Wednesday 17 December 2014

I Love My company!

Presently we are running
a learning program unique
participants include the blue collared
the white collared
the sandwiched supervisors as well..

Activities many, to empathise
 to appreciate the roles of others
remove from mind the feeling
" I , my cadre alone contributes
  all others have a ball"

An art piece completion
to which  each one contributes
painting  a small portion
and the sum parts make the picture
the final product
born out of team work!

A drum jam session finale
a musical session on drums
 and the truth hits you like a bolt
that discordant beats cause noise
while perfect unison creates music!

Aim of the program
to drive home the point
of everyone together-
"I love the company
 you love the company
 we all love our company!

Monday 15 December 2014

Interview-Author's Lounge

Dear Readers

I have been sharing the posts of all my three blogs ( www.hrdian.blogspot.in, www.corporatepoem.blogspot.in and www.rajeevianlinesandverses.blogspot.in) in "rate my literature.com"(RML) , a site devoted to featuring the writing of amateurs.

Ms Padmaja Iyengar (who along with her son Etentacles administers the site,) interviewed me for her monthly feature"Author's Lounge which traces the writing journey of various writers who regularly contribute to RML.With her permission, I am sharing the link for your perusal..

http://www.ratemyliterature.com/magazine/read/authors-lounge--in-conversation-with-paddy--mn-rajeev-aka-rajeev_5586.html  (Presently the site is down for maintenance)  



Authors’ Lounge – In conversation with Paddy – M.N. Rajeev a.k.a. Rajeev Moothedath

 M.N. Rajeev (a.k.a. Rajeev Moothedath) is one of those rare persons who straddles a high profile corporate career and his passion for writing with equal ease. It is not every day that you see a busy corporate professional making time to read and appreciate amateur writers. Well, Rajeev does that and how well too! He reads all the blogs on RML and posts his well-considered feedback.

Rajeev deftly manages to write sensitive poetry and interesting HR-based articles with equal dexterity. His presentation of highly complex HR issues in simple terms that is understood even by a layman, speaks volumes of his writing and presentation skills. While in corporate parlance HRM refers to Human Resource Management, according to me, Rajeev is a double HRM specialist – Human Resource Management and Human Relations Management, concepts of which come across so well in his writes. Rajeev’s documentation skills too are noteworthy. He has shared on RML the details of many a corporate program that he has attended, of which he had apparently maintained meticulous notes to be recalled and presented as articles of great value to the reader.
                                                                                               
It would interest you all to know that he holds a key position in a leading automobile MNC in Chennai and is also a member of the Chennai Poets’ Circle.

Come, let’s discover together other facets of Rajeev’s career and personality!


1.  1  Hi Rajeev! Greetings from RML! And a warm welcome to the Authors’ Lounge! Please share something of your background and early life with us.

 Greetings to you Paddy and the RML fraternity .It is indeed a pleasure and privilege to be interviewed by you and to be featured in Authors’ Lounge.

 I was born in Ernakulam, Kerala and had my schooling in Kendriya vidyalaya Ernakulam. I feel it is my school that shaped my personality to a great extent as there was a lot of focus on co-curricular activities and not just on studies. This gave me the opportunity to participate in essay writing, debates, singing and acting in dramas. We were encouraged to read news during the morning assembly. We also had a good library from where we could borrow books and read magazines & journals.

Those days we were required to choose electives of study right from high school. I chose Economics, history & English Literature. This meant being exposed to Shakespeare’s Julius Ceaser, Thomas Hardy’s novel “Far from the madding crowd” and also to poetry of poets like Shelley, Keats, Thomas Gray, Alfred Lord Tennyson and others.

After schooling, I did graduation in economics and post-graduation in social work with specialization in personnel management (as HR was then called) from the reputed Madras School of social work. This opened the door to the corporate world and I joined as a management trainee in Visvesvaraya Iron & steel Ltd Bhadravati, Karnataka.  Later, I got LLB degree from Mysore University. Since then I have been working in the HR function in both the public & private sector companies. Presently I am the HOD of learning & development (training) department in an auto major MNC operating out of Chennai.


