Twent20 Cricket brings a new look & feel to International Cricket. The great atmosphere, the entertainment added with a dash of music & dance provides one of the greatest spectacle ever & what better stage than the inaugural world cup. But the most refreshing & heartening view for every Indian is the new face of Team India – Young, Vibrant, Aggressive & Fearless.
A format of the game neither the players nor the board officials seem to have embraced has shown the biggest turnarounds ever to Indian cricket especially after the World Cup debacle. The most passionate & ardent cricket followers in India would also have not given a chance to this team without the legends – in a game that is fast, furious & ferocious. But, this in the face attitude team has proved all critics wrong, surpassed the expectations & left the cricketing fraternity gasping for breath.
Mahi has led the side with example – He is calm, composed, aggressive & shows the ability to take calculative risks when needed. The fielding has shown a paradigm shift with the youngsters throwing themselves around – Catches by Dinesh Karthik, Harbhajan Singh & the run-out of Justin Kemp by Rohit Sharma were of world class standards – some thing that would lift any side.
The batsmen – Gambhir, Sehwag, Uthappa, Yuvraj, Dhoni & Rohit Sharma all of them have portrayed great temperament & have cleared the boundaries with penultimate ease. Even during difficult circumstances, under trying conditions they have backed themselves & played their natural game. Some one rightly put it – When there is no reputation to lose, people come out with their best performances. The way Rohit Sharma batted against SA & his crucial cameo against Pakistan was an example of the same.
In the bowling department, Irfan & Bhajji have come back with very good performances. R P Singh is improving with every game & Sreesanth – with his natural aggressiveness & ability to pick up wickets looks deadly – Especially his spell against Aus is one of the best by an Indian against the World Champs. Joginder Sharma is yet to establish himself but his last over against the Aussies & his spell against Pakistan proved he has what it takes to be in the international arena & most importantly a part of this new face of India.
Cricket they say is played in the minds & hearts first then comes the skill, talent & experience – this young lot has proved this. They beat Pakistan in the bowl-out where their body language never showed any signs of nervousness. Against NZ they almost got home chasing 190. They made mince meat of the Englishman. The games against SA & Aus, the 2 best teams in world cricket, they came out with their heads held high & made us all feel proud with their power packed performances.
The finale against Pakistan was a true test of their mettle & character & they came through this one unscathed. What is important to notice is that they have come through even though Yuvi & Dhoni failed with the bat as also Sreesanth & Bhajji did not have a good outing with the ball. 157 in 20 overs was not going to be enough but they bowled & fielded splendidly to restrict Pakistan. Gambhir’s knock was sheer class & Pathan & R P Singh made sure India restricted Pakistan below the competitive total.
Ajay Jadeja rightly mentioned in one of his interview “It does not matter whether they win or lose against Pakistan but I want to see this Indian team playing!” The aussies having lost to India in the Twenty20 World Cup would come back strongly. Are the young guys ready for this acid test? Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure, like Ajay Jadeja, every Indian would love to see this team playing – the new face of Indian Cricket – The way forward…
Tuesday 27 November 2007
“Power Plays – In Cricket & Life”
“Power plays” a term associated with modern day cricket – one of the most fantastic & fascinating parts of an ODI – With the commercialization & the extremely passionate viewership it makes for one of the most enjoyable moments. For a batsman & the cricket lovers it proves to be a gala time – but spare a thought for the bowlers & the fielders – what a pitiable sight – they look absolutely helpless & lackluster.
Power plays are now associated with corporate world too – Corporate world? It never crosses the mind right? Just think – In every organization there are different kinds of employees with various areas of expertise & competencies – all of whom look at opportunities to climb the corporate ladder – some in the correct way, some others in any which way they can.
So, here you enter the corporate power play – We are all a part of this system. One would question – Is it wrong to get promoted, to get great pay hikes or a position of power? Well, certainly not – But how you get there? What steps do you take to get there? Do you step on someone else’s shoes does? There would be 2 schools of thoughts on this – One which agrees & the other who either revolts against it or moves out of the system without a word - & in all these cases the organization stands to lose, so does the individual who doesn’t engage in power plays.
