Jack and Max are walking from religious service. Jack wonders whether it would be all right to smoke while praying.
Max replies, "Why don't you ask the Priest?"
So Jack goes up to the Priest and asks, " Father, may I smoke while I pray?"
The Priest replies, "No, my son, you may not! That's utter disrespect to our religion."
Jack goes back to his friend and tells him what the good Priest told him.
Max says, "I'm not surprised. You asked the wrong question. Let me try."
And so Max goes up to the Priest and asks, "Father, may I pray while I smoke ?"
To which the Priest eagerly replies, "By all means, my son. By all means. You can always pray whenever you want to."
**********
Moral of the story is ... The reply you get depends on the question you ask.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Monday, February 5, 2007
Skills of Smart People
In today's competitive world, it pays to be smart. No matter how smart you are, I am sure there is something you could get smarter about. Below are some qualities of smart people. As you read the list, ask yourself: Am I as smart as I could be in this area? How could I get smarter?
1. Make Decisions Intuitively
Smart people listen to and follow their intuition. They know how intuitions and insights come to them and are tuned-in internally to make wise decisions.
2. Be Self-Aware
Smart people are aware of who they are--- strengths, weaknesses, personality, values, etc. As Confucious once said, ?He who knows others is wise, he who knows himself is enlightened,? they know that the most important (and interesting) thing to know about is ?self.?
3. Use Active Reflection
Smart people reflect on and learn from past experiences, finding out what works and what doesn?t, and then adjusts their course of action as needed. They think about things before jumping in, and also take the time after-the-fact to actively reflect to fully understand what happened or didn?t happen.
4. Think Out-of-Box
Smart people can easily entertain new ideas, thoughts, and ways of doing things. They crave progressive and forward thinking information, concepts, and people. They often come up with new and radical ideas on a regular basis.
5. Have An Open-Mind
Smart people are open to different perspectives and see potential where most people don?t. They would agree with what the quote, ?A mind is like a parachute, it only functions when it is open.? They are comfortable with paradoxes and can relate to many sides of an issue or opinion.
6. Be Responsive
Smart people recognize and respond quickly to opportunities and people. They act and react fast, and take care of what needs to be taken care-of, well ahead of schedule.
7. Be Resourceful
Smart people don?t have to know it all, but they do know where to go to get whatever information, resources, training, education that they need. They are well-networked and have people to call on for resource referrals.
8. Question Yourself
Smart people think for themselves. They do not blindly believe things so-called experts say, in fact, they ask deep questions to discover their own truth.
9. Upgrade Your Brain
Smart people stay smart because they are committed to being a lifelong learner. They continuously learn new things, and stay current with their skills, attitudes, and beliefs.
10. Have a Sense of Humor
Smart people do not take themselves or life too seriously. They recognize the importance of finding the fun in the irony and the comedy of everyday life.
11. Take Risks
Smart people are willing to try out new things, knowing that if it doesn?t work out as intended, failure is often cleverly disguised as a learning opportunity. They ?swing out there? often, and it usually pays off.
12. Trust Yourself
Smart people believe and trust themselves first and foremost. They don?t have to check with others to make decisions, they instinctively know what is right for them and they go for it!
13. Write and List Things on Paper
Smart people have a well-developed life strategy that includes a written life vision/mission, purpose, and goals statement. They also write lists---one for ?have to?s? and one for ?want to?s.?
14. Be Productive
Smart people get things done, through whatever organizational/ time management system that works for them. They make the most of each day and take action on important life tasks each and everyday.
15. Use Discernment
Smart people are able to discern (see clearly) other?s reasons and motives, so they selectively choose who and what to align themselves with. They surround themselves with only the highest quality people, programs, and places.
16. Read, Read, Read
Smart people tap into the collective brain power of others by reading books, magazines, articles---anything that is helpful for their own development. They are also able to filter out the information that fits for them and let the rest go.
17. Value Learning
Smart people value the process of learning for learning?s sake. They do not just learn for a specific end---to get a certificate, degree, title, etc. They learn because it is intrinsically rewarding for them.
18. Teach Others
Smart people are the teachers of the world, who share their knowledge with other people. They put themselves out there so the rest of us can benefit, and in exchange, their own learning grows and develops because they are actively talking about, researching, and understanding their subject.
19. Reinvent Yourself
Smart people do not like to stay the same, they love to grow and develop. They often play with their image, brand, company name, and expand or change it entirely. To stay ahead of the game, they often reinvent themselves time and time again.
20. Be Student of Life
Smart people not only know about specific subjects and topics, but also about what it means to be a human being at this time in our evolution. They are insatiably curious and want to know more about becoming bigger and brighter, as a result they naturally evolve.
As Lao Tzu said, ?To gain knowledge, add things everyday. To gain wisdom, remove things everyday.? This is so true, our brain is like a computer and in order for it to function at a higher level, we must always be adding, while simultaneously taking away information that no longer serves us. Think about it, what do you want to remove from your database? And, what new software program will you replace it with?
Thanks to: rittusmalhotra@yahoo.co.in
1. Make Decisions Intuitively
Smart people listen to and follow their intuition. They know how intuitions and insights come to them and are tuned-in internally to make wise decisions.
2. Be Self-Aware
Smart people are aware of who they are--- strengths, weaknesses, personality, values, etc. As Confucious once said, ?He who knows others is wise, he who knows himself is enlightened,? they know that the most important (and interesting) thing to know about is ?self.?
3. Use Active Reflection
Smart people reflect on and learn from past experiences, finding out what works and what doesn?t, and then adjusts their course of action as needed. They think about things before jumping in, and also take the time after-the-fact to actively reflect to fully understand what happened or didn?t happen.
4. Think Out-of-Box
Smart people can easily entertain new ideas, thoughts, and ways of doing things. They crave progressive and forward thinking information, concepts, and people. They often come up with new and radical ideas on a regular basis.
5. Have An Open-Mind
Smart people are open to different perspectives and see potential where most people don?t. They would agree with what the quote, ?A mind is like a parachute, it only functions when it is open.? They are comfortable with paradoxes and can relate to many sides of an issue or opinion.
6. Be Responsive
Smart people recognize and respond quickly to opportunities and people. They act and react fast, and take care of what needs to be taken care-of, well ahead of schedule.
7. Be Resourceful
Smart people don?t have to know it all, but they do know where to go to get whatever information, resources, training, education that they need. They are well-networked and have people to call on for resource referrals.
8. Question Yourself
Smart people think for themselves. They do not blindly believe things so-called experts say, in fact, they ask deep questions to discover their own truth.
9. Upgrade Your Brain
Smart people stay smart because they are committed to being a lifelong learner. They continuously learn new things, and stay current with their skills, attitudes, and beliefs.
10. Have a Sense of Humor
Smart people do not take themselves or life too seriously. They recognize the importance of finding the fun in the irony and the comedy of everyday life.
11. Take Risks
Smart people are willing to try out new things, knowing that if it doesn?t work out as intended, failure is often cleverly disguised as a learning opportunity. They ?swing out there? often, and it usually pays off.
12. Trust Yourself
Smart people believe and trust themselves first and foremost. They don?t have to check with others to make decisions, they instinctively know what is right for them and they go for it!
13. Write and List Things on Paper
Smart people have a well-developed life strategy that includes a written life vision/mission, purpose, and goals statement. They also write lists---one for ?have to?s? and one for ?want to?s.?
14. Be Productive
Smart people get things done, through whatever organizational/ time management system that works for them. They make the most of each day and take action on important life tasks each and everyday.
15. Use Discernment
Smart people are able to discern (see clearly) other?s reasons and motives, so they selectively choose who and what to align themselves with. They surround themselves with only the highest quality people, programs, and places.
16. Read, Read, Read
Smart people tap into the collective brain power of others by reading books, magazines, articles---anything that is helpful for their own development. They are also able to filter out the information that fits for them and let the rest go.
17. Value Learning
Smart people value the process of learning for learning?s sake. They do not just learn for a specific end---to get a certificate, degree, title, etc. They learn because it is intrinsically rewarding for them.
18. Teach Others
Smart people are the teachers of the world, who share their knowledge with other people. They put themselves out there so the rest of us can benefit, and in exchange, their own learning grows and develops because they are actively talking about, researching, and understanding their subject.
19. Reinvent Yourself
Smart people do not like to stay the same, they love to grow and develop. They often play with their image, brand, company name, and expand or change it entirely. To stay ahead of the game, they often reinvent themselves time and time again.
20. Be Student of Life
Smart people not only know about specific subjects and topics, but also about what it means to be a human being at this time in our evolution. They are insatiably curious and want to know more about becoming bigger and brighter, as a result they naturally evolve.
As Lao Tzu said, ?To gain knowledge, add things everyday. To gain wisdom, remove things everyday.? This is so true, our brain is like a computer and in order for it to function at a higher level, we must always be adding, while simultaneously taking away information that no longer serves us. Think about it, what do you want to remove from your database? And, what new software program will you replace it with?
Thanks to: rittusmalhotra@yahoo.co.in
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
The Challenge of Change
We need to stop thinking like mechanics and to start acting like gardeners.
Challenges of Initiating
These challenges are often sufficient to prevent growth from occurring, almost before it starts. They are consistently encountered at the early stages of significant organizational change. The capabilities to deal with them must be developed under high pressure; but in managing these challenges effectively, organizations develop capabilities much sooner than otherwise for dealing with challenges down the road.
1 Not Enough Time:"We don't have time for this stuff!"
This is the challenge of control over one's time. This challenge is represents a valuable opportunity for reframing the way that workplaces are organized, to provide flexibility and time for reflection and innovation.
2 No Help: "We're like the blind leading the blind!"
Some managers believe that asking for help is a sign of incompetence; others are unaware of the coaching and support they need. Meeting this challenge means building the capabilities for finding the right help, and for mentoring each other to develop successful innovations.
3 Not Relevant: "Why are we doing this stuff?"
A top priority for pilot groups is a clear, compelling case for learning and change. If people are not sufficiently committed to an initiative's goals, a "commitment gap" develops and they will not take part wholeheartedly. Building relevance depends on candid conversations about the reasons for change and the commitments people can make.