2.  2  Wow! a great start in life and an upwardly mobile professional career! Amidst all this, when and how did the writing bug bite you?


It is an interesting question. In view of the creative climate at school, I started writing when I was around twelve years. The first poem was shown to the class teacher who had edited it so much that it only vaguely resembled what I had originally written! Later when I was in class X, I send a poem to Indian Express. Those days we did not have separate children’s corner in newspapers. I received a regret reply stating that my writing showed promise but that I need to keep on writing to improve. Although, no publishing happened, I continued to write in a note book which I called “A book of hobby” that now included short stories as well .Our school had a competition for bringing out manuscript class magazines every year to which I regularly contributed. Later I contributed to the college magazines.

After starting work, the “Book of hobby had less and less entries. A poem would come on first wedding anniversary and another at the time of the birth of first child. The priorities had shifted unconsciously. During this period all writing skills were limited to office correspondence for which there was fair scope as I was then working in public sector.

Sometime around the year 2000, I developed an interest in writing articles on the corporate life, its priorities and challenges. Some of them were published in the management section- Avenues’ of the Deccan Herald,    leading newspaper from Bangalore. National Institute of Personnel Management, Mysore Chapter also published my articles in their annual magazines.

It was in September 2012 that I decided to write a blog on HR matters. After I had written a few posts, someone suggested that I make it available on Indi blogger for better readership. This proved true But more importantly, it exposed me to creative writing in the form of poetry, short stories etc which prompted me to resume poetry writing and start a separate blog for nonprofessional writing, touching on  general subjects. I also started a blog exclusively for corporate poems. Later another noble soul introduced me to RML and the warmth I received here was an inspiration to keep writing. Today, if I have been able to post more than 90 blogs it is on account of encouraging readers.
  
3.  3  That’s interesting! What is the difference you find when you write a profession-related piece and a literary piece like poetry? And which according to you is more difficult?

The spark is the same whether I am writing a professional article or creative poetry. It is just that a lot more time needs to be spent on the article as it tends to be longer. For me, a quicker output is possible when writing poetry. But the satisfaction one derives on completing either of the forms is the same.

4.    4 Here on RML, we have had the privilege of reading a good number of your professional HR based articles. Do you believe that the principles you speak of, can be applied to our day to day life too? If so how?

You may have noticed that most of my articles are related to the basic human nature like practicing core values, power of appreciation, civility in behaviour and power of storytelling to drive home a point. These can be applied with benefit as much in our personal lives as in a professional environment. As for example expressing appreciation & thanks to your wife for her wonderful cooking would make her happy as would an appreciated employee for work well done.

Disclosing more about yourself & seeking feedback from others (Johari window) will enhance trust whether at home or at work.

5   5  I for one know that you are a very committed and passionate corporate trainer. What motivated you to take up training? And how did you hone your training skills?

In the initial stage of my career I had the good fortune of being selected for a “Train the trainer” program. 21 of us got trained and were expected to train the remaining 520 executives of the company. This assignment was in addition to our regular work. I found myself enjoying this activity. Later, I volunteered for similar OD initiatives. One’s skill, confidence and comfort levels tend to go up over a period of time. I also got the opportunity to see many trainers at close quarters and appreciate the varying styles & its impact on the participants


6   6 How do you manage to divide time between your family, profession and writing? How do you prioritize?

Today, the children having grown up (both sons are working), do not demand much time. On the contrary, we have to demand time from them which they may prefer to spend with peers & friends!

Writing is mostly done in a few lines or para when I get the time & inspiration. When it adds up to a whole article, I publish in the blog/RML.
As ideas come to mind, I note them down in a small book to be developed later.

7   7  Do you read a lot? What kind of writing appeals to you? Who are your favourite writers?

