Stop manufacturing your own unhappiness...

Some people have an expertise in manufacturing their own unhappiness. It is us who make the choice when we get up in the morning, either to be happy or un-happy during the day. There would be certain context and situations that may not be to your liking and we also have a tendency to stick to past comments / mistake of people. We need to nurture and ensure that we forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others. Be too big for worry and too noble for anger. It is easier said than done, however, when, practiced with right earnestness, it yields results and brings lot more cheers and adds effervescence to your countenance and disposition. Always believe in God that whatever he does, he does it for the better as it is a sure shot way to get the requisite calmness of both mind and intellect and future will certainly hold positivity.

Let me share a story here. Birbal who used to work for Akbar was in the habit of saying, Bhagwan jo karta hai, accha hi karta hai (Whatever God does, does it for larger good). Once Akbar injured his finger while cutting fruits and blood started trickling. When Birbal saw this, he said, Bhagwan jo karta hai, accha hi karta hai. This infuriated Akbar big time and he ordered that Birbal be put in jail. 

Few days passed by, Akbar went for hunting and missed his way. Some people captured him and took him for human sacrifice. When they tied him and somebody was about to kill him, he saw that Akbar’s finger was cut. He immediately shouted, "he is not the right person for human sacrifice as his finger is cut". They released him.

After reaching his kingdom, Akbar felt thankful to Birbal and asked his policemen to release him. Once Birbal came back, Akbar said, Birbal, I agree with what you said that day that “Jo Bhagwan karta hai, accha hi karta hai, however, I am curious to know how it was good for you as for no fault of yours, you were put in jail".

Then Birbal explained,

"My Lord, I always remain with you and had I not been in jail, I would have been with you. Once they would have found that you are not appropriate for Human Sacrifice, they would have made me a suitable choice. My being in jail actually saved my life".

Hence, it is very important to have complete faith in Almighty and simultaneously become so strong that nothing can disturb our peace of mind. 

If we start talking health, happiness and prosperity to every person we meet and start making all our friends feel there is something in them, start looking at the sunny side of everything, be as enthusiastic about the success of others as we are about our own, life would be better off. So always thrive for happiness and peace in all situations and be "bindaas" while being cognizant of other people sensitivities and your own surroundings.

Threat is nothing more than opportunity in work clothes...

Opportunity...

They do me wrong who say I come no more,

When once I knock and fail to find u in,

For every day, I stand outside your door,

And bid you wake and rise to fight and win.

Wait not for precious chances passed away!

Weep not for golden ages on the wane!

Each night I burn the records of the day

At sunrise every soul is born again.

We face dawns and rises of life, if life was that simple everyone would flourish. During the journey we would always have choices, to crib on threats and wait for time to change, or scale up ourselves to take up the challenge in right perspective and bounce back. Maze is all around us and cheese will never be in the same place forever, we can wait there endlessly for cheese to come back which never happens in practical world or pull ourselves to go for a hunt again.

Everyone likes to win but how many are willing to put in the efforts and time to prepare to win. It takes sacrifice, self-discipline and do it now attitude. Procrastination will creep in lethargy and pile up stuff to uncontrollable level.

Once when Fritz Kreisler, the great violinist finished a concert, someone came up to the stage and said, “ I would give my life to play the way you do”. Kreisler replied, “I have already given”. It’s always easier said than done.

He slept beneath the moon, He basked beneath the sun

He lived a life of going to do, And died with nothing done!

I have seen people trying to quit smoking and also plan to quit it in future; they continue to smoke for rest of their lives. The ones who quit, quit it right there and then. Our body and mind are much synchronized. The moment we think that we will try, it is half the battle lost. If we work towards success but nothing less and concentrate all our efforts not in trying but accomplishing, we are most of the times successful. Be sure that you work in right direction and be cognizant not to spend your entire life correcting your weaknesses to be a better professional, rather focus on your strengths, enhancing them and developing new ones and weaknesses will automatically be overshadowed.

You would have witnessed that the toughest and most successful people have a very hard and challenging past.  Most of the people who do not have past but histories are the ones who gave their lives to do something big.  It’s more about practicing focus, discipline, planning and prioritizing.

I could share the context that I went through in the year 2000 where in due to change in business priorities we have had to ask not only our CEO and majority of his direct reports to move on, however, also to cut the flab at various middle management level. All this happened in just few days and my day also came up wherein my Boss who took over as new CEO called me and said,  "Raj, you have overgrown your role, I may like to put you as a Black Belt at our plant, however, as you are pursuing your MBA, you may not been keen to move and since you are not from a polymer science background, GE Plastics may not be the right place for you to grow, hence, I have recommended your name to folks at GE Capital".

That was beginning of my strife and vulnerability, as I told him that I would like to look beyond GE also and seriously I tried to get a job for more than 1 and half month in the midst of Delhi sweltering heat (April / May) and believe me, I did not get a job. You can imagine  my state of mind at that point in time. However, in the first week of June itself, I got 4 offers including one from GE Capital.  While one of the offer from Honeywell was providing me more than 100% jump in remuneration, I chose to work with GE Capital as I knew that I would settle there faster and carry on the momentum on my studies as well.  Immediately after joining, I was sent to US which used to be a big deal during those times and from there on, things moved on and I am where I am today.

