It was a seminar about the ways to beat recession and survive. The topics ranged from cost cutting measures to downsizing. The venue was a very happening up market 5-star address in the city. The fees per head were Rs.20,000/- for a day's session . Our company sent three of us to attend well; one of our directors was also going to speak .

As the delegates entered, they were handed exclusive handmade embossed leather bound folders with a notepad inside (I doubt if anyone made any notes) and a pen fitted with 1 GB pen drive. The seminar kicked off with a long speech on how worrisome the current financial scenario and ways to deal with it. Almost all of them said the same things the stuff that stares you in the face when you read a newspaper, when you leaf through business magazines whenever you switch on a business channel although the sense of "déjà vu" was the strongest feeling of the moment, yet we pretended to be superlatively impressed by what the industry "giants" were saying.

Almost all of them seemed to talk of the "heaviness in their hearts" as they took the decision to downsize their companies and how "what needs to be done, has to be done". But what was unique in the cost-cutting measures to be taken was that the measures almost always referred to the middle management and below .

There was talk of how to freeze salaries if not cut 'back, there were talks of retrenching the contract service staff, no more new employments and some even went to the extent of  talking about rethinking the subsidized  mid-day meals at certain outfits . Anyways, wasn't it a test of caliber for the junior officers to be able to handle 2-3 people's work alone? Some companies have even ordered that the annual appraisals be completed soon & increments etc. be declared fast lest a sudden economic turn-around makes the staff ask for better increments. Today, they seemed to be just happy to hang on to their jobs.

The top of the rung of the corporate world was left untouched during these discussions. In fact no one as such mentioned them. No one talked about the bills run up for travel by the Business class air fares or the exorbitant bills run up at 7-star hotels during business tours by top brass of the companies?these were considered necessary for business development (one senior executive made 2 "business" trips to a city in USA in the last one and half months .the incomplete discussions with the US business partner continue but is it a sheer co-incidence that his son has shifted to that city for higher education?)

Getting back to the seminar .The lunch spelt elegance in capital letters. The multi-cuisine mix-n-match fare was awesome. People were raving about the food .back in office the next day, when a colleague asked us what was the USP of the program, our chorus was, "gateaux au choclat was sinfully rich but yummmmmmmmm "

"Be a leader not a boss!" thundered the voice on the podium the voice belonged to a management guru who had been invited to the seminar to teach, or rather enhance the leadership skills of the   people attending the seminar .

Hey, my mind said to me, it's old wine gone completely acerbic as I  tried to remember when I first heard it .yes  at a Scouts and Guides meeting I was in Std.V then .next time was hmmm at the swearing in of the newly elected school council. I was then in Std.IX so what's new is this guy telling us? Don’t we know it all already?

His speech was followed by the standard presentation modules, case studies, interrupted by lunch and refreshed by tea. Most people, in the 3^rd row and beyond, were surreptitiously checking messages on their mobile phones and answering them too (all with a straight face)

The most serious listeners, ironically, were the ones sitting in the 1^st row, nodding vigorously. They were the senior most people of their respective organizations (many organizations had participated) with grey hairs (and presumably more grey cells than the rest!). I was trying to figure out why they were there after at least 20+ years of hands-on experience they should know how to lead! They were the public faces of the companies they serve!

The day's session over, people began to file out suddenly everyone was smiling and relaxed and even the speaker seemed so much more human once he descended from the stage .

Later, over tea, when people started discussing (unofficially, of course) their bosses, I realized that that weren't too many bosses who would be make it to the category of a leader .most people belonging to this species stop evolving once they become a boss.  

The most common complaint against bosses was that, they get the work done by the subordinates and pass it off as their own. And, in many cases, where they cannot outsmart the subordinates, they suppress their career growth (a serious accusation no doubt, but very common too, I found) a problem that almost everyone seemed to have faced at some time or other was regarding work allocation and assessments ..chamchas seemed to get the easiest work & their mistakes more casually overlooked!