I used to read a lot more than what I am doing presently. The interest & taste in the nature of books have also changed over the years. Enid Blyton books as a child, then P.G.Wodehouse, James Hadley Chase Erle Stanley Gardner (Perry Mason), Agatha Christie and Harold Robins. Over a period, the interest in fiction dwindled and I got drawn to books of Dale Carnegie, Norman Vincent Peale, Deepak Chopra, Wayne  Dyer, Brian Weiss(Many Lives, many masters), Louise Hay(You can heal your life),Dr Bernie Siegel(Love, Medicine, Miracles), Anita Moorjani(Dying to be me)  and James Redfield (Celestine Prophesy).

Simultaneously the books of management authors like Moid Siddiqui, Edward de Bono, Spencer Johnson, Dr Marshall Goldsmith. Kennath.H.Blanchard and others also interested me. I also read books on spirituality (Eckhart Tolle- Power of Now, Publications of Osho / Ramakrishna mission/ Ramana Maharshi/Brahmakumaris)

  8. What is your message to all the young writers out there, who are passionate about writing, but are caught up in their professional preoccupations and family pressures and commitments?


I only have a simple message for all the bright, talented youngsters who have an interest & flair for writing and are also working. Do not let what happened to me, happen to you.The profession should not put a break to your creative pursuits. Keep writing a few lines every day and before you know it, you would have a substantial body of work in writing over the years. The wonderful internet is today available to you. Therefore publishing & readership is not a problem. So make the most of it!


Thursday 11 December 2014

Proof of the Pudding

In the field of training
unique selling points
have changed with time..

Sheer oratory skills
held the audience
in the early years
more of one way communication
with little of two way interaction

Then the changes..
from white chalks & black boards
to white boards & marker pens
then came overhead projectors
to project written transparencies

with time came LCDs & DLPs
and power point presentations!

During all these stages
trainer with the current props
pooh poohed the older ones
claimed & proclaimed themselves
the most modern, the best!

Games, activities, exercises
experiential, goes the current fad
'Not a single slide ppt"
is a proud claim
how long will this last
to be replaced by another one?

Oh,what does it matter
what props you use?
have you reached out
to your participants-
stirred their insides?

created the sparks, modifications
in knowledge, skill, attitude?
after all, the proof of the pudding
is not in the ingriedients many
the proof of the pudding
is in the eating!
 

Friday 5 December 2014

Empathy at Work

Empathy often discussed
as good quality for effective living
yet its power,impact on the job
often overlooked, unappreciated
to some unaware,unknown..

In its absence
you don't listen
when others speak
you don't care
for their concerns, difficulties
no support offered
to alleviate their fears

The signal you give
is that I don't
care what you do
skip.hop or jump
just get me the results
the results I want!

With a little bit of empathy,
understanding and support
without pressure
without threats
without strict monitoring
the unwilling turn willing
and the willing start flying
surpassing goals...
surpassing all expectations!

Tuesday 11 November 2014

Professional Conclaves

Could be one or two day exercises
lot of it could be jargons & gibberish
lot of it preachy
could make you sleepy!

yet, never mind that
through the long winding maze
you could still strike luck
find in between something meaningful
useful for practical application..

Oh why can't professionals
share live experiences
of what they did
of what worked and what did not

Conferences,seminars, conclaves
would then be more useful
more meaningful
you could then  get value
of 80, 85, 90 percent
and not just 20 percent
and many yawns
out of them....

 

Thursday 30 October 2014

Replication

When I am with friends
of school, college days
I can simply relax-speak without thinking

No worries of talking sense
only sense,nothing but sense
no worries of being called silly
stupid or incompetent
when amongst them ideas come/ came
freely, spontaneously, effortlessly

yet, today I sit in a task force team(TFT)
to come up with ideas
within a deadline
for shop floor probs

But  ideas aren't coming..
and I feel constrained
typical worries, apprehensions
cloud my mind..

If only I could replicate
the mood among friends
to the mood in the TFT
ideas I am sure will flow
smooth as a river

Ah,once again
the dreamy me , flying me
need to be pulled back
brought down to earth
to the realities of
firms,corporates & organizations!

Monday 25 August 2014

Repercussion

We don't realize
the impact of what we do

when we are busy
and team members make gestures
to catch our attention
knowingly or unknowingly
we do not pay attention-
once, twice, too many times...

 We pay attention
only if the member is
from what we deem as "Core" area
meaning those with the urgent or
fire fighting requirements

The important but not urgent
tend to be ignored
so production will always
get priority over design engineering
industrial relations always
over learning & development

The team members
on the other hand
do not have mind reading abilities
they wonder as to the reason
for the boss's indifference

Is it because he is that busy?
or because he is unhappy with my work?
He doesn't like me as a person?
because we don't share the same religious affinities?

Once the demon of doubt enters
employee loses self confidence
he or she loses self esteem
we had no intention to create this effect
yet, by our indifference,insensitivity
we have contributed unwittingly
to turning a giant
in to a pygmy
and sometimes in turning
an employee to a former employee!

Tuesday 12 August 2014

Honour

Promotions, awards, felicitation
at the work place
seemed next to nothing
when the time it came
to go home...

Spouse, loved ones
had time only
for a cursory glance
not even for a word
they just did not seem
to care.. or where they
preoccupied with their own things...

Oh what use is appreciation & honour
from the whole world
if there is no acknowledgement
from the people who matter
at home?

Monday 30 June 2014

Nostalgia. and Pain

Big spacious, our own car
with  'hindustan' in its company name
Sturdy, strong  capable
of packing in an entire
joint family in its fold!

Many Indians remember it
as the first car in which
they ever travelled
the car for the Indian conditions..
the Ambassador car!
Many memories, most of them very old
associated with this car..

Yet in the recent memory
hardly a place, in the mind & heart
having lost ground
to new, smart, agile players
ever since the loss of monopoly status...

we finally saw on  24th May,
the last car roll out
of the  Kolkata plant
The factory will never again
reverberate with the sounds
of the men and machines
no more sirens or transport plying
to and from the auto town...

yet, was this so sudden,unexpected?
nay,the writing was very much on the wall
sickness & death was inevitable
given the complacency that had set in...

while the whole world
was making  steady progress
no changes,improvements attempted
by the Ambassador
content with just changing numbers
mark 2, mark 3,  mark 4
with no marked improvement
in quality or service!

Is there a learning here
for all of us- in all organizations ..
Whether manufacturing  or service?
to be on the toes to delight customers
for if he disappears, so do you!

Let us then  keep  complacency at bay
constantly serve, improve & innovate
to please the customer, the king
for whom & by whom
we all exist!

Saturday 14 June 2014

Hybrid Learning song

Dear Readers I had already published the learning song written by me.In this biog. However, in another blog, "Is Winning everything?" (www.hrdian.blogspot.in)  I had mentioned that a hybrid song was created by adding to my English song Tamil lines created by my team member Balachandran which our Learning & development team sang during the Foundations day celebrations,Khushboo Motihar & Niranjana Tamizharasan urged me to publish the hybrid version..This hybrid version  is dedicated to them... ,
English translation for the Tamil lines is given in bracket.

Learning... Its Learning that keeps you going
in good times...   hard times....    any time!
learning... Its learning that keeps you going
in good times...   hard times.... any time!

I feel so wonderful-  I feel so great..
I feel so confident..
with changes, in knowledge..
with changes, in skills..
with changes, in attitude....  ( Learning.. 1st stanza )

கற்றல் என்பது கலை ஆகும் ( learning is an art)
காலம் கடக்கும் செயலாகும் (It's an action that helps you cross the bridge of time)

Learning,  helps me at work
Learning,  helps me at home
Its learning that sustains me 
for years, for years and years  ( Learning.. 1st stanza )

ஆற்றல் என்றும் அழிவதில்லை ( learning is never destroyed)
கல்வி என்றும் மறைவதில்லை  ( education never lost behind.. ..anything)

Come, let us learn & grow
come let us wear the shield
of learning that sustains ..
at all times...

மாற்றம் மாறா உலகினிலே (in a world of constant change..)
 ஏற்றம் தருவது கல்வி ஒன்றே  ( learning alone.. gives a rise)

Learning... Its Learning that keeps you going
in good times...   hard times.... any time!
learning... Its learning that keeps you going
in good times...   hard times.... any time!