4 "Walking the Talk" - Leadership values
What happens when there is a mismatch between the things the boss says and his or her actual behavior? People do not expect perfection, but they recognize when leaders are not sincere or open. If executive and line leaders do not provide an atmosphere of trust and authenticity, then genuine change cannot move forward.
Challenges of Sustaining Momentum
These challenges occur sometime during the first year or two, when the group has clear goals and has discovered that new methods save more than enough time to put them into practice. Now the pilot group's real troubles begin. Sustained activity confronts boundaries - between the work of the pilot group and "internal" attitudes and beliefs, and between the pilot group's needs and the larger-scale company's values and ways of measuring success.
5 Fear and Anxiety: "This suff is ----"
The blanks represent the fact that everyone expresses their fear and anxiety with a different form of defensiveness. ) How do you deal with the concerns of team members about exposure, vulnerability and inadequacy, triggered by the conflicts between increasing levels of candor and openness and low levels of trust? This is one of the most frequently faced challenges and the most difficult to overcome.
6 Assessment and Measurement: "This stuff isn't working"
How do you deal with the disconnect between the tangible (but unfamiliar) achievements of a pilot group and the organization' s traditional ways of measuring success?
7 Believers and Nonbelievers:
"We have the right way!" say pilot group members. "They're acting like a cult!" say their other colleagues and peers.Riding on a wave of early success, speaking their own language, the pilot group becomes increasingly isolated from the rest of the organization. Outsiders, meanwhile, are put off and then turned off by the new, unfamiliar approaches and behavior. These misunderstandings easily accelerate into unnecessary, but nearly unavoidable, opposition.
Challenges of Systemwide Redesgin and Rethinking
These challenges appear as a pilot group's work gains broader credibility and confronts the established internal infrastructure and practices of the organization.
8 Governance: "They won't give up the power."
As the pilot group's capabilities and activities increase, it runs into the priorities and established processes of the rest of the organization. This leads to conflicts over power and autonomy and to a destructive, "us-versus-them" dynamic that nobody wants - and that could be avoided if the capabilities are in place for organizational redesign.
9 Diffusion: "We keep reinventig the wheel!"
Unless organizations learn to recognize and deal with their mysterious, almost unnoticed inability to transfer knowledge across organizational boundaries, people around the system will not build upon each other's successes.
10 Strategy and Purpose: "Where are we going? and "What are we here for?"
How do you revitalize and rethink the organization' s intended direction for success, its' contribution to its community and its future identity? How do you improve the processes of conversation that lead people to articulate and refine their aspirations and goals for achieving them?
Thanks to: "Ajay Singh Niranjan" ajay_uor@yahoo.com
Challenges of Initiating
These challenges are often sufficient to prevent growth from occurring, almost before it starts. They are consistently encountered at the early stages of significant organizational change. The capabilities to deal with them must be developed under high pressure; but in managing these challenges effectively, organizations develop capabilities much sooner than otherwise for dealing with challenges down the road.
1 Not Enough Time:"We don't have time for this stuff!"
This is the challenge of control over one's time. This challenge is represents a valuable opportunity for reframing the way that workplaces are organized, to provide flexibility and time for reflection and innovation.
2 No Help: "We're like the blind leading the blind!"
Some managers believe that asking for help is a sign of incompetence; others are unaware of the coaching and support they need. Meeting this challenge means building the capabilities for finding the right help, and for mentoring each other to develop successful innovations.
3 Not Relevant: "Why are we doing this stuff?"
A top priority for pilot groups is a clear, compelling case for learning and change. If people are not sufficiently committed to an initiative's goals, a "commitment gap" develops and they will not take part wholeheartedly. Building relevance depends on candid conversations about the reasons for change and the commitments people can make.
4 "Walking the Talk" - Leadership values
What happens when there is a mismatch between the things the boss says and his or her actual behavior? People do not expect perfection, but they recognize when leaders are not sincere or open. If executive and line leaders do not provide an atmosphere of trust and authenticity, then genuine change cannot move forward.
Challenges of Sustaining Momentum
These challenges occur sometime during the first year or two, when the group has clear goals and has discovered that new methods save more than enough time to put them into practice. Now the pilot group's real troubles begin. Sustained activity confronts boundaries - between the work of the pilot group and "internal" attitudes and beliefs, and between the pilot group's needs and the larger-scale company's values and ways of measuring success.
5 Fear and Anxiety: "This suff is ----"
The blanks represent the fact that everyone expresses their fear and anxiety with a different form of defensiveness. ) How do you deal with the concerns of team members about exposure, vulnerability and inadequacy, triggered by the conflicts between increasing levels of candor and openness and low levels of trust? This is one of the most frequently faced challenges and the most difficult to overcome.
6 Assessment and Measurement: "This stuff isn't working"
How do you deal with the disconnect between the tangible (but unfamiliar) achievements of a pilot group and the organization' s traditional ways of measuring success?
7 Believers and Nonbelievers:
"We have the right way!" say pilot group members. "They're acting like a cult!" say their other colleagues and peers.Riding on a wave of early success, speaking their own language, the pilot group becomes increasingly isolated from the rest of the organization. Outsiders, meanwhile, are put off and then turned off by the new, unfamiliar approaches and behavior. These misunderstandings easily accelerate into unnecessary, but nearly unavoidable, opposition.
Challenges of Systemwide Redesgin and Rethinking
These challenges appear as a pilot group's work gains broader credibility and confronts the established internal infrastructure and practices of the organization.
8 Governance: "They won't give up the power."
As the pilot group's capabilities and activities increase, it runs into the priorities and established processes of the rest of the organization. This leads to conflicts over power and autonomy and to a destructive, "us-versus-them" dynamic that nobody wants - and that could be avoided if the capabilities are in place for organizational redesign.
9 Diffusion: "We keep reinventig the wheel!"
Unless organizations learn to recognize and deal with their mysterious, almost unnoticed inability to transfer knowledge across organizational boundaries, people around the system will not build upon each other's successes.
10 Strategy and Purpose: "Where are we going? and "What are we here for?"
How do you revitalize and rethink the organization' s intended direction for success, its' contribution to its community and its future identity? How do you improve the processes of conversation that lead people to articulate and refine their aspirations and goals for achieving them?
Thanks to: "Ajay Singh Niranjan" ajay_uor@yahoo.com
Monday, January 29, 2007
“How to Be an Entrepreneur”
The Five Step Program
Identify the problem
Become an expert
Work Hard
Work Hard
Work Hard
Identifying a problem is the first step. Care should be taken to distinguish between problems and symptoms. You are better off addressing the problem rather than futzing around with the symptoms. You have to be an expert for that.
You become an expert by learning, some of which comes from experience, and which in turn comes from trying out different things and learning from the inevitable failures. Failing fast and failing frequently is a good thing if you learn from them. But to my mind the most important thing of all is to THINK DIFFERENT.
How does one think differently? At the very least it requires a big vocabulary. Not the GRE word list, of course, but concepts. You need to understand the world from a wide variety of perspectives. And that requires at the very least reading widely outside your domain of expertise.
For people who have a technology and business background, I would suggest history, anthropology, economics, science, literature, etc. This will help you understand and appreciate the connections that link everything around you and you will be able to figure out how to build stuff that will be useful and thus people will pay to get the stuff and you will be a successful entrepreneur.
Oh yes, the bit about working hard. Without the hard work, you’d have to be very lucky to be successful. And I believe that luck does not fully explain the most successful ones. Unfortunately, the capacity to work hard is, I think, built sometime in one’s formative years. So in a sense, your basic nature determines if you can be an entrepreneur.
What I have described above is not exactly verbatim but faithful in spirit. I ended my talk with that favorite quote from the architect Daniel Burnham (1864-1912) who said:
Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency. Remember that our sons and grandsons are going to do things that would stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty. Think big.
Author : Atanu Dey Source :http://www.deeshaa. org
Identify the problem
Become an expert
Work Hard
Work Hard
Work Hard
Identifying a problem is the first step. Care should be taken to distinguish between problems and symptoms. You are better off addressing the problem rather than futzing around with the symptoms. You have to be an expert for that.
You become an expert by learning, some of which comes from experience, and which in turn comes from trying out different things and learning from the inevitable failures. Failing fast and failing frequently is a good thing if you learn from them. But to my mind the most important thing of all is to THINK DIFFERENT.
How does one think differently? At the very least it requires a big vocabulary. Not the GRE word list, of course, but concepts. You need to understand the world from a wide variety of perspectives. And that requires at the very least reading widely outside your domain of expertise.
For people who have a technology and business background, I would suggest history, anthropology, economics, science, literature, etc. This will help you understand and appreciate the connections that link everything around you and you will be able to figure out how to build stuff that will be useful and thus people will pay to get the stuff and you will be a successful entrepreneur.
Oh yes, the bit about working hard. Without the hard work, you’d have to be very lucky to be successful. And I believe that luck does not fully explain the most successful ones. Unfortunately, the capacity to work hard is, I think, built sometime in one’s formative years. So in a sense, your basic nature determines if you can be an entrepreneur.
What I have described above is not exactly verbatim but faithful in spirit. I ended my talk with that favorite quote from the architect Daniel Burnham (1864-1912) who said:
Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone will be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency. Remember that our sons and grandsons are going to do things that would stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty. Think big.
Author : Atanu Dey Source :http://www.deeshaa. org
Learning Disabilities at Work
Seven learning disabilities which are often responsible for organizational failure: - Prof. Peter Senge (MIT)
1 - I am my position
2 - The enemy is out there
3 - The illusion of taking charge
4 - The fixation on events
5 - The parable of the boiled frog
6 - The delusion of learning from experience
7 - The myth of the management team
[1]-I am my own position is when people focus only on their position within the organization and have little sense of responsibility for the results produced -when all positions interact.
[2]-The enemy is out there syndrome is when we focus only on our position; we do not see how our own actions extend beyond the boundary of that position.