Somehow these facts have convinced me that threats are nothing but bouncing pads for us, the more hard we jump the more thrust is built and we jump even higher.

Stickiness + LUCK + Associations = Success

Behold, the fool saith 'Put not all the eggs in the one basket' - which is but a manner of saying, 'Scatter your money and your attention;' but the wise man saith, 'Put all your eggs in one basket and - watch that basket.'" - Mark Twain

No one statement is right or wrong and are true for different people in different situations considering  confidence, risk taking, experience and sensitivity of the situation into consideration. Not all people can dare to experiment the second saith as it is not the position but the disposition that determines our destiny and most of us thrive onto the position and forget the later part i.e. disposition. 

When it comes to professional context, I invariably find people who are very hard working and keep slogging without due results and consideration. It is a cut-throat competition and the world of smart workers. It is very important for us to understand where to dig. If we dig 100 shallow ponds, oil will not come out, however, if we dig one single pond and dig it deep, it will help us get the requisite depth and breadth that is so important to get professional success in life. If you look at renowned leaders, we hardly find people who would have changed 20 jobs in 20 years. Invariably, these people would have dug deep in one organization for long.

Attrition that has almost become a disease in our IT & ITES industry is short circuiting the career of many potential employees. Some of them run after short term gains and some experience a situation where they find it tough to cope with idiosyncrasy of some of their managers. The career damage of these impulsive moves in either of the cases is high.

We all get our fair share of jerks and I am no exception. At one point in time my career, I was so sick of this Manager that I decided to quit. I spoke to my Coach after a gap of 4 years and told him that I would like to quit GE and explained my predicament. He simply asked me to close my eyes and said, "Raj, ask yourself whether you want to change your Organization or your Manager?" Pat came the reply, "I do not want to change my organization but my Manager" and he said, go ahead and do what you want to do and I don't think that I need to teach you how to do that. I continued with GE for almost another half a decade post that experience. That taught me yet another lesson, it is important that we find a mentor or a teacher whose hindsight can become our foresight.

One of the Leaders in GE told me, when you have stopped growing or making a value addition to your role and want to make a change, be cognizant of the Brand, Role & Compensation (BRC Model) and while doing so also figure out not about where this job is taking you, but a sense of direction, where it can take you in the next few years and whether it fits into your long term scheme of things. Of course in this model, depending upon the position, 2 factors will always play key role in permutation and combinations. Here is where good Mentors can act as guides.

Another very important factor wouldalso take its toll here and that is LUCK which has least to do with destiny and I define it as Labor under Correct Knowledge. Mentors play a very important role here. They can be our friend, philosopher and guide and help us understand the larger perspective and also teach us tricks of the trade. Great coaches are a fountain of knowledge….it depends on us whether we leverage them to drink or sip or just to gargle and as we all know that  the best of teachers will not give you something to drink, they will make you thirsty. They will put us on path to seek answers.

There is yet another belief to be successful, we cannot make it big till we cut down competition and reach heights while pushing people down. This belief has deepened its roots as not all can be at the top and out of the lot only handful will emerge as renowned leaders. As much as this is true another truth is that no one in today's world can make it alone. There is just too much to learn and things are changing too rapidly. High achievers always spend time with other high achievers. Like minds attract each other. They attend the same events, eat at the same restaurants, join the same clubs. Ideas and innovation never generate in isolation and to be successful you would always need someone who will be supportive, caring and effective and someone with whom you can work hand-in-hand to define, develop and design a  plan in advance.

Your business and social environment is more important than your heredity, choose your relationships and partnerships wisely. I learned early in life that if you want to grow, you do not need to push people down, however, just need to enhance your own stature / height.

Practice Kicking yourself to get a kick...

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved. - Helen Keller

I find in today environment that our young employees get both motivated and equally de-motivated fast. I have had a colleague who came to me with sullen face and dropped shoulder and asked, Sir, I am de-motivated, can you please help?

I told him, we have already put in a kiosk in the cafeteria, why don’t you go buy a piece of motivation for yourself. He looked at me superciliously with bewilderment.

Then I explained that motivation is not something that you need to look out, it is within yourself, and you need to find it. And once you are motivated, you need to ensure that you give all that you have to achieve the goal. Let me explain through a story : -

A Boy who was not moving in fast enough in life, went to meet a Saint and asked him that most of his peers are successful, however, despite all his great intention and hard work, he is just not successful. Saint asked him to come and meet him next day in the morning at 4 AM. It was a chilly winter, however, this Boy was determined to learn the formula for success.  In the morning this fellow met the Saint. Saint was going to take bath in the river and he asked the Boy to follow him. They Boy who really wanted to be successful, followed with vigor and anticipation.

