and we should go for television channel. We need to discuss whether it is entertainment, info-entertainment or only news channel.”  He broke the silence. He explained the logic behind his decision, risk involved but he also explained why we should think big. He pushed the boundaries of the team to think big. 

After a lot of discussion, finally the project started and after 1 years the television channel started. Initially it was info-entertainment but later on converted fully into a news channel. Today the said channel is number 1 in TRP in regional language (Marathi). It is known as Saam TV.

We make decisions based on the data, however sometimes it is intuition and ambition which takes you toward success. Such decisions may be risky. But confidence, courage, conviction and calculated risk and trust on self and team are keys to success.  

(Opinions are purely personal & does not represent my organizations, current or past) 

Author's book are available on Amazon, Flipkart and BookGanga 

(Income from books is donated to the NGO which works for orphans, street children & abandoned elders)

Continue doing what you are doing during pandemic: Covid19 diary

During this pandemic situation, we are getting a lot of information about the coronavirus. The picture painted by the media is horrible and scary. We have already crossed the numbers of corona patients more than 10.12 lacs. This number looks very scary, however if we believe the government data, the recovery is almost 6.5 lacs. It means our recovery rate is 65% which is quite good. Deaths are almost 26273 (2.5%). Looking towards statistics, India is doing good. Somebody may say that we are not doing enough tests and hence numbers reported are not right. Possibly few state governments are manipulating the data. Quarantine rules are changing, now patients with mild symptoms are asked to quarantine at their home. So, does it mean that corona has lost its importance as a dangerous & deadly virus? The debate of lock down itself is a different discussion.

What do you feel, when you think about Covid19?

People are also arguing that deaths due to other diseases and ailments are more than coronavirus. That is true but people forget that other diseases and illnesses are not spread like covid19. In fact, coronavirus itself is not deadly, the conditions caused by the virus are deadly. If you have pre-illness or ailment like diabetics, kidney failure, or any serious illness, chances of getting affected are more. If your body is immune & strong, you don’t need to worry, you may get infected and still you can survive with proper treatment. Proper treatment is the rider here. Just compare the situation when it started, if somebody was tested positive during March, it was a crisis to the family, society, colony and government authorities. But now in July, if somebody is tested positive, it is not that much of a crisis for others except family members. Government authorities diluted actions like sanitization of the building, declaring the containment zones etc. Now such decisions are more politically, or community driven instead of pandemic driven.

Does it mean that the government has put the onus of infection on people and getting away from their responsibilities? Does it mean that the virus itself lost its virus load which qualifies it as a deadly virus? Or has the corona pandemic induced the medical scandal? We keep getting such questions. Lot of experts and opinions are expressed. The World Health Organization also doesn’t have answers to such questions. It keeps changing their stand conveniently.    

          

However, did people learn something from this pandemic? After different phases during the lock down, a lot of people learnt new skills, life skills necessary at home; relationships went good or bad depending upon the mindset. Work from home and work for home became new normal. Digitalization journey is accelerated. This is all OK, however there are so many other things we realised during this pandemic.

Positive side of the pandemic

Important thing is personal hygiene. Indians are always criticized for their bad habits related to hygiene. Eating pan and tobacco and spitting is common. This pandemic has taught people a good lesson. But will it continue? It is said that it takes 21 days to create the habit. Hopefully people will follow all good habits and will continue to be responsible citizens. I don’t know to what extent it will happen, as still people are not that much aware about this. 

     

During the pandemic people were empathetic with each other. At least understanding each other and empathizing gives a morale booster. We became more human. Good Samaritans came forward supporting migrant workers, poor & needy people. Others were supporting each other. I hope that we all will continue this humanhood.

People also invested in formal & informal learning during this period. It is good to keep this learning attitude and going the extra mile. I hope that this spirit of learning also will continue, and people will not stop learning. Corona virus itself is a big teacher and we should not underestimate it.

Disruption in business also induced some creative thinking and innovations in business models. Few industries and sectors are affected heavily. Hope people will be creative to bring back the business resiliently.           

We already started living with it. We don’t know when it will go, but we also should learn to protect ourselves, our families and think about the future instead of just thinking only about the coronavirus and pandemic. 

Me, Media and Journalism

I started my career firstly in media marketing & research, then moved into journalism and finally ended in Human Resources. First two careers were short and those were after graduation and post-graduation. However, I gained a lot of experience in those jobs. I dealt with different types of people. In my first job, I was working with a print newspaper. I along with my teammates used to visit door to door to understand the people's taste about newspaper reading, their behaviour pattern while reading the newspaper, their buying habits etc. Based on the findings, inputs were to be given to the editorial team for designing their contents, advertisement for their sales campaign and circulation for focusing where the demand is. It was an extensive job with a lot of travel, asking questions to different people, filling forms and consolidating the research. This was an internal system to support the business growth. In this process, we also used to generate a lot of leads for advertising and circulation of newspapers. I learnt many things about people, behaviour patterns, media commerce and business here. During this period, I also saw two shades of human being, nice and evil. Most of the people treated us very well & at another side, few people insulted us.

After working a year here, I joined as a sub-editor of English edition of one of the newspapers in Maharashtra. This was a local edition. During my college days, I was writing in different newspapers. I also was writing columns on social issues, employability & some political issues around the area. I used to cover political rallies with seniors & was handling education beat that time. This was enough experience for me to start as a sub-editor. While working here, I understood the socio-political issues, writing skills, articulation skills, how to give headlines, how to edit the copy and of course how to get the information from different sources. My job was mainly desk job, coordinating with different reporters and stringers, motivating them, coaching them and getting some good news, and then editing their copy for final print. Editing the first page & editorial page was always a privilege for me. My editorial colleagues working in Marathi edition used to ask me to write for them. I also got the opportunity to write a few editorials. Working in media companies is a big challenge. Media jobs are unorganised. It needs a lot of courage, patience and strong manipulation skills. During this period, I was working an evening shift from 15.00 hrs till finalizing the print. 

There are a lot of hands behind the scene, who work hand, day and night to bring the newspaper to your doorstep. They are printers, designers, proof-readers, circulation personnel etc. They work under a lot of pressure, stress which takes the toll of their health. I used to eat meals with them while dinner and everybody has enough food for others. Today most of the jobs are clubbed together or automated because of the technology.    

Mostly all media companies are dominated by politicians. You also become political while working for them. There are different ideologies, different groups with different mindset where your personal values are compromised. This was the main internal struggle for me.    

It was an enriching experience. I can say I built my personality while working in those 2 jobs. I learn to read people and their personalities. I moved into Human Resources. During my career, I also got the opportunity to establish the HR function in the largest growing media house. I worked closely with the leadership team of media house, got the opportunity to be a part of launches of television channels, web media etc. Media convergence was one of the initiatives that time which is currently working well with integrating same news on different media platforms. I got the opportunity to work with Mckinsey, Garcia design, E&Y etc on different projects in business, editorial and Human Resource while working with this media house. In fact, that experience built my further career in Human Resource.  

"When you work in Media, you get automatic respect irrespective of which department you work. Unfortunately, this respect goes in the head of most of the people."      

Today the media is at a different level altogether. Indian media has created its image, good or bad but it has created a lot of ripple effects in the society. Unfortunately, there are very few journalists who are living with their values. Majority of them have their own agenda. They are spineless & supporting political leaders for their personal gain. Nowadays they are PR agents and spokesmen for political parties rather than journalists. Package journalism is at a high peak now. Still there are few reporters, journalists & others who are trying to bring change in the society and political space. We should recognize and appreciate their efforts.   

However, technology has given the weapon in the hands of common citizens. With the strong social media, every citizen can be the citizen journalist and address the issues they are facing. However, one should be very careful to use it properly, otherwise it may get backfire.   

Unfortunately, the media industry, mainly print media, is hit badly by coronavirus pandemic. The main revenue source of advertisement is in bad shape. People are hesitant to buy the print media because of fear of virus spread. Small media houses are on the verge of closure and large media houses are rightsizing. Unfortunately, those who report news of layoffs are now laid off. Such news will be buried under the carpet of corporate offices of media houses.  

(Opinions are purely personal & does not represent my organization)

Please read the print replica of my latest book written for leaders on amazon kindle; Vitality in Human Resource      

Christian - The Lion, The Story of Love

Somebody sent me this clip on WhatsApp few days back. This clip is mind-blowing. This is a true story. The cub who was put for the sell was taken by two friends, John and Ace. 

Cub and friends developed great relationship. Due to the space, the lion is sent at South Africa. The lion become wild and the leader of the group, pride. When John and Ace decided to visit South Africa to meet the big cat, they were told that the animal is wild and leader of his own pride and would not remember his old friends…

It was big surprise for all when Lion responded in a unique way… see what’s happened next…       

Kaash… Human would learn something from such animals… 

Action – Reaction…

Three learnings while dealing with conflicting situations…

I always see the people in stress when something goes wrong. People even push the panic button and start acting without thinking. I understand that the reaction is natural after any action, but without understanding the action, you can’t design your reaction. Adverse situations are always challenging, you actually hone your skills while handling such situations.  

I remember the situation when I was working with one of the biggest automobile company in their engine manufacturing plant. There was a discussion going on wage demands. Those were typical days when such discussions are in progress. The negotiations were long pending and workmen were adamant on their demands. They were not willing to discuss on the productivity expected by the management as per the standards.

They tried every resorts like boycotting the founder day, annual day, go slow etc. However management was firm and we handled the situation. We identified troublemakers and opinion makers. Trouble makers were put under observation and opinion makers were properly communicated. We also completed almost 10 domestic enquires against the workmen involving habitual absenteeism. These 10 workmen were counselled and instructed not to take a single leave without permission in a year. The counselling sessions were documented in front of the union leaders. Their termination was kept on hold.

We came to know that workmen are planning to take mass leave. They did this and next day nobody turned to the job. This was a case of flash strike.

Next day, 10 workmen were out of the company…we terminated their services. Union had totally ignored this and they were shocked… after few days, MoU was signed. We asked them to implement productivity as per the norms and then only we signed the settlement.

This situation taught me few things which I always remember.                 

Don‘t respond immediately: During the whole process we thought a lot with the team on the actions. We were knowing that workmen will go for flash strike, but we decided the action after much thought. We also deducted the salary as per the law. The deduction and termination of 10 workmen was the strong point with us during negotiations. The pressure built by other workmen and opinion makers helps us to get the union on the table to discuss productivity issues.     

Try to understand before you act: The consequences would have been totally different. We had completed domestic enquiries and all 10 workmen were liable for punishment considering their records. However we had decided to give them one chance, going on flash strike also means absenting from the job which is not sanctioned by the management. Irrespective to all pressures they should have come to the job. They lost. I was criticized by few colleagues for giving the opportunity to those workmen. We didn't terminated them before because we didn't wanted to create a negative environment during collective bargaining.     

Keep the end in mind: This situation was the opportunity for us. Union came forward for the discussion. They had to take the full retreat. When we reacted on the situation, it was clear that we want to break the unwavering which we did.

Off course this was the team work. I also would like to clear that decisions in such situations are logical during particular situation and not necessary, they will be applicable in all such similar situations. However above learnings are applicable before acting in any situations.       

Learning agility

Imagine the situation, where you are asked to handle the situation. The situation is totally new for you.  What will you do? You will explore totally new options to handle the situation or you will look back and explore options which you learned from other situations which were difficult for you that time. Not necessary that the same option will be useful in new situation, but you may find some path to deal with the situation.   

Failure is the best teacher in life. Experience during certain events in life is also the best teacher for others. 

We also have lot of challenges, struggles and difficulties in our life. We try to find solutions and perform in odd situations. However   we miss the apply such experiences in new situations in life. 

