Webinar on How Big Data has transformed Learning and Talent Development

Yesterday, I had attended a webinar organized by Training magazine Network (http://www.trainingmagnetwork.com) on How Big Data has transformed Learning and Talent Development. The facilitator for this session was Jeffery Berk, who is Chief Operating Officer for KnowledgeAdvisors. KnowledgeAdvisors is a human capital analytics solutions and technology firm that helps organizations measure, communicate and improve the impact of their people by better managing processes through reliable metrics.
Jeffrey works closely with clients to optimize their talent development investments through measurement and analytics tools. Jeffrey, a CPA, is also an adjunct professor of management at Loyola University and author of the book "Champions of Change: The Manager's Guide to Sustainable Process Improvement" and co-author of the book
"Human Capital Analytics: Measuring and Improving Learning and Talent Impact".
The objective of this session was to:

• Define ‘Big Data’ and its impact on business
• Provide ‘Big Data’ fundamentals for understanding and context
• Discuss ‘Big Data’ in the context of L&D and Talent Development
• Provide examples and suggestions to L&D and Talent managers to leverage ‘Big Data’

Jeff began with a definition of Big Data, which has become a popular term today. He defined Big Data as a phenomenon that harnesses information in novel ways to produce useful insights or goods / services with a significant value. He also stressed the fact that how Big Data has revolutionized learning and talent development as well. Next, he gave some examples from the daily life to explain how Big Data has transformed the society on the whole. He gave an interesting example of H1N1 Flu virus that had been spreading and how Big Data helped to allocate the resources to the areas most affected due to this disease because of the data analysis conducted. He also gave another interesting example of Oakland A's who had 20 game winning streak in 2002 because of data analysis conducted. It was because of Big Data that they won a 1st place. Big Data harnesses information to produce better decisions for better learning programs to provide value for learning. Jeff also stressed on the fact that Big Data is catching up fast and how data driven decisions have become more of a reality today. He then listed the five components     of Big Data, which include:

• Volume: Defines the large amounts of data. He gave a perfect example of Walmart and how they use Big Data to collect more data to fill 20 million filling cabinets of data in a day.

• Velocity: Defines the speed of collection and processing. He illustrated this concept with an example of location data on the mobile phones and how it predicts the cars in shopping malls to determine the holiday sales.

• Variety: Defines the range of data types and sources. He illustrated this component with an example of how Smartphone users user different applications such as email, messaging, music, Internet, and so on.

• Value: Defines better decision with the data. Jeff illustrated this component with an example of how Memphis police use data to determine where to patrol thus reducing crimes by 25%

• Veracity: Defines reliable and accurate data. Jeff illustrated this concept with an example of “Who wants to be Millionaire” program and how it predicts the audience to be right 91 percent of the time and the expert to be correct 65 percent of the time.

He talked about the various Big Data terms, such as Algorithmics, Datafication, Data Exhaust, Data Tombs, and Messy Data. Messy Date allows for imprecision by relaxing standards for error, such as voice recognition software application. He then talked about what is and what is not Big Data. Big Data is correlation, which means finding patterns of data and not causation, which means to be much more precise and for big data it is much more precise. Big data is prediction and not precision, and he also explained that more data you have, the more you are able to analyze for better decisions rather than less data

Big Data is also about messy data and not clean data, and it focuses on what and not the why, which means what learning programs are better and not why are they better thus allowing it make better decisions

Jeff then listed the three ingredients of Big Data: Data, Skills, and Mindset. You must have data or access to it, you need tools or expertise to mine insights, and you need not be an expert in noble analysis and then finally you need a mindset to see the potential and unlock value.

According to Harvard Business Review, “Data-driven decisions are better decisions. It’s as simple as that.”  Peter Drucker says that “You can’t manage what you don’t measure.”

Now, the bigger question as to how it is related to learning and development and how Big Data is useful for Instructional Designers (ID). As an ID, we can use big data to help us report our business impact to our stakeholders and clients to market our learning. Big Data helps to measure the training where you can pull out sales data from a CRM application and compare it to your training programs, and then find a delta between those who attended the training versus those who did not attend it. Jeff then illustrated the five components of Big Data with examples of how they are related to learning and development. He then explained the key metrics of talent development, which include Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Outcomes. According to Jeff, Big Data helps analyze the pattern of data in the learning programs of an organization.

Finally, we had a Q&A round where he concluded that today it is becoming a collaborative effort between IT and various departments such as HR and Learning to build Big Data strategies and analyze the data to evaluate and measure the training.

