In today's economy, you need to evolve constantly if you want your career to go places. If you don't, there is every possibility that one of your colleagues/ classmates will walk away with the coveted position that you aspired to.
So how does one add value to oneself? Here are five steps that will meet all your career
advancement needs:
Self learning
Learning is an ongoing lifelong process, we learn a little from everything we do. Career advancement requires a structured form of learning. If you are aspiring to a higher role within or outside your organisation, you need to identify the competency that role demands and go about acquiring the same. Some of the best-managed companies provide such learning tools to their employees.
Self assessment
Know yourself and where you stand -- it's important if you're planning your own growth chart. We are assessed by others whenever we are interviewed for job openings and promotions, so stay one step ahead and assess yourself first. You need to work on areas where there is room for improvement. If you come from a technology background, for example and you think you have mastered a particular technological tool, go ahead and get certified. This will add a lot of value to your professional standing and will pay off richly in future.
Peer discussions
Life's lessons are learned through community interaction and that holds true for our professional lives too. Whenever you get time off from your busy schedule, utilise it positively by interacting with your peers and discussing common areas of interest. If you can't meet up in person, use the Internet -- there are lots of professional networking portals and some of them have large numbers of qualified professionals as members. This informal knowledge-gathering complements the disciplined self-learning approach discussed above.
Career counselling
Everyone needs expert advice and counselling from time to time. We hear about godfathers and political gurus all the time, but unfortunately we do not recognise the relevance of professional mentors, thanks to the job opportunities economic growth has brought to India. There are, however, several intelligent folk who model their careers along similar lines as their seniors and heed the latter's advice in matters involving career growth. Sometimes it's also a good idea to opt for career counselling -- it helps one identify which professional path has the maximum scope for growth and job satisfaction.
Look before you leap
Several youngsters take up new jobs/designations because they offer better monetary compensation. If you are clear about your career growth pattern, monetary return should be a secondary criterion -- first comes future growth potential. You also need to verify offers made to you by potential employers or your boss -- discuss your new responsibilities thoroughly and only if you are completely convinced should you take up the new challenge.
June 26, 2008
5 career needs of every professional
Don't hand out your business cards like freebies!
Picture this: Rahul Khanna, a dashing young B-school graduate, comes from a simple family and is looking to make it big in the corporate world.
He is currently in the lobby of a five star hotel where large corporate houses are holding a seminar, an excellent place to network for future career prospects.
He meets Mohit Suri, a head of HR who is in a position to offer Rahul a lucrative job opportunity. They exchange civilities and then comes the big moment -- Mohit casually asks for Rahul's business card.
Scene I
Like most people, Rahul keeps his newly-printed business cards in his wallet and he promptly reaches for his back trouser pocket. He struggles to wrest the wallet from his snug-fitting pants and clumsily drops it on the floor. It flips open and Rahul's loose change, petrol bills, other business cards, girlfriend's photograph and credit cards spill out for all to see.
Kaput -- so much for a great first impression!
Scene II
When asked for his business card, Rahul reaches into his front trouser pocket, effortlessly pulls out a business card holder, removes a card and presents it to Mohit. Poetry in motion! Mohit's eyes linger on the card holder and he is impressed with Rahul's style.
Would you like to be Rahul in Scene I or Scene II?
Here's another example: Ajay Verma, an executive with a multinational company is sitting at his desk. An old colleague drops in for a visit and asks for his business card. Ajay is quite comfortable since it is post-lunch. He pulls out his card from his drawer, holding it between his index and third fingers (like a cigarette) and casually tosses it to his friend across the table. Is that appropriate?
Your business card is an important part of your professional identity. It holds your name, designation, the organisation you represent, your office/ residential telephone numbers, mobile number, fax number, email ID, website address etc. It also carries your credentials, educational qualifications and designation. When you are presenting it to somebody, do so with respect. Your body language should also convey the same.
Always hold the card face-up, so that the print faces the individual you are presenting it to. This is a courtesy, so that he/ she doesn't have to turn it around to read it. Hold it firmly in one corner, using your your thumb and index finger to grip it as you extend it to the receiver.
How should I present my business card?
Always present your business card with your right hand, as in some cultures it is considered impolite to do so with your left.
If you are dealing with clients from Asian countries like Japan or China, hold the business card with both hands and offer it accompanied by a small bowing gesture. Europeans and Americans do not pay as much attention to business cards as the Asians do.
In India we follow a middle path. East meets West!
Where should I store my cards, if not in my wallet?
Always keep you business cards in an elegant-looking business card holder. The stores that sell wallets and other accessories also stock card holders. Take your pick. Metal ones look extremely classy, but you also get very stylish ones in leather. Pick one that is slim, capable of holding about 10-15 cards at a time. I need not tell you to replenish them frequently!
Unlike a wallet, where business cards tend to get misshapen, a card holder keeps your cards in pristine condition. It prevents smudging and creasing, keeping the cards crisp and at their most attractive. (I'd like to mention at this point that most men don't think it is necessary to go shopping for new wallets either -- they get married to their wallets and fall into a comfort zone with what ends up looking like a relic!)
Is it okay for me to jot down extra details on my card or on someone else's card with a pen?
Always make sure that the information on your card is current. Avoid scratching out old numbers, email addresses etc and overwriting with a pen -- it looks shoddy. It's worth investing in a new set rather than doing that.
Moreover, it is rude to write something and deface someone else's card in their presence. When you are out of sight, by all means pen any reference required.
I have seen some people put business cards that they have just received down onto the table/ desk in front of them. Is that acceptable?
If you are in a conference/ meeting where there are more than a few people, it is acceptable to put business cards neatly and in an orderly manner on the table/ desk in front of you. You may do so through the course of the meeting -- this helps you to refer to the names of the attendees/ participants as and when required.
If you are in a meeting, you may pick up the cards that you have kept on the table and put them in your planner, diary or folder. Again, the body language should be such that you are collecting your valuable papers and documents. Just make sure you don't leave any behind. It is very insulting.
At times like this, it is wise to carry a whole bunch of your own business cards in your planner, as the supply in the card holder may soon be exhausted.
How does one show respect to an individual who has handed you his/ her card?
Simple -- just smile while accepting it. Say thank you. Spend a few seconds reading it -- 5 to 10 seconds should be enough to acknowledge all that is printed there! Nod your head approvingly and if you can think of an intelligent or complimentary thing to say, do so -- "Oh, so your office is in Noida?" or "That's an impressive/ interesting logo your company has".
What does one do with the card then?
Put it back deliberately in your own business card holder.
This denotes that you are keeping it safe along with your own valuable cards and will file it when you get back to your office.
When should a business card be presented?
Ideally, at the commencement of a formal meeting. But there is no hard and fast rule. You can even present one in the midst or at the end of a meeting, as and when the need for an exchange of information emerges.
Please also keep in mind that in Asian countries no business commences till a formal exchange of business cards has taken place.
Who should present his/ her card first?
Ideally, you should not offer your card to an individual who out-ranks you, since it then becomes obligatory for him/ her to present you with his/ her card also.
If, however, some time has elapsed conversing and you have managed to strike up a measure of familiarity, it may be okay to offer yours and ask for his/ hers.
As for those at the same professional level or below you, it is perfectly alright to ask them for their business cards and present yours anytime -- no protocol is required.
Open office? More reason to watch your manners!
From closeted cabins to open offices, we sure have come a long way. Everywhere you look, closed confines are giving way to open spaces in workplaces in different industries. As Suniti Joshi, an interior designer and planner in Mumbai says, "It is cost-effective, and you can accommodate more people in the given area. Open plan offices are economical because heating or cooling the workspace is done easily. Also, if the layout needs to be rearranged, or a few extra work stations accommodated, it can be done quickly and without too much additional cost."
