Success Blog

It is important to get hold of your credit card before it is too late. I think credit card should be used more as a back up and convinience of payment rather than easy access to money. If you plan properly it can be a great asset. Recently, the TOI published some tips on credit card usage. Let me share that with you all:

1. Read the terms and conditions carefully and evaluate before signing

2. Advisable to have not more than 2 cards

3. Understand the billing cycles and capitalize on the interest free period

4. Restrict your credit card limit to 4 - 6 times of your monthly salary

5. Don’t use credit card for cash withdrawls. The interest rate are very high

6. Tighten your spending in line with your budget. Don’t be an impulsive buyer

7. Try to clear the entire outstanding at one go. Don’t succumb to the minimum due payable. You end up paying high interest along with taxes

8. Avoid taking EMI option for big purchases. It will push you into a long repayment cycle at high cost

9. 5% of your salary can be a credit card bill for personal expenses

10. Go for a holistic saving plan, it’s better option to invest rather han taking credit and spending depreciating assents

- Written by debojyoti Ghosh and originally published in Times of India.

Get organized at work, or it’ll cost you dearly. Here’s how you get started

Haven’t you termed that ‘completely organised’ colleague of yours as a ‘perfectionist’? we think you did it more out of jealousy than jest. There is a reason for it though: it is that far from being perfect, you know you aren’t ‘completely organised’ either. There is a way through which you emulate the perfectionist though, if you are ready to put in some efforts and have a knack of pursuing your goals. Be assured, what follows is no gyaan on developing a new skills, rather these are just tips to oganise your skills so you and your team fare better at the workplace. And by the way, it’s still not late to make a New Year resolution. So we suggest you read on:

CONTROL SHIFT

With full schedules, there are daily problems that will occur and will need immediate attention. This means that other tasks will have to be kept aside. Impromptu meetings, absence of fellow team-members and other situations can make getting through the workday almost impossible. Staying organized i.e. having a time-plan is essential if you want to stay true to your deadlines. If you’re a team –leader, your schedules will assume more importance. This will help you delegate additional responsibilities when necessary. The following tips will help you (and even your colleagues and superiors) stay on track even on the stormiest days at your workplace.

Invest in a planner or calendar with big blocks so that you can write down not only yours schedule, but also your team members’ schedules. Ideally, this should be on your desk all the time, but many prefer to make use of software for this. You will only have to use it regularly to realise how it helps you to keep track of your projects, deadlines and productivity in general.

Get into the habit of ‘separating’ things according to their importance or priority. Using files and folders would do you quite some service (if you don’t care about people calling you ‘boring’). Make sure you file all material in designated sports. Each morning, take out what will be needed and keep it close by. Carrying things to office in a bulky bag is something worth doing on days of presentations – since you have materials ready, you will feel a sense of completeness, which in turn will also boost your confidence.

Use technology! Pen drives, flash drives and several other USB- based devices are now available in our markets at dirtcheap prices. And since it is a matter of a right click to create virtual folders, why not do it ? USB drives (which double up as key chains, bottle openers and even neck pieces these days) are a cool, convenient option to carry all your contacts, presentations, files and a load of things with you – all the time

Enlist your daily tasks and reminders and mark them off as you complete them. If you own a funky cellphone, we’re sure it’ll have a pretty decent ‘organiser ‘ too! Why not feed it with alarms and reminders everyday on your way to work ? It will not only catch you napping, but also let you know what all you have done.

If you’re a team –leader, here’s something worth doing: create a list of your team members and their strengths and their skills in particular area. When planning a project, refer to the list when deciding which roles people will fill. If a team member specifically asks for a role, write it down on their list so that next time, you will remember to consider them for it.

OUT OF WORK

While all the above is important to help you save the blushes at work, planning time for your family, work or a hobby too is crucial. For, the work-free time balance itself will let you be more organized and keep stress levels low. If you are taking work home everyday, even more planning needs to be done to keep your near ones happy.

Sometimes your personal circumstances can prevent you from following the career path you planned. It may not be that easy to cope up with stress levels. Follow these tips for handling stressful situations work.

