The Triple H factor..... (For Corporate/Business Trainers)

~
Physics Teacher : "Isaac Newton was sitting under a tree when an apple fell on his head and he discovered gravity...! Isn't that wonderful?"
Student : "Yes sir, if he had been sitting in class looking at books like us, he wouldn't have discovered anything."
~

Among the many characteristics that a TRAINER needs to possess, the following, if naturally displayed, will ensure a positive response by the participants (trainees/delegates) attending the program. They are...

H - Humility
H - Honesty
H - Humour (Humor)

HUMILITY : The more humble a trainer is, the more 'APPROACHABLE' will he/she be perceived to be by his/her participants thus reflecting a positive opinion about himself/herself. There are participants who are passive in their interaction during the training program, this deficiency of theirs unfortunately leads them in giving a negative feedback on the trainer's effectiveness. Hence if a trainer, can go that extra mile and display humility, he will ensure participants open-up and engage easily in a discussion. In addition to skills of effectively handling questions by participants this characteristic also ensures that the trainer is not targeted unnecessarily by difficult participants during the program.


HONESTY :
Q : What is it that trainers know, that they need not know?
A : They need not know "EVERYTHING".

Sometimes, in preparation of a training program, a trainer PRESUMES he needs to readily have a solution for every unexpected query from a participant. NOT TRUE. Remember as a trainer, each program you lead or conduct, is a learning for you too. Its absolutely fair to be HONEST of something that you don’t know or didn’t know about. In such a situation the ability to pick up something relevant from a participants experience/view and incorporate the same in your subsequent training programs is a required skill for any modern trainer.

HUMOUR :
Everybody has experienced trainers having great knowledge on the topic, and handling queries effectively, hence meeting the main objective of any training program i.e ensuring knowledge is imparted to the participants. That being true, today maintaining the attention of participants throughout the program has always been a challenge for any trainer. The common solutions to this challenge is facilitating various ice-breakers or games during the entire program. In spite of that, the challenge still remains.
Thats when its necessary to trust the old saying "LAUGHTER is the BEST medicine". As much as any trainer can genuinely develop an appropriate amount of humour while delivering a training, they will definitely have the attention of the participants/delegates/trainees. Maybe its not every trainer's feature, but it can be developed gradually.

Having said that, the extreme display of any of the above 3 traits by a trainer, can also be a disadvantage. Hence knowing the appropriate level is also essential. So next time you walk into a program please check list your ability as a 'Triple H' Trainer.

Happy Training....!

Mr. Hotelwalla and 'Makhan'

~
Mr.Hotelwalla is a small businessman owning a mini restaurant in a crowded city in India. The restaurant has average business until one day they come across a new hire named 'Makhan'.
Makhan is a school dropout and understands English with his limited education. He is about 20 yrs old when he migrates to the city for better prospects after working in a rural area 'dhaba' (a road side, usually illegal small-time eating joint).

Cutting the story short, Makhan turns out to be their most talented cook with an exclusive hand, who cooks many lip-smacking dishes, one of his specialities being the 'chicken-makhanwalla' which happens to be the top-ordered item in the restaurant such that no other cook is allowed to prepare that dish. The business grows gradually raking a substantial revenue for the owner. The owner is impressed and after a years completion of Makhan's tenure with the restaurant, he gives him a decent raise. Makhan is glad to get and increment in salary, but being an 'eager-to-learn-more' cook he also asks the owner if he could sponsor him for a short craftsmanship course in learning other dishes and specialities served in the city, this in return of being loyal to the restaurant and innovating more dishes. The owner though willing to agree to such a request, postpones the decision and asks Makhan to focus on this new-found success, which has increased current revenues for the business, and promises him that he would look into the request after 6 months. The business continues running good and 6 months hence, the request is forgotten by the owner, and so is Makhan over-burdened with being their most engaged cook that he too forgets to remind the owner. Another year and a half goes by with business being consistent, and the owner giving Makhan his annual salary increments keeping him monetarily satisfied.

All this, until one day a competitor (Mr. Gyan Chatur) knowing the internal operations of the restaurant decides to poach Makhan and offer him a similar job with a fractional salary hike, but with an additional joining bonus, (Mr. Chatur will also sponsor Makhan to complete a 3 week craftsmanhsip course in cookery before he starts with the new job). Makhan is 'overjoyed' only due to the additional perk and accepts the offer.

What happened to Mr.Chatur's business thereafter is something we would all like to rightly presume, and so we will end our story here.....
~
Reflection time. I would like you'll to focus on.... What SHOULD HAVE happened in the 3 years, that Makhan had spent with Mr. Hotelwalla...!

This might be a simple anecdote, but there are still many of us who can relate similar situations of this story to our corporate careers.

My primary reason for writing this article, was to focus on one of the sub-functions under the Human Resource (HR) Function popularly known as 'PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT' or 'PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (PMS)'.

Now ask yourself these question...
1 - Has your organisation (current employer) ever considered PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT ?
2 - If PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT has been considered and implemented, has it been taken seriously by the management / employees / Human Resource Division (HRD) specifically?
3 - What has been a chink in the armour (vulnerable area) for firms trying to effectively implement PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (PMS) ?
4 - What is the relation of 'PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS' to the entire PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (PMS) ?
5 - Why do employees from a NON-HR function think of PMS as just another fad of the Human Resource Division (HRD) ?

In my next write-up we will look at some of the BOTTLENECKS in implementing PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (PMS)...

SNAKES and LADDERS

No X-Box, No PSP, No Mobile or I-POD gaming.... Yes, we didnt' have any of these games in our early schooling days.... but we still had a lot of simple yet exciting fun....

My write-up in NOT ABOUT GAMING today... its about one of these exciting board games we've usually played indoors when we were all children... popularly known as 'SNAKES and LADDERS' (and in hindi 'SAAP-SEEDEE'....)

When you think about 'SUCCESS' in your life today, you can easily compare the 'process of achieving success' to a game of 'SNAKES and LADDERS'.

Lets check the components/aspects of the game first...
(a) The game's PHYSICAL BOARD you play on.
(b) The PLAYERS in the game.
(c) The SNAKES in the game.
(d) The various LENGTHS of the SNAKES.
(e) The LADDERS in the game.
(f) The various LENGTHS of the LADDERS.
(g) The dice.
(h) The RESULT after throwing the dice.
(i) The PERIOD while you WAIT for your turn to throw the dice again. (The MOST IMPORTANT)

Now let us see how 'the game & playing the game' translates In Your LIFE....

(a) The game's PHYSICAL BOARD you play on.
In Your LIFE : A particular PHASE or STAGE
One particular round of board game that you play, is like one particular phase of your life. The different phases what you go through as an - infant, child, teenager, young adult, middle-aged adult, elderly adult. etc or however you wish to define your own phases.

(b) The PLAYERS in the game.
In Your LIFE : People who you regularly interact with - colleagues, peers, friends and people you know.
These are also people who you usually tend to compare yourself with. These people will always exist.

(c) The SNAKES in the game.
In Your LIFE : Various events or situations of HARDSHIPS, DIFFICULTIES or BARRIERS you come across in a particular phase of your life.
These events or situations are inevitable and unavoidable part of your life. These could be situations like - death of a loved one, loss of a job, an accident, an illness, a natural disaster you are personally affected by, etc. These are events or situations of SADNESS. You might want to avoid them, but you ultimately accept them because no one of us is free of them.

(d) The various LENGTHS of the SNAKES.
In Your LIFE : A measure of HOW AFFECTED are you by those NEGATIVE events or situations in your life.
What is the impact of these events in your daily functioning - minimumly affected, mediumly affected, highly affected.

(e) The LADDERS in the game.
In Your LIFE : Various events or situations of OPPORTUNITIES, BLESSINGS or ASSISTANCE you come across in a particular phase of your life.
These events or situations are what you eagerly search, look or work for. These could be situations like - a new house, your marriage, birth of your child, a new job, a promotion, a hiked salary,etc. These are events or situations of HAPPINESS. You always welcome them and keep looking for them again and again.

(f) The various LENGTHS of the LADDERS.
In Your LIFE : A measure of PROGRESS/ACHIEVEMENT you have made by those POSITIVE events or situations in your life.
What is the impact of these events in your daily functioning - minimumly motivated, mediumly motivated, highly motivated.

(g) The dice.
In Your LIFE : The factors that decide the outcome.
These factors may or may not be in your control. If they are decisions in your control, what is your role in influencing that outcome. If they are not in your control, you just accept it when it happens.

(h) The RESULT after throwing the dice.
In Your LIFE : The outcome of a situation.
This is the occurrence and outcome of the event itself - POSITIVE, NEGATIVE or NEUTRAL.

(i) The PERIOD while you WAIT for your turn to throw the dice again.
In Your LIFE : What is your response or attitude to that event?
This according to me, is the MOST IMPORTANT part of the game.
How do your perceive that event or situation that has occurred to you?