From E-Learning to Social Learning from Jane Hart

Breaking 10 myths about entrepreneurship from Prateek Shah

Laughter is the best medicine !!!!

Laugh ! Laugh ! and Laugh ! 

This is the best mantra to stay fit and live longer and that most of the doctors also would advise you to do every day. Laugh out loud or LOL, remember this phrase. You must have heard of it while chatting with your friends. They say that laughter is the best therapy that can relax your muscles and relieve your stress. In addition, laughter is also good work out for your abdominal muscles and your heart. It is set to be believed that there are 80 muscles that are used when you laugh, which increases the blood pressure and your heart start to beat faster. In a study by German gelotologist, Professor Gunther Sickl, it has been revealed that one-minute of laugh has the same health benefits as a 45-minute gym workout. When the laughter stops, the blood pressure returns to normal and stress hormones are reduced - actually strengthening the immune system. Says Deepak Chopra, “Laughter is definitely a healing experience, and we're not talking metaphorically, we're speaking absolutely literally. Laughter is one of the best medicines you can have”. Often, you laugh when you are happy but interestingly, laughter also makes you feel both happy and healthy. It also releases various stress hormones, such as cortisol, epinephrine, dopamine and growth hormone. Unfortunately, it is believed that as compared to children, adults laugh only a 15 times a day. 

So, the next time you need a workout, just relax and have a hearty laugh – it not only exercises the diaphragm, contracts the abs and even works out your shoulders, respiratory, facial, leg, and back muscles, leaving muscles more relaxed afterward.

I want happiness!

Just now, I saw a wonderful status on Facebook from one of the Facebook application that I have subscribed. It read, “How to get happiness? Stop wanting it, and you automatically get it :)”

Isn’t the thought really beautiful and provides a wonderful message. So many times, we say to ourselves that “I want happiness” or “I want to be happy” and in order to be happy, we do a lot of things like we enroll for a peace of mind workshop or go for yoga but still we do not find happiness. We feel that there is something missing in our lives, and we still say to ourselves, “I still want to be happy!” But, we tend to forget few little things that we can do in order to happy.

First and foremost, remove the “I” from the statement “I want happiness” because that is ego.

Then, remove the “want” as it is the “desires” that prevents us to be happy. Desires can’t stop as people can desire a lot of things. For example, your desire can be to buy a Mercedes Benz, or buy a Penthouse, or buy that expensive watch, which you saw on your friend’s wrist last night. I am not saying that you should not have any desires. Its good to have desires but there should be a limit to everything.

In order to be happy, just remove the ego and desires from your life and then your life will be much improved. You wouldn’t have to go for any peace of mind workshop in order to know how to remain happy.

The word “I” is very self-centered as it pertains to just the individual. Think about it for a while. Stand in front of a mirror and say the word “I” as loud as you can. Doesn’t it clearly depict a sense of aggression among you? And now, just say the word “We” as loud as you can and see the difference. The word “We” clearly depicts the calmness and it also makes you feel better. The more you think about people around you and think about the community, the more happiness will be filled in your lives and you will feel happy from inside, and the more happy you will feel happy you will feel from inside, the more happy you will be.

So, forget about the I and start saying We and you life will improve in a better way.

Have a great weekend ahead!

Upcoming STC Learning Session on July 28, 2012 @ NIIT Ltd. Okhla

The India chapter of Society for Technical Communication (STC) is pleased to announce a learning session in at NIIT Ltd., Okhla Phase - 1 on July 28, 2012 (Saturday)

Agenda

• 9:00 am - 9:30 am: Creating Captivate Demonstrations – Manisha Khurana
• 9:30 am - 11:30 am: Usability Workshop – Rajesh and Rajeev
• 11:30 am - 11:45 am:  Networking Break
• 11:45 am - 12:30 pm: Using Articulate for Creating Interactive Presentations - Anuj Kapoor

Session: Captivate Workshop
In this session, you will learn how to create effective demos.

Session: Usability Workshop
In this workshop, you will learn how to perform usability analysis.

Session: Using Articulate for Creating Interactive Presentations
This session will start with a brief introduction on a Web lecture, and will provide information on the benefits of online presentations. It will briefly introduce you to the suite of products of Articulate and then go on to explain about Articulate Presenter. Furthermore, at the end of this presentation, you will be able to use the vibrant features of Articulate Presenter and create interactive presentations. Finally, this session will provide some tips and guidelines that you must ensure to create an effective online presentation along with some links and references.