Ability and willingness to learn from experience, and then apply that learning to perform successfully under new situations is called the learning agility. It also means creating meaning out of events.    

Successful people create meaning out of events and relationships that devastate failed people… they look at the same events that unstring those less capable…and see something useful …The signature skill of leaders is the ability to process new experiences… and to  them into their life.

If you have the learning agility, you will do following things. …

1. You are critical thinkers who examine problems carefully and make fresh connections,
2. You know solutions yourself and are able to handle tough situations,
3. You like to experiment and can deal with the discomfort of change,
4. You deliver results in first‐time situations through team building and personal drive,

If you want to grow in the career, specially at leadership position, your learning agility counts.  The researchers said that  people who are learning agile, seek out experiences to learn from. They enjoy complex problems and challenges associated with new experiences. They have an interest in making sense of them; perform better because they incorporate new skills. A person who is learning agile has more lessons, more tools, and more solutions to draw on when faced with new business challenges. 

It is after all, taking turns while climbing the career ladder.  These turns are sharp where you need to learn new capabilities and competencies very fast. This also can be gained by learning from experiences.     

Don’t  you think so?

The Auction

In my village, there was a rich farmer. He was rich in almost every way, but was very upset.  His estate was worth millions. He owned houses, land, farm house and cattle. But though on the outside he had it all, he was very unhappy on the inside. His wife was growing old, and the couple was childless. He had always wanted a little boy to carry on the family legacy. Miraculously, his wife became pregnant in her later years, and she gave birth to a little boy.

The boy was severely handicapped, but the man loved him with his whole heart. When the boy was five, his mother died. The father drew closer to his special son. At age 13, the boy's birth defects cost him his life and the father died soon after from a broken heart. He was clever man however there was not will found. He had a loyal friend who was also the lawyer. Relatives tried different tactics to grab the property. The case went to the court. Court ordered that the estate to be auctioned and trust to be formed as there was no closed relative who would be eligible to get all the property.

The estate was auctioned before hundreds of bidders from different areas of district. The first item offered was a painting of the boy. No one bid. They waited like vultures for the riches. Finally, the poor housemaid, who helped raise the boy and loved him, offered 50 bucks for the painting and easily took the bid. To everyone's shock, the auctioneer ripped a hand written will from the back of the picture. This is what it said: "To the person who thinks enough of my son to buy this painting, to this person I give my entire estate." The auction was over. The greedy crowd & relatives walked away in shock and dismay. However relatives again went to the court. Handwriting expert validated that the handwriting was of the farmer. Finally court granted the will was legal.  The Poor maid became rich.  

How many of us have sought after what we thought were true riches only to find out later that our Father was prepared to give us His entire estate if we had only sought after His Son alone? 

Ability & inability…consciously & unconsciously…

When I was in school, I never thought that I would be public speaker & trainer. But when I started my professional life, I thought I can do the same; even better than others who claim they are good. Do we aware of our full ability? There are lot many things in life we do first time and before doing that we never would have thought about those. When there is any change in technology, people fear that it would be difficult to manage that technology. There are lot of tasks which change over a period of time, you struggle to adapt and then you do it professionally.  You do it consciously.

Do you know what’s happening there??

When Sales Manager put down his papers, his boss, Sales Director was very unhappy, unhappy with the HR. Sales Manager was high performer and probably was the successor of Sales Director in the future. He was happy in the organization, but somehow for last few days he was not much engaged. Sales director and CEO were unhappy not because of Sales Manager put down the paper, they were unhappy because this news was shock for them. The issue was discussed in the meeting and CEO asked HR Head, “Why his resignation is surprise for all?”  

When Sudhashu, Plant HR Head was called by his boss, Sudhanshu never thought that internal union members were planning to get the external affiliation. In day to day activities, he was so tied up that he could not get the feel of workmen in the organization. When his boss told this, we was actually surprised, why he was not able to get this news before his boss.

In both incidences, management has some expectations from HR. Management clearly wanted to know such news from HR. When it came via other channels, it was considered error from HR side, though not a major failure.

