How to apply learning of work place at home?

It was really a hilarious moment for me when the episodic of the tussle between my wife and the maid continued into the second day today. My wife had called me to check if there was any adverse reaction from the maid after she left for work this morning.
For the month of November, our maid had broken free for about 10 days without information.  It is a different matter that maids want to keep things a secret despite the 'malkin' thinking the maid is much more than a sister.
Quite disturbed at her behaviour and as per the arrangement of deducting pay , the maid was handed about Rs. 300 less - after a prolonged discussion of adjusting for her compensatory leaves, inflation, extra concern she showed for our vases and show pieces etc. Somehow this 'account' was very upset and kept displaying her annoyance.

My wife is working in the debt restructuring cell of an institution and almost every day involved in stretching the loan period pf clients in the hope of recovering someday.  How well she does her job at office is matter of concern for her bosses. But surely she pulled a good one on the maid today.

The loan repayment of Rs. 1000 the maid was doing  was reduced to Rs. 500 this month and the deduction due to absence was also considered along with an extension of the term of the repayment. The poor client( aka maid) saw eventually she has got about Rs.200 more than what she would have had Rs. 1000 been cut with the loan extension by another month.


Well Well! You sure can take life's experiences into work place or vice versa.

Picture this - Part 3. Is this Mumbai?

Despite all  the 7 wonders idea for Mumbai that several people  voted for, one thing that stands out in my mind is Kanheri caves. I don't know the exact reason why it did not figure. Whatever it be, you have to see this to believe the magnificence of the Kanheri caves.

Located in my backyard buried in the SG national Park, the various caves date between several years into BC and the newest , I recollect is first Century AD. Predominantly Buddhist, it is a climb worth any day but mostly when it rains.  

One question that will ring in your throughout the trip: " Is this Mumbai too?"

Yes. It is. Surely

Picture this! - Part 2

This week I want to take you through two stunning locations, one that most would have known and read about the other which is a replica of the original but is not as well known.

I had the opportunity to visit the replica first and at a time when the rain gods would spare none. It was pouring, blindingly lashing and mighty slippery. Still, whats life without a few thrills and some challenge.
The place of the replica of Bahubali is Karkala, about 60 odd km from Udipi. The idol is taller than Shravanabelagula except that it is mounted on a pedestal. The view is all consuming and to watch water slide over the idol is indescribable. I could only use the camera phone limitedly as the rains would not allow me stand still.

This is Karkala.

Watch this slide show.

And this is Shravanabelagola!!

Located about 45 mins from Hassan and the original place of Bahubali.  Stunning  and overpowering are two words which come to my mind when standing there. The attention to detail on the sculpting is noteworthy .. So real, so humanlike .

And taller than Karkala idol (without the pedestal by about 6 ft)


Let me know how u liked it. Pl do share with your friends and contacts. If not these  pics, at least the idea of exploring our own country.

Happy watching..

Picture this! - Part 1

Welcome back!

 I have had the luck to be in some super destinations over the past so many years. In an attempt to share it with my readers, I am trying a movie/slideshow route this time.

In my new 6 part series - Picture this! I would be showcasing/ Sharing some of the destination very few would  have visited  or viewed from the point of view I did.

In this episode I will take you to a fort called Chitradurga - as picturesque as the name sounds. On the Bangalore - Mumbai Highway about 200 kms  from Bangalore, its worth a visit..

Enjoy the trip!


** Do send me ur feedback.. Especially if u r not able to view this.
*** All pics shot on a Micromax Q7 ezpad...
**** If u need any of these pics for ur own use, do let me know,, Can send u the same.

Teachers taught.

Globally teachers' day is celebrated on Oct 5, while independent countries have their own set of dates just like we in India have September 5  as the dedicated day. I had all along  in my school, taken it as an opportunity for a holiday or to please my teachers with a smile and a wish, I mostly forgot about this courtesy in college. It was while in various jobs that I realised the need to thank the many who taught me , through formal education and those through matter of fact informal education.