Another point that stood out was that more senior the boss, the meaner they were. They often made the middle level managers to do their dirty jobs & the poor guys caught in the cross fire faced flak from both sides. As one middle level manager said, "It's easy to say resist but when you have a family to take care of, resigning impulsively is not a wise choice. How many people can do it?"

I wondered what makes these otherwise normal people act like Machiavellian monsters once they become bosses and have the power to make a difference to other people's lives did they not start as subordinates once? .what drove them to be so narrow-minded? Maybe, the heady feeling of playing God & controlling destinies, or maybe just a case of what Lord Acton had said, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

It was heartening to note that, in midst of all the negativity surrounding bosses, some people's name did crop up who in spite  of  not being the big bosses, yet, had managed to give direction to many assignments & careers. They were very fondly talked of and were seen as the leaders in the true sense of the word.

It was a "blow hot, blow cold" session in the office. We had "dared" to disagree with the vice-president of our company and worse still, held on to our point of view. What they were doing didn't gel with they had done before, or with the company's policies on promotions. The VPs obviously didn't like being reminded of past examples.

The case was quite simple .  Promotions were being decided. One name that cropped up deserved it and everyone knew he did. The previous year he had given the company good profit far exceeding the target set for him. When another guy left, he even managed his portfolio for two months till a new guy appointed. His immediate boss, a senior manager, was happy with his work and had recommended promotion . So did the other even more senior bosses of his dept.

Then where was the problem? The problem was another VP from another dept.  This guy had joined on the same day as another lady employee in the organization. The lady is quite smart & qualified and knows how to keep her bosses in good humor. But, her work, though good, is nothing outstanding. Dot at 5.30pm., she usually leaves office relegating work to her juniors as she has two kids and their babysitters charges double after 6.30p.m. (There are many other lady officers who have similar problems, but they are work with everybody and like everybody else without seeking any special privileges)

When VP1 proposed promotion of candidate1, immediately VP2 wanted his candidate2 to be promoted as well .all other VPs opposed it on the ground that she had achieved only 72% of her given target it would set a bad example. Unmoved, VP2 argued that being more qualified, she has 1^st right over promotion (this logic beat me…I know so many women who are qualified, but opt to stay at home). He even suggested that not promoting her while promoting a male officer amounted to sexist approach!!! (Why doesn't MY boss think that way…sob! sob!)

The meeting ended with no result as VP2 continued to insist on interlinking the two.

How will this end? A deserving candidate being denied promotion? Or, an undeserving candidate getting it? Unless all VPs sign the recommendation letter, the matter will not reach the next stage .how long will this limbo last?

Two hours down the drain. No results in sight.  Reminds one what Fred Allen had said, "Committee - a group of men who individually can do nothing but as a group decide that nothing can be done."

This article  is used in modules on stress management & found helpful by most.  Just thought of sharing it with my ilander friends .

How to Deal with Stress At Work

By Elizabeth Scott, M.S.,

Because stress at work is so common, finding a low-stress job may be difficult or impossible for many people. A more realistic choice would be to adopt more effective strategies to reduce stress at work. Here are some stress management techniques to try.

Start Your Day Off Right

After scrambling to get the kids fed and off to school, dodging traffic and combating road rage, and gulping down coffee in lieu of something healthy, many people come in already stressed, and more reactive to stress at work. In fact, you may be surprised by how much more reactive to stress you are when you have a stressful morning. If you start off the day with good nutrition, proper planning, and a positive attitude, you may find the stress of the workplace rolling off your back more easily.

Be Clear on Requirements

One of the factors that contributes to job burnout is unclear requirements. If you don't know exactly what's expected of you, or if the requirements keep changing with little notice, you may find yourself much more stressed than necessary. If you find yourself falling into the trap of never knowing if what you're doing is enough, it may help to have a talk with your supervisor and go over expectations, and strategies for meeting them. This can relieve stress for both of you!

Stay Away From Conflict

Because interpersonal conflict takes a toll on your physical and emotional health, and because conflict among co-workers is so difficult to escape, it's a good idea to avoid conflict at work as much as possible. That means don't gossip, don't share too many of your personal opinions about religion and politics, and try to steer clear of colorful office humor. Try to avoid those people at work who don't work well with others. If conflict finds you anyway, try these conflict resolution strategies.