Speaker: Anuj Kapoor
He has over 11 years of experience in the IT industry and around 9+ years of experience working as an Instructional Designer. He is currently working with IBM India Pvt Ltd. as a Sr. Instructional Designer and has worked on couple of Technical Writing projects. His experience with Articulate is not much though - only around 2 years but he has gained lot of troubleshooting as well as administrative experience while working with the tool. He loves reading, blogging, and mentoring people in the related fields. He also loves photography. 

Speaker: Manisha Khurana
She has extensive experience in technical communication, usability analysis, and instructional designing. She is post graduate in management with specialization in information technology.

About the Sponsor

NIIT Ltd. is sponsoring the venue for the Delhi (NCR) STC Learning Session. 

For more than 30 years, NIIT’s Enterprise Learning Solutions are helping organizations around the globe to significantly impact their businesses. NIIT is one of the top five training companies in the world with more than $350 million in revenue. As a global managed training services company, NIIT provides a flexible and scalable set of services that enable their clients to focus more sharply on their business, reduce costs by up to 25%, and enhance the business impact of their investments in training. 

Visit http://www.niit.com for more details.

Venue
NIIT Limited
LSO, B-234, Okhla Phase -1
New Delhi - 110020
Tel  : 91 (11) 41407000
Fax  : 91 (11) 26817344
 

Registration Details:
Complete the following form to register for this session: 

Click here for registration

Registration Fees: Free

Horrifying and yet a very shameful act!

It was utterly horrifying and and at the same time very shameful act that happened in Guwahati where a minor girl was molested by a mob (a group of 20 people or so..). And more so, it may have happened in full public view and no person came in front to save that girl. Each and every person just acted as an onlooker or a passersby, not trying to interfere in the matter. Instead, they were just interested in shooting the whole scene in their cell phones and then circulating it via MMS, and then enjoying the whole MMS. It seems like it has become a habit for all of us to just act as an onlooker because we live in a country whose father of nation is Mahatma Gandhi and who had once said, "bura mat dekho, bura mat suno, and bura mat bolo" and we have caught his words very seriously so much so that we are not ready to see, hear or speak any bad things. His purpose of saying these words was to fight against the British and their wrong doings but we have misinterpreted those words completely. Anyways, the question arises, isnt this act shameful? Yes, indeed, it is not only shameful and it is not at all acceptable. At one stage, we see the news of India Shining and India becoming a super power and on the other hand, when we hear such reports, it just makes us feel where we stand today. Another news report, I was looking at today was of a Village Panchayat banning love marriages in some district in UP and not only this, the panchayat also laid out several rules that were utterly shocking, like young women from using mobile phones, women under the age of 40 years banned from going out shopping and going out unescorted and boys barred from using headphones on roads and in bylanes.This is extremely shocking and especially in UP whose CM is a young and is supposed to be the role model for the whole state. Looking at all this, it makes me feel that is India really shining or are we still far behind from being a super power. At one stage, we pray to the Goddess and seek her blessings and on the other hand, we see such actions taking place where a minor girl is molested by a mob. If I would have the authority in hand to change one thing in the Indian Law system then I would bring a more strict as well as rude punishment to condemn such an act. It is very easy to condemn such an act while just siting at our homes, liking it on Facebook, and writing comments on the videos posted in the several websites but it takes guts to come out to change the whole law system of India. We need a law similar to what the Arabs do whenever such acts are caught in limelight. Only then, the women will be free to move anywhere around the country. In the current scenario, I sincerely do not feel that any woman should feel themselves safe and is free to move around. Sometime back, there were news reports of a girl being raped by a cab driver and this incident happened in Gurgaon, which is the heart of IT industry in Haryana where there are so many IT companies. And, to add to this, the Gurgaon Police issued a directive where the women were asked to leave their workplaces before 8 PM. Is this what we mean when we India is shining? I am hurt, shocked, and at the same time worried. I am sure that this is not just one incident that has happened because there were more horrifying incidents than this one that had happened earlier and it is not the last and these will continue to happen until and unless we take an extreme step, an offensive action instead of just defending ourselves and condemning the action.

Happy Birthday Dad!

I hate people who like to backbite about someone

Recently, a friend of mine (whose name I do not wish to disclose it here) disclosed me a secret that really shocked me. My friend told me that someone has been spreading few rumors about me in the company where the friend works. Co-incidentally, both of them belong to the same organization and unfortunately the person who is spreading the rumors is working in the recruitment department. It really made me feel that why and how can anyone do such a thing. Why can't I do such a thing to any individual? I cant even think of doing such a thing to anyone whether he is my friend or not. I cant play with someone's career and it is against my principles as well. More shocking was that I haven't been in close touch with the person who has been spreading those rumors.