At this juncture, it is very important to note the role of the system – Do they notice it? If yes, do they encourage it or admonish it? Remember, a system is as good as the people in it. So, the way the system shapes its culture, values & beliefs – so would the power players. The people in the system could do well to set great examples here.
Every system would have its share of quick learners, the guys with big learning curves, who dare & make a difference in the shortest possible time – as in Cricket & we would all love to have them in the system. But, should we promote the ones who engage in such activities only for selfish benefits – do they really put in their heart & soul for the system they work in & hence they deserve it – is something the system & the stakeholders need to decide. If they don’t – well the system only has itself to blame.
Yes, it is great fun & excitement to watch the power plays in cricket coz it’s meant for entertainment. But that’s not what corporate entities are meant for – they are real & whatever happens there affects human lives & careers, so think twice before you enter this one.
Power plays are now associated with corporate world too – Corporate world? It never crosses the mind right? Just think – In every organization there are different kinds of employees with various areas of expertise & competencies – all of whom look at opportunities to climb the corporate ladder – some in the correct way, some others in any which way they can.
So, here you enter the corporate power play – We are all a part of this system. One would question – Is it wrong to get promoted, to get great pay hikes or a position of power? Well, certainly not – But how you get there? What steps do you take to get there? Do you step on someone else’s shoes does? There would be 2 schools of thoughts on this – One which agrees & the other who either revolts against it or moves out of the system without a word - & in all these cases the organization stands to lose, so does the individual who doesn’t engage in power plays.
At this juncture, it is very important to note the role of the system – Do they notice it? If yes, do they encourage it or admonish it? Remember, a system is as good as the people in it. So, the way the system shapes its culture, values & beliefs – so would the power players. The people in the system could do well to set great examples here.
Every system would have its share of quick learners, the guys with big learning curves, who dare & make a difference in the shortest possible time – as in Cricket & we would all love to have them in the system. But, should we promote the ones who engage in such activities only for selfish benefits – do they really put in their heart & soul for the system they work in & hence they deserve it – is something the system & the stakeholders need to decide. If they don’t – well the system only has itself to blame.
Yes, it is great fun & excitement to watch the power plays in cricket coz it’s meant for entertainment. But that’s not what corporate entities are meant for – they are real & whatever happens there affects human lives & careers, so think twice before you enter this one.
“Imagine the India that can be…..If all of us sacrificed that little bit”
One winter evening as I sipped a cup of hot tea, I was hit by a reality – A crime we all are guilty of committing – Especially the GenX or the youth of today. We, who started our careers with decently hefty packages, enjoy restaurant food every night, smoke the costliest cigarettes -sometimes socially & most often as a status symbol, the ones who drink regularly due to frustration, work issues, as a fad or may be a habit.
This may be one of the 2 sides of this economically poor country. We may continue to bask in the glory of the easy riches, enjoy & be adamant enough to ignore our anti social activities or we may choose to ponder over & think if we can make a bigger & better difference to the India that we all imagine can be – If each one of us is willing to sacrifice that little bit … which we have in excess or are ready to waste.
I am sure it is difficult to know & even tougher to accept that India still has half of its population below the poverty line, we still have deaths due to malnutrition & families which succumb to the intense shortage of funds.
Let’s think of this fact, ever time we youngsters frequent the restaurants as a group or we order food from outside, we waste enough to allow survival of at least 1 malnourished child on the streets if he/she were given that food. If all of us were to promise ourselves to donate the same money we would be able to save malnourishment deaths to the extent of hundreds & thousands of kids.
Smoking – This I believe is one of the most unwanted & peer influenced vice – something we all would be better off without. However, to respect the smoking community, here’s what we can do – If we promise ourselves to smoke 1 cigarette less every day or every week or every packet we consume & donate this saved bit to the society, we would be able to reduce the poverty level by at least 10%.
