Understanding Human Psychology

Managers expectations when it comes to vacancies..uff.. Am I supposed to know it all? To what extent should I have expertise in all whatever is written in this list? This job description seems to be very comprehensive, I am not really sure how many things I can cater to, this list seems to be endless.  These and many more such thoughts crossed the mind of Ramesh as he can scanned the job description for a potential job he was applying for. Like Ramesh, I think, we all go through this. We are really not sure of how many things in the job description which is mentioned by a potential employer can be full filled by us.  It is not about doubting yourself or your qualities, or skills, it is about the number of items which the list has and how many things you hold expertise in, how many things you know well, and how many things you think you have touched up on briefly in your career, which maybe applicable to this job too.  How many of us like Ramesh and think about this..let's...

  As promised in my early or blog, I would be glad to continue discussing about the importance of the precise communication you engage in with your colleagues as work instructions.  So finally did the manager listen or did the people take charge of the task jointly as a team? What are those tasks people are not clear about? What task they are supposed to be communicated well, even if you describe who has to and do not have to engage in it? Who should be having clarity and who is supposed to do that timely discussion? Who owns the task is not clear and the social loafing concept spoken in the earlier blog talks of just this. Every one thought that someone else is supposed to do the task.  Some thought that the manager is just expressing his thoughts to us, maybe he will do it himself.    Listening for managers is beyond the listening of words, it is understanding of the psyche and listening to the mental dialogue, thoughts of the individuals. Was our manager in t...

  He asked his Manager, 'who will be responsible for this work?', and his Manager told him, 'Oh you all are responsible, do it together, you have to all own this.' When this happened, what do you think was the outcome...we will see... Social Loafing, what about this concept. Let me clarify, what it really means. When a task is given on common forum and it is told that you all have to own it, it is something common between you all, and you have to do it. It could be like making a calendar, like documenting and reporting or sending an email or anything for that matter. If you don't tell anybody specifically what is supposed to be done, then definitely there will be no particular person responsible for it. Then social loafing effect will take place. I have to do the task or another person? And everybody thinks, somebody else will do it. It is like when an accident happens on the road, and that is a classic example of social loafing. Everybody looks at each other's...

  As I read more and more about positive self beliefs and about the conscious decision to disregard negative self beliefs, I realise how my life is changing, how each day, each passing day is summing up as more productive. For me every positive thought is making a difference. I coneciously realise that previously in the same situation, I would have got disappointed or angry in the heat of the moment.  At many times maybe to satisfy ego or maybe to put a point forward, we want to just argue or at times just feel the need for showing dominance. However, in most circumstances we land up with an event not in our favour. It either becomes a win-lose, lose-win or a lose-lose. None of it really is an I am ok-you are ok, because it's not a win-win.  Inappropriate words may not just be bad for personal life, but even professional lives of people get badly affected by it. Very recently I have observed many people who come to the brink of of doing an action which is positive for th...

  The Beautiful Journey Towards Success Smart work does not replace hardwork to achieve success. To be a leader, to grow to that level, you should have done all the work that you are going to then, at that stage, supervise. Your hands on experience much earlier in your career will help you confidently take future roles. Sadly, the generation in their 20s, so many of them, do not resonate with this concept. This is purely my observation over a few years and I am open to any logical argument, if you propose otherwise. May be this interaction and observation of mine is limited to the call centre industry that I've been associated with beyond 4 years now. After finishing swanky MBAs or engineering degrees too, a large number of pass-outs come to join BPOs as a Customer Care Agent. Where, I do very much respect all types of jobs, at the same time, I feel waste of a college seat, waste of money, time and talent should not be done. After a great degree, unfortunately done under the for...

  In a search for meaning and purpose of life, most of us associate ourselves with tangent entities around us. For us even God has to be tangent, therefore idol worship exisits. But once our family and friends get on with their own lives, our children have their own careers and families to settle with, our education is over and we retire from our careers. One day we wake up to having one or more of these aspects missing, in our lives, to look after and look forward to. It could be that we have retired and the job which was an identity or purpose of life, is not associated with us anymore. For example a person who has got fired from her job may feel an absolute helplessness, void and would question their existence. We all must have our own purposes and that should drive us to being ourselves. We must go after the things that we want. And this want is different for everyone. I am what I am within myself. My purpose is not my family, friends, education, child, job or career. My pur...