My many sincere thanks to the academicians. and to the many other who taught me several good things in life.

In all, academic  inadequacies were brought out  in several walks of my personal and professional life. Two things stand out where despite all the best efforts and qualifications of the  teachers, they have not been able to elevate the students.

1.  Horses for courses: There was never an attempt to understand the learning nature of the students in order to teach them the subject. It was always a standard approach and routine and hardly an attempt to understand the students. Let me explain why.
 Children learn through Auditory measures, visual measures and through kinesthetic measures. A standard approach to all students in teaching methods will not work. A basic screening of the inclination of the students  would have done wonders to many of my friends and later me too .We  were classified as duds who have reached the peak of their learning curves. Attention was reduced to the many who were pleading to be taught differently.
It is true that experience comes after knowledge. That is what most of us have learnt  or at least taught. However, there are several times in our life that we experience something and then start exploring why we it happened. We do before we understand. Students with a kinesthetic sense of learning fall a lot in this category because they are "doers".  Similarly Visual learners always need an image. While Blackboards and charts help there is a certain image of things that students need to create in their minds.

Did my teachers really understand my friends and classmates to teach us the way we can excel? The answer could lie in their approach to teaching. Just as we have preferences for learning the teachers needed to equip themselves with the skills of understanding the students and imparting knowledge through the appropriate method. Unfortunately this was missing.


2. Ettu Surakka kootukku Udavadhu: This is a saying which means " Bookish knowledge wont help in practical life". How true!  My recent experiences with academicians and research scholars to impart us several  practices  has resulted in many a disaster. Their lab/ experimental and test condition methods do not work on field. Real life practicalities do not apply to bookish transfer of knowledge. The difference in the  results of the lab vis a vis on field is drastic.  While the foundation of what is preached is acceptable, the metrics of the lab situations cannot work for the formulation of a business.

I have always wondered what it would take for academicians to understand industry and actually work there practically . This will definitely bridge the gap between what they counsel and what happens on field.

I am not giving any scope for those who have the experience of  education - industry alliances. Several companies do so. But what I am speaking about is real life sustenance with lab results, especially where mass production agriculture etc are concerned.


Ponder over this: There are many schools emerging with several teaching techniques.  But please, can someone tell me who has assessed what the right style of learning  for the student is. Has anyone been given a note at the time of admission in those great learning schools of today as to what category your child falls under and what they school will do or what u as parents need to do at home?  It is always a postmortem of things with numerous deficiencies being cited. Are teachers and counsellors  -  doctors to judge biological deficiencies of our children and classify them as learning "disabled"? No. Let the qualified doctor do that. There are enough and more techniques today to assess what your ward wants. Let there be a system or a school or teachers who are willing to learn those so that their students can learn.

It is high time they did and practiced on their students too. After all what the student becomes in future is also a  reflection of who his teacher was,

Learn and Let Learn

I have often started some oratory sessions with this story. least did I realise it would pave the way for what could be a business transformation to  our future.

Years ago in this village was a wise man named Mullah Moinuddin. It was an event for many  villagers to listen to him deliver wise words. It was the turn of one of the more populated village. Some key men went to the Mullah and invited him for a sunday lecture. Mullah agreed and promptly landed in the village - a large gathering indeed. After the initial courtesies, the Mullah asked." Does any of you know what I am going to speak about?". The Villagers were silenced at the question, slowly everyone said, " No Sir, we do not know". The Mullah, said," In that case there is no point for me to speak to you all, as you don't know anything", packed and left. The village was stunned to silence.

 Slowly they all recovered and approached the Mullah and persuaded him  to visit them again.  Mullah agreed and promptly landed in the village the following Sunday- a large gathering again. After the initial courtesies, the Mullah asked." Does any of you know what I am going to speak about?". The Villagers smiled at each other at the question, then everyone said, " Yes Sir, we do know". The Mullah, said," In that case there is no point for me to speak to you all, as you already know", packed and left. The village was stunned to silence. 

Slowly they all recovered and approached the Mullah  and persuaded him to visit them again. The  Mullah agreed after much reluctance and landed in the village the following Sunday- a large gathering again. After the initial courtesies, the Mullah asked." Does any of you know what I am going to speak about?". The Villagers smiled at each other at the question, but one half of them  said, " Yes Sir, we do know".  The other half said, " No Sir, We do not know". The Mullah, gently smiled at the villagers and said," In that case, those who know please tell those who do not". Thus  packed and left. 

Many a time we have encountered such attitudes in our college days and more so in our respective organisations.. A few know  and several who dont. It has lead us to situations where business decisions are based on little knowledge  for either want of information or our reluctance to approach those who know. What Mullah Moinuddin did surely brings the irony of matters to perspective and also provides a very humourous  moment. 

Most importantly, it has led to a key message of "Collaborative Learning". In a public domain we may have a wikipedia. However, what is today's requirement is a collaborative organisational learning environment.   

How would it benefit?

A culture of management and people which will assist in decision making, share knowledge, make us grow in experience and ensure transparency, colleagues  who will never hold the company to ransom, no more going  to a few individuals who are the so called "information power centres" , no more worrying that knowledge walks out with the people who exit, no more long recovery time upon employee exists, lots of multi disciplinary idea contribution, synergistic new product innovations and a lot more flatter organisational structures, processes re-engineered , the transformation of silo-ed workers to knowledge workers..

Are you  ready to be knowledge worker?

Terms of Engagement!

Throughout my  corporate career, I was honoured to be associated with some great brands and good men. However, there were some mistakes which I did and have seen many other colleagues and industry mates commit too. Today I  want to give some pointers to readers on what to look for before your next big assignment.

1. Get your Job description  right: 

Make sure you are getting complete clarity on your job role , who your report to and how you are going to be  measured for your performance. Quite possibly you will be in an environment that will be  starting from scratch or having fairly informal HR setup. Push for the job description and understand what is to be delivered.  If the companies/ HR is not able to give this , give them time to come back on this . If they do not offer it in the time limit too, put a pin on that offer.

2. Get the right break up of your components: 

It is imperative that you get the salary components right.. Take it to a Chartered accountant and get help on a comparison of your current  pay package and benefits vs the new offer. Unless that difference is significant for you to change, put a pin on the offer.

3. Check for references:

Just as the company would check your reference, you need to get across to a few individuals to know/ learn about the company. In this connected  world, its easy to get to know such people and even easier to get advised. Safeguard yourself against internal policies . You may also look into Employer surveys/ great place to work rankings etc if they are  in public domain.

4. Know your age group:

It is imperative to know how many people are there in your age group in your cadre. You can be easily left out if you have to deal with varied age groups .. you are either going to do what others say or no one is gong to do what you say if  age class differences exist. You need to be fortunate to have a consensual decision making  group.

This can be found from Linkedin again where there is a bar graph of age vs designation for organisations.  Of course this is only for those members of the organisation who are in linkedin.  ( That itself  could say what the network culture of the organisation is.)

5. Look for Plans: 

Read a lot into the companies press releases/ annual reports.. Look for how much space they devote to products and services and their progress..  If you are likely to handle a P/L , be even more aware of this.

6. Who is in the Board ?

Look for what kind of profile sit in the board. If there are a variety of people then the chances of your CEO being advised right are high. For example,  If its a bunch of Chartered accountants, then forget this place.. There will be no product approach to anything here. Cost and Cash flows are the most that will figure in your agenda most often.

7. Never rush into joining:

Serve your full notice period and complete your assignment in your current place. If you leave things midway, there is every chance that your future employer will start interaction from day one with the opinion that you will get away some day- halfway.

I am in no way advising you to join without the money objective.  Pl make your shift for that alone if its your objective.  But make sure you land in a place which makes you happy.

BTW, these could be traits that you may find in your current organisation too. Discuss with the leaders and bring about a change where needed.

Happy Careers!

PS: I will be happy for you to share this  article with many of your friends and colleagues. Pl help them if the above are relevant.