Drinking – I really don’t know who originated this & how high does some one reach at the peak of its consumption. It’s even hard to understand what is social drinking, drinking in the wake of happiness, or drinking under the cover of gloom, but drink we all do – to the best of our health & much to the discomfort of the ones not drinking along with us. If all of us gave up drinking & contributed that amount for the development of India – We would be a super power – economically – we would be rich. But, to be fair to the drinking community, let’s promise ourselves we would reduce our monthly alcohol consumption by 10% & I am sure we would be able to take up a few districts/villages & uplift/develop them.
Yes, its Diwali time & we all are lucky – we can glow diyas, light lamps, burst crackers & enjoy sweets, but give it a thought – there are homes that do not have lights, kids who do not have food & parents who commit suicides due to lack of income to sustain their families. We may not be able to give life or livelihood to all, but we may be able to enlighten a few homes & allow them to enjoy Diwali – Just the way we do….
This may be one of the 2 sides of this economically poor country. We may continue to bask in the glory of the easy riches, enjoy & be adamant enough to ignore our anti social activities or we may choose to ponder over & think if we can make a bigger & better difference to the India that we all imagine can be – If each one of us is willing to sacrifice that little bit … which we have in excess or are ready to waste.
I am sure it is difficult to know & even tougher to accept that India still has half of its population below the poverty line, we still have deaths due to malnutrition & families which succumb to the intense shortage of funds.
Let’s think of this fact, ever time we youngsters frequent the restaurants as a group or we order food from outside, we waste enough to allow survival of at least 1 malnourished child on the streets if he/she were given that food. If all of us were to promise ourselves to donate the same money we would be able to save malnourishment deaths to the extent of hundreds & thousands of kids.
Smoking – This I believe is one of the most unwanted & peer influenced vice – something we all would be better off without. However, to respect the smoking community, here’s what we can do – If we promise ourselves to smoke 1 cigarette less every day or every week or every packet we consume & donate this saved bit to the society, we would be able to reduce the poverty level by at least 10%.
Drinking – I really don’t know who originated this & how high does some one reach at the peak of its consumption. It’s even hard to understand what is social drinking, drinking in the wake of happiness, or drinking under the cover of gloom, but drink we all do – to the best of our health & much to the discomfort of the ones not drinking along with us. If all of us gave up drinking & contributed that amount for the development of India – We would be a super power – economically – we would be rich. But, to be fair to the drinking community, let’s promise ourselves we would reduce our monthly alcohol consumption by 10% & I am sure we would be able to take up a few districts/villages & uplift/develop them.
Yes, its Diwali time & we all are lucky – we can glow diyas, light lamps, burst crackers & enjoy sweets, but give it a thought – there are homes that do not have lights, kids who do not have food & parents who commit suicides due to lack of income to sustain their families. We may not be able to give life or livelihood to all, but we may be able to enlighten a few homes & allow them to enjoy Diwali – Just the way we do….
HR headed by Delivery/Business guys – Future of tomorrow!
The role of HR in today’s world has changed – It is not a mere line function but an extended arm to the core business of an organization. HR functions as a strategic partner – Be it formulating policies, following practices, recruiting, nurturing & retaining talent & growing the business.
HR in the IT Industry is heavily with recruitments – Training, Compensation & Benefits, Employee Relations & Organisational Development complete the entire gamut of activities. Given that HR & business work closely it would be advantageous for organizations to have people with business/technical background in HR.
So, be it forming new policies, conducting surveys & designing compensation & benefits packages, understanding the pain points of the employees. Finding resource utilization & staffing projects movement of resources within projects, proactive recruitments based on manpower planning with industry know-how, multi-skilling resources & building successful teams – Business knowledge would add value, help track loopholes & solve issues to reach closer to the grey areas & achieve near perfection!
How many times have we come across policies which need alterations?
2 different projects – 1 overstaffed (with additional buffer resources for contingency) & the other understaffed. People who want to move into projects of their choice & ultimately quit coz they don’t get to.
Some skills which are rare & difficult to hire & have, the other skills which are easier to get & yet we try maintaining salary parity – which is another myth.
