Managing Expectations

As a professional in HR services, i found that its very important to observe, analyze and understand the environment. If one needs to make impact and introduce change management, one has to have ability to manage expectations. Here is a case to understand this.

A batch of 43 students gets admitted to one of the prestigious institution for HR after rigorous admission procedure.Interesting thing is this, that this time the institute takes students through CAT, which is a national level  entrance test. Seniors make these students to undergo an induction program. By the definition the Induction process 'orients' students and welcome them into newer environment. However the program fails on major grounds resulting in friction between sections from both groups i.e. senior and junior.

It will be useful if we understand situation from both the perspectives. First we describe senior batch initiative and the series of events. Sr.Batch presumes that the Jr.Batch would be much more talented and would be very high on participation, involvement and initiative level. They design assignments and activities which will continue for around 10 days from the first day of classes. These were written assignments, group activities and games, group presentations and selection for different committees which are responsible for Placements, Annual Convention, Student Development, Sports and Discipline. Sr.Batch has a sub group of enthusiastic, passionate and motivated people. They feel themselves responsible for making the new batch to understand the environment of the Institution so that they can face challenges of the place.

Junior Batch is different from Sr. Batch on many grounds. They have majority of female students and also have more representation from people with Work Experience. Since these students were preparing for CAT, their expectation from the Institute is very objective. Also since many of them already had appeared for other B School entrance procedures and many being Engineers, they have descent idea of what kind of attitude is required to make a cut into different kind of assessment activities. Moreover they are from different part of the country and majority of outstation candidates are from tier 2 cities. This lot has worked very hard to get into top 7 percentiles of entire country with roughly 2.5 lac of competition!
The gist is that this Batch is not expecting to get 'coached' by people (because of their limited understanding of an orientation program) with just one more year of exposure as compared to them in the course. Its very important to consider the point that this Batch at the back of their head already feels that they have proved themselves, at least in the initial one week at college.

With this context, Sr.Batch engages the Jr. Batch in the Induction program. The written assignment comes across to Jr. Batch as lengthy and mechanical. They enjoyed group games as they mixed among themselves. Most of the program was not known to Jr. Batch beforehand and they perceived it as unorganized and Sr. Batch said they want to keep the element of surprise. Many activities were successful and both the groups enjoyed it. One of the activity failed miserably when Jr. Batch was asked to solve a case study on HR and make presentation thereafter, the batch does it with a competitive spirit, imagining that this is somewhat pertinent. But when they tried to present they found the Sr. Batch to be not listening and mocking them on their attire and articulation. Sr. Batch later clarified the whole activity to be a learning activity and a stress interview. This very event came across as a nail on the coffin as this event gave rise to false judgments of each other and induced biases. The rift became very clear when it affected the selection process for committee roles.

What went wrong?

How could Induction be done differently to attain a positive outcome?
Is it necessary to resolve the Conflict?
What initiatives Jr. Batch must have taken to resolve the conflict?
Can attitude be changed through a training program?



 

travesty...

False representations can lead to wrong impressions which in turn can distort the basic understanding of the mind. I am thinking about this clear beach while i am sitting on my bed, thinking about what its going to be next.

What is it that i want?

What is it that i really want?

These are the right questions that must be asked.

Anyone who is or had been in love might have felt this supreme ability wonder in the spaces; those pigments of imagination which are a function of imagination of one self. I always believe that things or feelings can be learned only through experiencing them, that too at first hand. Unless one cant have Empathy. 

Empathy, really is the most important thing that we need to connect, to socialize.

The other day when i was watching ' the left foot', what i recall as the best scene enacted by Daniel Day Lewis was the one which Christy was invited to the paintings exhibition by Eileen and after the same they along with Peter, the fiancee of Eileen, which Christy later discovers in the party, were celebrating.