Apart from the obvious practical value, open offices may very well be a way of 'breaking down' walls and repositioning one workplace as one with a more 'open' culture. Some like Solomon Abraham, Practice Lead at Ikya Human Capital Solutions, are all for it. "Open spaces are one of the best things to happen in India. They energise employees, knowledge flow is quick and accurate, and performances are at an all time high."
Some like Pragya Thakur, Circulation Business Director at a consumer-publishing group, are not so keen on it for strong reasons that delve beyond the obvious. "I suppose people thought open offices would promote more sociability and dissolution of hierarchical perceptions. Of course, that didn't happen because those who are higher up in the corporate food chain still have their window offices with the spectacular views."
Well, whatever be the intent behind the concept of open offices and whether we want them or not, offices and their cultures are opening up in more ways than one. If you happen to work in one of these open offices, there are some 'unwritten' rules you might want to follow to keep your work environment conducive and productive.
Here's how to work effectively and make the most of your open office:
Keep the noise level down: Don't yell or talk loudly across cubicles or across the working hall. Keep the volume of your phone on low and answer calls preferably in the first two rings. Don't talk on your phone loudly. Use speaker phones only in closed rooms/ areas designated for making conference calls. It is extremely rude and distracting to those working around you. Use the receiver unless you must have your team members in the conference call. Make sure others around are not getting disturbed, or use it only late in the evening when the office has emptied out. Also avoid chatting in groups around others' desks. If you wish to convey something, especially unpleasant, use a closed room to avoid any embarrassment.
Respect others' privacy: Don't peep into others' monitors or open drawers that don't belong to you. It can be infuriating to find that your neighbour has been going through your desk drawer or peeking at your monitor on the pretext of looking for a stapler.
As Jagdeep Kaur, Senior Curriculum Developer, Oracle, says, "Working in open spaces becomes very uncomfortable when one is dealing with confidential content on one's computer. You never know when who might see what, especially if you have a nosy neighbour. This puts a strain on you to be alert and on your guard at all times, which becomes very inconvenient and tiring after a while."
Pragya concurs, particularly with regard to lunchtime. "There's the thing about watching people eat their lunches at their desks, or being watched eating one's own lunch. We live a large chunk of our lives in our offices, at our desks, and it really affects our quality of life when nothing we do or say in those hours is private."
Don't just land up at someone's work station: If you need to speak to someone but are not sure if they are available for a little 'chit-chat', check their status message on the office communicator. If not, you can always send them a short mail indicating the purpose of your meeting. They'll revert whenever they are relatively free.
Some elements, especially social butterflies, are in constant need to touch base with people and can end up at anybody's work station without considering the fact that others might be busy and not in the mood to spend time gossiping. It can be is very annoying when people land up at your desk without any intimation while you are trying to either meet a deadline or focus on your work.
Keep your desk and cubicle uncluttered: Nothing leads to a shabby, unprofessional impression more than a cluttered, dirty desk in open view, especially if you are sharing a cubicle. Keep loose sheets, scraps of paper etc out of open view. Organise your desk by keeping it dust free, with all papers filed or clipped and stationery and other random items in a drawer.
Don't become an island: Don't use individual work stations as a pretext to become an island all your working hours. Get involved in topics of common interests and try to help your team members when someone is stuck.
Avers Jagdeep, "I have always enjoyed working in open spaces and have never found myself yearning for a cabin or closed private space of my own. In offices, I like being able to just turn around and speak to my neighbours. Or, just stand up and look around and just gesture to attract their attention whenever I need help. Proximity also helps team members bond with each other."
Suniti too feels that open offices make communication and supervision easier. "Issues and problems reach the management very fast as they too are part of the central office space, and therefore solutions are arrived at faster."
A few other dos and don'ts:
Avoid strong perfumes/deodorants: Some colleagues might be allergic to strong smells and odours. It's better to keep it light and soft. Also be mindful of food and feet odours that are far from pleasant and hang in the confines of air-conditioned environment for a while.