If NEGATIVE - Is the VENOM of the SNAKE too difficult to handle...

Will you QUIT or CONTINUE?

If POSITIVE - What does the HELP of the LADDER mean to you...

Will you be CONTENT, COMPETITIVE or HELPFUL?

(We will discuss this in the latter part of my write-up)

Looking For...!

Just few days ago a candidate after sending me his resume for a job opening, called me to ask if I received his resume. During our conversation, knowing that he had experience broadly under the 'Finance' function, I asked him what kind of break was he looking for. He said " I'm looking for a break in 'Operations'..."

From my experience as a recruitment consultant, this was definitely not the first time that I have heard candidates (having work experience) use such 'generic' words while speaking to recruiters or a prospective employer. Hence for the benefit of job-seekers, I would like to highlight the flaws in using such 'generic' words, especially when a candidate knows what he is looking for in his next opportunity or job change.

While using words, please understand the difference between using a 'Generic' word and a 'Specific' word. Lets take an example... We'll take a simple word like 'Finance'.

The word 'Finance', when used in the context of looking for a job change becomes a 'Generic' word. It would be fair if this word is being used by a fresher having no experience who is probably looking for his first job and is unaware about sub-functions under 'Finance' as a career. But if you are an experienced candidate, using such a word, would imply that you are directionless in understanding where you want to go with a career in 'Finance'.

Hence sticking to the same example of 'Finance', try using more 'Specific' words like... "I'm looking for a job related to.... 'Credit & Risk' or 'Debt Management' or 'Budgeting' or 'Collections & Recovery' or 'Forex' or 'Funds Management'....".

In simple words I'm asking you to communicate what kind of break are you SPECIFICALLY looking for.

What if your a FRESHER, and wanted to express getting a break under any sub-function of 'FINANCE'. In that case what you could probably say is... "As a fresher, I'm willing to understand and explore any function that becomes a part of the borad understanding of the Finance function..."

Hence please avoid using 'generic' words like 'operations', 'marketing', 'back-office', 'hr'. PLEASE DO YOUR HOMEWORK on what sub-functions comprise a broader 'general' function. Also ensure to use these 'specific' words when you are asked to describe your 'keyskills' on online job portals where you have your resume uploaded. It will definitely help recruiters like myself and employers to find the right candidates more quickly.

This article does not appeal to those who have substantial years of experience in various sub-functions and are now looking for senior opening, where using a word can be 'Generic' . For Example ('Head-Marketing', 'VP-Human Resources").

I'm hoping this article assists you / other job-seekers, to use the right words while developing your career path... All the best...!

Be THE GIVER

A man was washing his new car when his neighbor asked him, "When did you get the car?" He replied "My brother gave it to me." The neighbor said, "I wish I had a car like that". The man replied, "You should wish you have a brother like that." The neighbor's wife was listening to the conversation and she interrupted. "I wish I was a brother like that."

A very short story to reflect on. Among the three persons, the man who wishes he had a car like his neighbors - this trait we see in all of us, we all wish for something luxurious that our neighbor have, we all continue to be attached to the world of materialism, and this is not what I want to focus on. Rather I would like to talk about the other two persons in this story - the man who receives the new car from his brother who we can identify as "The TAKER / The RECEIVER" and the other is - the lady, who wishes that she could be like the brother who gifted the car - she we can identify as "The GIVER".

Ask yourself, in how many situations would you rather be a TAKER or a GIVER. And you'll see the scales tipping substantially to be a TAKER.

I feel guilty asking this question myself, how many times I wish I only received... right from my childhood till date... when I had relatives / friends returning for a vacation from a foreign country... my expectations of receiving something was always high... "Has he/she bought anything for me...?" Having not left, even my immediate family (my father or my brother)... Again this feeling in not neccessarily restricted only to something material or tangible.... it could be other intangibles like - understanding, personal time, sympathy, love.... And we see this expectation in different facets / different people - of life... our parents, our spouse, our children, our friends, our employer, our government and it goes on.... we always want to be only on the receiving end, of something GOOD.

Just imagine if all of us thought this way... of only wanting to RECEIVE... This world would have been a dead place to live in...

Fortunately... the silver lining to my message is that we all have the ability of being "The GIVER"... and at some point in our life we have already and defintely given and also FELT the JOY of GIVING. But the fact being, most of us had to be put in a situation of giving or an act of charity because of either, a favour we have already received... maybe a good job, improved finances, a life-partner, blessed with a child, recovery from an illness... OR maybe we did our acts of good deed in anticipation of a favour or blessing yet to come...