Trainings – which generally talk about man hours/days in a year – but not why & which based on individual strengths & weaknesses.
Companies which talk about retention policies but not about creating a brand/experience that employees never think of quitting.
HR continues to do a great job – its a tough one – only when they do not perform is their presence felt till then no one thanks or rewards them for a job well done. Having said this, it is left to the delivery/business guys to provide significant market inputs/intelligence to frame better policies & implement better practices year after year.
Given the importance of HR & its strategic partnership with business, it would be great to have some one with business background heading HR – This well could be the future of tomorrow!
HR in the IT Industry is heavily with recruitments – Training, Compensation & Benefits, Employee Relations & Organisational Development complete the entire gamut of activities. Given that HR & business work closely it would be advantageous for organizations to have people with business/technical background in HR.
So, be it forming new policies, conducting surveys & designing compensation & benefits packages, understanding the pain points of the employees. Finding resource utilization & staffing projects movement of resources within projects, proactive recruitments based on manpower planning with industry know-how, multi-skilling resources & building successful teams – Business knowledge would add value, help track loopholes & solve issues to reach closer to the grey areas & achieve near perfection!
How many times have we come across policies which need alterations?
2 different projects – 1 overstaffed (with additional buffer resources for contingency) & the other understaffed. People who want to move into projects of their choice & ultimately quit coz they don’t get to.
Some skills which are rare & difficult to hire & have, the other skills which are easier to get & yet we try maintaining salary parity – which is another myth.
Trainings – which generally talk about man hours/days in a year – but not why & which based on individual strengths & weaknesses.
Companies which talk about retention policies but not about creating a brand/experience that employees never think of quitting.
HR continues to do a great job – its a tough one – only when they do not perform is their presence felt till then no one thanks or rewards them for a job well done. Having said this, it is left to the delivery/business guys to provide significant market inputs/intelligence to frame better policies & implement better practices year after year.
Given the importance of HR & its strategic partnership with business, it would be great to have some one with business background heading HR – This well could be the future of tomorrow!
“Exercise Daily – 30 to 45 minutes is all we need…”
Most of us as school kids, college buffs tend to engage in some physical activities like professional sports, adventure, trekking or some form of daily exercise – cardio vascular, aerobic or be it muscle building & toning. Somewhere as we get into the nitty gritty’s of the professional world & careers, we forget our hobbies, passion & most of all our exercise regime & health – one of the most important elements for human well being & professional success.
I know the work clock ticks too fast & 24 hours is less to complete our work – But, ask this question & expect an honest answer to the same – Can I spare 30 to 45 minutes for exercise every day? Park the answer & let me just illustrate the benefits of exercising.
When we talk exercise – it’s not just about physical but also mental exercise. If you are over weight & have an untoned body well you cannot afford a “No” for exercise & 30 – 45 mins may not be enough for you. Apart from the physical aspect, we need a sharp memory, good reflexes, concentration, stress relief measures, ability to think quick & strategize – in short a wholistic development of the mind & body.
We as individuals make the mistake of hitting gyms or jogging as soon as we think about exercise – the problem – we cannot sustain the routine & it fades away in a week or two. Ideally, we should look at a combination of:
▪ Cardio-vascular exercises - Running, jogging, brisk walking, climbing stairs.
▪ Gym – Muscle building & toning with or without weights.
▪ Indoor/Outdoor Games – TT/Badminton/Tennis/Football/Swimming.
▪ Adventure Sports – Mountaineering, Biking, Trekking, Rock climbing, rappling.
▪ Aerobics & Yoga.
It would be very difficult for an individual to choose all options – this is just to avoid monotony & enhance continuity. You may choose the options which best suit your need & the facilities & infrastructure for which are easily available to you. So, you may opt a 5-day work out with 5 different categories – you will enjoy exercising this way. If you don’t – I am sure you wouldn’t continue.
Research shows that physical exercise helps to maintain & improve brain health – It improves what scientists call “Executive Function” – processing speed, response speed & working memory – allows to select behavior that is appropriate to the situation & focus on the job at hand despite distractions. It slows down the process of aging & reduces the probability of heart attacks or Alzheimers.