And its not only me for whom he has been spreading those rumors but he has been doing it for other people as well who he doesn't know well. 

This maybe the reason why he is spreading those rumors as he wants his close people only to enter the organization or he might want to earn some extra money via Employee Benefits. But, just to earn money, can anyone go to such an extent. This is unbelievable!! And, to tell you more, the prospective company have even gone ahead and blocked my resume because of this, which means that I cannot apply in that company anymore. This doesn't mean I will not get a job anywhere because of this or it will effect in my current role. No. But, it just makes us feel insecure that you would also want to have good terms with your peers, seniors, and even subordinates as you may never know who will do what or whats playing in their minds.

It really shocking it is, and till now I feel tremor down to my feet when I think about it. But, at this point of time, I just want to say one thing, "Oh Lord, Forgive that person as he doesn't know what he has done or he may be doing."

How to become a technical writer - Best Career Advice

 

I will turn 33 tomorrow!

Today, I just realized that tomorrow I will turn 33 years of age. I have spent 33 years of my life so far. Its been a long journey since my birth and yet I feel that there's lot more to do. When I look back throughout my life that I have lived so far, I feel that I have done nothing that would make me proud of myself. In the next 7 years or so, I will step into the world of 40s, and I have to give myself 7 more years to achieve whatever I want to. 33 years, I still cant believe that I have grown to 33 years old. Today, I am working at IBM and have a salary to earn my livelihood, a loving wife whom I look forward to when I go home, a mother who is always there to care for me and give her best wishes, a lovely family who always pamper me with their live and affection, few good friends who are there to cheer me up when I am sad and enjoy with me when I am happy, and last but not the least, a father's soul who is always there for me to guide me. But, is that enough? Is this what God have sent you in this earth for? God always have some purpose for everyone, and that is the reason why he sends us to this earth. People tend to forget what they have come to this earth for. Some realize it sooner and some realize it later. The sooner, the better! But, its always good if u have this realization because it gives you a motive to live in this world otherwise life goes on and on...without having any motive.

Now is the time when I need to think that what I would do in my next seven years so that howsoever many years I will live, I shall live in a satisfaction that I did something, and one day when I will leave this world then I will go with a smile otherwise I will always have a guilt feeling within me that I didn't do anything in my life.

"Life is meaningless only if we allow it to be. Each of us has the power to give life meaning, to make our time and our bodies and our words into instruments of love and hope", quotes Tom Head

This is an interesting quote and its quite true as well. We have the power within ourselves to live a meaningful life but its only "WE"who have to realize it. Its only we who can allow to live either a meaningless or a meaningful life.

Today is Budh Poornima, and Buddha have once quoted, "Live every act fully, as if it were your last."

Some people would say that life sucks and would go any way just to end the life and some would believe that life is beautiful and full of surprises. I would say that life is whatever you think of it..and everything you think of it...Life is about sadness and happiness; it is about pain and being miserable, and life is about loss. Life is also about smiling, and crying at the same time. Life is about love and being lived, and life is about laughter. Life is about learning from your mistakes and it is horrible and dumb. Life is awesome and it is also full of tears sometime. Life is sorrow and it is also anxiety...Life is all about you and how you treat it..You criticize it...well, you're actually criticizing yourself..

In the end, I would put one of beautiful poems I found by John Clare on "What Is Life?"

And what is Life? An hour-glass on the run,
A mist retreating from the morning sun,
A busy, bustling, still-repeated dream.
Its length? A minute's pause, a moment's thought.
And Happiness? A bubble on the stream,
That in the act of seizing shrinks to nought.

And what is Hope? The puffing gale of morn,
That of its charms divests the dewy lawn,
And robs each flow'ret of its gem—and dies;
A cobweb, hiding disappointment's thorn,
Which stings more keenly through the thin disguise.

And what is Death? Is still the cause unfound?
That dark mysterious name of horrid sound?
A long and lingering sleep the weary crave.
And Peace? Where can its happiness abound?
Nowhere at all, save heaven and the grave.

Then what is Life? When stripped of its disguise,
A thing to be desired it cannot be;
Since everything that meets our foolish eyes
Gives proof sufficient of its vanity.
'Tis but a trial all must undergo,
To teach unthankful mortals how to prize
That happiness vain man's denied to know,
Until he's called to claim it in the skies.

"Miles to go before I sleep......"