[3]-The illusion of taking charge is that we should face up to difficult issues, stop waiting for someone else to do something, and solve problems before they grow into crises but proactiveness is really reactive ness in disguise.
[4]-The fixation on events leads to “event” explanations that are true for now but distract us from seeing the longer-tenri patterns of change behind the events and understanding the causes of the patterns to events.
[5]-The parable of the boiled frog is in relation to the maladaptation of organizations to recognize gradually building threats to survival; just as the frog placed in a pot of water brought to boiling temperature will not attempt to jump out of the pot but adjusts to the temperature and slowly dies.
[6]-The delusion of learning from experience is when our actions have consequences in the distant future or part of the larger operating system, which makes it impossible to learn from direct experience.
[7]-The myth of the management team because teams in business tend to spend their time fighting for turf, avoiding anything that will make them look bad personally, and pretending that everyone is behind the team’s collective strategy.
Thanks to: "Ajay Singh Niranjan" ajay_uor@yahoo.com
1 - I am my position
2 - The enemy is out there
3 - The illusion of taking charge
4 - The fixation on events
5 - The parable of the boiled frog
6 - The delusion of learning from experience
7 - The myth of the management team
[1]-I am my own position is when people focus only on their position within the organization and have little sense of responsibility for the results produced -when all positions interact.
[2]-The enemy is out there syndrome is when we focus only on our position; we do not see how our own actions extend beyond the boundary of that position.
[3]-The illusion of taking charge is that we should face up to difficult issues, stop waiting for someone else to do something, and solve problems before they grow into crises but proactiveness is really reactive ness in disguise.
[4]-The fixation on events leads to “event” explanations that are true for now but distract us from seeing the longer-tenri patterns of change behind the events and understanding the causes of the patterns to events.
[5]-The parable of the boiled frog is in relation to the maladaptation of organizations to recognize gradually building threats to survival; just as the frog placed in a pot of water brought to boiling temperature will not attempt to jump out of the pot but adjusts to the temperature and slowly dies.
[6]-The delusion of learning from experience is when our actions have consequences in the distant future or part of the larger operating system, which makes it impossible to learn from direct experience.
[7]-The myth of the management team because teams in business tend to spend their time fighting for turf, avoiding anything that will make them look bad personally, and pretending that everyone is behind the team’s collective strategy.
Thanks to: "Ajay Singh Niranjan" ajay_uor@yahoo.com
One Day I Decided to Quit !!
One day I decided to quit...I quit my job, my relationship, my
Spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. "God", I said. "Can you
give me one good reason not to quit?" His answer surprised me...
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of
them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the
earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the
bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern
grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo
seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo." He said.
"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not
quit. In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would
not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to
the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 months later
the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing
roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I
would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle." He said
to me.
"Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you
have actually been growing roots?"
"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different
purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high"
"How high should I rise?" I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and bring back this story. I hope these words can help you
see that God will never give up on you.
He will never give up on you!
Thanks to: "Shenoy, Sheshagiri" sheshagiri.shenoy@veco.com
Spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. "God", I said. "Can you
give me one good reason not to quit?" His answer surprised me...
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of
them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the
earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the
bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern
grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo
seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo." He said.
"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not
quit. In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would
not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to
the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 months later
the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing
roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I
would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle." He said
to me.
"Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you
have actually been growing roots?"
"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different
purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high"
"How high should I rise?" I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and bring back this story. I hope these words can help you
see that God will never give up on you.
He will never give up on you!
Thanks to: "Shenoy, Sheshagiri" sheshagiri.shenoy@veco.com
Do you get anxious at work?
Panic - Heart racing. Palms sweating. Breathing rapid and shallow. Mouth dry. Knees knocking.
Whether it's a pop quiz, a job interview, a spider, an impromptu speech, a crowded elevator, a dirty restroom, the view from a cliff, a shot at the clinic, a flight across the ocean, a first kiss, or a trip to a crowded shopping center, we all have something that fills us with panic. In severe cases, we can develop anxiety disorders in which panic attacks occur at seemingly random moments.
Whether you have a case of the pre-speech jitters or a full-blown panic attack, the physical symptoms are easily recognized. However, what we need to see clearly are the thoughts going through our mind whenever we feel anxious.
No matter what triggers your personal panic parade-- complete with lively emotions, colorful thoughts, and sizzling sensations--there is one key element that gets the party started.
No, it's not just stress. It isn't your personality type. It's not solely your past memories or the way your mother raised you or your particular physical challenges.
It is simply this: you are lacking in self-esteem.
Okay, now did you automatically start with the "But I am perfectly confident! I am totally competent! I feel just fine about myself!" rebuttal? Ah, good. Watch that.
We just hate it when someone suggests we might not have rock-solid self-esteem, and yet we are pros when it comes to bashing ourselves. Aren't we funny?
We'd rather believe that our anxiety is due to biological factors so we can take a pill to deal with it. But masking panic is not the same as managing panic. If you want to transcend your anxiety, you've got to get to the bottom of it.
The truth is that we only panic about things we don't feel confident handling.
If we don't handle a particular situation well, we dread the next time we must face it. We doubt that we will ever handle it skillfully even if we have done so in the past. We worry about it--and then worry about worrying! Fearful avoidance becomes our new way of responding.
Before we know it, we're stuck in panic purgatory.
Insert mindfulness here. Don't ask for anxiety--ask your anxiety. Focus on the first thought you have when that panic starts bubbling up and gently ask, "Why? Watch...then ask again. Play through several "why" cycles—and learn.
Panic is simply misguided attention. We must learn to watch the ROOT (some element requiring greater self- esteem) instead of the RESULT (all-night panic party) of our anxiety.
Ask your anxiety and listen carefully. Use mindfulness to help you redirect your attention, and you will learn to disconnect that panic button for good
Thanks to: "Shenoy, Sheshagiri" sheshagiri.shenoy@veco.com
Whether it's a pop quiz, a job interview, a spider, an impromptu speech, a crowded elevator, a dirty restroom, the view from a cliff, a shot at the clinic, a flight across the ocean, a first kiss, or a trip to a crowded shopping center, we all have something that fills us with panic. In severe cases, we can develop anxiety disorders in which panic attacks occur at seemingly random moments.
Whether you have a case of the pre-speech jitters or a full-blown panic attack, the physical symptoms are easily recognized. However, what we need to see clearly are the thoughts going through our mind whenever we feel anxious.
No matter what triggers your personal panic parade-- complete with lively emotions, colorful thoughts, and sizzling sensations--there is one key element that gets the party started.
No, it's not just stress. It isn't your personality type. It's not solely your past memories or the way your mother raised you or your particular physical challenges.
It is simply this: you are lacking in self-esteem.
Okay, now did you automatically start with the "But I am perfectly confident! I am totally competent! I feel just fine about myself!" rebuttal? Ah, good. Watch that.
We just hate it when someone suggests we might not have rock-solid self-esteem, and yet we are pros when it comes to bashing ourselves. Aren't we funny?
We'd rather believe that our anxiety is due to biological factors so we can take a pill to deal with it. But masking panic is not the same as managing panic. If you want to transcend your anxiety, you've got to get to the bottom of it.
The truth is that we only panic about things we don't feel confident handling.
If we don't handle a particular situation well, we dread the next time we must face it. We doubt that we will ever handle it skillfully even if we have done so in the past. We worry about it--and then worry about worrying! Fearful avoidance becomes our new way of responding.
Before we know it, we're stuck in panic purgatory.
Insert mindfulness here. Don't ask for anxiety--ask your anxiety. Focus on the first thought you have when that panic starts bubbling up and gently ask, "Why? Watch...then ask again. Play through several "why" cycles—and learn.
Panic is simply misguided attention. We must learn to watch the ROOT (some element requiring greater self- esteem) instead of the RESULT (all-night panic party) of our anxiety.
Ask your anxiety and listen carefully. Use mindfulness to help you redirect your attention, and you will learn to disconnect that panic button for good
Thanks to: "Shenoy, Sheshagiri" sheshagiri.shenoy@veco.com
What makes a day "bad"?
We all have days where we feel out of whack in some way, at a low ebb etc. This may be prompted by some known event such as a poor nights sleep because of a teething baby or by other life difficulties. At other times we may just feel that "we got out of the wrong side of the bed in the morning".
So what do we do about it? I know I prefer to feel in whack rather than out of it. Can we get back in whack at will?
Yes, by listening to ourselves.
The technique that works best for me is to follow my discomfort rather than trying to escape or avoid it. It goes like this:
* Firstly you have to recognize that you actually do feel out of
whack. Accept it rather than denying it. How are you? "Oh, I'm
fine." Know the pattern? Come out of denial and learn what is
happening.
* Feel into your discomfort, and I do mean feel rather than analyze.
Its almost as if you are parenting your self. Any discomfort in your life is a call for your conscious attention, for healing.
* Now ask inwardly what you need to do for yourself in order to resolve these uncomfortable feelings.
* Thoughts and ideas will spring to mind immediately, watch these
pass much as if you are scanning a dinner menu.
* Notice which, if any, of these possible options *feels* the most
uplifting even if it does not seem especially rational.
* Your mind maybe telling you to snap out of it and rationalizing your
way back into avoidance or some other familiar pattern of denial.
* Keep directing your attention towards a solution. Ask yourself what
is here now, what do I need?
* Listen, feel, observe, have the courage to honour your needs, be
meticulously honest with yourself. You may need a nap, you may
need to call a friend, you may need fresh food, you may need a new
job...listen and act. Follow the feelings and you will bring your self
back into alignment, what feels good is good. And the good feelings
will empower you to follow through with the necessary action that
will further support you.
* But be truly honest, eating a whole tub of ice-cream is unlikely to
be much of a solution. You are looking for a much more whole and
"complete" feeling than the soft anesthetic of impulse buying or
comfort food.