With the highly stressful work culture, we have deaths due to heart attacks at the age of 30/40, people who suffer from frustration & quit jobs, hypertension, sleeplessness & other mental/physical disorders at a very young age. You may be the only source of income in your family – The backbone to say. If your health gives way, think of the system without you. If not you, it is for them that you need to exercise. We may still prefer to pursue our professional careers & ignore our physical/mental well-being. But, is it worth a compensate, especially if we just have 1 life to live?
I am sure, by now you have the answer to the question etched in your mind. BELIEVE ME, it’s just about taking that first step & the right one indeed. It’s then all about continuing the small steps for big leaps, reaching those milestones & seeing miracles happen – Yes, they do – If you want them to – So, HAPPY EXERCISING EVERY DAY!!!
I know the work clock ticks too fast & 24 hours is less to complete our work – But, ask this question & expect an honest answer to the same – Can I spare 30 to 45 minutes for exercise every day? Park the answer & let me just illustrate the benefits of exercising.
When we talk exercise – it’s not just about physical but also mental exercise. If you are over weight & have an untoned body well you cannot afford a “No” for exercise & 30 – 45 mins may not be enough for you. Apart from the physical aspect, we need a sharp memory, good reflexes, concentration, stress relief measures, ability to think quick & strategize – in short a wholistic development of the mind & body.
We as individuals make the mistake of hitting gyms or jogging as soon as we think about exercise – the problem – we cannot sustain the routine & it fades away in a week or two. Ideally, we should look at a combination of:
▪ Cardio-vascular exercises - Running, jogging, brisk walking, climbing stairs.
▪ Gym – Muscle building & toning with or without weights.
▪ Indoor/Outdoor Games – TT/Badminton/Tennis/Football/Swimming.
▪ Adventure Sports – Mountaineering, Biking, Trekking, Rock climbing, rappling.
▪ Aerobics & Yoga.
It would be very difficult for an individual to choose all options – this is just to avoid monotony & enhance continuity. You may choose the options which best suit your need & the facilities & infrastructure for which are easily available to you. So, you may opt a 5-day work out with 5 different categories – you will enjoy exercising this way. If you don’t – I am sure you wouldn’t continue.
Research shows that physical exercise helps to maintain & improve brain health – It improves what scientists call “Executive Function” – processing speed, response speed & working memory – allows to select behavior that is appropriate to the situation & focus on the job at hand despite distractions. It slows down the process of aging & reduces the probability of heart attacks or Alzheimers.
With the highly stressful work culture, we have deaths due to heart attacks at the age of 30/40, people who suffer from frustration & quit jobs, hypertension, sleeplessness & other mental/physical disorders at a very young age. You may be the only source of income in your family – The backbone to say. If your health gives way, think of the system without you. If not you, it is for them that you need to exercise. We may still prefer to pursue our professional careers & ignore our physical/mental well-being. But, is it worth a compensate, especially if we just have 1 life to live?
I am sure, by now you have the answer to the question etched in your mind. BELIEVE ME, it’s just about taking that first step & the right one indeed. It’s then all about continuing the small steps for big leaps, reaching those milestones & seeing miracles happen – Yes, they do – If you want them to – So, HAPPY EXERCISING EVERY DAY!!!
“Stand Up & Perform – Give it your Best”
During our lifetime, we come across hundreds of situations where we can sit back & worry or stand up & perform. Most of the times, we end up worrying about things – some trivial, some worth it, but we forget to perform – “Do What We Are Best At…”
To overcome worries & perform – you need courage, presence of mind, knowledge & the faith that you can overcome all obstacles. Often, we allow our mind & brain to think about all the negative factors that make us worry & in pursuit of the same disallow our heart to say – “I am good at this – Let me give it my best shot – Other things will take care of itself”
Overcome yourself, your thoughts, your mind & your worries – Be the you, you want to…
We worry b’coz we tune our minds to a logical flow of facts, sequences & events - the mind always persuades us in strategizing based on the external factors – Other people, top mgt, competitive environment, the consequences of our actions & its end result. But, the power of our heart & the passion filled in it is something we never explore as against the facts that the brain & mind processes. Remember, the mind never can find out to what extent you can perform backed by your passion & heart – It fails there! So do you – coz you never gave it a chance!