“Happiness”
What is happiness? So many times, I have noticed that people are not happy with their lives or their jobs. Forget about people, I myself sometimes feel unhappy about certain things in life. I just feel that why I am here in this world doing what I am not supposed to do. But, we just forget to understand one thing that we haven’t come in this world on our own. It is the God who has sent us and he must have a purpose in mind to achieve something in life. Some people realize it early while some of them take time to realize their potential and the rest of them don’t even realize their real purpose of life. And then, these people who are unable to realize their real purpose, they start being unhappy throughout their lives, and create a world within themselves thinking that nothing can be done of them.


Someone rightly said, “Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.”

So often, we just tend to remember our past and worry too much about the future. What this results is that we remain unhappy throughout the day.

Happiness has been defined by several people in different fashions but it means the same so as to stay happy. Helen Keller says, “True happiness is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose”.

As Bette Davis quotes, “You will never be happier than you expect. To change your happiness, change your expectation”.

Sometimes we say that if I buy a car tomorrow, I will be happy or if I go to Seychelles on a holiday, I will be happy. All these are just object of enjoyment that will just give u comfort but doesn’t give u happiness. Few people might not agree with this as they consider sensual pleasures as happiness and their attempts are also directed towards these. However, true happiness doesn’t lie in such objects of enjoyment; instead, it lies in imagination. The only source of happiness – and unhappiness – comes from inside yourself. Happiness is not something that comes to you instead, It is something you create now, TODAY!

Waiting for something to change in order to be happy is waiting to live your life. It is not what happens to you that count. It is how you react to what happens to you. It is your attitude. When you adopt a positive attitude, life becomes a rewarding adventure instead of something to get through.

Leo Tolstoy once quoted as, “If you want to be happy, be.”

"All izz Well!"

Some dialogues can be so thoughtful and inspiring. And, one such dialogue, "All izz Well" is from the Aamir Khan's latest movie, "3-idiots". And, the manner in which Aamir Khan speaks this dialogue is so refreshing. It fills whole lot of energy among you and gives you a sense of relaxation. The technique to do this is also very simple: "Just place your hand on your heart and speak 'All izz Well' three times and then you can see the difference yourself. It will give you a sense of relexation and your mind will eaze out. It works more when you are feeling utterly low. So, the next time you are feeling low, try uttering those three words and you will feel good.

All I can say is that All may not be well in your life but still saying those words will let you feel that "All is Well".
Enjoy life!

Love @ first Sight!

Interestingly! it reads. Isn't it?

You must have heard it everywhere, in movies etc.

Someone asked me this question today, "Anuj, do you believe in love @ first sight?" And, I thought over a minute and just wondered whether all is true or not..Is there anything called "Love @ first sight". Love is a wonderful feeling which you arises as and when you start to understand each other. So, how can you start to love them at the very first thing you see them. It can be just that you like them or there can be a gut feeling that arises among yourselves that says, "Yes, this is the one whom you have been waiting for!" But you cant call it love @ first sight.

LOVE is something which develops slowly and only after you have understood your partner well. Psychologists believe that love at first sight depends on our psychological state at the moment. In some cases we won’t even notice those charming eyes in another they can make a lasting impression on as. It might take just 30 seconds to fall in love with someone or it may take several years even to understand the feelings.

There have been theories about people falling in love not from the sight but from the smell. Scientist claim that people pay much attention to what their eyes and ears tell us but on the subconscious level the way the person smells play a very big part in their expression although they don’t recognize it.

Though scientists have studied our brain activity and have said that it is quiet possible to love @ first sight. But, whatever it is..dont just stop to love each other because this is the season of love and if love is in the air, then just believe in it and make your emotions fly on the wings of joy. LOVE is a beautiful emotion that promises to make your world a merry go round. So, just rise with the sunshine and open your arms to your beloved in the season of love.

Wish you Happy Valentine's Day!

Its all about business, not politics!

Why this hue and cry over non-selection of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL-3? Why the Pakistani fans and administration is make such a big issue about it?

Its not politics but its business. Its all about money, honey!

When the IPL franchisees saw that it wont be profitable to buy Pakistani cricketers their franchisee teams, they didn't hesitate to say that they wont buy them at all. After all, their money is at stake. Though, its quite unfortunate because the Pakistani cricketers quite capable enough. And, with the likes of Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Tanvir, the IPL - 3 would have been a season to watch out for. They have already proved themselves in the IPL-1 where they performed quite well.

But, they have got what the Pakistan just deserves out of all the things they have done in the valley. But, on all of this, its cricket who has been a loser and it just goes to say that "Money Rules more than anything else"!

How does relationship blooms between married couples?