Using this technique you are bringing a "greater" aspect of yourself into your life as an ally. You become the observer of you, the compassionate observer, and this simply takes a great deal of the
charge away from your problems. There is a flow to life with a wave motion, an expansion and contraction, peaks and troughs. In all
things and areas of our lives. Generally we prefer the expansion part because this feels full,exciting and hopeful. The contraction aspects take us away from our previous feelings of well-being but can be equally satisfying if we relax and flow with by observing yourself as you traverse these contours of life you will become far better able to deal with life's setbacks from the viewpoint of an empowered co-creator.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Author: Chris Jackson is successful businessman as well as a highly trained therapist. He runs The Abundance Site which highlights our creative process and inspires others to risk actually living the life of their dreamsHis site can be found at: http://www.theabundancesite.com
Thanks to: "Shenoy, Sheshagiri"
So what do we do about it? I know I prefer to feel in whack rather than out of it. Can we get back in whack at will?
Yes, by listening to ourselves.
The technique that works best for me is to follow my discomfort rather than trying to escape or avoid it. It goes like this:
* Firstly you have to recognize that you actually do feel out of
whack. Accept it rather than denying it. How are you? "Oh, I'm
fine." Know the pattern? Come out of denial and learn what is
happening.
* Feel into your discomfort, and I do mean feel rather than analyze.
Its almost as if you are parenting your self. Any discomfort in your life is a call for your conscious attention, for healing.
* Now ask inwardly what you need to do for yourself in order to resolve these uncomfortable feelings.
* Thoughts and ideas will spring to mind immediately, watch these
pass much as if you are scanning a dinner menu.
* Notice which, if any, of these possible options *feels* the most
uplifting even if it does not seem especially rational.
* Your mind maybe telling you to snap out of it and rationalizing your
way back into avoidance or some other familiar pattern of denial.
* Keep directing your attention towards a solution. Ask yourself what
is here now, what do I need?
* Listen, feel, observe, have the courage to honour your needs, be
meticulously honest with yourself. You may need a nap, you may
need to call a friend, you may need fresh food, you may need a new
job...listen and act. Follow the feelings and you will bring your self
back into alignment, what feels good is good. And the good feelings
will empower you to follow through with the necessary action that
will further support you.
* But be truly honest, eating a whole tub of ice-cream is unlikely to
be much of a solution. You are looking for a much more whole and
"complete" feeling than the soft anesthetic of impulse buying or
comfort food.
Using this technique you are bringing a "greater" aspect of yourself into your life as an ally. You become the observer of you, the compassionate observer, and this simply takes a great deal of the
charge away from your problems. There is a flow to life with a wave motion, an expansion and contraction, peaks and troughs. In all
things and areas of our lives. Generally we prefer the expansion part because this feels full,exciting and hopeful. The contraction aspects take us away from our previous feelings of well-being but can be equally satisfying if we relax and flow with by observing yourself as you traverse these contours of life you will become far better able to deal with life's setbacks from the viewpoint of an empowered co-creator.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Author: Chris Jackson is successful businessman as well as a highly trained therapist. He runs The Abundance Site which highlights our creative process and inspires others to risk actually living the life of their dreamsHis site can be found at: http://www.theabundancesite.com
Thanks to: "Shenoy, Sheshagiri"
Winning Customers Over the Phone
Do you sometimes wonder where your customers have gone? In a study by the International Customer Research Institute, individuals gave the following reasons for becoming "non-repeat" customers:
* 1 percent died (makes you wonder how they responded)
* 3 percent moved
* 5 percent said friendships
* 9 percent said competition
* 14 percent were dissatisfied with the product
* 68 percent cited an attitude of indifference by employees
How many times do you think that employee attitude is communicated by phone? Very often the telephone is the first and only contact that people have with your organization. Make sure that this experience is the best you and your employees have to offer so that first-time callers become repeat customers.
Smile when you answer the phone. Even if your hair is on fire or the last caller chewed you out, pause for a moment to put a smile on your face and in your voice. Believe it or not, people can hear you smiling through the phone.
Answer the phone on the first ring
certainly no later than the third ring. If people have to wait through rings four and five, they begin to think that you have closed for the day, gone out of business or just don't care. We live in a world that expects instant gratification. Be sure you meet your customers' expectations.
Ask permission before you put someone on hold.
You may have multiple lines ringing and a line of people standing at your desk, but wait to hear the caller's response. It is that person's choice to hold or not. Try not to turn this move into a power play. When you come back on the line, thank the person for holding. If you have to ask the caller to continue to hold, offer to take a number and return the call.
Transferring calls should be done with care.
Before you connect the caller to someone else's extension, make sure that person is in and able to help. There is nothing more frustrating than being transferred over and over again and having to retell the same story to a multitude of different people before finding the right one.
Before you send the call to co-worker
Give the caller that person's name and number in case there is a disconnect. Better yet, tell the caller who you are and how to reach you if there is a problem. You will have an extremely satisfied customer.
Always make an offer of help
It may not be your department, your issue or your job, but if it is the customer's problem, you
need to show concern. Never tell the caller " 'I don't know'" or "I can't help you." The best response to a problem is a genuine "Let me see what I can do or who I can find to help you."
You will win customers and influence people every time when you
use good phone skills.
By-Lydia Ramsey is a business etiquette expert, professional speaker, corporate trainer and author of MANNERS THAT SELL - ADDING THE POLISH THAT BUILDS PROFITS. She has been quoted or featured in The New York Times, Investors' Business Daily, Entrepreneur, Inc., http://www.mannersthatsell.com
Thanks to: "Shenoy, Sheshagiri" sheshagiri.shenoy@veco.com
* 1 percent died (makes you wonder how they responded)
* 3 percent moved
* 5 percent said friendships
* 9 percent said competition
* 14 percent were dissatisfied with the product
* 68 percent cited an attitude of indifference by employees
How many times do you think that employee attitude is communicated by phone? Very often the telephone is the first and only contact that people have with your organization. Make sure that this experience is the best you and your employees have to offer so that first-time callers become repeat customers.
Smile when you answer the phone. Even if your hair is on fire or the last caller chewed you out, pause for a moment to put a smile on your face and in your voice. Believe it or not, people can hear you smiling through the phone.
Answer the phone on the first ring
certainly no later than the third ring. If people have to wait through rings four and five, they begin to think that you have closed for the day, gone out of business or just don't care. We live in a world that expects instant gratification. Be sure you meet your customers' expectations.
Ask permission before you put someone on hold.
You may have multiple lines ringing and a line of people standing at your desk, but wait to hear the caller's response. It is that person's choice to hold or not. Try not to turn this move into a power play. When you come back on the line, thank the person for holding. If you have to ask the caller to continue to hold, offer to take a number and return the call.
Transferring calls should be done with care.
Before you connect the caller to someone else's extension, make sure that person is in and able to help. There is nothing more frustrating than being transferred over and over again and having to retell the same story to a multitude of different people before finding the right one.
Before you send the call to co-worker
Give the caller that person's name and number in case there is a disconnect. Better yet, tell the caller who you are and how to reach you if there is a problem. You will have an extremely satisfied customer.
Always make an offer of help
It may not be your department, your issue or your job, but if it is the customer's problem, you
need to show concern. Never tell the caller " 'I don't know'" or "I can't help you." The best response to a problem is a genuine "Let me see what I can do or who I can find to help you."
You will win customers and influence people every time when you
use good phone skills.
By-Lydia Ramsey is a business etiquette expert, professional speaker, corporate trainer and author of MANNERS THAT SELL - ADDING THE POLISH THAT BUILDS PROFITS. She has been quoted or featured in The New York Times, Investors' Business Daily, Entrepreneur, Inc., http://www.mannersthatsell.com
Thanks to: "Shenoy, Sheshagiri" sheshagiri.shenoy@veco.com
Leadership Tips
# Fix The Problem, Not The Blame.
# Tell People What You Want, Not How To Do It.
# Manage the function, not the paperwork.
# You never have to make up for a good start.
# Get out of your office.
# Lead by example.
# Delegate the easy stuff.
# Don't get caught up in looking good.
# Quality is just conformance to requirements.
# Learn from the mistakes of others.
# Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals.
# Set an example.
# Know Your G.P.M. ( Goal + Plan + Measurements )
# Train Your Supervisors.
# You Can't Listen With Your Mouth Open.
# Practice what you preach.
# Leaders create change.
# Don't Limit Yourself.
# Anyone can steer the ship in calm waters.
# You have to make a difference.
Thanks to: "vikash gupta" vikashgupta058@gmail.com
# Tell People What You Want, Not How To Do It.
# Manage the function, not the paperwork.
# You never have to make up for a good start.
# Get out of your office.
# Lead by example.
# Delegate the easy stuff.
# Don't get caught up in looking good.
# Quality is just conformance to requirements.
# Learn from the mistakes of others.
# Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals.
# Set an example.
# Know Your G.P.M. ( Goal + Plan + Measurements )
# Train Your Supervisors.
# You Can't Listen With Your Mouth Open.
# Practice what you preach.
# Leaders create change.
# Don't Limit Yourself.
# Anyone can steer the ship in calm waters.
# You have to make a difference.
Thanks to: "vikash gupta" vikashgupta058@gmail.com
OFFICE ETIQUETTE
WHEN TAKING UP A NEW JOB...
It could be your first job or your first day in a new environment, how would you behave, how would you like to dress? You got to remember whatever you do, all eyes will be on you.
Well here are few tips you can use to your benefit.
Get to work on time
While this might sound trivial, the fundamentals are that you should be at your desk and ready to work at the time your shift starts. While everyone understands that once in a while you could be caught in a traffic jam, just make sure you turning up late doesn't turn into a habit.
Never under-dress
Ask around, check out what's acceptable and not. While some offices demand a formal attire, casuals are acceptable in most offices nowadays. Your colleagues and co-workers shouldn't feel that you have dressed too casually. Also keep yourself updated with the latest reforms in fashion for parties and weekends.
Try to keep your voice down
Most offices have cubicles as a work space; your sharing is always interesting for the other person, right? Wrong. The occasional laughing or cursing fits you throw can be extremely disruptive to your co-workers. Not only do they get enlightened with things they never wished, but also get disturbed in their normal routine.