When the water reached to the Boy’s neck, this saint took this Boy by surprise and put his head  under the water. He did not leave him until he turned blue.

The guy asked , what nonsense is this?. The saint was calm and asked, “what is that you wanted most when you were under the water?”. The boy responded, I wanted to breath?

Saint said, your body, soul and mind was working in one direction that is to get the air. For success you have to ensure that your objective is clear (Air in the case) and body, soul and mind needs to synchronize to achieve the desired objective.

Aspiration is very high amongst our folks. However, when it comes to perspiration, they shy away. It is said that inspiration worked 10% however, to be successful perspiration which constitutes ~ 90% is needed. It is imperative that to get success, we have a long term focus. Success is nothing but progressive realization of our worthy goals. We must look beyond short term and ensure that we leverage the experience of our senior people both in the organization and society.

Kicking yourself is not the easiest thing to do, however if you do not do this, you will find it difficult to reach to the top of the pyramid. There are broadly 3 levels – staff (~ 90%) , Middle Management (4-7%) &  Top Management (2-3%) and broadly 90% people fall in staff level, 5-7% in Middle Management and 2-3% at Top Management.

All the folks are ordinary. If you have an aspiration to reach at the top level it is essential to do something extra and that extra will help you become EXTRA-ORDINARY. Extra is something that is not easy to do, however, those who do it will make it fast and make the difference not only in their own life, however, also in the life of those who surround them.

It is really not easy, however, whenever new things comes up, we all face the same vulnerability -  intensity might vary. That’s the point, when we need to kick ourselves and say it loud – it would be good for me and my future. There is nothing in the world that God and I together can't do. Invoking the supreme power always help.

kicking one-self is not a science, however, an art that if practiced will make you achieve what you want to achieve. Best thing about a KICK is that it comes from within rather than outside

Master the art of self kicking to ensure that you are not limited by challenges, however, become a person who challenge its own limits to become a leader who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.

Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it. - Lou Holtz

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10 C's of Employee Engagement

"Managing only for profit is like playing tennis with your eye on the scoreboard and not on the ball" - Ichek Adizes. 

Engagement is the state in which INDIVIDUALS are emotionally and intellectually committed to the organization or group.  I have witnessed that we tend to leverage outside consultant when it comes to helping employee realize their potential, however, fail to leverage fully the existing available leadership to drive employee engagement and build employees sense of belonging and organization pride.

What we should do next? is a top of mind concern of most employees rather than what they would like to become or enjoy a decade down the line?. They naturally seek to extrapolate the immediate past rather than interpolate the aspirational future. Here it become incumbent upon the senior leadership to get hands on and help build / deliver people career aspirations.

I like the following video where Vineet Nayar talks about  "employee being centre stage of investment" and role of business / HR managers.

How can leaders engage heads, hearts, and hands of their people? Here are the 10 C's that I came across which will not only help in enhancing employee engagement, however, enable employees to  consistently speak positively about the organization to coworkers, potential employees and customers while engaging in behaviors that contribute to overall success of business.

Connect : A direct reflection of how employees feel about their relationship with the immediate boss. Early in my professional life I learned a lesson that when you are people leaders, your job is to focus on developing your staff and harness their potential. If they grow, you shall automatically grow. However, whenever in large gathering I ask a question, Is your managers more interested in his career or yours. The answers is "HIS OWN".  Managers / leaders must learn to inculcate the sense that employee growth and capability building is at the forefront of of their mindset which will enable not only employee growth, however, their own as well..

Career: Leaders should provide challenging and meaningful work with opportunities for career advancement. Employee do look forward to sense of career direction both from short and long term perspective.

Clarity: Leaders must communicate a clear vision. Success in life and organizations is, to a great extent, determined by how clear individuals are about their goals and what they really want to achieve.

Convey: Leaders clarify their expectations about employees and provide feedback on their functioning in the organization. It is imperative that leaders / managers sharpen the art of giving developmental feedback.

Congratulate: Exceptional leaders give recognition, and they do so a lot; they not only coach and convey, however, tend to catch people doing right things and appreciate them.

Contribute: People want to know that their input matters and that they are contributing to the organization's success in a meaningful way. 

Control: Employees value control over the flow and pace of their jobs and leaders can create opportunities for employees to exercise this control.

Collaborate: Studies show that, when employees work in teams and have the trust and cooperation of their team members, they outperform individuals and teams which lack good relationships.

Credibility: Leaders should strive to maintain a company’s reputation and demonstrate high
ethical standards that leads them to command the respect of their staff.

Confidence: Good leaders help create confidence in a company by demonstrating high performancestandards.  While they do so, they also help build the confidence of their employees by creating a culture where employee capability building, employee growth and growth from within remains at the centre stage of their mindset.

There is no doubt and it is a proven fact that genuine and sincere engagement help develop high-performing teams and produce behavior that help fulfill an organization’s promises to customers—and in so doing, improve business results.

In the best organizations, engagement is more than a human resources initiative. it is a strategic foundation for the way they do business.