Well, it seems to be an interesting topic for most of couples, and especially, when both the partners are working. And, when I am talking about relationship between a man and woman, it could be anything but now I am just talking about one thing and i.e. Marriage. Marriage, as is defined by Wikipedia.com, “is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic.” It is very important to build a relationship after marriage, and allow it to grow as time progresses. Well, the basis of most of relationships, post-marriage consists of three crucial things. These include: “Trust”, “Respect”, and “Love”. We all know this as we all have most of the books before tying the knot but we often tend to forget these basics after we marry someone. It is very important to keep reminding ourselves of these basics from time to time because this builds upon the relationship. It is also very important to have a constant interaction with each other. This helps in knowing each other the better, and thus helps build a strong relationship. Another important thing is to never take your partner for granted. There might be situations when we might think of our partners as a permanent fixture. In addition, watch out for the tone you use while communicating with your partner. You might be stressed out and tired from work or your boss might have spoken in a harsh manner or your team has really messed up with the work. So, it’s quite natural as a human being to take out your stress. But, your partner is not aware if your stress. Instead, it is always recommend to keep a calm mind and speak about your stress with your partner. Remember, your partner can be your best friend only if you make the best effort. Also, it is very important to have thoughtfulness among your partners. It is very important that you continue to make surprises by sending cards or buying flowers for your partner or doing things that your partner likes as you have been doing it while you dated or within few months of marriage. There can be small surprises but these can help you have a great relationship with your partner. It is also very important to understand the feelings of each other to have the relationship going. Also, critical is to be supportive towards your partner i.e. to support in any case even if your partner is wrong have committed a mistake. We all are human beings, and we are bound to make mistakes. As it said, “To err is human, to forgive is divine.”

Marriage is something that is never tangible. Any difference among the partners can weaken the relationship among each other, and may have serious aftermaths. So, in the end, I would like to remind you of the three crucial things once again that I spoke earlier:

TRUST your partner

RESPECT your partner's feelings

LOVE thy your partner (and this doesn't really mean to have a sexual relationship.)

Education system is improving..

Recently, Indian government approved the grading system for CBSE schools, which was really nice to know. It shows that finally the government has decided to improve the education system. This may be the first step towards the improvement, though but still it really provides us an opportunity to applaud the efforts of the government. Now, atleast, the students do not have too much of competition in their minds. The Government is trying to follow the US Education system by bringing in the grading system into place. This will generate a sense of involvement among the child as the children will now have to be upbeat throughout the year as they will be assessed accordingly. There is still a lot that needs to be done to improve upon the education system, which has been followed by an age-old philosophy. Times are changing and so should the education system also. It will require deep thinking and thorough planning. Someone needs to start somewhere. Like, there should also be a concept of "Tutor" or "Help Required" introduced if a child fails make adequate yearly progress. It is generally a trend that teachers may pay attention to a group of students who are consistently doing well in order to maintain the reputation of the school. This should not be the case as all the children have an equal amount of knowledge. Each of them is well-equipped with their own abilities. The concept of Tutor should be made mandatory by the Indian Government so that no student is left behind.

Still, I feel that its a good start for a new beginning into the education system in India. The road ahead is tough and has a lot of barriers. There are vast opportunities in this world, and the students should be made equipped to face the tough challenges.

Last night, I was listening to a wonderful Hindi song called "Woh Kaagaz ki kashti" sung by Jagjeet Singh. It really touched my heart as the words brought back my childhood memories, and got myself to shed tears as well and as the song progressed, the memories got even stronger. I felt how wonderful was the childhood, free from any worries and tensions. Today, while we are working 24X5 to earn a livelihood for ourselves and our family, we have forgotten the meaning the life. We have forgotten what life is all about. We are so much engrossed in work that we just don't find time to play around and have fun. By fun, we just tend to plan a vacation on a weekend but then we again come back on Monday for work and get tied up so much in work that we forget we have a family who wants our time and not money. Agreed, Money plays an important part in today's world and that too in times of recession as they said earlier that we don't earn to live rather we live to earn. So, don't make it a reverse i.e. don't earn to live...

