Sad Story of 'Training'

'Training' or 'Learning & development'
whatever you may like to call it
is still not understood
or valued by most corporates

It's yet to be seen
as an intervention
that can make a difference

Some still see it
as a distraction, a reward
to employees for hard work
at an exquisite  resort...

While others see it
as something to be picked up
and doled out
as from the menu of a cafeteria...

"Last time we had Dosa
do you have Pizza
or something new & exotic
on the menu?"

Learning is not seen as it should
from the perspective of a felt need
"I have a stomach upset
and it's Idli that I want
if you don't have it
or can't deliver me that
I'm going elsewhere!"

In the absence of
a true understanding & awareness
the benefits of a great discipline
is lost, under valued
or under utilised...

This then is the sad story of 'Training'....

Back to the Basics

An amusing story
shared on Linked in pulse
set me thinking...
it related instance of a company's HR
winning "Best HR practices" award

But when a newspaper report
was brought to his notice
a senior executive of company
feigned ignorance

"In our company" he stated
"HR is invisible."

How do people win awards
when their presence not felt
in their own company?
isn't time long overdue
for HR to go back to the basics?

Start relating to the employees
and other internal customers
meet their real  needs by simply
acknowledging & addressing
instead of hankering after awards
that mean nothing
on the ground... 

Physically present- Mentally Absent

It happened to me, just  yesterday
happens every other day
on almost all occasions
even during serious professional discussions...

Yesterday, as is my wont
I was taking notes at a professional meeting
on an interesting topic of transforming
an ancient, process oriented  huge company
to be more flexible, agile and responsive
to the changed times and business scenario

In short the challenges of teaching
an elephant to dance...

The guy seated next to me
 was glued to his mobile
continuously typing messages
his indifference and the frequent hand movements
distracting me from my main purpose

Giving vent to my annoyance, talking to him
could result in my missing
key points in the discussion
so I continued focused on my basic purpose
 desperately trying to ignore his antics

Had I spoken  to him though
I would have asked
"Hey why drive down this far
to fiddle with your mobile
you could have saved petrol
and driving time
accomplishing task at home!"

Campus to Corporate

One of my happiest moments
is when I am in a class room
facilitating training sessions....
The cup gets full and overflowing
when the participants are young
active, full of zest and enthusiasm!

Such an occasion it was
on the first of March, doing a program

for the graduate engineering trainees
of a Brazilian multi national
moving from the college campus
to the corporate world!


We discussed the cultural shock
that youngster's face
with changes in expectations
the challenges and priorities
in the real world out there!

Building rapport with everyone
the boss, peers and the juniors
who in fact, could be in age seniors!

Tips on communication
managing stress
keeping self esteem levels high
positive thinking at all times
and finally, rounding it off with mind programming!

Facilitation of such lively programs
are its own reward
yet positive, enthusing feedback during the breaks
soon after the program
and over the telephone from HR
days after the program....
is simply exhilarating, memorable

 It's like the icing on the cake!

Ps: The 'Çup' referred to in the first stanza is to the 'cup of joy'

Ownership

We all know
there is no parallel
for employees who interact
and work as if they are the owners

Managements therefore underscore
during speeches and in corporate communications
the importance of ownership

 Yet treat them as 'mere'employees
in day to day situations
on the little  occasions
that matter a lot...

not trusting, ignoring suggestions
closely monitoring the  'unreliable' employees
and generally putting them in their place
reminding often as to who the real boss is!

As action speaks louder than words
the overriding message  being very clear
it's no wonder that 
people stick to doing
this mucn and no more!

Business Reality

At a HR conference that I attended
the practitioners spoke like professors
the professor on the other hand
was down to earth
and summed up the
business reality simply and  beautifully

In the initial years, during infancy
the sole purpose of business was seen as
to make money, save money. reduce risks
to protect the interests of the owner or share holder

Later the focus turned
to customer and customer delight
he was held 'King'
for if he doesn't buy
there's no business!

In the next phase focus
was on the employees
for if employees aren't happy
they wouldn't produce
the best they can

Now the focus has shifted
to the society around your industry
with the buzz word being 'Sustainability'
protecting the interests of society
and the environment

It's not one over the other
all the four along with the suppliers
are equally important

concluded the professor

Wise words, simple yet profound words
that corporates would do well
to imbibe and follow
for a long time growth
a balanced growth!

Right Vs Right Dilemma

HR conclave at a premium institution

Speakers from prominent corporates

One of them spoke

about the dilemma of choosing

between Right and Right….

She then gave an example

of a real life situation

an incident from her own company

The hero was highly accomplished

an IIT pass out

with proven track record

An epitome of success

he was poised to sign

on behalf of company

a multi-million deal

Then, in a weak moment

he casually remarked

that he had got in to IIT

attending coaching classes

and that in fact

he hadn’t passed SSLC.

Walls they say, have ears

someone made a formal complaint

and then the dilemma began for HR & the management

That the hero hadn’t passed SSLC

and concealed the fact to move ahead, wasn’t right

Yet, he was good enough to pass from IIT

and contributing effectively thus far

now, after so many years going after him

Wasn’t right either?

This was the dilemma, concluded the speaker

To my mind it was not about Right Vs Right

It was clearly between right and wrong

“It all depend on your core values!”

Shouted I from the audience

the words had escaped my lips

Involuntarily, beyond my control….

The story made clear one thing

that there are no dilemmas

many of them so called are created

by admin themselves from their own

Inconsistencies and lack of clarity!


PS:     IIT refers to the Indian institute of technology, a premier institute in India.