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!

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?

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!

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..

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...

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....

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!