Stay away from office gossips
There's a fine line between polite conversations and down right nosiness. We guess you don't want to get caught in the firing range of all the back stabbing and never ending office gossips. Staying away from all this will ensure you work with a proper frame of mind.
The office phone's not a PCO
While most people blatantly use office phones calling everyone and anyone they know, it's simply not right. Do limit your personal phone calls. There's a difference in using the office phone in making an important appointment and calling your buddy and chatting for hours.
Leaving on time
It's perfectly Ok to leave on time, simply don't shut your computer down and sit by your desk waiting for the hour to strike. People notice these actions and it's not appreciated. Make a point to leave after your scheduled time.
And if this is not your first 'real' job, and you are guilty of breeching any of the above tips, you definitely need a refresher course in office etiquette.
ARE YOU CONTRIBUTING TO OFFICE WOES?
Most people need a constant reminder that the workplace is not their personal apartment. So the next time you feel like making your presence known or felt, just watch the way you do it.
Here are few tips on how you can ensure no one feels you're a pain at work.
Keep a tab on the volumes
While most workplaces allow their employees to listen to music as they work, make sure you're humming or singing or choice of music doesn't irritate the person next to you. A most common nuisance is the jarring volumes on your mobile phones. Set a pleasant ring tone on your mobile and at a level not too loud. Watch your volume even when you are thinking aloud or plainly rapping your fingers on your desk.
Watch those crumbs
After eating make it a point to clean up. Wipe up the crumbs and spills. Laying out paper napkins for your dining space will help in keeping the dining table clean. Don't forget to put all wrappers and other wastes in the lunchroom garbage after you've finished. No one likes to eat in a dirty dinning area.
Hygiene habits
Make it a point to flush the toilet after use. Your crusade against water conservation should not result in others dying of stench. Simple things such as keeping the toilet floors clean, using the toilet bin go a long way in maintaining a clean and hygienic space.
Respect personal space
Don't force your partner to draw enemy lines. Respect your colleagues' space. Do not clutter. Put your personal stuff in drawers or cabinets. Also make it a habit of not peeping into your colleagues' workspace. What they do is extremely confidential.
Whereabouts
Leave a word about your whereabouts by jotting down or pinning a note to your desk. Leave a word where you are with those who need to know. Remember your colleague isn't your secretary to take your messages.
Of Handbags & Briefcases
Ever been to lunch or a meeting, and wondered where to keep your handbag or briefcase?
Avoid fidgeting. Use these guidelines:
• At a meeting, place on the table only those writing materials, documents or folders that are essential. Samples, etc. can be produced at an appropriate time.
• At a social meal, nothing other than your food, your crockery and cutlery, and table decorations go n the table. If it's a business meal, you may keep essential papers on the table, but remember this is not your office, and avoid a paper-spill over.
• Handbags and briefcases go on the floor, by the side of your chair. Cell-phones, which should either be shut off, or put in a silent/vibrator mode, should be in your bag or pocket, out of sight.
Tired Of Running Errands For Your Boss?
In an ideal workplace, the boss never asks a subordinate to do any personal work for him. Reality, however, is very different. Here's how to deal with demanding bosses.
• If you are asked to do your boss's personal chores and telling him outright that you can't is beyond the limits of your courage, try putting it off and citing pressing office work as reason. Faced with this tactic a few times, even an insensitive person will take the hint.
• Another method is to tell him, in a casual manner—preferably away from the office environment, that official work doesn't give you time to do any personal chores. He might not be thrilled about it, but a mixture of diplomacy and firmness should convince him.
• As a senior executive, don't ask your juniors to run errands for you. You know they have a right to refuse, but you also know chances are they will not. Resentment doesn't make for the best work environment!
Getting Your Fax Right
Yes, there is faxing etiquette as well, which is a very important aspect of business communication.
• When sending a fax, always include a cover sheet specifying whom the message is meant for.
• Type your message whenever possible. If you have to write it out, use capital letters.
• Corrections made using correction fluid show up as dark blotches, so make a photocopy, and use this to send the message.
• Many people receive their faxes on a computer, so make sure the paper is inserted the right side up. If it isn't, the message can't be read unless it's printed out!
• Remember fax paper is expensive; don't send out unnecessary or needlessly long messages. Also, call and check if the timing is convenient before sending out very long fax messages.
• Don't fax personal or confidential messages unless you intend it to be office gossip. If such information has to be sent, do call ahead and inform the recipient so that he can personally retrieve it.
Thanks to: "praful" prafuforu@gmail.com
It could be your first job or your first day in a new environment, how would you behave, how would you like to dress? You got to remember whatever you do, all eyes will be on you.
Well here are few tips you can use to your benefit.
Get to work on time
While this might sound trivial, the fundamentals are that you should be at your desk and ready to work at the time your shift starts. While everyone understands that once in a while you could be caught in a traffic jam, just make sure you turning up late doesn't turn into a habit.
Never under-dress
Ask around, check out what's acceptable and not. While some offices demand a formal attire, casuals are acceptable in most offices nowadays. Your colleagues and co-workers shouldn't feel that you have dressed too casually. Also keep yourself updated with the latest reforms in fashion for parties and weekends.
Try to keep your voice down
Most offices have cubicles as a work space; your sharing is always interesting for the other person, right? Wrong. The occasional laughing or cursing fits you throw can be extremely disruptive to your co-workers. Not only do they get enlightened with things they never wished, but also get disturbed in their normal routine.
Stay away from office gossips
There's a fine line between polite conversations and down right nosiness. We guess you don't want to get caught in the firing range of all the back stabbing and never ending office gossips. Staying away from all this will ensure you work with a proper frame of mind.
The office phone's not a PCO
While most people blatantly use office phones calling everyone and anyone they know, it's simply not right. Do limit your personal phone calls. There's a difference in using the office phone in making an important appointment and calling your buddy and chatting for hours.
Leaving on time
It's perfectly Ok to leave on time, simply don't shut your computer down and sit by your desk waiting for the hour to strike. People notice these actions and it's not appreciated. Make a point to leave after your scheduled time.
And if this is not your first 'real' job, and you are guilty of breeching any of the above tips, you definitely need a refresher course in office etiquette.
ARE YOU CONTRIBUTING TO OFFICE WOES?
Most people need a constant reminder that the workplace is not their personal apartment. So the next time you feel like making your presence known or felt, just watch the way you do it.
Here are few tips on how you can ensure no one feels you're a pain at work.
Keep a tab on the volumes
While most workplaces allow their employees to listen to music as they work, make sure you're humming or singing or choice of music doesn't irritate the person next to you. A most common nuisance is the jarring volumes on your mobile phones. Set a pleasant ring tone on your mobile and at a level not too loud. Watch your volume even when you are thinking aloud or plainly rapping your fingers on your desk.
Watch those crumbs
After eating make it a point to clean up. Wipe up the crumbs and spills. Laying out paper napkins for your dining space will help in keeping the dining table clean. Don't forget to put all wrappers and other wastes in the lunchroom garbage after you've finished. No one likes to eat in a dirty dinning area.
Hygiene habits
Make it a point to flush the toilet after use. Your crusade against water conservation should not result in others dying of stench. Simple things such as keeping the toilet floors clean, using the toilet bin go a long way in maintaining a clean and hygienic space.
Respect personal space
Don't force your partner to draw enemy lines. Respect your colleagues' space. Do not clutter. Put your personal stuff in drawers or cabinets. Also make it a habit of not peeping into your colleagues' workspace. What they do is extremely confidential.
Whereabouts
Leave a word about your whereabouts by jotting down or pinning a note to your desk. Leave a word where you are with those who need to know. Remember your colleague isn't your secretary to take your messages.
Of Handbags & Briefcases
Ever been to lunch or a meeting, and wondered where to keep your handbag or briefcase?
Avoid fidgeting. Use these guidelines:
• At a meeting, place on the table only those writing materials, documents or folders that are essential. Samples, etc. can be produced at an appropriate time.
• At a social meal, nothing other than your food, your crockery and cutlery, and table decorations go n the table. If it's a business meal, you may keep essential papers on the table, but remember this is not your office, and avoid a paper-spill over.
• Handbags and briefcases go on the floor, by the side of your chair. Cell-phones, which should either be shut off, or put in a silent/vibrator mode, should be in your bag or pocket, out of sight.
Tired Of Running Errands For Your Boss?
In an ideal workplace, the boss never asks a subordinate to do any personal work for him. Reality, however, is very different. Here's how to deal with demanding bosses.
• If you are asked to do your boss's personal chores and telling him outright that you can't is beyond the limits of your courage, try putting it off and citing pressing office work as reason. Faced with this tactic a few times, even an insensitive person will take the hint.
• Another method is to tell him, in a casual manner—preferably away from the office environment, that official work doesn't give you time to do any personal chores. He might not be thrilled about it, but a mixture of diplomacy and firmness should convince him.
• As a senior executive, don't ask your juniors to run errands for you. You know they have a right to refuse, but you also know chances are they will not. Resentment doesn't make for the best work environment!
Getting Your Fax Right
Yes, there is faxing etiquette as well, which is a very important aspect of business communication.
• When sending a fax, always include a cover sheet specifying whom the message is meant for.
• Type your message whenever possible. If you have to write it out, use capital letters.
• Corrections made using correction fluid show up as dark blotches, so make a photocopy, and use this to send the message.
• Many people receive their faxes on a computer, so make sure the paper is inserted the right side up. If it isn't, the message can't be read unless it's printed out!
• Remember fax paper is expensive; don't send out unnecessary or needlessly long messages. Also, call and check if the timing is convenient before sending out very long fax messages.
• Don't fax personal or confidential messages unless you intend it to be office gossip. If such information has to be sent, do call ahead and inform the recipient so that he can personally retrieve it.
Thanks to: "praful" prafuforu@gmail.com
Telephone Manners
Q. What is the proper way to answer the phone?
A. When answering the phone at your desk say..."Hello, this is Mr. Smith" Do not say phrases such as "Mr. Smith here!" or simply "Hello".
Q. Is it necessary to apologize for not immediately returning a phone call that had been originally initiated by yourself?
A. All telephone calls should be promptly returned, regardless of who initiated the original phone call.
Q. What is the polite way to leave a voice mail message?
A. Repeat your name and telephone number twice when leaving a voice mail message.
Q. Is it rude to use your cell phone in a social environment?
A. Always use discretion when using a cellular phone in a social environment; refrain from placing cell phone calls and only answer cellular calls after excusing yourself from the immediate area.
Q. Are speakerphones rude?
A. No, simply ask permission before putting a person on the telephone's speakerphone. Phone etiquette telephone etiquette telephone manners phone manners
Q. What is the proper etiquette when using CALLER ID?
A. When using CALLER ID, avoid greeting a caller by using his name before he says "Hello" and identifies himself.
Q. Who calls back when disconnected on the telephone?
A. When there is poor telephone connection or when you are disconnected, the individual who originated/initiated the call is responsible for calling back the other party.
Q. If you have received a phone call from someone whose number you did not have originally, but it was captured on Caller ID (no message was left on your voice mail) is it inappropriate to call the person back?
A. No, it is appropriate to call someone back only when he or she requests a call back and leaves their return phone number.
Q. When receiving a telephone call at work, should you say the name of the company?
A. If you are answering the telephone at a business, it is polite to state the company’s name in your greeting.
Q. What is the best way to utilize a home-office ( SOHO ) telephone system?
A. If you have a home-based business...Install a second line for business-use only and have an automatic answering system that picks up automatically if you are on the other line. Therefore, eliminating busy signals and portraying a professional image to your clients.
Thanks to: "Shenoy, Sheshagiri" sheshagiri.shenoy@veco.com
A. When answering the phone at your desk say..."Hello, this is Mr. Smith" Do not say phrases such as "Mr. Smith here!" or simply "Hello".
Q. Is it necessary to apologize for not immediately returning a phone call that had been originally initiated by yourself?
A. All telephone calls should be promptly returned, regardless of who initiated the original phone call.
Q. What is the polite way to leave a voice mail message?
A. Repeat your name and telephone number twice when leaving a voice mail message.
Q. Is it rude to use your cell phone in a social environment?
A. Always use discretion when using a cellular phone in a social environment; refrain from placing cell phone calls and only answer cellular calls after excusing yourself from the immediate area.
Q. Are speakerphones rude?
A. No, simply ask permission before putting a person on the telephone's speakerphone. Phone etiquette telephone etiquette telephone manners phone manners
Q. What is the proper etiquette when using CALLER ID?
A. When using CALLER ID, avoid greeting a caller by using his name before he says "Hello" and identifies himself.
Q. Who calls back when disconnected on the telephone?
A. When there is poor telephone connection or when you are disconnected, the individual who originated/initiated the call is responsible for calling back the other party.
Q. If you have received a phone call from someone whose number you did not have originally, but it was captured on Caller ID (no message was left on your voice mail) is it inappropriate to call the person back?
A. No, it is appropriate to call someone back only when he or she requests a call back and leaves their return phone number.
Q. When receiving a telephone call at work, should you say the name of the company?
A. If you are answering the telephone at a business, it is polite to state the company’s name in your greeting.
Q. What is the best way to utilize a home-office ( SOHO ) telephone system?
A. If you have a home-based business...Install a second line for business-use only and have an automatic answering system that picks up automatically if you are on the other line. Therefore, eliminating busy signals and portraying a professional image to your clients.
Thanks to: "Shenoy, Sheshagiri" sheshagiri.shenoy@veco.com
How to Climb in Career
Ways to climb up there!
Do you want to move up in your career? Are you getting bored with
the present set of responsibilities? Are you longing for a change?
Are you ambitious and dreaming of climbing the ladder of your
career? Do you regret and blame others for your failure to reach
your dream career? Here are some ways to reach your dream job.
1. Skill yourself
Every new job requires new set of skills. To meet successfully the
changing times we need to equip ourselves with technical, conceptual
and human relational skills. We need to learn these skills by
attending training programs, coaching classes, reading books, making
an extra effort etc. The world is changing very fast and we need to
re-skill our abilities and talents if we want to face the potential
challenges in our career.
We need to become humble and develop in us an open attitude to learn
always. We must admit to ourselves and to others that there are
things that we need to learn still. In our career journey it is good
to have a mentor who can guide us and help us. We must constantly
look out for opportunities to learn and gain new knowledge and new
skills.
It is said that 85%of our success in our career is due to our
technical, human, managerial and intuitive skills. Money is never a
security for any one. The only security is our skills. Our skills
too will become redundant if we don't continuously improve them.
When we become proficient in a technical skill with sufficient
knowledge and excellent human relations skills, we are on the way to
become a leader.
Skills will give us confidence in ourselves. Skill and confidence
form an unconquerable army. We must always look for new skills, new
knowledge and new ideas to win the wars in our career .
2. Assume responsibility
We need to take responsibility for our career. No one else is
responsible for it. Shifting this responsibility to our parents,
spouses, situations, and management will make us look irresponsible
and childish. It is our duty to take initiatives and constantly look
out for opportunities to develop our career. Others can inspire us,
motivate us and help us, but we need to make the decision to move up
in our career.
It is not wise to blame others for the failures in our careers and
grab the credit for our successes. When we responsibly and
passionately nurture our careers praises from others will flow to
us. Promotions and successes come to people who are responsible and
accountable.
Indian spirituality considers one's career as a vocation, a mission,
a swadharma that one has to follow with total commitment and full
passion if one wishes to achieve self-realization and success. We
must hold on to this vocation with our whole hearts and minds and
train ourselves to reach this perfect stage self-fulfillment.
3. Walk an extra mile
If you want to climb up your career make some extra effort. Make
your own ways and use your creative energy in facing your career
challenges. Don't be limited by the job descriptions; instead go
beyond your roles and jobs and take up some initiatives even when
people don't expect you to do those things. Volunteering to do
something challenging and difficult will fill you with joy and
fulfillment. Volunteering to do tough things will make you tough
too.
Take up initiatives and become generous to walk an extra mile, to
walk the road-less-traveled and put in a little extra effort to
climb up in your career. Show your genuine concern by offering ideas
and suggestions and be willing to work beyond the 9-to-5 routine.
Your willingness to do something that no one else is ready to do
will be noticed by your boss and that will help you climb higher.
When you give an extra hour to your work you transform your job into
a career.
4. Love your company
If you wish to climb your career ladder the best way is to love your
company. It is not a love imprisoned within your hearts. The people
in the company should feel and know that you love the company and
its people. Respect for the boss and management, loyalty to the
organisation, esteem for colleagues and having a helpful attitude
will help you on your journey towards your goal.
Become loyal to the goals and visions of the company and share your
ideas and resources to achieve these goals. If we reduce the
expenses of the company, take care of its properties and contribute
our best to make it the best company we will surely be pushed up in
our career. When our company becomes the best we too become the
best. Also those who share credit and refrain from gossips are
admired by the management and are picked up for promotions.
5. Love your career
Love your career and your job just as you love yourself. To love
your career you must choose a career that is based on your strengths
and talents. We must fall in love with our career and then we will
constantly prepare ourselves to make ourselves more effective. But
at the same time we must be humble enough to admit that we don't
have solutions for every problem.
Don't be worried so much about salary, incentives and prestige but
become more concerned about your career. Choose a career you love
and give your best to become the best in that career. There are many
people who regret in life for choosing a career they never loved.
Many of us do not know what to do with ourselves and our talents
because we are in the wrong career. When our talents are wasted we
are wasted. Amithabh Bachan says in one of his interviews that he is
so successful because he chose early in life a career he loved and
took responsibility for it.
If we choose the career we love then we will never have to work at
all. If we choose a career we love we will find ways to climb up
there.
Thanks to: "holiday" holidayinkerala@gmail.com
Do you want to move up in your career? Are you getting bored with
the present set of responsibilities? Are you longing for a change?
Are you ambitious and dreaming of climbing the ladder of your
career? Do you regret and blame others for your failure to reach
your dream career? Here are some ways to reach your dream job.
1. Skill yourself
Every new job requires new set of skills. To meet successfully the
changing times we need to equip ourselves with technical, conceptual
and human relational skills. We need to learn these skills by
attending training programs, coaching classes, reading books, making
an extra effort etc. The world is changing very fast and we need to
re-skill our abilities and talents if we want to face the potential
challenges in our career.
We need to become humble and develop in us an open attitude to learn
always. We must admit to ourselves and to others that there are
things that we need to learn still. In our career journey it is good
to have a mentor who can guide us and help us. We must constantly
look out for opportunities to learn and gain new knowledge and new
skills.
It is said that 85%of our success in our career is due to our
technical, human, managerial and intuitive skills. Money is never a
security for any one. The only security is our skills. Our skills
too will become redundant if we don't continuously improve them.
When we become proficient in a technical skill with sufficient
knowledge and excellent human relations skills, we are on the way to
become a leader.
Skills will give us confidence in ourselves. Skill and confidence
form an unconquerable army. We must always look for new skills, new
knowledge and new ideas to win the wars in our career .
2. Assume responsibility
We need to take responsibility for our career. No one else is
responsible for it. Shifting this responsibility to our parents,
spouses, situations, and management will make us look irresponsible
and childish. It is our duty to take initiatives and constantly look
out for opportunities to develop our career. Others can inspire us,
motivate us and help us, but we need to make the decision to move up
in our career.
It is not wise to blame others for the failures in our careers and
grab the credit for our successes. When we responsibly and
passionately nurture our careers praises from others will flow to
us. Promotions and successes come to people who are responsible and
accountable.
Indian spirituality considers one's career as a vocation, a mission,
a swadharma that one has to follow with total commitment and full
passion if one wishes to achieve self-realization and success. We
must hold on to this vocation with our whole hearts and minds and
train ourselves to reach this perfect stage self-fulfillment.
3. Walk an extra mile
If you want to climb up your career make some extra effort. Make
your own ways and use your creative energy in facing your career
challenges. Don't be limited by the job descriptions; instead go
beyond your roles and jobs and take up some initiatives even when
people don't expect you to do those things. Volunteering to do
something challenging and difficult will fill you with joy and
fulfillment. Volunteering to do tough things will make you tough
too.
Take up initiatives and become generous to walk an extra mile, to
walk the road-less-traveled and put in a little extra effort to
climb up in your career. Show your genuine concern by offering ideas
and suggestions and be willing to work beyond the 9-to-5 routine.
Your willingness to do something that no one else is ready to do
will be noticed by your boss and that will help you climb higher.
When you give an extra hour to your work you transform your job into
a career.
4. Love your company
If you wish to climb your career ladder the best way is to love your
company. It is not a love imprisoned within your hearts. The people
in the company should feel and know that you love the company and
its people. Respect for the boss and management, loyalty to the
organisation, esteem for colleagues and having a helpful attitude
will help you on your journey towards your goal.
Become loyal to the goals and visions of the company and share your
ideas and resources to achieve these goals. If we reduce the
expenses of the company, take care of its properties and contribute
our best to make it the best company we will surely be pushed up in
our career. When our company becomes the best we too become the
best. Also those who share credit and refrain from gossips are
admired by the management and are picked up for promotions.
5. Love your career
Love your career and your job just as you love yourself. To love
your career you must choose a career that is based on your strengths
and talents. We must fall in love with our career and then we will
constantly prepare ourselves to make ourselves more effective. But
at the same time we must be humble enough to admit that we don't
have solutions for every problem.
Don't be worried so much about salary, incentives and prestige but
become more concerned about your career. Choose a career you love
and give your best to become the best in that career. There are many
people who regret in life for choosing a career they never loved.
Many of us do not know what to do with ourselves and our talents
because we are in the wrong career. When our talents are wasted we
are wasted. Amithabh Bachan says in one of his interviews that he is
so successful because he chose early in life a career he loved and
took responsibility for it.
If we choose the career we love then we will never have to work at
all. If we choose a career we love we will find ways to climb up
there.
Thanks to: "holiday" holidayinkerala@gmail.com
Soft Skills at Work
Subjects like financial management, marketing management, HR management can be taught in the classroom and can be studied at home. But not soft skills. Soft skills are acquired and experienced on the spot and cannot be developed by merely reading textbooks.
The soft skills you gain will equip you to excel in your professional life and in your personal life. It is a continuous learning process.
We list here 60 soft skills, which if practised at the workplace, could boost your professional life.
The 60 soft skills mentioned can be classified into corporate skills, employability skills and life skills. In some parts of the world like in USA and Australia, soft skills ate also known as world skills.
Corporate skills:
These are generally CEO level skills, but if you are familiar with them you will be in a position to guide your boss towards success ie working together for a common goal as a team. You can become a courageous follower as mentioned by Ira Chaleff in his award-winning book Courageous Follower: Standing Up To and For Our Leaders.
These skills include:
~ Political sensitivity.
~ Business and commercial awareness.
~ Strategic awareness.
~ Understanding funding streams and mechanisms.
~ Information management.
~ Organisation and control.
~ Team building.
~ Communication and persuasion.
~ Networking and public relations.
~ Leading change.
Employability skills:
These have to be mastered by employable graduates and freshers include communication, team working, leadership, initiative, problem solving, flexibility and enthusiasm.
Every skill helps us to learn one more as they overlap each other.
To quote an example, leadership encompasses a number of other skills including cooperating with others, planning and organising, making decisions and verbal communication.
Verbal communication itself involves various means of communication, some of which you may find easier than others -- talking over the phone, making a presentation to a group, explaining something to a person with a more limited understanding of the topic for example.
By improving one skill, you may also improve a number of others. In the context of your career planning and development, they are called career management skills
Life skills:
These skills are related to the head, heart, hands and health ie highly personal and behavioural skills which reflects our personality and naturally helps in personality development.
Source: http://www.extensio n.iastate. edu/learningandl iving/main/ tlsmodel. html
We manage and think with our head. Resilience, keeping records, making wise use of resources, planning/organising and goal setting are 'head' related managerial functions. Service learning, Critical thinking, problem solving, decision making and learning to learn were related to our thinking processes, which we manage with our head.
Functions of the heart are relating to people and caring. How do we relate to people? We relate to people by accepting differences, conflict resolutions, social skills, cooperation and communication. The second function we do through our heart is caring. We care through nurturing relationships, sharing, empathy and concern for others.
We give and work through our hands. Community service, volunteering, leadership, responsible citizenship and contributions to group effort -- are our way giving back to society. We work through our marketable skills, teamwork and self-motivation to get the things done.
Living and being comes under the functions of health. Healthy lifestyle choices, stress management, disease prevention and personal safety are our prime concerns for better living. Self-esteem, self-responsibility , character, managing feelings and self-discipline must be practiced without fail for our well-being. In a nutshell, the essence of life skills is share well, care well and fare well.
Things to do everyday:
Follow these ten golden rules and enjoy every moment of living.
~ Greet your family members first thing in the morning. If you are not used to this, they will be surprised with your sudden and nice gesture.
~ Greet your peers, subordinates and boss once you enter the office. Smile at even the 'security' personnel standing at the gate, who takes care of your safety.
~ Greet your friends along the way and do not ignore them.
~ Continously reciprocate to breed communication. If you do not reciprocate at least with a 'thanks' when you get information or a source on your online network or your offline network, you will not be remembered for a long time. If you are not remembered, you are out of your network.
~ Be a proactive listener and empathise with others to command respect.
~ While talking to others, your voice, tone and tenor must be audible and soothing. It should not be aggressive or in a shouting mode.
~ Dress well to suit your profession and to create positive vibes in your workplace. If you are a sales representative, do not go out with printed shirts and jeans, which may turn down your customer.
~ Political and religious comments must be avoided at all costs in the workplace, when you are in a group.
~ Your communication should not provoke others.
~ Do not speak ill of others if you can help it.
The author is a certified trainer and facilitator (CAMI, USA) and is a career management consultant and corporate trainer by profession. The author can be reached at challaramaphani@ rediffmail. com.
Another Input:
In today's world, social skills at work are as essential as hard skills and business etiquette.
Not everyone, however, is endowed with good social skills. If you happen to fall in this category, do not worry. Social skills can be developed with a little practice and they will go a long way in boosting your career.
i. Practise taking instructions
This is easier said than done. Most of us think we already know what the other person is trying to say. Secondly, we may be preoccupied with other thoughts when our boss is instructing us on how to go about a certain task.
As a result, we may forget important details and make mistakes that could cost someone their job. Remember these points:
~ Listen carefully for things said and implied.
~ Clarify.
~ Understand what has been told to you.
~ Acknowledge that you have understood.
~ Reconfirm instructions by quickly summarising what you have understood.
ii. Practise explaining a problem to your supervisor/ boss
Do you feel butterflies in your stomach the moment you encounter a problem and need to involve your boss?
Do you worry that s/he might think you are incompetent to handle it yourself?
These feelings are quite justified. However, you still need to explain the problem to your boss. The secret lies in the term 'explain' and not 'complain'. To explain effectively, pay attention to:
~ The volume of your voice and tone. It should not be too soft, loud or screechy.
~ Be respectful.
~ Keep your emotions in check. Be calm. You may be flustered by the problem; however, you don't need to let your boss know that.
~ Remember to include all the facts of the problem. Try to find most of the answers yourself before approaching your boss.
~ Offer a solution if you can. Your boss will appreciate your initiative.
iii. Practise asking for help
There are times at work when we are so overwhelmed by the things that need be done that we get all worked up and stressed out. We still do not ask for help, for fear that we might be perceived as incompetent.
However, when you have a task at hand that must be completed and you know you cannot do it alone, you have to be humble enough to ask for help.
Identify people at work who handle a particular task better than anyone else and request them to help you if they have the time. They may be happy to help. Also, remember:
~ No man is an island. We all need people and people need us.
~ Two heads are better than one and, yes, four hands are better than two.
~ It is nice to be important but it is more important to be nice. Help others; they, in turn, will help you
~ Be gracious when you accept or refuse help. This will enhance your chances of building a strong support system on which you can depend when you need help.
iv. Practise accepting feedback
It is natural for us to become defensive when we hear anything negative about ourselves. However, have you considered it might be just as difficult for the person giving the feedback to be candid?
Besides, it is possible for others to see things about you that you may not even aware of.
~ Appreciate the fact that someone has taken the risk of giving you feedback.
~ Be open to new ideas and new ways of thinking.
~ Don't take criticism personally because, even though it is about you, it is still the other person's perception; his or her views need not necessarily be the 'real' you.
~ Feel free to accept or reject all or any part of the feedback without feeling obliged to explain your choice.
v. Practise giving constructive criticism
The word criticism spells doom for some. It need not be that way.
There are two types of criticisms -- constructive and destructive. All of us have been at the receiving end of these types of criticism at some point in our lives.
It depends on what you are criticising in a person and the purpose of the criticism. If the objective of criticising is to demean and insult a person, it would be destructive criticism. Such criticism is best ignored.
Do remember, the situations that bring about the need to criticise can become sensitive and volatile. It is easy for the person criticising, as well as the recipient of the criticism, to overreact and start accusing each other.
Giving constructive criticism and seeing that it is well received is a fine art. Things to remember:
~ Stay focused. Don't confuse the person with the problem.
~ Keep tempers down.
~ Use a suggestive approach rather than a dismissive one.
~ Reiterate that the person is good but the problem could be handled differently.
~ Be sincere, honest and caring while giving constructive criticism.
~ Express your faith in the person and his/ her ability to successfully implement and reap the benefits of the suggestions given.
vi. Practise receiving compliments
Many of us are especially wary or shy when someone compliments us.