Sometimes, when we desperately aim at achieving something, which is very close to our heart – we tune our mind to follow what our heart says & the dream it envisions. Most often, we do achieve it – Look back & remind yourself the last thing you accomplished which your heart said you wanted to – Seems like a miracle – Isn’t it? That’s b’coz you never allowed your mind to think of other factors, which could have ever made it impossible to achieve. Had you – you would have never achieved it!
So, the next time you come across a similar situation – Don’t give in to what others say, what statistics suggest, what are the odds & favorites, can u see it through or what would be the end result – Just stand up & perform – Do what you can do best – Just leave the rest! I am sure you will achieve what you set out for…..
To overcome worries & perform – you need courage, presence of mind, knowledge & the faith that you can overcome all obstacles. Often, we allow our mind & brain to think about all the negative factors that make us worry & in pursuit of the same disallow our heart to say – “I am good at this – Let me give it my best shot – Other things will take care of itself”
Overcome yourself, your thoughts, your mind & your worries – Be the you, you want to…
We worry b’coz we tune our minds to a logical flow of facts, sequences & events - the mind always persuades us in strategizing based on the external factors – Other people, top mgt, competitive environment, the consequences of our actions & its end result. But, the power of our heart & the passion filled in it is something we never explore as against the facts that the brain & mind processes. Remember, the mind never can find out to what extent you can perform backed by your passion & heart – It fails there! So do you – coz you never gave it a chance!
Sometimes, when we desperately aim at achieving something, which is very close to our heart – we tune our mind to follow what our heart says & the dream it envisions. Most often, we do achieve it – Look back & remind yourself the last thing you accomplished which your heart said you wanted to – Seems like a miracle – Isn’t it? That’s b’coz you never allowed your mind to think of other factors, which could have ever made it impossible to achieve. Had you – you would have never achieved it!
So, the next time you come across a similar situation – Don’t give in to what others say, what statistics suggest, what are the odds & favorites, can u see it through or what would be the end result – Just stand up & perform – Do what you can do best – Just leave the rest! I am sure you will achieve what you set out for…..
“A Company is as good as the quality of people it hires…”
Among various industries there is a continuous rating for the best companies & employers on the basis of various parameters. But one of the most defining aspects that make or break companies or differentiate between the good & great companies though it may not necessarily figure in any of the parameters is the people who work in it. In fact a company is as good as the quality of people it hires.
Recruiting can be easily defined in 3 objectives –
▪ Quality people,
▪ In the shortest possible time &
▪ At the least cost.
However, in a bid to increase profit margins or expand businesses, most companies ultimately get people in a short time or at lesser costs. But, they tend to sacrifice the quality of the people they hire – ignorant of the effects they can have in the long run.
Quality never comes cheap – there is a price tag attached because of the value it adds. Good associates would demand premium prices, but they would win greater business deals with the kind of work they can do & it makes it worthwhile to spend time & cost on hiring such high quality guys. Hence even if a junior associate is to be hired at a premium price compared to a senior associate with similar skills & higher experience already existing in the system or you would be hiring from outside it is worth the money cause the ROI is higher. It would be a better practice to hire people based on the ROI rather than just the yrs of exp & skills that they expertise in.
The other common mistake most companies & recruiters do is hiring for a specific position rather than for the company – in a bid to close a position recruiters tend to hire a replacement based on the job description & job specification. However, they do not necessarily define the finer points – the impact of the person’s exit on the team like the mentoring & coaching activities, the quality initiatives & the domain specific functional inputs the person adds value in. Mind you, even a junior guy could be adding better value in such scenarios & we tend to ignore this fact.