Everyone is under some pressure in the workplace. some external pressures can be appositive factor, helping us to be more productive. Some people actually thrive under short-term added pressure, and our bodies are designed to meet these short-term demands. Hormones including adrenaline are released to prepare us for a fight or flight response to demanding situations. However, excessive and prolonged stress can take its toll, producing a rang of physical and emotional health problems which have come to be grouped as work-related stress.

There is no single cause of work related stress. While stress can be triggered by sudden, unexpected pressures, it is often the result of a combination of stressful factors which accumulate over time. Some people can become so used to the symptoms of excessive stress that it goes unnoticed to their detriment.

Most work-related stress is related to management of work, relationships at work, organizational set-up and whether you feel you have power and control in your work. The experience of stress is different for every person. Some people are affected more than others, so what is stressful for one person may not be stressful for another. It can depend on your personality type an on how you have learned to respond to pressure.

SYMPTOMS OF STRESS AT WORK

Work-related stress can manifest itself as physical and emotional health problems, and as altered ways of behaving at work and at home.

• Wanting to cry much of the time
• Feeling that you can’t cope
• Short temperedness at work and at home
• Feeling that you’ve achieved nothing at the end of the day
• Eating when you’re not hungry losing your appetite
• Smoking and drinking to get you through the day
• Inability to plan, concentrate and control work
• Getting less work done
• Poor relationships with colleagues or clients
• Loss of motivation and commitment

THINGS YOU CAN DO AT WORK

• Face the reality of the situation. Ask yourself what’s happening in your life and, instead of blaming others, look at what you can do to get beyond it.
• Make sure the place that you value most in your life – your home – gets the time, effort and energy it deserves to become a heaven for you. Work on your domestic relationships and create an environment that’s loving and supportive.
• Take time out for yourself and give yourself the things you deserve. Have long, luxuriating baths, go for walks, eat and exercise regularly and treat yourself to a pampering massage or a facial.
• Understand that your energy gets depleted by caring for someone who’s critically ill and needs to be replenished
• Never turn to substance like pills or alcohol. As coping mechanism they’ll only compound the problem
• Get professional help
• Understand that the way you’re feeling is normal and you can’t go through it alone
• Seriously consider leaving the relationship if you’re being abused
• Think very carefully before confiding in your boss. Sometimes this is the best course of action. But if your company has a strictly no personal problems allowed policy, you need to treat carefully
• Focus on that part of your work you really love and enjoy and look forward to. This in itself becomes restorative
• Avoid watching or reading things that distress you. Focus on positive, uplifting input

DEVELOP YOUR COPING SKILLS

If you are cool and calm at home, your work place will be peaceful and atmosphere will be calm. So try these steps to keep you home at peace. Plane ahead – anticipate – prepare for the unexpected – have a plan B, C & D. some events are extremely stressful despite good planning, eg, the Gulf War. Some events are extremely stressful because they threaten our safety. Organize your academic, social and personal life. Establish goals and objectives. Develop time lines for reaching your goals. When you schedule your day, allow time for leisure activities, study breaks and time to do absolutely nothing or indulge your guilty pleasures. Take time to relax – listen to relaxing music, do relaxation exercises, reflect and meditate. Whatever it takes to loosen up.

- Published originally in Bangalore Mirror.

Interviewers listen to more than what you say. They also listen to how you say, how much you say and most of all, what you do not say.

Getting a desirable job today is no longer as facile and effortless as it was. Organization are now hiring candidates who, in addition to having excellent credentials and profound experience are also well spoken and articulate. They believe that it is not enough for a candidate to look good on paper but it is important to sound as well.

Mind you, articulate does not necessarily mean chatter-box. It, therefore, becomes essential for you to be aware of what to talk and how to talk during your job interview. Here are few pointers that will help you manage your conversation effectively:

TALKING JUST RIGHT

Initiate your interview with some small talk on general subjects such as weather, sports or company location as this helps to build report with the interviewer lead the conversation.

While responding to questions, keep your answer short, simple and to the point. But the same time ensure that you don’t restrict them to a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Narrate instances which are relevant to the position and do not go overboard in detailing everything.

This may at times result into your most important skills and achievements going unnoticed. But that’s fine as talking about irrelevant experiences and accomplishments does not helps the interviewer identify you as a strong applicant. Such an interaction could easily be interpreted as bragging.

Remember this golden rule: Never ever criticize your former employer.

How you speak communicates both negative emotions like anxiety, uncertainty, boredom and positives emotions like interest, enthusiasm and confidence.

• speed talking is often associated with anxiety and nervousness.
• speak slowly and take time to pronounce all syllables for greater clarity in your speech.
• This will also help you avoid slurring words together.

WORD POWER

Be careful about the kind of words you use for they reveal a lot.

• For instance, avoid using words such as ‘perhaps’, ‘kind of ‘ , ‘may be’ as it shows you lacking confidence.
• Use more of power words like ‘I’m confident that’, ‘I recommend’, ‘my goal is’ which conveys confidence and conviction in oneself.
• Avoid filler words like ‘umm’, ‘ah’, ‘like’, ‘you know’. This normally happens when your chain of thought is broken or when you lack clarity. In such situation,it is better to pause, think and then speak.
• Do not make grammatical errors while conversing as it creates a negative impression.
• Make complete statements and avoid using slangs and short forms.
• Choose your words carefully. Make sure they are appropriate, have the right connotations and use the proper pronunciation.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

Finally, at the end of the day employers are looking at you as a complete package. They will not know what makes you special unless you tell them, so it is important to you market yourself well.

Interviews are certainly not the right time to be meek and humble. Speak up about your achievements and accomplishments. Unless you display a sense of confidence and competence and come across as a person apt for the profile you will not be able to impress the interviewer. Only when believe in yourself will the interviewers. Learning how to handle questions and what not to say can go a long way in getting you job. All the best!!!

The role of leadership is to explore talent in an organization and bring it forward without caring for qualifications, global culture consultant Richard Barrett told D Ram Raj

“People begin to realize that higher values such as honesty or openness work. We need to live by the deep values that we hold within”

From transportation engineer to transformation trigger has been the metamorphosis in the life of 62-year old British Richard Barrett, now settled in North Carolina in the US after retiring from his assignment in the World Bank. Richard Barrett, a transportation engineer from Britain, is the managing partner of Richard Barrett Associates’ The values Centre and has authored books on corporate cultural transformation.
“Base your decisions on the value of your organization than what you believe. Value based decisions lead to success because you live within integrity. Choose a value before coming to a decision on a situation. If your decision has to be based on the value of trust, then create a climate of trust,” Barrett said in an exclusive interview on the lines of the India times strategy summit “value-Based leadership, Building a high performance organization” in Bangalore on Tuesday.
“I don’t know what drove me to this assignment, there was something within my soul which wanted to bring about a transformation in society based on values. I started this exercise in 1997 and have visited about 30 countries. I’m so fulfilled with this job that I don’t want to retire,” he said.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Yes, I believe there needs to be a balance that could be a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly routine. I believe in a daily balance and switch off around three or four in the afternoon. I go home and relax, may be around six or seven I check a few mails and that is all. I work on what I love most and minimize what I don’t love to. I write, speak and focus on thought leadership. My work apart, I love to be with nature, fishing in mountains. I’m very disciplined in my work-life balance, he said. I undertake my sojourns to nature once in two or three months when I’m at home. When away from home(north Carolina), I focus totally on my work.

DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIES

When I map values, I pick the appropriate values for the culture of that country. Personal values may differ across geographies, but organizationally we can have some common threads. I cover the culture of a country though every organization is unique. The culture of an organization will depend on the culture of leadership.The beauty of this instrument “values-Based Leadership, Building a high Performance organization. We cannot have one-off remedies for all organizations.

MATERIALISM Vs VALUES

Young people may find materialism to be satisfying, but they soon realize that it is not a lasting pleasure. We have to go past the phase of ego and materialism. Values are there in every soul and it will get stirred once a person goes through certain phases of life. People begin to realize that higher values such as honesty or openness work. We need to live by the deep values that we hold within.

An organization that I know has about five values such as openness and commitment. At every meeting they decide on the value that they would choose for the situation and come to a decision based on that value. In case an individual differs with the value of an organization, organizations themselves might change values if they find that what they are doing is not successful.

- Originally published in Bangalore Mirror

It’s not just what ‘you’ say, it is also what your body says that interviewers listen to. It is your body language at the interview that will clinch that job. An applicant whose candidature appears exemplary on paper fails to clear the first round of interview. Wondering what went wrong? It was weak body language. Throughout the interview he appeared sullen and gloomy, kept fidgeting with his hair and responded to questions with some mumblings which were unclear, vague and barely audible. He came across as a person lacking both confidence and interest in the job. Having excellent credentials is not enough; it needs to be balanced with appropriate body language. The first impression is critical in seeking jobs. Almost 55 per cent of this first impression depends on the visual impact- your body language plays a key role.

MORE THEN WORD

It lets the interviewer know much about you, more then you chose to tell them. All your actions-be it the way you walk, talk or sit under observation. They take cues even from the way you make an entry into the room! So watch out! Keep your head straight, look ahead, keep your shoulders back, and maintain a confidence posture. Greet the interviewer with a smile and a firm handshake-this gives the impression of a warm, friendly and enthusiastic person. When you sit, remember to keep your back reasonably upright. Keep your back against the back of chair. Appear comfortable, not uptight but at the same time, not too relaxed or casual. Do not slouch or hang sideways. Do not sit at the edge of the chair as it signals that you are under stress.

PAY ATTENTION

To show your interest you could lean forward or tilt your head slightly. Occasionally nod your head to support or emphasise your words. When the interviewer is speaking, a nod of the head also conveys that you are attentive. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer as it is an excellent way of conveying your interest in the job. It also helps you to judge the interviewer’s reaction to what you saying. If the eyes seem puzzled, expand on your answers. If they seem to wander, then cut the answer short and move on! Looking downwards or else where makes you appear disinterested and insincere. In case of a panel interview, it is best to face to face the person who has posed the question as you answer. Do glance at the others as well from time to time to get a buy-in from all.

HANDS AND FEET

Though moderate hand movements are completely acceptable, there are times when you actually do not know what to do with your hands. In such situations, it is the better to let your hands rest on your lap or on the armrest of your chair. Avoid crossing your arms as it portrays you to be defensive. Avoid inadvertent movements like shuffling with your feet, rocking your legs, kicking against the leg of the table, drumming with your fingers, clicking with a pen, fidgeting your hair, face or dress and constantly shifting in your chair as it can be very irritating and also sends a message of being nervous, conscious and less confident. A brilliantly prepared interview delivered in an interesting voice will fall well short of the mark if companied by negative, intrusive or hostile body language. Being aware of the impact you create with your non-verbal presentation is half the battle won. So go out there and win it all!!

- Published in Bangalore Mirror

The answer to this depends on how well you manage your negotiations. Negotiations assume various colours (and volumes) depending on the environment - the parliament, the PM’s office or the boardroom. We are focusing on the last here, for the art of negotiations is fundamental to business life. Learn effective negotiations in seven steps:

Avoid the word “Negotiate”

Sounds strange but it works. You are prone to meet angry, skeptical people at the negotiating table with set criteria on their minds. The word “negotiate” sounds like concede in the beginning and they begin feeling they on the loosing game already. Resistance to change their mind or moods will slow downthe process and the word “negotiate” can trigger that resistance. Instead, you can choose positive phrases like “let us agree”, “lets’s work things out”, and “you will be interested in this”. Such statements will make people more amenable to listening to your proposal.

Write Your Objectives Before Meeting

Identify which of you goals are you willing to be flexible on, as well as the ones non negotiable. Figure out the least amount you are willing to take in the negotiation. When you are clear on what you want and what you intend to secure, it ensures a no - nonsense conversation. Also, only when you are prepared with noteswill you sound meaningful throuhout the discussion. Amd yes, nothing is like your own scribbles. Don’t depend on your phone.

RESEARCH OBSTACLES AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Negotiation is rooted from the want to eliminate lack on both sides of the table. When you negotiate, you are actually ‘moving towards’ and looking for a solution to your problems or in the process of suggesting ways to improve your current standing. This is where research helps. Your homework will make your predict any potential objections that might arise.

GET ALL THE CARDS TO THE TABLE

This one’s for those who’re overly diplomatic and tend to keep the ‘best for later’. Yes, ‘showing’ all your cards will be foolhardiness, but getting them to the meeting won’t harm right? Your open mind will avoid going around the point and get all parties to do the same. You would easily ignore boredom, negatively and drifting off the point by presenting good concrete starting points. All of these factors can adversely impact negotiation process and lead to a less-than-favourable result. You will have a solid foundation from which to proceed towards a win-win situation.

COMFORT IS THE KEY ELEMENT

At all times of the negotiation, make sure a certain level of comfort is maintained for both/all sides. No one should feel they’re being pushed into the losing side of the deal. Because from here on, objectivity will disappear and your leverage will go out the window with it.If cooperation is what you desire, you must put yourself into the other person’s shoes so that when concessions are necessary, they are made to the benefit off all. Keep the others interested by citing the benefits that they can get from agreeing to your proposal.

PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT SUCCESS

Adopt a ‘we can make things happen’ attitude and body language. Demonstrate how you can make the plan work together. Convince them to put a viable plan in place that takes into account both sides’ needs. Tell them that you know somebody who used a similar strategy with great results.

DON’T FORGET TO FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULE

Though this tip is listed last, it should be present throughout. You will want to treat others professionally, because that is the way you want them to treat you. Be responsive. At the beginning, you can even give them a small gift, something small which expresses your willingness to work with them. Serve snacks or even meals throughout the process and break the ice before sitting down to business by engaging them in a bit of talk about their hobbies, interests or even family and common friends. Treat them like business friends than competitors.

Originally published in the “Bangalore Mirror”.

Typically we do not care much about bills like telephone, mobile, internet, water etc and many a times we cross the pay by date. This way we end up paying extra as penalty. From my personal experience I can tell you that paying bills on time pays by not only saving money but also giving you peace of mind. Few times I have missed the pay by date for my internet bill and had to shell extra(around Rs 40). It also puts pressure when you miss such dates and sometimes you may have to pay for two months together if you keep procastinating. Lastly, you can get your connection disconnected if you keep delaying for being a lazy ball.

In this age of internet where most of the utility bills are available for payment over the internet, you need not go anywhere or stand in queue. So why being late? I have taken a resolve of paying the bill immediately once I receive the bill now on. I think it pays and saves you time and peace by making a habit of doing it now. It can be extended little bit by making to do it on the time you deceide. Keep in mind that money saved is money earned.

Those who do not have access to internet do not worry, as most companies are comming up with 24 hours payment facilities. Also, many banks and establishments also accept bills now a days. So plan your time. Let your bills just ask for the service you used and not additional stress.

Everyone wants to be on the right side of boss, but sometimes unknowingly do things which play spoil sports. Here I will represent a few tips which kept in mind may help. The tips are as follows in the form of rules:

Rule#1. The Boss is always right.

Rule#2. If the boss is wrong, refer rule 1.

Rule#3. Spot the Do It All Boss: The all important rule - spot the boss whose blessings matter. He may be your immediate head, the president himself or even a colleague who is slated to be the next big thing.

Rule#4. Press The Right Buttons: It simply refers to being friendly with people who matter (your immediate boss) and a little bit more friendly with those who matter to them(your boss’s bosses). Sounds easy right? but not that easy. You have to foresee a promotion, the CEO’s visit, the boss’s fiery mood and act accordingly.

Rule#5. Get The Timming Right: You may have a lot to say and do to get rid of the devil who hampers your success, but you have to open your mouth at the right time. You have to be perfectly aware of when your boss is Mr Do-it-all and when he’s losing his grip over the world. The moment that happens, you either go for the kill or switch loyalties. Today’s corporate world is a jungle raj - if you don’t go for the kill, someone else will. Timing also couts in delivering the complements and giving gifts for maximum effect.

Rule#6. Go For The Kill: Going for the kill refers to taking initiative to climb the ladder, even if someone falls as a result. For example, you may have a heavy heart if your promotion will result in your best friends ouster. But if it means a step towards being the protege go for the kill. Having the best of your boss’s blesings is certainly more rewarding than being a best friend. You may lose all your close mates by the time you reach the top of the ladde, but when you are staying in a multi crore mansion with luxuary cars parked outside, who will not liked to be your friend?

Rule#7. Patience Is A Post-Dated Cheque - and it wont bounce, if you have shown perseverance all this time. All the above rules would only work if you are in the same profession when you started your modus operandi. Because being the protege of the all powerful boss us like attaining nirvana. All your smart moves, powerful politics, wild card entries … will go useless if you give up midway or switch professions whimisically.

Note: An extract from “The Bangalore Mirror”