Here are the lyrics from the wonderful song:

ye daulat bhii le lo, ye shoharat bhii le lo
bhale chhiin lo mujhase merii javaanii
magar mujhako lautaa do bachapan kaa saavan
vo kaagaz kii kashtii, vo baarish kaa paanii

muhalle kii sabase nishaanii puraanii
vo budhiyaa jise bachche kahate the naanii
vo naanii kii baaton mein pariyon kaa deraa
vo chahare kii jhuriryon mein sadiyon kaa pheraa
bhulaae nahiin bhuul sakataa hai koi
vo chhotii sii raaten vo lambii kahaanii

kadii dhuup mein apane ghar se nikalanaa
vo chidiyaa vo bulabul vo titalii pakadanaa
vo gudiyaa kii shaadii mein ladanaa jhagadanaa
vo jhuulon se giranaa vo gir ke sambhalanaa
vo piital ke chhallon ke pyaare se tohafe
vo tuutii hui chuudiyon kii nishaanii

kabhii ret ke unche tiilon pe jaanaa
gharaunde banaanaa banaake mitaanaa
vo maasuum chahat kii tasviir apanii
vo kvaabon khilaunon kii jaagiir apanii
na duniyaa kaa gam thaa na rishton ke bandhan
badii khuubasuurat thii vo zindagaanii

STOP! Is your team de-motivated?

Are your team members demotivated? Most of the manager’s job has been to motivate and inspire the team when they are de-motivated. But why do people get de-motivated in an organization?

I have read a lot of articles on management that deals with how to motivate employees but it is not how you motivate them; rather, it’s how you prevent them from getting demotivated. It has been proved in a research that an employee gets demotivated after their first six months only, and the motivation continues to decline thereafter. This research is based on the survey conducted with about 1.2 million employees at 52 primarily Fortune 1000 companies from 2001 through 2004. This decline in motivation or demotivation may be due to the poor management style adopted by the manager. In addition, it’s not only the manager who is solely responsible for demotivation of employees. There are other factors as well such as organization policies and management actions that contribute in demotivating the employees.

So it’s not about how you as a manager need to motivate the employees, but it’s rather how you stop demotivating them. It is very important for an employer to understand the following factors:

Are you engaging your employees in some of the organizational initiatives?,

Are you treating them fairly? and

Are they able to communicate comprehensively and openly?

If your answer is “No” to even one of the above questions, then your employees are demotivated, and this may lead to serious problems. So before we identify the tips on how to prevent demotivation among the employees; let us first identify the causes of demotivation, which include as follows:

• Most organizations dictate the employees on how to accomplish a particular task without telling them the need for doing that task. They feel that the employees are incompetent of making decisions. This may lead to demotivation among the employees.
• Sometimes, criticizing one employee before their team members may also encourage demotivation.
• Some managers set deadlines that seem to be impossible to be achieved thus demotivating the employees.
• When a manager asks a team member for his/her input but immediately dismisses it, which results in demotivation among the employees.
• Some managers give preferential treatment to a group of employees who are usually close to him/her. This sense of inequality among the team also leads to demotivation among the employees.
• It is generally said that, “Employees are an assets.” However if an organization tends to override the statement, and in order to reduce costs, reduces the costs on employees; then this may also result in demotivation among the employees. They may feel that the “Employees are labor costs, and not the assets.”
• Trust is most important factor, and if an organization feels that the employees are not trustworthy then this may also lead to demotiovation among the employees.
• Sometimes, when a manager uses phrases that are not complete such as Just do it or Failure is not an option, and so on, the team members have a negative feeling among themselves. They feel that manager themselves doesn’t know what needs to be done, and thus it results in demotivation.

So, as a manager what you should do to instill confidence among your team members and how should you help them avoid getting demotivated. Let us understand this using the following tips:

• Provide recognition to your team members
• Communicate well with your team
• Ensure proper coaching for employees
• Be a good listener
• Encourage teamwork
• Provide feedback in case of non-performance

Let us elaborate on each of these tips a little more.

Provide recognition to your team members

To help eradicate demotivation among the employees, it is very important for you as a manager to provide recognition among them. Ensure that all of the members of your team are recognized of their efforts no matter small of large. This gives them a sense of satisfaction and makes them realize that their efforts have been fruitful. It has been proved by the experts that receiving recognition for achievements is one of the most fundamental needs of a human being. It is always good to say thanks to the team members on accomplishing the job rather than criticizing them before the team. This helps in removing any distress levels among the team members. As a manager, you need to understand that any sort of appreciation whether through a word of mouth or in the form of an email will be a morale booster for the employee and help them to eradicate demotivation. Some manager may ask themselves, “Why shall I appreciate for the good work that the employees have done for which they have been paid to do.” But, you must understand one thing that there is no harm in recognizing the efforts of the employees.

Communicate well with your team

Communication is the most important skill for managers to eradicate demotivation. While communicating, you need to ensure that you distribute the information which is important for the employees to know. The employees feel frustrated upon lack of appropriate information.