Another mistake companies tend to do is not hiring good candidates during a lull since there is no business & the recruited associates may not have projects to be deployed in & since there are no open positions to recruit for. This would be an ideal time since we can focus on quality of hiring. Business can be generated tomorrow, however the candidates whom you haven’t offered or proactively hired may never turn up again for your organization & more importantly you lose the network of the guy – prospective candidates for you.
The biggest & most grave mistake recruiters or companies often make with major ramp-ups in order to attain the numbers within the crunch of time is to hire a few guys who are below par in their technical skills or have attitude problems, own whims & fallacies.
Believe me, misfits when hired are the biggest nuisance – They turn “Bad Apples” & end up negating the good work by the recruiters. They are capable of destroying good teams with bad practices & all companies need to be careful of this.
So, the next time your company thinks about bottom lines, venturing into new business deals – make sure you do not take a hit on your biggest asset – “Quality of People – The Key to your Growth!”
Recruiting can be easily defined in 3 objectives –
▪ Quality people,
▪ In the shortest possible time &
▪ At the least cost.
However, in a bid to increase profit margins or expand businesses, most companies ultimately get people in a short time or at lesser costs. But, they tend to sacrifice the quality of the people they hire – ignorant of the effects they can have in the long run.
Quality never comes cheap – there is a price tag attached because of the value it adds. Good associates would demand premium prices, but they would win greater business deals with the kind of work they can do & it makes it worthwhile to spend time & cost on hiring such high quality guys. Hence even if a junior associate is to be hired at a premium price compared to a senior associate with similar skills & higher experience already existing in the system or you would be hiring from outside it is worth the money cause the ROI is higher. It would be a better practice to hire people based on the ROI rather than just the yrs of exp & skills that they expertise in.
The other common mistake most companies & recruiters do is hiring for a specific position rather than for the company – in a bid to close a position recruiters tend to hire a replacement based on the job description & job specification. However, they do not necessarily define the finer points – the impact of the person’s exit on the team like the mentoring & coaching activities, the quality initiatives & the domain specific functional inputs the person adds value in. Mind you, even a junior guy could be adding better value in such scenarios & we tend to ignore this fact.
Another mistake companies tend to do is not hiring good candidates during a lull since there is no business & the recruited associates may not have projects to be deployed in & since there are no open positions to recruit for. This would be an ideal time since we can focus on quality of hiring. Business can be generated tomorrow, however the candidates whom you haven’t offered or proactively hired may never turn up again for your organization & more importantly you lose the network of the guy – prospective candidates for you.
The biggest & most grave mistake recruiters or companies often make with major ramp-ups in order to attain the numbers within the crunch of time is to hire a few guys who are below par in their technical skills or have attitude problems, own whims & fallacies.
Believe me, misfits when hired are the biggest nuisance – They turn “Bad Apples” & end up negating the good work by the recruiters. They are capable of destroying good teams with bad practices & all companies need to be careful of this.
So, the next time your company thinks about bottom lines, venturing into new business deals – make sure you do not take a hit on your biggest asset – “Quality of People – The Key to your Growth!”
Wednesday 19 September 2007
“TO BE OR NOT TO BE THAT IS THE QUESTION”
“TO BE OR NOT TO BE THAT IS THE QUESTION”
Is there more to Life? Or a job in a software company, an ambience that boasts of the best upbringing, a fat pay package, decent take homes, multiplex weekends, bachelor parties every Friday, late night drives, dreaming about state-of-the-art residential complexes & going around in branded outfits is all there is to life?
Given the pros & cons not a bad lifestyle to be in. Isn’t it? Why then crib out the system which we are in, the long work hours, the great work-life imbalance, the shortage of time for self & family, the goals which are not yet met & the dreams which still remain unfulfilled?
I think we are caught between the 2 worlds – One that lures us into the materialistic benefits in the short run to which the head nods & the idealistic values, beliefs & morales that we carry within our hearts.
We have the best of the materialistic world – yet there is a quest for more with the increasing price rates & even higher tax rates. Achieving the self that we dream of & contributing to the bigger picture – The World is the least we have all ventured into & there is even lesser effort to walk that path.