Health and hygiene: When you sneeze or cough, cover you mouth or use a tissue. Do not leave used tissues lying around to spread germs and diseases.
Sit up straight: Slouching indicates laziness and disinterest in work. And, that's the last thing you would want your colleagues and bosses to perceive.
Keep your soft board non-offensive: Watch what you put up on the soft board so that your colleagues are not offended. Avoid jokes or cartoons of a sexual, racist or political nature, these could stir up tensions or make colleagues uncomfortable.
Don't wriggle your way through work stations: Use the designated passages/ aisles instead of wriggling and maneuvering your way through people's work stations and chairs. A little discipline never hurt anyone.
February 10, 2008
Switch Job?
- Are You Planning to Switch Job -
You spend a large percentage of your waking hours at your job. How happy are you there? Will you be happier in a new job? To switch or not to switch is the perennial question many of us face today.
If your job isn't working for you, don't panic or take it personally. A large percentage of employees switch jobs in such conditions. "If you're not thrilled about your current situation, you should be actively interviewing with other companies. It's much easier -- both emotionally, and from a negotiation standpoint," says Mohit Kesarwani, 26, a unit manager with ICICI Bank.
But, before you reach that decision, it is important to evaluate certain aspects -
Are you a chronic job-switcher?
"Whether it's for a good reason or bad, switching jobs is extremely common nowadays, especially in some professions -- software for example. The days when people kept only one job throughout their lives are gone. Today, the average CV usually contains several moves, especially early on in a career. In fact, it's even considered unambitious to spend too many years in one job," says Manisha Dutt, 29, a manager with a software firm in Gurgaon.
However, an extreme case of 'job hopping,' such as one every year or even several times a year, definitely won't reflect well on your resume, especially if you are under 30. "This is because a company also spends a considerable amount on training new employees and is always looking at reducing employee turnover. In such a case, one look at your resume, and they may run in the other direction," says Kesarwani.
Circumstances that demand a job change and those that don't -
Some circumstances may warrant a job change, but others can be remedied. "The reason to get you to switch needs to be big -- reasons like lack of opportunities for growth, a move necessitated for family/ health reasons, need for a better salary, etc. Alternatively, you may know for sure that the new company is a great place to work in," says Pankaj Sharma, 27, an independent recruitment consultant in Delhi.
Questions to ask yourself -
Ask yourself the following questions regarding where you are at present (and be honest with your answers) -
- Do I really like my current job?
- Do I enjoy working with my colleagues?
- If I stay here, where will I be in two years time?
- Could I be earning more elsewhere?
- What are the intangible benefits of working here?
- Is the technology one that I would like to align myself with in the future?
Answer the questions using these broad parameters -
- Job quality (Is this what I want to do?)
- Growth prospects (Can I stay in this job? Can I move up?)
- More money (How much is enough?)
- Mental stimulation
- The importance of money.
Money is good stuff - it pays for nice vacations, cool cars, education for your children, etc. Don't discount the money factor, especially if others are depending on you.
"No matter what any one says, money does buy happiness. When you accumulate a significant amount as a buffer between yourself and poverty, and stop living one pay cheque at a time, your life completely changes. You gain the freedom to pursue other avenues, like your own business, a career change, a personal project, or a mentally enriching educational experience. Such freedom is an incomparable source of happiness and tranquility, and only money can grant it," says Kesarwani.
However, if the new place totally rocks, you might consider working there and even taking a salary cut to jump ship if your current job is indeed a living nightmare.
Do a cost-benefit analysis -
Let's say you take home Rs 30,000 per month. You are offered a 20 per cent salary hike in the new job and see yourself now taking home Rs 36,000 a month. What will that extra Rs 6,000 a month (= Rs 72,000 a year) do for you?
Will you blow it all on a plasma TV, stash it all in savings for an early retirement, eat out two or three more times a week, or go partying with your friends?