So the question is.... does the ACT of GIVING always have to be for a favour received OR a for favour yet to come ?

The answer is a big 'NO'. We have to be GIVERS for FREE...! This would be most difficult to practise for a writing preacher like myself... whose wallet always seems to be stuck in the trouser or left at home (lol)... but I'm surely working towards it. We can take our inspiration from human beings who have been blessed as perpetual GIVERS in our lives... one of my MOST ADORED being MOTHER TERESA. I don't need to ellaborate on her life.

Yet again knowing the hedonistic lifestyle we pursue, we dont neccessarily need to benchmark ourselves to be 'larger-than-life' GIVERS, we just need to practise tiny deeds of charity to experience this WARMTH and JOY of GIVING.

I conclude my article with a quote from Swami Vivekananda...
~
“Do not stand on a high pedestal and take 5 cents in your hand and say, "here, my poor man",... but be grateful that the poor man is there, so by making a gift to him you are able to help yourself. It is not the reciever that is blessed, but it is THE GIVER. Be thankful that you are allowed to exercise your power of benevolence and mercy in the world, and thus become pure and perfect.”
~
Wishing all of you'll a MERRY CHRISTMAS and BLESSED 2011...!

I write as a HYPOCRITE...and not as a PREACHER...!

As I try my hand in the art of writing (articles/blogs), most of them would be something that I strongly feel needs to be communicated from the INNER me, lot of which might sound like 'ADVICE'. But I foresee or perceive this 'Advice-giving' as a problem... And you would ask Why? Isn't 'Advice-giving' good...?

Yes - 'Advice-giving' is good, but the problem being - Whom does it come from? Does it come from someone who displays the character of a good, strong and established human-being? After writing an article what is mostly discussed, is the credential of the writer, especially from people known to him, and it comes in the form of the God-given gift to all - The gift of 'CRITICISM'...!

I know its expected of a preacher, teacher, leader, mentor (or in this case a 'writer') to strongly PRACTISE his communicated message. I write this message preparing for my defence in advance, knowing that people love playing the 'Index-Fingering' game.... ("Oh that Lionel, he has written this... what a liar (hypocrite) he is...!")

So I write this as a PRELUDE of anything that I may write in future... I'm like most human-beings... fighting a number of 'TEMPTATIONS', succumbing to most of them, but I still think its absolutely fair to let people know of what I (you) strongly believe is 'Advice' though I (You) might be the 'WEAKEST' link in practising my (your) own advice...

I am a W.I.P and I will remain a W.I.P till the day I pass away...

Yes - I'll always be 'Work-In-Progress'. I know there will be a number of times in future where I might be pinned-down for not living my own message, but those are times I plead for you look back at this article and remind you that I am an IMPERFECTIONIST, I am a HYPOCRITE, but there has never been a day OR there will never be a day in my life, where I have not strived to live my own 'advice'...!

What GOOD can transpire...?

I write this article not as a form of report, review, view or opinion. I purely write this is as a REQUEST. A request to ALL Indians to start being POSITIVE in the build up of the COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2010 (Delhi).

Its fairly obvious that after reading the above lines, the first question that would annoyingly come to any of your minds would be "WHY WOULD ANY INDIAN WANT TO THINK POSITIVE?" after the alleged scandal and corruption that has been exposed in the preparation of the CWG games in these last few months...

I have no answers to that, but neither do I have any second thoughts that any of the officials accused and proved guilty, should not be severely dealt with...

But I humbly appeal with 37 days to go, that we start looking at...

What GOOD can transpire...? Not for the credentials of the Indian officials incharge of organising these games... but purely for the upliftment of Indian sports and athletes, the international atheletes attending the games who are expecting a warm reception, healthy treatment and enriching experience... Most of all, I make this appeal for all the athletes, who have been rigourously training throughout the year - aiming to break new records, bring honour to their respective countries and pride to their loved ones...

Can we do this for THEM...? Lets avoid being the usual critics we all have been... and lets start the 'Optimistic-Mouthing'... If not till few months after the end of games, but atleast till the closing ceremony of the games.

Having written the above and wanting to set a positive tone for the CWG Games 2010, by no means do I wish to forget the scandal and corruption that has been exposed. All of us in whatever way, even after the end of games, will and should continue to fight and ensure that punishment be given to all officials who have been accused and proved guilty in blowing-up the funds of the honest tax-paying citizens.