Christy, played by Lewis is a handicap and a talented painter. When Christy proposes Eileen in the party, she discloses her relationship with Peter. Knowing that Christy, revealed a plethora of melancholy in way which is so intense, so surreal and of the depth, which is highly affecting. 

The lines like ..

" Con.....Con( Christy also has problem in speaking)

Con.....

Con..gratulations"

The word Con is the right expression to what he felt. He was conned. Then later takes it quite nicely and becomes a successful artist.

My point here to describe this scene here is to point out the importance of Empathy.

As we all are individuals who are unique from the core, no matter how similar we try to become on the outside. Therefore in a subliminal activity like love, its only the empathy on which we rely on. The kind of lifestyle we have assumed for ourselves its very difficult for us to comply with other small things. 

When you travel and survey different people and their relationships. Their matter of communication, expression and involvement is a study of human behavior. And if its not rocket science, its not even less than that!

Now i have seen people, i have seen how beautifully they emerge out as bright colors out of complete chaos. Its because their roots were strong, they knew their identity, they knew from where they have come from.

10 years hence, people of my age and I might have a new ambiance around me. There will be changes, challenges and opportunities. But what is more important is how will we react to these changes?

To this point i must bring into the attention, the case of a person, about whom i had read.

The name of the person is Mahdeva, he was the son of a mother who abandoned the village she lived and came to the city, Bangalore. There she and her son live by a city hospital. Her mother used to work hard to feed her child. When Mahadeva was about 10 she died due to illness and a old man gave him a place to live.

Mahadeva used to do small errands for the hospital patients and earn a  livelihood just enough to survive.

One day Police official came with an unclaimed corpse and asked Mahadeva to bury it and for that he paid him Rs.200. He did the job with absolute dedication and that earned him the reputation of being an undertaker of unclaimed dead bodies. Cops used to pay him the same amount and he did it like a profession.

Soon he bought a horse pulled rickshaw. But then after some years the horse died and he got a autorickshaw.

No petrol pump used to charge him for the work he did. He got the picture of horse on the rickshaw and that became his brand of the business.

The ability to do a job no matter how is the nature of it, with absolute dedication and without supervision got him the trust of the neighborhood. And that is quality of a true professional.

So dont forsee in the exactness of where we might land in the future but what we can do is to appreciate the fact that life is how we perceive it. The more mature individuals we can become only if we learn to empathise and then the actions will in its own with become purer. 

Restraint is not discipline. Discipline is like a string to which a kite is tied. You know the balance, but at the same time the primary purpose of string is not to pull the kite but to let it fly up in the air.

My teacher, on independence day many years back, came into the class and we all wished him for the day.

And he asked 

Are you Independent?

It rang in my ears whole night that day.

Next day i got into a argument with him for the whole lecture. He just smiled most of the times. 

Then he said-" Son, don't relish on something which you have not earned for yourself, it should be treated like a heritage instead. Also independence is real only when we are independent at mind. Unless you dont have the ability to think free, you are not independent really."

Its the judgement that defeats us.

If you think thats not the case then rewind and think of all the times where if you would have not have been conscious of barriers, you could have lived perhaps a bit more!

And that's not hedonism, that is freethinking. 

A Novel Way to Empower......

Recall the role of Lord Shri Krishna in Mahabharata. Its the classic way to guide the changes while following an ideology which is righteous but at the same time never participating in the game as a player but as a thinker,adviser and most particularly a 

Lotus Flower - Radiohead lyrics

I will shape myself into your pocket
Invisible
Do what you want
Do what you want

I will shrink and I will disappear
I will slip into the groove and cut me off
And cut me off

There's an empty space inside my heart
Where the weeds take root
And now I'll set you free
I'll set you free

There's an empty space inside my heart
Where the weeds take root
So now I'll set you free
I'll set you free

Slowly we unfurl
As lotus flowers
'Cos all I want is the moon upon a stick
Just to see what if
Just to see what is
I can't kick your habit
Just to fill your fast ballooning head
Listen to your heart

We will shrink and we'll be quiet as mice
And while the cat is away
Do what we want
Do what we want

There's an empty space inside my heart
Where the weeds take root
So now I'll set you free
I'll set you free

'Cos all I want is the moon upon a stick
Just to see what if
Just to see what is
The bird lights float into my room

Slowly we unfurl
As lotus flowers
'Cos all I want is the moon upon a stick
I dance around the pit
The darkness is beneath
I can't kick your habit
Just to feed your fast ballooning head
Listen to your heart

journey

Its Only Superstition
Its Only Your Imagination...



Whats the first thought, which hits you when you a thousand stars on a clear night while laying on the moist beach sand with constant sound of sea waves?
Nothing.
Nothing and that emptiness is the realization of true happiness.
But happiness is true only when shared.
Whats the first thought, which hits you when you read a book and the incident mentioned in it is a total replica of your life?
Nothing.
Nothing and still you are happy. Maybe the book becomes your favorite but is it limited only to that.

Am i a loner?
Am i a hedonist?

I see an enshrine and i become a religious man, suddenly, just like that.
I see a baby and i become like one.

But who am i?
I roam around, walk on foot for long distances, travel on different vehicles, exploring every street,every face,every smile.

While boarding a train which was goes towards far-east, I met a sage, yes a real one. I spoke about the same to him. He said to me,son you are not asking the right questions.

Kahin to jana hai mujhe, bas kahin bhi nikal jaun, par pata nahi kahan.

Par abhi to bahot neend aa rahi hai, so jata hun.

100 % Cut off @DU and where are we heading...

When i read this morning newspaper, i came across a shocking revelation. Cut off lists for DU started and stopped at 100 percent for its courses in undergrads. When the admission for PG has already been closed and done with, i thought its only the graduates who are concerned more about their career Planning. It becomes too hard on people especially general category, to match up and fine tune with their interest area and economic viability simultaneously. It is a movie where the hero is genius enough to get into wherever he wants and still manages to excel in personal life.
We are have to appreciate the fact that every human being is unique and exists in reality. So the environment must not be composed of distrust, counterproductive and lethal for personal growth.  Comparisons are the worst in kind because they just don't suit the purpose anyways.

Things are changing too fast and students are bound to be more smart and skilled that they were at our times. So there isnt any yardstick to judge a person on just some numbers. Adding to that we also have to understand that all that glitters is not gold. To excel professionally one must understand that it will always be a popular perception that the grass will appear to be greener on the other side. The important thing is that when you grow mature, you get to know that it is your job which will take away the maximum chunk of your life so its important that you land up on the right one.

Just a couple of days ago i met a talented undergraduate aspirant and came to know how the cut off lists has risen up in some 6-7 years. And they are to be ever rising from here. Only a focused and passionate effort can bring colors but only a satisfied person can experience the greater good and happiness.

The day we stop apply stupid mathematical induction in our life,per-se:what is good for me must be good for you or i heard its good so it must be good for you; we will find that there will be more respect and love around us.

So for all fellow human beings work hard but party harder.

sarakatii jaaye hai ruKh se naqaab ahista ahista

sarakatii jaaye hai ruKh se naqaab ahista ahista
nikalataa aa rahaa hai aaftaab ahista ahista

jawaaN hone lage jab vo to ham se kar liyaa pardaa
hayaa yakalaKht aayii aur shabaab ahista ahista

shabefurkat kaa jaagaa huuN farishton ab to sone do
kabhii fursat men kar lenaa hisaab ahista ahista

savaalevasl par unako uduu kaa Khauf hai itanaa
vo honThon se dete hain javaab aahistaa aahistaa

hamaare aur tumhaare pyar men bas fark hai itanaa
idhar to jaldii jaldii hai udhar aahistaa aahistaa

vo bedardii se sar kaaTe "ameer" aur main kahuuN un se
huzuur aahistaa aahistaa, janaab ahista ahista