What is the bottomline impact on your lifestyle that this raise will give you? How will this raise impact your work environment? Keeping in mind that you work eight hours or more a day, are these extras worth the anxiety and the risk involved in switching jobs? What risks do you have if you stay in your current job? In short, what is the opportunity cost?
To cut to the chase, don't move only for financial reasons unless you're going to earn significantly more. Happiness, in terms of liking what you are doing and feeling that you are accomplishing something, is much more important. Eventually, the money won't be motivation enough to continue with the new job.
Weigh the risks -
Consider this - you already know what your current job is like and you like it. You know the people and get along with your colleagues, who are interesting people. Your boss treats you well.
The new place might be even better and the offer may be 20 per cent more than what you're getting now. The people might all be nice, or there may be a few nut cases and backstabbers there. Your boss may steal the credit for the work you do.
"Switching is a big risk; you are going out into the unknown. Chances are, the new place can be worse," says Sharma, who has experienced this himself.
"Verify everything the potential boss tells you. Bosses try to make the job sound attractive in the same way that job applicants try to make themselves sound good," says Dutt.
If you don't really want to quit -
"The first step is to analyse why, and whether or not you really want to leave. Is it just because of one thing, such as a low salary or an interpersonal conflict? If so, you must communicate that to your manager and HR department. It could be better to first consider options such as moving to another department, or negotiating a salary hike rather than leaving the organisation," feels Dutt.
Most problems at the workplace can be solved if both parties are willing to solve them. "A three-month trial can be experimented with to see if the situation can be resolved. Just like problems take time to develop, their solutions also take time to work," says Kesarwani.
Keep your relationship with your colleagues and your company intact -
The way in which you carry yourself during your transition can have a great impact on your career. It says as much about you professionally as the impression you had made on your first day. The people who you work with will make it a point to note your behaviour. If it is anywhere inappropriate or negative, the word can spread quickly. Keep in mind that this group you leave includes potential references.
"Your last impression is just about as important as your first. It's vital to break away without any ill feeling, and leave behind an impeccable record. It's a small world and it could just happen that you work with, or for, the very same people again," says Sharma.
So, it's important to leave on positive terms. Display professionalism. The right attitude is critical to building bridges, and not burning them, when you are at the threshold of assuming a new position.
The guilt factor -
"Only three months into my first job, I landed a new opportunity offering me 30 to 40 per cent more than my current job. I felt really bad leaving my current job and disappointing the people that gave me a chance to work there," says Dutt.
"As for feeling bad about leaving, don't get all flustered about it. Everyone needs to grow, and employers themselves are aware of that," says Sharma. "The key for you is to determine whether it's the wrong job, the wrong employer, or the wrong career. Once you have made that decision, the ideal scenario is to locate a new job while you are still employed. Then, if you think what you get is better than your current job, don't feel guilty -- take it. They'll understand.
February 8, 2008
Plan your Time. Manage your Time. Invest Your Time
Introduction
At one stage or another we all have heard or read all or any of the below mentioned, Time Related Phrases:
1) Time is money. Time is wealth.
2) Time is a river. Time is a wind.
3) Respect your time.
4) Doesn’t matter what you do…time will just pass away.
5) You never know, when your time will change. (Samey bada balvaan hota hai)
6) Each year, each day, each moment is unique in its own way. Once it passes, it will never come again.
7) Respect my time and I will respect yours.
8) With time, all wounds will heal.
9) If I had more hours
10) I don’t have time
There are many more.
But, like money or wealth or your assets can you save your time for difficult days? No, you cannot. Your time is now, invest it or waste it.
We are living in an era where researchers, philosophers and historians are talking, discussing and debating about “Life Management”…”Plan your life”. Every individual should know what he want in his life? Where he see himself after 5 or 10 years? One should know what he or she is expecting in his or her life. Hence, Time Management is an important aspect of our life.