The Mind Says – I can get to a manager level position in the next 2-3 years, a top level executive in the next 10 yrs. Could I be the CEO of a company somewhere down the line? What would be my CTC then? Would I & can I expect 20-25% hike this year? Is my learning curve going up or is it falling? What are my roles & responsibilities? Do I have any one reporting in to me? How can I ensure more visibility with the top mgt to reach where I want to?
The Heart (During Leisure) does question – When is the last time I heard my inner voice? Went for a long drive? Spent time with nature? Gave way to my creative self? Saw my family, friends & relatives & said – You are the reason I am what I am today? Played with the kids? Touched a hurt soul? Contributed to my society & my country who gave me a reason to live & feel proud about?
The System talks to me about my talent, skill & potential – The One that can take me a long way & make this company one of the best in the industry & the same system comes back to me 1 day (when I have already spent my entire life there & probably just nearing the completion of my term) & says I am either outdated or have become too old to adapt, that I don’t have the skills or the talent any more or the peers & the subordinates do not respect me any more though I have given the best I could for the system & still believe I have lot more to offer & can make a bigger impact – But no one cares.
I now talk to myself & feel – Is this the only system I can make a difference to? Which talks about what value I add to them & what about mine? They say we are a family – So now was I the discarded one? They talk about profits & losses – Me about Values & Ethics. They say its business – I feel it is without a touch of humanness.
The System in whatever way for whatever reasons will always be right & would continue to exist. But For Me, “To be or not to be that is the Question”
- By Ashish Dabholkar
Is there more to Life? Or a job in a software company, an ambience that boasts of the best upbringing, a fat pay package, decent take homes, multiplex weekends, bachelor parties every Friday, late night drives, dreaming about state-of-the-art residential complexes & going around in branded outfits is all there is to life?
Given the pros & cons not a bad lifestyle to be in. Isn’t it? Why then crib out the system which we are in, the long work hours, the great work-life imbalance, the shortage of time for self & family, the goals which are not yet met & the dreams which still remain unfulfilled?
I think we are caught between the 2 worlds – One that lures us into the materialistic benefits in the short run to which the head nods & the idealistic values, beliefs & morales that we carry within our hearts.
We have the best of the materialistic world – yet there is a quest for more with the increasing price rates & even higher tax rates. Achieving the self that we dream of & contributing to the bigger picture – The World is the least we have all ventured into & there is even lesser effort to walk that path.
The Mind Says – I can get to a manager level position in the next 2-3 years, a top level executive in the next 10 yrs. Could I be the CEO of a company somewhere down the line? What would be my CTC then? Would I & can I expect 20-25% hike this year? Is my learning curve going up or is it falling? What are my roles & responsibilities? Do I have any one reporting in to me? How can I ensure more visibility with the top mgt to reach where I want to?
The Heart (During Leisure) does question – When is the last time I heard my inner voice? Went for a long drive? Spent time with nature? Gave way to my creative self? Saw my family, friends & relatives & said – You are the reason I am what I am today? Played with the kids? Touched a hurt soul? Contributed to my society & my country who gave me a reason to live & feel proud about?
The System talks to me about my talent, skill & potential – The One that can take me a long way & make this company one of the best in the industry & the same system comes back to me 1 day (when I have already spent my entire life there & probably just nearing the completion of my term) & says I am either outdated or have become too old to adapt, that I don’t have the skills or the talent any more or the peers & the subordinates do not respect me any more though I have given the best I could for the system & still believe I have lot more to offer & can make a bigger impact – But no one cares.
I now talk to myself & feel – Is this the only system I can make a difference to? Which talks about what value I add to them & what about mine? They say we are a family – So now was I the discarded one? They talk about profits & losses – Me about Values & Ethics. They say its business – I feel it is without a touch of humanness.
The System in whatever way for whatever reasons will always be right & would continue to exist. But For Me, “To be or not to be that is the Question”
- By Ashish Dabholkar
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