Does such cases  are frequent in organizations? Is HR senses what’s happening in the organization? Are there any channels where management comes to know any events, pulse, feels before they becomes the surprises? It is not expected that HR should keep an eye on everything in the organization, but when it comes to HR related issues, definitely HR is expected to break such news.

If you are a HR professional, irrespective of your profile, you need to be more proactive while dealing with the people. I always tell my team members that every paper, every issue coming on your table, is the opportunity to start interaction and further opportunity to build the relationship with the person. This help you to build the  trust. And if you build the trust, people will come to you to speak, not only official issues, but they will give you the feeling of the people. They are your communication channels.

It is not just for the sake of communication only, but then you get the time to act and possible certain positive actions on the issues.      

I have three suggestions for HR professional and even other functional  line managers.

1. You should be the first: You should be the first person who should come to know every function related information. Your team members are your eyes and ear of your function. It depend upon you how you build the relations, and how people are comfortable coming to you.
2. You should be Proactive in approach: You should not be reactive in approach. Exit interviews are the reactive approach. Why you should act after the event? In 95% resignations, there is less probability, that employee will stay back in the organization. They already made up their mind. There is no point in discussing why he is leaving the organization and what better could have been done for him. Exit interviews still can be conducted, but more proactive approach (e.g. stay interviews) should be adopted.
3. Your approach should be long term: Most of the time, reactive approach leads to short term solutions. If your approach is proactive, you can think long term Consequences. Compliance attitude may lead you in mess. Just think, how the particular solution will be long lasting, off course not necessary permanently.

These are not technical and functional competencies. These come through experience, but awareness of this will definitely help you.

Why I read...

My parents were not rich. I didn't succeed even single rupee from them but I succeeded a rich property from them, ‘my reading habit’. In my childhood, my elder siblings gifted different books and my mother used to read all the stuff including newspapers. I had a small cupboard attached to the  wooden table. I made a small library with all stuff. Not so many books, but good books and magazines to read. My village was so small that we had no library. In schools, we had very small library. Even newspapers were not delivered. Environment maintained for reading something  was discouraging. But my small library with limited books helped me a lot. I must have read all the books hundred times. Those books were my friends and mentor too.  

Today, I can afford to buy books and my son is very fortunate that he has all the reading stuff available including encyclopedia, magazines, books. He like to read all. He knows most of the stuff which probably his 5^th standard peers don’t. Perhaps my son will definitely recognize me for this rich heritage. I also suggest to my friends, colleagues and employees in my organization to get books for their children.

Unfortunately people take books only for putting in show case.  During this week, I was invited by two business schools for  interacting with the students. I spoke on employability and what industries expect from Management students. I asked common question, “how many student read any newspaper?” At both colleges and hardly 5-6 students raised their hands. I asked how many student read book except academic books. Hardly 2-3 students raised their hands.

There are lot of excuses, but there are people who get time for reading something. Perhaps all the students will get the job. Perhaps by not reading newspapers and books, they will not mislay anything. However they will definitely lose the opportunities to excel, opportunities to learn something extra which may be useful in dealing with difficult situations in life…

There are two people in this world, who like reading and who don’t like reading. I have seen people who even don’t bother to read newspaper. Reading is a habit and it is developed during childhood. Unfortunately in our education system reading is limited to academicals books. It is associated to examinations. Students are forced to read and then solve questions in examination and examination is associated with hidden fear.. fear of failure in exams so reading itself is dreary for them.  

Everything written in books may not be right, there are some opinions, especially in autobiographies, philosophies etc., but they give us different perspective and ideas to be used in different circumstances. For me, books are friends, mentors and coach. If you don’t have anybody to consult, then books come to your rescue. Authors give you a perspective and sometimes, it works. Sometimes, it is just fun, but give dose of encouragement and motivation; sometimes it’s just philosophy but gives you an intellectual strength; sometimes, it is just knowledge, but helps you to differentiate from others.

Instead of just blindly following to so called babas, bapus and maas, take some time for yourself and read something. Nothing to lose, but just gain something.