How busy are you? - Your daily Routine
Let’s see, what we (Most of us) do in our daily life. How we are managing our day? As an example, I will take my daily schedule and I am sure that yours too will be closer to that. We spend time in following activities:
1) Rest / Sleep – 8 hours
2) Health: Yoga, Exercise – 1 hour
3) Prayers – 1 Hour
4) Food (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Snacks) – 2 hours
5) Entertainment – 2 hours
6) Knowledge / Learning / News – 1 hour
7) Socializing – 1 Hour
8) Work/Profession/Career – 10 hours
9) Traveling – 3hours
10) Time for Family – 3 hours
One should do all these activities to have a successful, purposeful, stress free and happy life. If I calculate above mentioned time, it comes out to be 32 hours, whereas there are only 24 hours in a day. So, how to manage? I don’t want to cut any of the activity.
Manage your Time
One can manage his time by using following skills and tools
1) Planning
2) Multi-tasking
3) Optimum use of Technology
4) Delegation
5) Self Discipline
Plan your day. Be disciplined. Respect your time and that of others too. Have proper schedule. Do multitasking. Use technology in a best possible manner.
Let’s plan your day
1) You wake-up in the morning and then go for walk or jogging. At the same time on your walk-man you can also listen to prayers, religious songs etc. Right or Wrong?
2) Once you come back from your walk, at the time of your morning tea or milk, you can scan through Newspaper or News Channels to keep you updated with the latest events and news. Can you?
3) While having your breakfast, you can also spend that time with your kids and family or listen to songs of your choice.
4) While driving or traveling to your office you can either listen to songs or use your mobile – phone to stay in touch with your friends and relatives through messages and calls. If you are at a senior level and really busy and your office is quite far away…you can also have one meeting in your car. You can also go through few reports, analysis; check those reports and also sign those documents that need your signatures and approvals. Can you do this?
5) In office, you do all of the following things:
A) Internal Meetings (There are three types of meetings – Briefing, Discussion / Debate, Review)
B) Routine work (It will be very useful for you to have well defined processes to take care of routine works)
C) Value Addition to your Function and Department
D) Client Meetings (Purpose can be any of the following: update them; get more business; grievance / query handling)
E) Interviews (To add a new person to your team; Employee Retention; Employee Grievance Handling)
Do you think that there is anything more that you do at your workplace; over and above the activities that I have listed???
6) During your first tea-break in office, have a brief meeting with your team-members and delegate your routine work.
7) You can have an important client or business meeting during your lunch.
8) For discussion / debates with seniors or your peers located at different areas, you can either use the technology of Conference Call or Video Conferencing. It will help you in managing your time and save your money. Same technology can be used for interviewing candidates from different locations. You can also use this technology for Induction, Training and Development and also for Media briefing. If you can solve a problem through a simple message on mobile phone or a simple e-mail; you don’ have to call for a meeting. So, use your mobile phone and internet to help you in managing your time.
9) Along with your second tea-break, you can also have another meeting (Review Meeting) with your team.
10) While moving from one office to another or one department to another, you can also send messages to your family members, relatives and friends and stay in touch with them.
11) When you are in a meeting, it is important that you prepare yourself for the meeting and keep it within the limits of discussion. Be there for the meeting, on time and you should also know when to end the meeting. It is a matter of discipline.
12) In the evening, while going home you can do any of the following: Listen to your favorite songs; go through the reports and papers or have meeting with client or customer.
13) Once you are at home, give your time to family. Listen to them. Solve their Concerns. Enjoy with them. Do not bore them by discussing about your day in the office.
14) At the time of Dinner, you can again update yourself with news and current updates.
15) Before, you retire for the day, read something.
Do you think, that you have things to do or to take care that I have not mentioned in the list?
What Busy People do?
1) They respect their time as well as that of the other person.
2) They manage their time in such a manner that they get time to do everything in their life.
3) They use technology in a best possible manner.