Stay Organized

Even if you're a naturally disorganized person, planning ahead to stay organized can greatly decrease stress at work. Being organized with your time means less rushing in the morning to avoid being late and rushing to get out at the end of the day. Keeping yourself organized means avoiding the negative effects of clutter, and being more efficient with your work.

Be Comfortable

Another surprising stressor at work is physical discomfort. You may not notice the stress you experience when you're in an uncomfortable chair for a few minutes. But if you practically live in that chair when you're at work, you can have a sore back and be more reactive to stress because of it. Even small things like office noise can be distracting and cause low-grade frustration. Do what you can to ensure that you're working from a quiet, comfortable and soothing workspace.

Forget Multitasking

Multitasking was once heralded as a fantastic way to maximize one's time and get more done in a day. Then people started realizing that when they had a phone in their ear and were making calculations at the same time, their speed and accuracy (not to mention sanity) suffered. There is a certain kind of frazzled feeling that comes from splitting one's focus that doesn't work well for most people. Rather than multitasking, try a new strategy known as chunking.

Walk at Lunch

Many people are feeling ill effects from leading a sedentary lifestyle. One way you can combat that, and manage stress at work at the same time, is to get some exercise during your lunch break and perhaps take short exercise breaks throughout the day. This can help you blow off steam, lift your mood, and get into better shape.

Keep Perfectionism In Check

Being a high achiever can help you feel good about yourself and excel at work. Being a perfectionist, on the other hand, can drive you and the people around you a little nuts. Especially in busy, fast-paced jobs, you may not be able to do everything perfectly. But striving to just do your best and then congratulating yourself on the effort is a good strategy. Your results will actually be better (perfectionists tend to stress about little mistakes and sometimes drop the ball because they can't do things well enough), and you'll be much less stressed at work.

Listen to Music on the Drive Home

Listening to music brings many benefits, and can offer an effective way to relieve stress after work. Combating the stress of a long day at work with your favorite music on the drive home can make you less stressed when you get home, and more prepared to interact with the people in your life.

An interesting management lesson

One fine day, a bus driver went to the bus garage, started his bus, and drove off along the route. No problems for the first few stops - a few people got on, a few got off, and things went generally well.

At the next stop, however, a big hulk of a guy got on. Six feet six, built like a wrestler, arms hanging down to the ground. He glared at the driver and said, "Big John doesn't pay!" and sat down at the back.

Did we mention that the driver was five feet three, thin, and basically meek? Well, he was. Naturally, he didn't argue with Big John, but he wasn't happy about it. The next day the same thing happened - Big John got on again, made a show of refusing to pay, and sat down. And the next day, and the next.

This grated on the bus driver, who started losing sleep over the way Big John was taking advantage of him. Finally he could stand it no longer. He signed up for body building courses, karate, judo, and all that good stuff.

By the end of the summer, he had become quite strong; what's more, he felt really good about himself. So on the next Monday, when Big John once again got on the bus and said, "Big John doesn't pay!"

The driver stood up, glared back at the passenger, and screamed, "And why not?"

With a surprised look on his face, Big John replied, "Big John has a bus pass"

Management Lesson:

"Be sure there is a problem in the first place before working hard to solve one."

  Right communication , right  at the begining would have saved a lot of stress & hard work for the driver.

A story about 'Out of Box' thinking that is used in training modules

Many years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender who was exceedingly cunning and vindictive. The Moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful Daughter. So he proposed a bargain. He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the Proposal.

So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let Providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black Pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.

1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.

2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.

3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into Jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As

they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two Black pebbles and put them into the bag.

He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.

What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?

Logical analysis would produce three possibilities:

1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.

2. The girl should   tell what she had seen.

3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.

Take a moment to ponder over the story.

The above story is used to make us appreciate the difference between Lateral and Logical thinking.

The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with Traditional logical thinking.