கட்றோம்! கற்ப்போம்! கற்ப்பிப்போம்! (We learnt, We will teach,we will get others to teach) 
பயிற்சியால் வாழ்வில் உயர்ந்திடுவோம்! (will move up in life thru learning)
உயர்ந்திடுவோம்! ( will move up!)   -   any   time...
உயர்ந்திடுவோம்! ( will move up!)   -   any time...
உயர்ந்திடுவோம்! ( will move up!)- any time..



Monday 26 May 2014

Action Speaks Louder than words

Action speaks louder than words
whether at home
or in office
action speaks louder than words...

A father preaching truth
but practicing falsehood
can never get his child
to be truthful...

a boss praising team work
but rewarding individual work
can never get his group
working as a team

Preaching core values
seldom practicing
is so much more frustrating
than an absence of  sweet talk

Its like waking
a sleeping man
and telling him
there's no food tonight!
yes, any time action speaks
louder than words...

Wednesday 30 April 2014

Learning Song

Learning... Its Learning that keeps you going
in good times...   hard times....    any time!
learning... Its learning that keeps you going
in good times...   hard times.... any time!

I feel so wonderful-  I feel so great..
I feel so confident..
with changes, in knowledge..
with changes, in skills..
with changes, in attitude....  ( Learning.. 1st stanza )

Learning,  helps me at work
Learning,  helps me at home
Its learning that sustains me
for years, for years and years  ( Learning.. 1st stanza )

Come, let us learn & grow
come let us wear the shield
of learning that sustains ..
at all times...

Learning... Its Learning that keeps you going
in good times...   hard times.... any time!
learning... Its learning that keeps you going
in good times...   hard times.... any time!
any time... any time.. any time....

Thursday 27 March 2014

How My Sessions Begin

In my role as a facilitator
no matter what the topic of the training
I ask people
during the icebreak introductions -
as to what are the  activities
that make them happy

For many it is watching or playing cricket
 Music is another favourite
for some it is travel
for others visit to their  native place

Meeting up with friends
going on a hike
reading books-playing with kids
visit to the Gym- cooking
the list can be varied and endless

I then ask them  how
frequently do they indulge in these things
that give them happiness?

Often times we know
that pressing a particular switch
will light up a lamp
that we desire & love-   yet
we give many reasons or excuses
why we are unable to put on that switch of happiness

Too busy, too tired, no support...
many & varied are the reasons that pop up
yet.they deny us happiness
which is our natural birthright

We would be better leaders, better communicators, better motivators
why, we would be better husbands & wives
better fathers & mothers to our children
better sons & daughters to our parents
if basically we were happy

I exhort my participants
to engage in more & more
activities that make them happy
This opens the windows
for effectively playing any role
be it at work or at home!

Friday 28 February 2014

Challenge

Yesterday, I was in the valediction
 of a training program
all the participants were charged up
they were all praise for the trainer

Many scenes similar have I seen
over the years- excitement on the last day
but back to business as usual
on returning to work

people climb mountains together
do tough outbound activities together
help each other complete
support each other to win
in an outbound activity....
yet the same help & support
 disappears on returning to work

The challenge is-has been 
to sustain the same excitement
desire for change
transport the impact from the fun filled training scene
to the serious work scene

For this to happen
should the work scene become less serious
and the training scene a little less funfilled?
the debate , the groping in the dark continues
for ways to meet this challenge!

Thursday 30 January 2014

Question-Answer

Are you frustrated-fed up?
quipped a reader
so much of critique
in your poems on corporates....

No, no I protest
can you give up on your family
just because everything
isn't perfect?

yet, you don't pretend
that everything is fine
give smiles that do not
reach your eyes
and sweep everything
under the carpet

you point out flaws
so improvement happens -yes,
you don't give up on families
nor do you give up
on the source of your bread

you don't give up on a source
which can still be a haven in a hapless world
providing possibilities
for fulfilling your aspirations!