Why? Do we think we don't deserve compliments? That we are not worthy of them? Or is it plain modesty? Whatever it is, it is time to get over it.
We need to understand that accepting compliments is not self-indulgence. So:
~ Don't feel embarrassed and brush it off.
~ Never counter it with something negative about yourself.
~ Don't be arrogant; accept the compliment graciously.
~ Smile and thank the person for the compliment. Express genuine happiness.
vii. Practise giving compliments
I have very often heard people saying, "She is excellent at her work but, if we tell her that, it might go to her head."
This may not always be the case. It depends on how one is complimented. There is a delicate line between flattery and genuinely complimenting someone.
If you keep these suggestions in mind, you can easily compliment someone without sounding fake:
~ Use simple language. Smile and look into the person's eyes while complimenting him/ her. It sounds more genuine this way.
~ Using filmi dialogues and a lot of actions could make it look like your aim is to flatter, not compliment.
~ Modulate your voice to match the expression of admiration on your face.
~ Don't laugh or giggle while complimenting someone. It could sound like you are being sarcastic.
Finally, remember a good social network will help you at work. You need social skills to find a job and to keep one. So, if social skills do not come easily to you, it will be well worth your time to pinpoint your weaknesses and work on them.
Thanks to: "Shenoy, Sheshagiri"
The soft skills you gain will equip you to excel in your professional life and in your personal life. It is a continuous learning process.
We list here 60 soft skills, which if practised at the workplace, could boost your professional life.
The 60 soft skills mentioned can be classified into corporate skills, employability skills and life skills. In some parts of the world like in USA and Australia, soft skills ate also known as world skills.
Corporate skills:
These are generally CEO level skills, but if you are familiar with them you will be in a position to guide your boss towards success ie working together for a common goal as a team. You can become a courageous follower as mentioned by Ira Chaleff in his award-winning book Courageous Follower: Standing Up To and For Our Leaders.
These skills include:
~ Political sensitivity.
~ Business and commercial awareness.
~ Strategic awareness.
~ Understanding funding streams and mechanisms.
~ Information management.
~ Organisation and control.
~ Team building.
~ Communication and persuasion.
~ Networking and public relations.
~ Leading change.
Employability skills:
These have to be mastered by employable graduates and freshers include communication, team working, leadership, initiative, problem solving, flexibility and enthusiasm.
Every skill helps us to learn one more as they overlap each other.
To quote an example, leadership encompasses a number of other skills including cooperating with others, planning and organising, making decisions and verbal communication.
Verbal communication itself involves various means of communication, some of which you may find easier than others -- talking over the phone, making a presentation to a group, explaining something to a person with a more limited understanding of the topic for example.
By improving one skill, you may also improve a number of others. In the context of your career planning and development, they are called career management skills
Life skills:
These skills are related to the head, heart, hands and health ie highly personal and behavioural skills which reflects our personality and naturally helps in personality development.
Source: http://www.extensio n.iastate. edu/learningandl iving/main/ tlsmodel. html
We manage and think with our head. Resilience, keeping records, making wise use of resources, planning/organising and goal setting are 'head' related managerial functions. Service learning, Critical thinking, problem solving, decision making and learning to learn were related to our thinking processes, which we manage with our head.
Functions of the heart are relating to people and caring. How do we relate to people? We relate to people by accepting differences, conflict resolutions, social skills, cooperation and communication. The second function we do through our heart is caring. We care through nurturing relationships, sharing, empathy and concern for others.
We give and work through our hands. Community service, volunteering, leadership, responsible citizenship and contributions to group effort -- are our way giving back to society. We work through our marketable skills, teamwork and self-motivation to get the things done.
Living and being comes under the functions of health. Healthy lifestyle choices, stress management, disease prevention and personal safety are our prime concerns for better living. Self-esteem, self-responsibility , character, managing feelings and self-discipline must be practiced without fail for our well-being. In a nutshell, the essence of life skills is share well, care well and fare well.
Things to do everyday:
Follow these ten golden rules and enjoy every moment of living.
~ Greet your family members first thing in the morning. If you are not used to this, they will be surprised with your sudden and nice gesture.
~ Greet your peers, subordinates and boss once you enter the office. Smile at even the 'security' personnel standing at the gate, who takes care of your safety.
~ Greet your friends along the way and do not ignore them.
~ Continously reciprocate to breed communication. If you do not reciprocate at least with a 'thanks' when you get information or a source on your online network or your offline network, you will not be remembered for a long time. If you are not remembered, you are out of your network.
~ Be a proactive listener and empathise with others to command respect.
~ While talking to others, your voice, tone and tenor must be audible and soothing. It should not be aggressive or in a shouting mode.
~ Dress well to suit your profession and to create positive vibes in your workplace. If you are a sales representative, do not go out with printed shirts and jeans, which may turn down your customer.
~ Political and religious comments must be avoided at all costs in the workplace, when you are in a group.
~ Your communication should not provoke others.
~ Do not speak ill of others if you can help it.
The author is a certified trainer and facilitator (CAMI, USA) and is a career management consultant and corporate trainer by profession. The author can be reached at challaramaphani@ rediffmail. com.
Another Input:
In today's world, social skills at work are as essential as hard skills and business etiquette.
Not everyone, however, is endowed with good social skills. If you happen to fall in this category, do not worry. Social skills can be developed with a little practice and they will go a long way in boosting your career.
i. Practise taking instructions
This is easier said than done. Most of us think we already know what the other person is trying to say. Secondly, we may be preoccupied with other thoughts when our boss is instructing us on how to go about a certain task.
As a result, we may forget important details and make mistakes that could cost someone their job. Remember these points:
~ Listen carefully for things said and implied.
~ Clarify.
~ Understand what has been told to you.
~ Acknowledge that you have understood.
~ Reconfirm instructions by quickly summarising what you have understood.
ii. Practise explaining a problem to your supervisor/ boss
Do you feel butterflies in your stomach the moment you encounter a problem and need to involve your boss?
Do you worry that s/he might think you are incompetent to handle it yourself?
These feelings are quite justified. However, you still need to explain the problem to your boss. The secret lies in the term 'explain' and not 'complain'. To explain effectively, pay attention to:
~ The volume of your voice and tone. It should not be too soft, loud or screechy.
~ Be respectful.
~ Keep your emotions in check. Be calm. You may be flustered by the problem; however, you don't need to let your boss know that.
~ Remember to include all the facts of the problem. Try to find most of the answers yourself before approaching your boss.
~ Offer a solution if you can. Your boss will appreciate your initiative.
iii. Practise asking for help
There are times at work when we are so overwhelmed by the things that need be done that we get all worked up and stressed out. We still do not ask for help, for fear that we might be perceived as incompetent.
However, when you have a task at hand that must be completed and you know you cannot do it alone, you have to be humble enough to ask for help.
Identify people at work who handle a particular task better than anyone else and request them to help you if they have the time. They may be happy to help. Also, remember:
~ No man is an island. We all need people and people need us.
~ Two heads are better than one and, yes, four hands are better than two.
~ It is nice to be important but it is more important to be nice. Help others; they, in turn, will help you
~ Be gracious when you accept or refuse help. This will enhance your chances of building a strong support system on which you can depend when you need help.
iv. Practise accepting feedback
It is natural for us to become defensive when we hear anything negative about ourselves. However, have you considered it might be just as difficult for the person giving the feedback to be candid?
Besides, it is possible for others to see things about you that you may not even aware of.
~ Appreciate the fact that someone has taken the risk of giving you feedback.
~ Be open to new ideas and new ways of thinking.
~ Don't take criticism personally because, even though it is about you, it is still the other person's perception; his or her views need not necessarily be the 'real' you.
~ Feel free to accept or reject all or any part of the feedback without feeling obliged to explain your choice.
v. Practise giving constructive criticism
The word criticism spells doom for some. It need not be that way.
There are two types of criticisms -- constructive and destructive. All of us have been at the receiving end of these types of criticism at some point in our lives.
It depends on what you are criticising in a person and the purpose of the criticism. If the objective of criticising is to demean and insult a person, it would be destructive criticism. Such criticism is best ignored.
Do remember, the situations that bring about the need to criticise can become sensitive and volatile. It is easy for the person criticising, as well as the recipient of the criticism, to overreact and start accusing each other.
Giving constructive criticism and seeing that it is well received is a fine art. Things to remember:
~ Stay focused. Don't confuse the person with the problem.
~ Keep tempers down.
~ Use a suggestive approach rather than a dismissive one.
~ Reiterate that the person is good but the problem could be handled differently.
~ Be sincere, honest and caring while giving constructive criticism.
~ Express your faith in the person and his/ her ability to successfully implement and reap the benefits of the suggestions given.
vi. Practise receiving compliments
Many of us are especially wary or shy when someone compliments us.
Why? Do we think we don't deserve compliments? That we are not worthy of them? Or is it plain modesty? Whatever it is, it is time to get over it.
We need to understand that accepting compliments is not self-indulgence. So:
~ Don't feel embarrassed and brush it off.
~ Never counter it with something negative about yourself.
~ Don't be arrogant; accept the compliment graciously.
~ Smile and thank the person for the compliment. Express genuine happiness.
vii. Practise giving compliments
I have very often heard people saying, "She is excellent at her work but, if we tell her that, it might go to her head."
This may not always be the case. It depends on how one is complimented. There is a delicate line between flattery and genuinely complimenting someone.
If you keep these suggestions in mind, you can easily compliment someone without sounding fake:
~ Use simple language. Smile and look into the person's eyes while complimenting him/ her. It sounds more genuine this way.
~ Using filmi dialogues and a lot of actions could make it look like your aim is to flatter, not compliment.
~ Modulate your voice to match the expression of admiration on your face.
~ Don't laugh or giggle while complimenting someone. It could sound like you are being sarcastic.
Finally, remember a good social network will help you at work. You need social skills to find a job and to keep one. So, if social skills do not come easily to you, it will be well worth your time to pinpoint your weaknesses and work on them.
Thanks to: "Shenoy, Sheshagiri"
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