Communicating well requires managers to be attuned to what employees want and need to know.

Ensure proper coaching for employees

Every employee or a team member needs coaching in order to improve their overall performance and do well in the organization. Even Sachin Tendulkar, who is considered as the best batsmen in the world, hasn’t been so if there was no coaching from Ramakant Achrekar. Most managers often tend to neglect proper coaching for the employees. However, a proper coaching makes employees feel that organization care for them and as a result allow them to do even better thus improving performance.

Be a good listener

Listening is an important quality that a manager must have. But, it is different from being “just a listener” and being a “good listener”. As a manager, you need to listen to not only the problems of the team members but also try to gather information on how they can do the job in a much better way. This makes the employees or team members feel involved, and prevent demotivation. While managers inviting ideas from the employees, the employees believe a sense of involvement in their work and they tend to love their work even more than before.

Encourage teamwork

In an organization, it is the team that matters the most rather than the individuals themselves. So, it is very important for a manager to team members to work in teams more often in order to accomplish a task rather than working in its own. This gives the employees gives themselves a boost in confidence. A manager needs to create an environment to promote teamwork by organizing self-managed teams and creating an opportunity to cross-train each other and using techniques such as brainstorming.

Provide feedback in case of non-performance

Feedback is an essential component that a manager can use in order to avoid demotivation among the team members. The employees who have an average level of performance need to be informed in order to improve. A manager must ensure to provide a feedback on a periodical basis. It must be remembered that there is a difference between a performance feedback and annual appraisal. The employees have the every right to know whether they are doing well or not. So, it’s up to the manager to provide feedback from time to time rather than waiting for the annual appraisal. The annual appraisal is meant for summarizing how the whole year has went by for the employee. It is the manager’s responsibility to create a healthy team environment.

So, to prevent the occurrence of demotivation among the employees, it is essential to keep them motivated. It is the employees who make the organization, and it has been proved that motivated employees are crucial for organization success. Employees just don’t work for money. In fact, they work for more than just money. The important thing to note here is to make provide an environment in which they feel that their job is secure and thus allow them to love their jobs.

Thus, as a manager, if you follow the above mentioned tips, you are surely able to support your employees' goals for achievement, impartiality, and camaraderie. This enables you to retain the enthusiasm among the employees when they joined the organization.

STOP! Is your team de-motivated? is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at akapoor.blogspot.com.

Comma: Has it been underrated?

"The older I grow, the less important the comma becomes. Let the reader catch his own breath.” -- Elizabeth Clarkson Zwart

Hello everyone, I am the Mr. Comma, which you use while writing any document such as magazines, journals, user manuals, and so on. I have been used differently by various authors, and not only this, different cultures use me in an entirely different fashion. That’s the irony of a poor little me that I have been used in various number of ways in so may people’s writings. Sometimes, I wonder that where did I originate from, and who was my godfather?

How did comma originate?

I am the most commonly used punctuation mark used by several writers around the globe, and I have a similar shape of my fellow-mate ‘apostrophe’ and ‘single closing quotation mark’. As per Oxford English dictionary, I came from a Greek word called komma (κόμμα), which means something that is cut off or a short clause. However, my origination can be dated back to 3^rd century BC when Aristophanes of Byzantium invented a system of single dots also called distinctiones that separated verses and indicated the amount of breath needed to complete each fragment of text when reading aloud. As I mentioned earlier and want to repeat it again that I can be used to solve various purposes while writing any form of document. I can be used in separating the list items or I can be used to separate the clauses. For example, generally, in English language people use me to separate a dependent clause with the independent clause if the dependent clause comes first. In addition to this, I may also be used while enclosing the parenthetical words and phrases within a sentence. Let us take an example to illustrate this. A simple example to this will be, Once upon a time, there existed a Shalom dynasty.

I may also be used while separating the different adjectives within a sentence or to separate parts of geographical references, such as city and state or city and country. Thus, I can be used in numerous ways and the sky is the limit. Yet, I am used differently in different cultures. Let us understand few such differences in the following section in the widely used English such as American as well British English.

Differences between American and British usage

Comma, though seems a simple punctuation mark, but is used differently in both the American as British English. For instance, comma is placed inside the quotes when using American English while it is placed outside the quotes in the British English.

Last but not the least

Finally, I am the most wisely-used character, and I can be found in all the bestsellers of well-known authors. But, still, I am not known to everyone.

References

• http://www.crosswaterfarm.com/commas/intro.html
• http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Use_of_Comma_in_English_Writing_Quick_Guide_and_Tips.html
• http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/commas.asp