4) They are self-disciplined.
5) They plan their day and their time.
6) They know their limitations. They trust people, efficiencies & talent of people around them and delegate their work.
7) They take responsibility and accountability.
What Busy People don’t do?
1) They don’t scream or complain for lack of time.
2) They do not procrastinate or postpone their work.
3) They don’t gossip.
4) They don’t blame TIME for their failures and frustrations.
5) They don’t mix their work with family. They don’t carry their work to home and don’t bring their family emotions and fights to workplace.
6) They don’t blame others.
Number of hours in a day will not change. There will only be 86,400 seconds in a day. It is up to you, how you manage and use each of those seconds. One needs to invest each second. As, it has been rightly said, time once passed will never come again. Busy people are very satisfied, happy and do everything that they want to do in their life. Those, who show that they are busy, end up with frustration, burn-outs, stress and most of the time failure in life and profession.
Before I sign-out, I like to share few examples to let you know the value of Time, I studied these examples when I was in school,
To realize the value of one year; ask a student who has failed a final exam.
To realize the value of one month; ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of one week; ask an editor of a weekly newspaper or magazine
To realize the value of one hour; ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realize the value of one minute; ask the person who has missed the train, bus or plane.
To realize the value of one second; ask a person who has survived an accident.
To realize the value of one millisecond; ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.
Soft Skills for HR Professionals…
Introduction
To work in any profession, one should not only have “Subject Matter Expertise” but also personality, behavior, decorum, mannerism, attitude, professional approach, and thinking to work efficiently and to sustain in that given profession. Failing which, irrespective of your knowledge, education and background you will never be able to grow in that profession. This is also true for HR Profession. There are some minimum expectations from HR Professionals, in the way they carry themselves, behave and present themselves that can hamper or lift their image and professional graph. Some of those traits and attributes I have mentioned in this article. Though, to a large extent I have covered all the attributes but still I consider this list as INCLUSIVE and not EXCLUSIVE. The need is to benchmark your Personality and Behavior. Respect can only be earned and not “asked for”.
Nine Qualities all HR Professionals Should Have
1) Clarity of Thoughts – In most of the situations and circumstances, we come across two options; either we want to do or we don’t want to do; either we agree to it or we don’t agree to it; either it is acceptable or it is not acceptable; either you want or you don’t want. It has been seen that many HR Professionals are confused. They are not clear, where they want to take their company. They don’t know what role they like to play in the organization. They don’t have clarity of role. They don’t have clear expectations, neither from themselves, or from their team or from their internal customers (employees). With this confusion, they fail to take decisions. They fail to take stand.
2) Efficiency in Time Management - HR professionals is expected to be efficient in time management. They are expected to set time-frame and meet those expectations. Most of the time, I have seen that they don’t give any time limit. You approach them for any work and they respond by saying, “Ok, it will be done”. But when? I agree that “Good HR Professionals” have many things to do. Recruitments, Employee Relations, Talent Management, Career Development, Benchmarking, etc are the things, which takes lots of time. But, all goals, all dreams, all activities, all commitments looks good and are achievable, if there is a closing date for that. For Example, I want my company to be in top-10 companies in the world. It’s a Vision. It’s a good dream. But, if I don’t specify, by which year or in how many years, I want to achieve that goal, it will only remain as a dream and will never become a reality. Uncertainty, Ambiguity, Open-Ended commitment, Confusion, these are things, that are not expected from any HR Professional.
3) Compare Performances / Compare Situations & Circumstances but do not compare individuals / People – Knowingly or unknowingly but quite often, instead of Circumstances and Situations, we tend to compare two different people. Instead of analyzing the behavior of a person we tend to analyze them as an individual and take this as our right. The very basic principle of science and management says that no two individuals are same.
4) Knowledge about the Business and Industry – Everybody should be aware of their strengths and weaknesses. They should be aware as what they want in their life and career. It is a well known fact and has been proved in various surveys that HR professionals don’t care to understand the business of the company and the industry that they are working in. According to the survey done by Virgin Management Consultancy 67% HR Professionals in USA and 83% HR professionals in India do not know the nitty-gritty of their company’s business. They don’t know from where the revenue is coming. They don’t know the business model of their company. I think, as it is important to know about the city and country that you are traveling to; it is equally important to know and understand the business of the company that you are working with.
5) Vision and Goal for the Department, Team and Organization – What you want to do for the organization? Are you planning to implement a competitive compensation plan? Do you want to take your company in the bracket of 25 “Best Employers in the Country”? Are you planning to acquire best of the talent from market? Do you think that you need to control the growing Attrition Rate of your company? Have you thought about “Organization Development” and “Talent Management”? Usually, that is the confusion. HR professionals and HR heads don’t have that vision. They want to do something in HR but don’t know what they can do or should do. They should have vision for the organization for HR perspective and goals for their department and team. It’s a must have. Until and unless you are sure about your destination, you cannot take the path.
6) Love for Number / Data / Figures / Calculations / Analysis / Projections – You talk to any person in any other profession and tell them that you are in HR; two things will automatically flash in their mind – Theory and Politics. One reason why HR professionals in India have not been able to enter into the Board Room and make their presence felt in the organization is because though they have ideas, they have strategies and policies but they are not able to support those strategies with data. (It is because there is no mathematics and calculations involved in this subject that many people [mostly females] love to join this profession).
For example, if I have a “Retention Strategy” and I want to implement in the organization. I need to show, how much the implementation of that strategy will cost; by what percentage the company will be able to increase the employee retention and decrease the attrition; which are the companies that are using this particular strategy and how effective it has been in their cases. If, I am going with this data, calculation and analysis, I am sure that my strategy will be implemented.
Hence, HR professionals need to be more analytical, data oriented and good in calculations. They should not be subjective and theory oriented.
7) Enthusiasm to Share / Develop / Coach and Mentor – We have heard and read in our schools and colleges that “Knowledge is a wealth; the more you distribute/share the more you gain”. In this profession of HRM & D; we are privileged and are in a very unique position where we can develop people. We can develop their career. We can develop their life. We can help them in changing their perception and behavior. We can groom them, so that they can be successful in their life. Don’t you think that we have very important and crucial role to play?? How many of us have actually thought of those lines? Do, think about it, you have one life, give what you can. If 10 people will remember me once I bid adieu to this world for helping them in developing their life, I will consider my life as successful.
8) Self Discipline – This again is a common quality that everyone should have, irrespective of their respective professions, but it is more appreciable in HR Professionals and is like a must have. They need to set standards for others to follow; they need to benchmark their own behavior and if they start flowing with water, everything else will go for a toss and things will go out of control. I have heard, people saying that I am doing this or that because others are also doing it but that is not expected from HR Professionals. Discipline in life is a must to grow, prosper and being successful. So, set standards and don’t just flow.
9) Trust Worthy – This is very important quality and must have for all HR Professionals. Candidates, at the time of interview share important information with HR; Employees share lots information, personal, professional, ideas, suggestions, future related, dreams etc. Imagine, if the HR professional keep sharing that information with everyone in the team of HR; will that employee ever comeback to HR to share anything with him. NEVER. HR professionals need to win that trust and then maintain and keep that trust. This is very true for HR Professionals, who are working in “Employee Relations”. Relation of any kind, be it with employees, is based on trust and honesty. If ever, you break that trust, you will never be able to win it again.
Management Guru Look what the Guru(Chanakya) has to say about management:-
Straight trees are cut first and Honest people are screwed first."
"The biggest guru-mantra is:
"The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind.But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction."
"Citizens never support a weak company and birds don't build nests on a tree that doesn't bear fruits."
"God is not present in idols. Your feelings are your god.
The soul is your temple."
"A man is great by deeds, not by birth."
"Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends."
"Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth."