  Portfolio Update I was recently reading LinkedIn for skills that employees must acquire as working professionals and freshers, especially after the pandemic, when so many jobs have become redundant, new jobs have cropped up and some have seen modified working styles and requirements. The article focussed on the PM's statement, on ‘the importance of getting skilled, reskilled and upskilled as the need of the hour.’ Dr. Manish Kumar, MD of National Skill Development Corporation, in an interview, stated that, ‘the industry requires us to upgrade’. While, hard skills or technical skills, in-demand, vary from logistics, AI, analytics, machine learning, BFSI, data science; employers are also seeking soft skills for their workforce .  Some of these skills, like communication, are learnt as a result of being taught and with practice. But others, like empathy, adaptability, ability to manage change, growth mindset, are more of personality traits, according to me. Yes, we do teach t...

For all those who have lost their jobs in the pandemic, for all those who are suffering from COVID 19, for all those who have lost their family or friends to this disease, for all those who are facing salary cuts. For all those who are struggling to get their basic necessities home, for those who are facing the anxiety of an uncertain future, for those who are facing psychological issues staying at home or the threat of being exposed to the virus at the workplace. Yes, all of you, rather all of us! I know there are many. Most of these are so common and the world has seen these adversities rise in the year 2020 by leaps and bounds .. . 1. Social life has changed to become a virtual life. 2. Parties have become online.. be it birthdays or anniversaries. 3. Religious gatherings can no more be observed.. religious festivals are celebrated only with family at home. 4. Cleaning and disinfecting home, offices, public spaces have become a norm. 5. Self-isolation even in case of cold ha...

Let's Think of Values Values are principles or beliefs, held by each of us. These are instilled in us, to the core, generally in early life, mostly the influence of family, social circle, and school. Although, the overall impact of the culture and society we live in dominates how we think and freeze our views, and make us take a stand on various topics; values guide our behavior, motives, ultimately influence our goal. If your goals are aligned to your values, you stand a better chance to achieve them. First, understand your values and beliefs. What is it that you care for intensely and intently. Many things in your life will be dependent on your values, how you make a living, live your life. If goals are not aligned to your values then they will ultimately fizzle out after the initial rush. As your values do not sync, you will start losing interest in that goal. Trust yourself and your intuitions. Simplify the solutions that you set for yourself. The more complicated th...

In my previous post ‘ Work Hard Today For A Better Tomorrow ‘, I had spoken about setting SMART goals and visualizing your future. Here is an elaborate discussion on the importance of goal setting. It’s always good to have a plan, rather than have no plan at all. As humans, we are having the power of thoughts and the ability to control them. Goals too, start with a single thought to begin with, and the actions we put in, are ways to manifest them to reality. It is important to live your goal and breath it every single moment. Having goal clarity rapidly changes the way you think and desire them. But, the question is, aren’t we naturally programmed to set goals and work on them? Day-in-and-day-out we are doing that. We have reasons behind the actions we do, we want a good job, a decent income, a happy family, a successful life and so much more. These are some of the reasons common to most of us, the reasons why we kickstart our day, slog it out, and make a living. So w...

Throughout childhood and my school life, I was a shy and to an extent introverted girl. I would talk to a group of close, trusted friends. It was grade 7 when I was standing on the stage for an elocution competition, and stage freight struck me hard. I got severe cramps and fell down right at the place where I was standing. Today, after almost 20 years, I am a successful trainer and L and D professional, with 11 plus years of experience. So how did this fear vanish? Or did it diminish, and some of it is still there?  Here I shall share some things which I did over the years. Most of them are tried and tested over places by people and they have worked wonders to overcome stage fear. Glossophobia- Fear of Public Speaking Fear of Public Speaking is known as Glossophobia . About 75% of the population suffers from this condition. However, most people do not know about it, as they do not get a chance to engage in public speaking, or they get over this social phobia on...