Think of the consequences if she chooses the above mentioned logical answers (keeping in mind the nature of the moneylender).

Well, here is what she did .

The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without

looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.

"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the Bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked."

Since the remaining pebble is black, it had to be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an advantageous one.

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we need to change the way we think.

———————————————————————————————————————– 

PS—-i have added the following comment by  a very respected  iland friend….it defines the concepts of lateral & logical thinking more clearly

keshav singhal said…	12:08 AM | 23/Aug/08 | |
.” .  logical thinking is based on logics and facts (mathematical solution). It is a vertical thinking. Lateral thinking means looking for wider solutions. Lateral thinking seeking to solve a problem by non-conventional, apparently illogical means. Lateral thinking is a process and willingness to look at things in a different way. Lateral thinking is a new type of thinking that complements analytical and critical thinking. Lateral thinking is a creative problem solving tool that helps create new ideas, new products, new processes and new services. Lateral thinking is not a substitute for vertical thinking. Both are required ' they are complementary: lateral thinking is generative, vertical thinking is selective. ….. “

Two guys were hiking through the jungle when they spotted a tiger that looked both hungry and fast. One of the guys reached into his pack and  
pulled out a pair of Nike. 
 
His friend looked at him “Do you really think those shoes are going to make  
you run faster than that tiger?” 
 

I don’t have to run faster than that tiger, his friend replied. “I just  
have to run faster than you”. 
 
Welcome to the corporate world!!

Another shaam office ke naam . As  late as 5.15 P.M . big boss sent us word that HRD had to stay back as  the President (mktg) & President (operations) & their  core team (chamchas???)are coming to discuss some training modules  they xpct us to conduct , as 1st qr results haven’t been upto xpectations. Arrey Baba, mkt down hain…kaun kya  kar sakta…  Gleefully we noticed that even big boss didnt seem pleased…(yipee!!! we r not the only ones to suffer) . Anyways for entertainment sake, a collegue  sent this following mail to all of us (xpt big boss…he is THE boss even when dissatisfied).This is how the  notice should read —————–

In order to assure the highest levels of quality work and productivity from employees, it will be our policy to keep all employees well trained through our program of Special High Intensity Training (S.H.I.T). We are trying to give our employees more S.H.I.T than anyone else.

If you feel that you do not receive your share of S.H.I.T on the job, please see your manager. You will be immediately placed at the top of the S.H.I.T list, and our managers are especially skilled at seeing that you get all the S.H.I.T you can handle.

Employees who are unable to take make it to this program will be placed in Departmental Employee Evaluation Programs for  Special High Intensity Training (D.E.E.P S.H.I.T) Those who fail to take D.E.E.P S.H.I.T seriously will have to go to Employee Attitude Training Special High Intensity Training (E.A.T S.H.I.T).

Since our managers took S.H.I.T before they were promoted, they do not have to take S.H.I.T anymore, as they are all full of S.H.I.T already.

If you are full of S.H.I.T, you may be interested in a job training others. We can add your name to our Basic Understanding Lecture List for Special High Intensity Training (B.U.L.L S.H.I.T) Those who are full of B.U.L.L S.H.I.T will get the S.H.I.T jobs, and can apply for promotion to Director of Intensity Programming ,Special High Intensity Training (D.I.P S.H.I.T)

If you have further questions, please direct them to our Head Of Training, Special High Intensity Training (H.O.T S.H.I.T)

Thank you,


Boss in General,Special High Intensity Training
(B.I.G S.H.I.T)

Yesterday was a very hectic day at office & we had to stay back till very late. There was some absenteeism & workload was heavy.  As we discussed a lot of things suddenly some old memories of my PGDM days cropped up. During or classes (Pers Mgmt & Ind Rel  ) this was a mantra for appraisal taught to us ,esp when regarding promotions.  I reproduce 2 quotes below(THESE ARE NOT MY SAYINGS/WRITINGS etc. I AM JUST COPYING & PASTING WHAT I’VE BEEN TAUGHT …even i donno the original writer’s names) Here they go: