Learning and Development – Cost Center or Profit Enabling Center? – Part 2

Now that you have taken your first leap and convinced the business leaders that as an L&D professional, you can make a difference to enhance their business, it is time to move to the next most critical phase – prove what you said…in other words, ‘Walk the Talk’.

This is where the real work lies. Remember, in part 1 of this article, you did a lot of research on the business by spending quality time on the shop floor?  In this phase, you will put all of your research study in a document and then get ready to prepare your training content. Keep in mind that while preparing the content what’s important is not what you want to tell your trainees, but what they need to know to become more effective and efficient at work.

Start by preparing a basic program flow to understand the duration and the key topics to be covered. Bear in mind, that the business cannot release its people for luxurious number of hours. Be wary of the duration, keeping in mind the criticality of the business. If required, plan the session for (say) 2 days (depends and varies accordingly), keeping 1 as a business day and the other as a non-business day (say Friday and Saturday, giving them the usual Sunday off). This way, it will be easy for Ops to release their folks. Otherwise propose to conduct the training on off-peak hours of a day, or on off-peak days.

Once you have an ok on this, formulate a first-cut draft which you can share with the business. Take their inputs to understand if you are on the right track. If yes, take it further to organize a final cut for your presentation. If no, seek some more time to understand where the gap lies – this is a very critical step, so no compromises here. Keeping your audience in mind, don’t forget to add lots of simulations, activities and real-time examples in your session. Experiential learning is the key.

After taking a final ‘go-ahead’ from Ops on the content, take at least 2 dry-runs with the facilitator, to see if there are any gaps. If it is a 2 days workshop, prepare content for 1.5 days, so that you have ample time for extra role-plays, questions, etc…

While the program is being conducted, it is always great to have a positive kick-start from a business leader. Let him inaugurate the workshop and request him to sit through as and when his time permits. Once the workshop is over, conduct a mini quiz to judge the participants understanding.

After the end of day 2, it does not mean that your job as an L&D professional also ends. Do not cut the umbilical cord yet. Let it gradually decay off. As a coach, spend time with these agents on the shop floor. Guide them wherever and whenever necessary. Make buddy’s and let them help each other. Remember to keep them charged at all times, by making them realize what difference they alone can make to the business.

At the back-end, ensure that while you continue coaching them, you are also monitoring their performance, in terms of any positive shift.  Keep reinforcing this regularly. Also, start creating mini competition platforms to ignite the challenger within them.

Learning and Development – Cost Center or Profit Enabling Center? – Part 1

The question is crystal clear, but is the answer?…Are we part of a fraternity that is an unnecessary cost to a company’s financials or are we, in the real sense, being able to enhance productivity towards the P&L graph progressing northward?

Digging some graves here would mean that we led a function that conducted trainings either because some employees were sitting free and had no work (shows the inefficiency of their managers and ineffectiveness of the recruitment team whose hiring forecast was crap), or because there was a new product launch / update, so functional training had to be imparted? Operations would tell us what training needs to be done, what should be the duration, what should be the content………and so on and so forth…doesn’t this sound like “Operations team rules us and we have no say in the organization”? Does it not make you feel hand-cuffed???

Well, the tables have turned now and for those who have not turned them as yet, you better wake up!!!

Our key motive should and needs to be “Optimization and Enhancement of Operational Excellence”. Now the question is what do you do? First and foremost it is imperative that we ‘collaborate’ with Ops, instead of ‘becoming their slaves’. This can, for sure, be challenging initially, but believe me, once this is achieved, you will take your first giant leap towards contributing to the business of your organization.

Now the next question that comes up is ‘how’ will you do this? Start by understanding WHAT is the business. If as an L&D representative, you do not understand what business you are catering to, how will you decipher the customer’s needs vs actual production? Start spending time with the ones who are directly dealing with the customers, taking it to the senior management level where you will see why and how a strategy is made to enhance business. Spend more time on the ground / shop floor and ask questions till you are 100% sure with what and how a business unit functions. Simultaneously, communicate with peers of other companies or other industries, to work around a benchmark. As an example, I remember, when I was with ‘X’ telecom company, I would visit the market stores of ‘Y’ and ‘Z’ also, to understand what we were doing great or not too great. This helps in generating the needs for development and coaching.

Once you have good hold on the business acumen front, you will be more confident to walk up to your business leaders, stating (with numbers, figures and other data) the training needs of that unit. Explain to them that if the attrition right now is 40%, then what is it that L&D will do to bring this number to 20% and keep a turnaround time against it. You need to convince them through data only (they hate listening to English ‘gyaan’) that we can help your sales figures shoot up by 5 or 10%...Even a small positive movement will make a huge difference to the monthly / quarterly / annual P& L sheet.  

(…To be continued)

Gen Z – How will You Handle Them?

In college, while sitting in my Social Psychology class, I had studied the importance that the environment plays in building someone’s personality. Today, I am experiencing it. We have had differences with our parents, elders, teachers and the like in the past; however, what we did not realize then was the difference in values, thoughts and interests between them and us. All generations look at (say), gender biases, music, family, work, etc…in different ways, which seem perfect for them individually, but flawed for others.

Generation Z or the Internet Connected Generation, is by far the newest and most complex pedigree that humanity is experiencing. Before I share my thoughts on handling Gen Z in the corporate world, it is imperative for us to understand few basic traits of Gen Y, i.e. what WE bring to the table.

One of the most accomplished generations with respect to professionalism, dynamism, knowledge and perspicacity, Gen Y is known to be ethnically and racially diverse. They believe in being committed to a brand until something titanically negative happens. They believe in leading their life their way; however, also ensuring that it is in line with the family / corporate values and norms. They ensure that they are involved with their community and in other social development passions. Not only this, education plays a very important role in their life. At the workplace, they believe in achieving targets as a team. Gen Y also believes in sharing ‘Best Practices’ with each other.

Looking at these areas, lets see where Gen Z stands and more than anything else, how will you handle them when they start working with you.

Gen Z is full of competition and this attribute is what Gen Y (Parents) is creating in them. A sense of individualism is what we will get to see. To ensure teamwork, you may have to put in lots of extra innovative effort as a manager. They will do anything to stick to their identity…”Watch it! They are like Glassware, HandleWith Care”.

Since they were born in the era where they were surrounded with their parents’ smart phones, tablets, LCD’s, etc… expect them to be very smart and unbeatable at technical expertise and that is why they are called ‘Digital Natives’. Once they hit the corporate world, you will realize that everything for them needs to be digitized and manual work will be shrugged away. Be prepared to see those open doors of super-fast communication that we keep knocking as of today. Their cognitive ability will be at lightning speed. At every step they will challenge the status quo and will start putting a question mark on the traditional ways of working by labeling them as archaic.

Gen Z is ‘plugged in’ 24 x 7 and they breathe technology. Multitasking for them is as easy as pie. Keep them stimulated at all times to relish their high production levels.

Z-yer’s believe in experiential learning. You cannot just tell them that they were right or wrong…give them valid reasons, quoting instances. They like to be made accountable for things, so give them responsibilities, but also ensure to stay at the background. Bossism does not work with this pedigree. Give them logic for all that needs to be done.

Early to the corporate world is what this genre believes in. They are ok to continue with their studies alongside work. It will become very challenging for organizations to successfully absorb the best candidate. For these applicants, what was a new development a year back, is now basic necessity. Companies will have to attract them not only monetarily, but also through other employee benefit schemes, etc.

Public reprimand is absolutely intolerable for Z-yer’s. You do that as a manager and be sure to lose them. In stead, work on their positives and subtly, yet firmly share the ‘what’ aspect in their areas of improvement along with the ‘how to improve’ plan. Share constructive feedback with them. Very soon we may witness the so-called one-time appraisal process becoming biannual or quarter-based, as this generation will look for regular inputs and a concrete, realistic self-growth chart for their enhancement.

The power to make radical changes is in the hands of this coming generation, so hone their skills accordingly. They should know when to get aggressive and when to get assertive. They may sound like trouble, but given the right working environment you can harness the best of this generation and let them lead your business into the future.

Name of the Explosive: BOMBER - B

In my previous article you looked at how to leave a first, lasting impression in the minds of your audience. Today, let’s look at the overall strategy to deliver a classic, super successful presentation.

  

“He exploded the dance floor” is what we hear in parties about a great dancer who captured everyone’s attention. Now’s the time for you to explode in the presentation room. Drop the explosive called BOMBER – B and see the effect!

 

But, even before this explosive, remember the most critical part of a presentation – if you have been given 2 hours for your delivery, prepare only for 1.5 hrs. There may be questions that you have to answer; otherwise, there may be some topic during the delivery that may lead to a longer discussion.

  

BOMBER – B is described as you continue reading this page.

 

B – Bang: Always start your presentation with an attention seeking ‘hook’, as we discussed in my previous article. (Read it for more details)

 

O – Opening: Once you have commenced the program, the opening, regarding the key essence of the presentation should be shared immediately. Do not drag the main points to be covered throughout the session. It is always good to outline the top 5 discussion items and place them in bullets for easy comprehension. 

M – Message: No matter how long a presentation, the audience WILL NOT take back more than 4 – 5 key points with them as learning. Revolve your entire presentation around these pointers.

 

B – Bridge: Bridge the gap between each key message and the participants experience and needs. You need to link every point to “what’s in it for them”; else, don’t be surprised if your audience starts playing with their phone or passing sly remarks or keeps looking at their watch time and again, etc…

 

E – Examples: Share loads of examples to put your point across effectively. Make your participants visualize what you are saying. The more the examples, the better; but remember to not overdo it, else, you will lose the essence of the presentation. Examples also enable you to connect well with your listeners. Customize them according to the crowd. A simple example here, would be something like if you have more young men as your listeners, give more examples linking the presentation to say, cricket or cars and bikes, etc… With more women, cooking examples are the safest bet. Believe me; you can link ALL your presentations to some or the personal connection.

 

R – Recap: Be sure to summarize you’re your 2 hours presentation in 10 minutes before concluding the session. It is critical to check the audience’s understanding of these 2 hours, by asking them to summarize, before you do. This also gives you an opportunity to repeat anything that has not been comprehended the way it should have.

 

B – Bang: The closing of your presentation is as crucial as the opening. You may use the same gimmicks to close the presentation as you would to open. Just keep in mind that when your audience leaves from the room, they should either:

• have some food for thought, or
• have some action items to work upon, or
• be totally charged-up to achieve (say) the future target, etc…

Usage of this explosive, will give you a clear understanding on how you wish to carry your presentation forward. It will also help you plan better.

 

Failing to plan leads to planning to fail. Make a choice!

Presentations - Start with a BANG...!

Let me remind you of a very old quote, “You never get a second chance to make your first impression”. Believe me, through experience I can tell you that, if you win the hearts of your audience in the first 15 minutes, the show is all yours. God forbid, if you don’t, then, no matter how many magic tricks you perform, you will still be looked at with nasty expressions asking you to JUST STOP.

 

Let’s unlearn the clichéd way of introduction where the presenter welcomes the audience, introduces himself, takes a brief background of the audience and then starts the session. You have to gain attention of the audience; don’t just enter and complete your presentation like a tick-mark activity.

 

Whether your audience takes you seriously or not, is totally dependent on these first 15 minutes. Let’s look at some tried and tested ways to open your presentations with a BANG…!!! 

 

• The Mirror is your Best Friend: Before entering the presentation room, please don’t think that it is funny to visit the washroom. In fact, you MUST visit the restroom as a religious practice. Look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, “Do you look formally presentable and one step above-dressed than the audience?” If you are dressed like your audience, you will look and be like one of them. All good orators ensure to be dressed very formally before any presentation. When you enter the room, the audience should be able to catch the ‘wow’ attention instantly. Ensure to wear the right deodorant and perfume. Something too strong – woody and musky – will be indigestive for the audience’s olfactory senses.
• Love your Kinesics: We are referring to your body language. Walk like you are the king; however, be careful, you should not look haughty. No slouch please; it looks so shoddy and sub-standard. Carry yourself with your head held high and a straight back. Walk tall; it shows your confidence.

 

Once your first impression has been created, focus on the remaining 14 minutes. There are several ways in which you can start your presentation by ensuring that you leave your mark on your listeners.

 

1. Be personal: You may link one of your personal experiences to introduce the topic of your presentation. By starting on a personal note, your audience gets the feeling of the human element in you and will be ready to open up and share their experiences. You will connect with each other much better.
2. Humor: Your audience will enter the presentation room with various things going on in their mind. Humor, will relax them and will bring the audience on a common platform. Don’t just crack a joke because you think it is funny. Share a humorous anecdote, quote, story only if it is relevant to the presentation. Be wary while using humor, as it may become offensive for some. Do not consider sarcasm to be anywhere close to humor. Be sarcastic with one person and your will lose the attention of all your participants. Even when you use humor skillfully, don't expect your audience to convulse in laughter. There's no laughter meter and you're no standup comedian. Don’t laugh at your own jokes. In my experience, not more 4 instances of humor in a 60 minutes presentation should be demonstrated. Just use it to convey your point, not because you have nothing to say.
3. AV’s: Visuals add a different dimension to your presentation and it is very critical to capitalize on it. Using visuals will stimulate your audience and work well in the physical setting of your presentation. In many studies, experimental psychologists have found that retention of information three days after a meeting or other event is six times greater when information is presented by visual and oral means than when the information is presented by the spoken word alone. Almost 83% of human learning occurs visually and the remaining 17% through other senses.
4. Thank your Audience: Why not start by thanking your audience for their time? It’s the equivalent of complimenting your date and handing her flowers as soon as you meet her. It will make the audience feel valued, respected and valued.
5. Introductions: This can either be the most fascinating or the most unexciting part of the presentation. You may run your intro session in the usual “what is your name, how many years of experience, hobbies, etc?” But, if you do this, be rest assured that your audience will be disconnected from the beginning. Commence with an interesting activity like start a chain by saying that you are taking all of them for an imaginary picnic and each one has to introduce themselves with their name and prefixing it with an adjective of what they are; this too should start with the same letter as the first letter of their name. Additionally, each participant has to bring something with them for the picnic; that too should start with the same letter as their name. Eg. Aggressive Anamika went for the picnic with Apples. This is just one example of an activity during a training program. There are so many more activities that can done for a presentation session as well.

 

Remember to make your initial 15 minutes full of life and zeal. If you succeed, your audience will be with you throughout.

 

So, open with a BANG…!

Having a Difficulty in Pronouncing Basic Words?

We have collated a list of 306 frequently used and mispronounced words for you, where alongside every word is it's pronunciation in a simplified way, rather than in phonetics. Just put stress on the syllable in capitals to get the right pronunciation. You may either stretch or raise the volume of your voice on the capitalized syllable.

 

To start off, in case you do not know what a syllable is, let me tell you in the simplest form of English; it is nothing but word divisions, like Rosy can be divided into RO and ZEE. Similarly, Sunita can be broken into SU, NEE and TAA. Remember, the number of syllables in a word is equal to the number of times your lips change their movement…try it with the above 2 examples. Now try the work ‘encyclopedia’. How many syllables does this word have? Hope you guessed it as 6! See you got it now…isn’t that simple!!!

 

Pls note that these are simply part of neutral English, and not American or British sounds. This is mainly for our Asian audience.

 

1. Absolutely - aeb-suh-LOOT-li
2. Academics - aec-a-DEM-ics (Any word that ends in ---ic, ---ics, ---ical, ---ically, stress on the syllable just before it)
3. Academy - a-CAD-a-mee
4. Acid - ASS-id
5. Account - a-COUNT (not 'Eccount')
6. Activate - ACT-i-vate
7. Actually - AEK-chu'uh-li (not ec)
8. Addition - a-DIH-shn (not ADD-ishn) (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
9. Address - ADD-ress OR a-DRESS (Not 'ed')
10. Adjustable - ud-JUST-tb-bl
11. Admitted - ud-MITT-id
12. Adult - u-DULT or AE-dlt
13. Advantage - ud-VAAN-tij
14. Advertisement - add-VER-tiz-mnt
15. Aged - AYJ’d
16. Agency - AY-jn-see
17. Agreement - a-GREE-mnt
18. Alert - uh-LERT
19. Allergy - AE-ler-jee
20. Allows - a-LAOW (not ellow)
21. Already - all-RED-ee
22. Alsatian - ael-SAY-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
23. Alternative - Al-TER-nuh-tiv
24. America - uh-MEH-ri-kaa
25. Apologize - a-PAUL-a-jize
26. Applicable - ae-PLIC-uh-bl
27. Appreciation - a-pree-cee-AY-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
28. Appropriate - a-PRO-pri-ut
29. Approximate - a-PROX-i-mt
30. Arabic - AER-uh-bic
31. Artificial - are-ti-FISH-ul (Any word that FISH in it, remember to stress on it)
32. Assess - a-SESS
33. Asset - ASS-set
34. Asthma - AZMA
35. Atmosphere - AT-ms-phere
36. Avail - a-VAIL
37. Available - a-VELL-a-bl
38. Avenue - AE-ven-you
39. Awry - a-RYE
40. Balloon - bl-OON
41. Bandage - BAN-dj
42. Beginning - big-IN-ing
43. Bondage - BON-dj
44. Bough - BAAow (like Pow- wow, not like go)
45. Bowl - BOH’l (like goal)
46. Breakfast - BREK-f’st
47. Brochure - bro-SHORE
48. Buffet - BOO-fay or BUH-fay
49. Bury - BERR-i
50. Cabin - CAB-in
51. Calendar - CAL-ln-der
52. Career - cr-EE-er
53. Cassette - k-SETT
54. Catastrophe - c't-ASS-truh-fee
55. Chassis - CHAE-si (chae like cat)
56. Chic - (French) SHEEK
57. Chores - CHOrz (not kores)
58. Collateral - cl-LAT-er-rl
59. Comfortable - CUMF-t-bl
60. Commercial - cm-MER-shl
61. Communicate - cm-MEW-ni-cate
62. Communication - cm-mew-ni-KAY-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
63. Compatability - cum-pae-t-BIL-it-ee
64. Compensation - com-pen-SAY-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
65. Competition - com-pt-TISH-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
66. Competitive - cm-PET-a-tiv
67. Component - Cm-POE-n’nt
68. Compound - COM-pound (noun)
69. Compound - cum-POUND (verb)
70. Computer - cum-PEW-ter
71. Concept - CON-cept
72. Conclude - cn-CLUDE
73. Condemnation - con-dm-NAY-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
74. Condition - cn-DI-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
75. Condominium - con-dm-IN-ym
76. Conference - CON-frens
77. Configuration - cn-fig-ya-RAY-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
78. Confirmation - con-fur-MAY-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
79. Conflict - CON-flict
80. Congratulations - kng-rae-ch-LAY-shns (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
81. Consultancy - cun-SUL-t’n-si
82. Contact - CON-tact
83. Content - (noun) CON-tent
84. Content - (verb) Cn-TENT
85. Continue - cn-TIN-new
86. Contract - CON-tract (noun)
87. Contract - cn-TRACT (verb)
88. Controversy - cun-TRAW-ver-si
89. Conversation - con-ver-SAY-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
90. Corporation - cor-po-RAY-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
91. Corrupt - k-RRUPT
92. Cough - CAWf (like of)
93. Coverage - KUV-rj
94. Creature - CREE-cher (like teacher)
95. Credit - CRE-dit
96. Customer - KUS-t-mer
97. Cycle - SIGH-cl
98. Data - DAY-ta
99. Decade - DEC-ade
100. Decision - di-SI-zhn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
101. Deficiency - d-FISH-n-see (Any word that FISH in it, remember to stress on it)
102. Deliberate - (noun) d-LIB-r’t
103. Deliberate - (verb) d-lib-RATE
104. Delicate - DEL-i-kt
105. Delinquency - d-LIN-kwn-see
106. Deliver - d-LIVE-er
107. Demon - DEE-mun
108. Demonstrate - DEM-un-strate
109. Department - di-PART-mnt
110. Dependant - d-PEN-dnt
111. Desktop - DESK-top
112. Detail - DEE-tail
113. Development - d-VEL-up-mnt
114. Diet - DAA-ay-ut(Triphthong)
115. Division - di-VI-zhn
116. Drought - drAAOUt (like crowd)
117. Draught - drAAft
118. Duplex - DYOO-plex
119. Dynamism - die-NAE-mism
120. Economics - ee-k-NAW-mics (Any word that ends in ---ic, ---ics, ---ical, ---ically, stress on the syllable just before it)
121. Economy - i-CAW-n-mee
122. Electrician - i-lec-TRI-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
123. Electricity - i-lec-TRI-ci-ty
124. Embassy - EM-b'ssi
125. Emergency - i-MER-jn-see
126. Encore - (French) AAN-core
127. Encourage - en-KUR-rj
128. Engineer - en-jn-NEE-er
129. Enough - i-NUFF
130. Entourage - (French) AAN-tew-razh
131. Entrée - (French) AAN-tre
132. Entrepreneur - aan-tre-pre-NEWR
133. Envelop - (verb) en-VEL-lup
134. Envelope - AAN-ve-lope / EN-ve-lope
135. Environment - En-VI-rn-mnt
136. Equipment - i-KWUP-mnt
137. Estimate - ES-tm-mt
138. Event - i-VENT
139. Exam - i-XAEM (like pam)
140. Executive - eg-ZEC-ya-tiv
141. Expert - EX-pert
142. Facial - FAY-shl
143. Façade - f-SAAD
144. Facility - fs-SIL-a-tee
145. Faculty - FAC-l-tee
146. Family - FAM-uh-li (like Sam)
147. Fantastic - Fan-TASS-tic (Any word that ends in ---ic, ---ics, ---ical, ---ically, stress on the syllable just before it)
148. Faux Pas - (French) Fo-PAA (like low-paa)
149. Florist - FLAW-rist
150. Foreclosure - fore CLO zher
151. Forte - for-TAY
152. Gherkin - GER-kin
153. Government - GOVE-mnt (like love)
154. Gram - grAEm ( like Sam, ham, fan)
155. Gross - grOHss
156. H - AYCH (not etch)
157. Hard drive - HARD drive
158. Hardware - HARD ware
159. Hostel - HOSS-tell (like loss)
160. Hostess - HOES-tess (like toe)
161. Hotel - ho-TELL
162. Icon - i-CAWN
163. Idea - i-DEE-a
164. Immediately - i-MEE-diat
165. Industry - IN-ds-tree
166. Information - in-for-MAY-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
167. Initial - in-ISH-shl
168. Initiative - i-NISH-a-tiv
169. Inquiry - in-KWY-ree
170. Integral - IN-t-grl
171. Interest - IN-trst (not trust)
172. Interim - IN-ter-im
173. Interpret - In-TERR-pret
174. Internet - IN-ter-net
175. Interrogative - in-terr-AWG-a-tiv
176. Irreparable - ir-REP-r-bl
177. Jalapeno - Hal-uh-PAY-no
178. Kilometer - ki-LAW-mi-ter
179. Language - LANG-gu-ij
180. Lettuce - LET-iss
181. Logistics - Law-JIS-tics (Any word that ends in ---ic, ---ics, ---ical, ---ically, stress on the syllable just before it)
182. Lucrative - LOO-cr-tiv
183. Maintenance - MAIN-t-nens
184. Mandatory - MAN-day-tri / MAN-day-toe-ri
185. Maternity - Mt-ER-nt-tee
186. Maturity - M-CHYORE-a-tee
187. Mauve - MOH-vv (like go)
188. Menu - MEN-you
189. Messenger - MES-sn-jer
190. Methodology - Meth-DAW-l-gi
191. Mobile - MO-bile
192. Modem - MOE-dm
193. Monger - MUN-ger or MON-ger
194. Mortgage - MOR-gij
195. Mountain - MOUN-t’n
196. Naïve - naa-EVE
197. Necessary - NES-a-sr-ee
198. Necessity - ns-CES-a-tee
199. Nuance - NEW-aance
200. Official - uh-FISH-ul (Any word that FISH in it, remember to stress on it)
201. Only - OWN-li (not ‘awnly’)
202. Onion - UN-yn
203. Ordinance - OR-dn-nnce
204. Origination - a-rij-in-AY-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
205. Operating - AW-per-ay-ting
206. Occurred - a-CURD
207. Opponent - uh-POE-n'nt
208. Opportunity - aw-per-CHOO-n(uh)-tee (like copper)
209. Opposite - AWP-a-zit
210. Oregano - er-IG-uh-no or or-ee-GAE-no
211. Orchid - OR-kid
212. Parameter - p-RAM-i-ter
213. Participate - Per-TIS-i-payt
214. Particular - per-TIK-yoo-ler
215. Passenger - PAS-sn-jer
216. Pedestal - PE-des-tal
217. Penalty - PEN-nl-tee
218. Percentage - per-SEN-tij
219. Petite - (French) p-TEET
220. Petrol - PET-rl
221. Plumber - PLUH-mmer
222. Preliminary - Pri-lim-in-AIR-ee
223. Physiology - Fiz(i)-AW-logy
224. Police - pu-LEECE
225. Potato - p-TAY-toe
226. Poverty - PAW-ver-tee
227. Private - PRI-vt (not vate)
228. Pint - PIEnt (like Pine)
229. Pizza - (Italian) PEET-za
230. Prefer - Prif-ER
231. President - PREZ-a-dent
232. Precedent - PRE-si-dent (noun)
233. Premise - PRE-miss
234. Priority - pry-OR-a-tee
235. Process - PROH-cess, PRAW-cess (noun)
236. Process - pro-CESS (verb)
237. Processor - PRAW-se-sir
238. Product - PROH-duct, PRAW-duct
239. Probably - PRAW-b'b-lee
240. Pronounce - pro-NOUNCE
241. Pronunciation - pro-nun-ci-AY-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
242. Purchase - PUR-chz
243. Psychology - sy-CAW-l-gi
244. Question - QUES-chn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
245. Quiet - QuAA-ay-ut (like daa-ay-ut)
246. Radar - RAY-dar
247. Realize - REE-a-lise
248. Really - REE-a-lee
249. Receipt - ri-SEAT
250. Record - RE-curd (noun)
251. Record - ri-CORD (verb)
252. Recurring - ri-CURR-ing
253. Refer - rif-ER
254. Referral - Rif-ER-rl ('er' like bear)
255. Referred - ri-FERRD
256. Refurbished - REE-fur-bishd
257. Registry - RE-jis-tree (like red)
258. Reign - RAIN
259. Rendezvous - (French) RON-day-voo
260. Repetitive - Ri-PET-a-tiv
261. Representative - rep-rz-ZEN-t-tiv
262. Resource - REE-source
263. Sacred - SAYK-r’d
264. Salad - SAEL-ed (like pan)
265. Suite - SwEEt
266. Satire - SAE-tire
267. Sentence - SEN-tns
268. Sew - SO ( like go)
269. Sewer - SOOO-er
270. Support - s-PORT
271. Satisfaction - sat-iss-FAK-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
272. Software - SOFT-ware
273. Screw - SCROO
274. Signature - SIG-n(uh)-chr
275. Specific - Sp-SIF-fik (Any word that ends in ---ic, ---ics, ---ical, ---ically, stress on the syllable just before it)
276. Sponge - SPUN-j
277. Statistically - St-TIS-tik-a-li (Any word that ends in ---ic, ---ics, ---ical, ---ically, stress on the syllable just before it)
278. Statistics - St-TIS-tics (Any word that ends in ---ic, ---ics, ---ical, ---ically, stress on the syllable just before it)
279. Suave - SOOAAV
280. Success - sk-CESS
281. Suggestion - s-JESS-chn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
282. Suicide - SOO-a-side
283. Surprise - Sur-PRIZE
284. Technology - Tech-NAW-l-gi
285. Terrific - t-RIFF-ic (Any word that ends in ---ic, ---ics, ---ical, ---ically, stress on the syllable just before it)
286. Today - to-DAY
287. Toll free - TOLE-free
288. Tooth - TOOOth (not tuth)
289. Truth - trOOth
290. Tour - TOO-er
291. Tuition - tyoo-ISH-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
292. Unless - un-LESS
293. Until - un-TILL
294. Update - UP-date
295. Upgrade - UP-grade
296. Vacancy - VAY-cn-si
297. Valet - VAE-lay
298. Valve - VALLv (not vaelve or vaalv)
299. Vegetable - VEG-t-ble
300. Verification - ver-a-fik-AY-shn (Any word ending with ---tion, ---sion, ---cion, please stress on the syllable just before it - these syllables are pronounced as 'shun' of 'zhun')
301. Wafer - WAY-fer
302. Wednesday - WENZ-day
303. Women - WI-men
304. Worm - WERM
305. Year - Yyyear
306. Zero - ZEE-ro

Now, all that you have to do is, just be cautious while talking. Speak slow to ensure that you get the pronunciations right.

All the Best! 

10 Key Elements to use your Voice to Speak Confidently

Studies have shown that people who speak better than others are perceived as being able to attract attention easily, stimulating, exhilarating and intelligent…and oh! Guess what? They make more money as well…name any good speaker you can think of, Shiv Khera, Oprah Whinfrey, etc…

 

One quote, by a very famous speaker that I always remember is, “If everything in the world is taken away from me, except the gift of speech, I can earn back everything that I have lost”. Such is the power of speaking effectively. Here, I wish to draw your focus towards the gift of voice that each of us possesses. The question is – do we use it to the fullest? Have we ever noticed that people who stammer and stutter while talking, sing beautifully? Have we ever taken a soft-spoken manager for granted? Have we ever felt dominated by a person just because of the way he talks? Well, if you notice, all of this is linked with voice and speaking skills.

 

If you are aggressive, it will not only appear in your work, but also in the way you communicate with your colleagues, family, friends. A docile person will always be dominated and don’t blame the world for it…I will blame YOU alone. ‘X’ will dominate, if YOU let him do so. All you have to do is, use your voice effectively and that will happen once you gain the confidence towards it. Let’s see how you can attain this level for yourself:

 

1. To start off with, practice some simple breathing exercises. We have heard of the breathe in and out exercises. While practicing it, just remember that if you breathe in, in say, 3 seconds, breathe out in 6. Start with 15 minutes a day, thereafter, continue it for at least 30 to 45 minutes daily. You will realize that you will never get breathless while talking.
2. Look into the eye of the person while talking to him. It shows that you are confident about what you are saying and that you know your content well. If he is trying to dominate you, he will not be able to; just don’t take your eyes away from his eyes.
3. A confident voice does not have to be loud; it just needs to have the right intention, which puts the listeners into a thinking and responsive mode. All you have to do is attack the emotional quotient of your listener…that’s it!
4. Get your grammar correct. You will only lose a lost battle even more, if your grammar is out to graze the grass. This clearly means that you should speak as much in the language of your communication as possible, in order to make mistakes and learn out of them. (Remember the energy drink advertisement on TV, where a young gymnast challenges his board, by saying that “Mum says that I can make as many mistakes while practicing, but in the finals, there is no scope for mistakes). Speak with people who you are comfortable correcting you and then reach out for your prey.
5. Open your mouth while talking. If you speak with your lips close enough, you will only encourage a ‘bored to death’ audience. Use your jaw muscles to talk, so that you don’t encourage murmurs of people enquiring what you ‘thus spake’.
6. Hold your head high while talking. You don’t have to be ashamed of anything while speaking. On doing this gesture, the throw of your words will be distant and crystal clear.
7. You don’t have to be loud; just have the right volume and pitch while addressing an audience.
8. Speak with some rhythm, rather than sounding monotone. If not, be ready for some tomatoes and eggs.
9. If you carry and MTI (mother-tongue-influence), please work on reduction of the same, else, don’t be surprised to see a laughing face in your audience.
10. Have the right rate of speech. Neither do we expect to hear an Azharuddin nor do we expect an AB Vajpayee. Speak at a pace in which your audience can understand and comprehend you, else they will lose interest in your spiel.

 

Just try and follow these simple and ‘tried and tested’ steps towards a more persuasive, expressive and powerful voice. Such voice control will take you places…I guarantee it!

Nothing to Do...Let's conduct a Meeting!

Off to take another meeting for your team members?

Think twice…Have you prepared for it? Are you one of those, who decides to meet his team for 30 min, but ends up spending at least 60 min, if not more? If not, do you have a manager who is perceived to be like this? If that’s the case, go on and read…

Every meeting is like an election…if conducted in the right way, it results in a beautiful country; if not, it leads to complete devastation. As you climb higher on the corporate ladder, and as your business grows, meetings will become an inevitable part of your life; esp. for the people who are related with the high-profile jobs associated with the business, the strategies and working of it – they seem to be running on the wheels of these meetings.

People spend so much time in meetings, that turning meeting time into sustained results is a priority for successful organizations. To ensure that you indulge in an effective and efficient meeting, your actions should be linked to ‘management of the meeting’; otherwise, your meetings will not bear the fruit you desire from the time you invest in meeting.

Most managers I meet, say that they don’t have the time to meet their team members formally, but they will chat over a cup of coffee periodically. The trouble is, although they think they are saving time by having a fleeting meeting now and then, in reality they are almost certainly wasting more time than if they sat down with a proper agenda, and conducted a fully minuted meeting.

Few basic ways and means to ensure that you are known as a great meeting chairperson are as follows:

1. Venue: Remember to book a venue for the meeting way in advance. It is bad corporate etiquette to barge into a room without booking it. Depending on the number of participants, you may book a conference room, or a 2 to 4-seater meeting room.

2. Agenda: Have the meeting agenda in place. When you send the invite to the participants, ensure you attach the agenda in your email. Before the meeting commences, if possible, take printouts of it and place it on the chair of the attendees. Additionally, you may even use the whiteboard or the flipchart to write the agenda for all to see. This really helps, esp at a time, when participants try to digress from the key topic of discussion. An agenda gives a sense of direction for the meeting. If you feel that anyone is talking boundlessly, no one is stopping you from requesting him to stop and take the conversation offline. Remember, by doing this, people around may get unhappy initially, but, gradually, will realize that you value yours and the participant’s time.

3. Frequency: Don’t conduct meetings at the drop of a hat. You will lose your importance and respect. Call for a meeting only if it is absolutely essential and that too, as spoken above, for a stipulated duration. Remember, you too have work to finish; if not, then, what are you doing in the organization?

4. Come to the Point ASAP: Always good to start by asking holistic questions and then moving on to the real business. It pacifies the participants and makes them receptive to the rest of the discussion. Don’t make the audience say, “When our boss has nothing to do, he calls a meeting”.

5. Listen: Walk the talk before you expect anyone to listen to you. Give all an opportunity to express their views…well, that is why they were invited, right? A anonymous study claims that in a 15 min presentation, only 50% of the information is retained. Remove all barriers to listening, including, information overload, unidentified and hidden emotions amongst the participants, phone calls, complicated language / heavy on accent, etc…

6. Non-verbal communication: Carry an open body language without crossing your arms. Look at the participant when he speaks, as it makes him feel important that his point is being listened to carefully. Use your head to nod as and when required. Be wary of others body language as well.

7. Time Management: This is again linked to point 2 and 3; however, very critical to be handled separately. Only if you start the meeting on time, will you be able to end it on or before time. The room that you have blocked may be required by another party on exigency. Besides, everyone plans their work according to the 9 hours given to them for work. More than anything else, the participant connect will be stronger if you stick to timelines, as they will stop getting distracted by their watches.

8. Meetings over Lunch: It is never recommended that you have critical meetings during lunch; even if it is your sales numbers meeting. Neither can all participants concentrate on the discussion, nor will they be able to eat their food peacefully. Remember, one of the reasons why you work so hard is, so that you eat good food which is consumed in a disciplined way. Half of our health problems flank us because of our bad eating habits.

9. MOM: It is very critical to have clear documentation of whatever is discussed in the meeting room. Post the meeting, it needs to be shared with the participants, so that implementation of tasks and progress report is mapped from the time the task is in ‘WIP’ (Work in Progress) to ‘Completed’. The MOM should have a standardized template as well. Before closing the meeting, the organizer should summarize the MOM for all as a reiteration. Post that it should be emailed to all.

10. Seek Feedback: Don’t think that if you are the HOD, you are perfect in terms of conducting meetings. There is always scope for improvement to ensure that your next meeting is more effective. By doing this, your team and colleagues will demonstrate more respect for you.

The way you end your meeting is just as important as how you open and run the meeting. Ensure to thank people for their time and inputs. This is basic etiquette.

So, how will you conduct your meeting today?

Is your career in YOUR hands?

So, what do you think – Is your career in your hands? Or your manager’s?

Well, let’s see! Some are of the perspective that it is completely in the individual’s hands; while another school of thought agrees that it is the manager. Let’s look at each angle separately.

‘Your career is your hands’: Oh yes…very much it is and in fact we get to listen to this statement almost during every review meeting or appraisal cycle and I don’t find anything wrong in the fact that a person has to hunt for his own meat for survival. If we feel that we are not getting opportunities towards career progression, well then, learn to create them. Discuss your situation with your manager putting your point across in a manner that he recognizes that you are becoming bitter, not better. Besides, think about it, it will make him realize that you have a “strong urge of willingness and drive to excel in the organization” (Michael Freeman). Furthermore, Bob Ebers feels that all development is self development. To think otherwise sets up unhealthy dependencies and will lead to disappointment. Just thinking of the proverb, ‘God helps those who help themselves’ 

Your career is in your managers hands: Well...well...well, let me re-phrase this to a more frequently heard testimonial: “My career is in my manager’s hands and he does not care about it one bit!” This takes us to a completely different tangent, where the onus lies with the manager. In this regard, Tiffany Murray states that a "good" manager will help to identify opportunities to assist the employee along on their career path. Michael Burgess rightly states that managers have a responsibility for creating career opportunities, for identifying "blockers" to career progression and for working out ways to navigate a person’s career around them. Your manager knows you very well and should ideally allocate work and tasks on that basis. He should be skilled enough to shower you with challenging tasks, so that you are out of monotony and you work towards your efficiency and effectiveness. The new phrase these days is that employees do not leave companies, but they leave because there is nothing challenging left for them.

How about those situations when the manager gives complete support in terms of showing opportunities to team members to prove their mettle; however, the individuals do not build upon it? Thus it is indeed imperative that WE OWN 70% of our career, while our managers own about 20%. Well then, what does the remaining 10% comprise? This, my dear readers, is in the hands of our market conditions, which at times, we label as ‘destiny’. I would like to include situations like recession here (quoted by Venugopal, an Aircel employee).

Think about it!

As managers and as reportees to him, the art and skill of giving and receiving feedback is essential for a positive relationship. You take the steps towards progression; give your 100% and convince your manager to guide your ship through the rough corporate high tide ocean, where everyone is ready to pull each other down. Managers should inculcate this skill of working smartly, rather than hard or in fact, hardly. Richard Daugherty has rightly stated that while it is our inherent duty to be stewards of our path, a manager can provide insights and highlight talents that we may never notice in ourselves. Nina Chakaramakil from Aircel and Ophealia deRoze also feels that a manager will show us the path, but it is totally in our hands to tread on the path or not.

WHO DO YOU THINK CONTROLS YOUR CAREER?

Today’s Tacit Management Rules

For the last couple of days, I have been thinking about this topic for quite sometime now and finally came to a conclusion which I thought that I should share with you. MBA students undergo proper sessions on management for 2 years which carry lots of credence in their resume. If studied well and diligently, you might even do well professionally; however, what is not shared there are some very practical, yet hidden rules which are practiced more often than what we studied for these 24 months. Let’s take a quick sneak peak at them.

• Challenge the Status Quo. For this it is first and foremost critical that you demonstrate the art of questioning at the right time to the right person in the right manner.
• Read between the lines for what is the missing context. Many know how to improve what's there; few can see what isn't there.
• Delivering a business presentation: When something appears on a slide in your PowerPoint, assume the world knows about it and deal with it accordingly.
• Don’t work FOR anyone; work WITH…just work FOR YOURSELF
• Remember, if you are heading a team, you MANAGE IT, you don’t BOSS IT.
• Have the mettle to share things with your manager and people around – communicate verbally more than clogging everyone’s mailbox with a series of emails.
• Constantly review developments to make sure that the actual benefits are what they were supposed to be.
• Set your expectations right at the workplace…do you really want to take calls once you reach home in the evening or probably when you are holidaying or rather when you are living the most cherished moment of your life? Believe me, some of you will say that “I am in a Sales function, so even if it is late night, I still have to take my manager’s calls”…This is absolutely crap. There is no selling which is done once the markets close after 2100 hrs and moreover if you have to share day-end figures, why not just communicate them next day, first thing in the morning…Am sure there is no business review which is scheduled at 2200 hrs, for which your manager needs the figures immediately at night! Remember, YOU HAVE TO SET YOUR PRIORITIES RIGHT.
• Don’t be known as a good starter, but a poor finisher…if you have taken accountability of a task…OWN IT from womb to tomb. 
• If you are a manager, keep in mind that you need to get the work done by your team; which means that only if you care for them, will they demonstrate care for you.
• Confirm the instructions you give others, and their commitments, in writing. Don't assume it will get done.
• Project your work to the hilt. Remember, if you don’t make your colleagues and team members realize how you have impacted the business / work culture, no one will. Don’t expect that your manager will flash your work, no matter how good he is. (Even God helps those who help themselves).
• Have your numbers right…you should know them at the tip of your tongue whenever, wherever and in front of whoever. It enhances your credibility and people start looking up to you.
• Give only as much information as is required. No need to open the entire Pandora’s box.
• Be selfish with information by learning to keep certain information to yourself; however, don’t forget that when it comes to your team, be as much transparent as is possible. Let them feel connected and engaged.
• Don’t promise if you cannot deliver. As Indians, we have lived in a culture of not saying ‘NO’. Well, if you want to survive in this Amazonian corporate forest, say NO.
• Always keep your manager informed with what you are doing…in case you are stuck only he can save your skin.
• Instead of writing a negative feedback on email or message, walk up to the person and have the strength to share your thoughts in person. If you cant do it in person, then work on improving your communication skills before pointing fingers at anyone else.
• Let your team take the credit of the good things that are done. (Don’t worry people know that they would have done it under your guidance). Stand at the forefront protecting them in case there has been a flaw from anyone in the team.
• Remember, YOU create the culture of your team…watch out for all your habits – your work timings, style of speaking and carrying yourself, crisis management, etc…just everything. They will replicate you to a very large extent.
• Instead of giving solutions, let them come up with options to solve an existing problem. This way they will also feel empowered and will start taking responsibility for what they do.
• Don’t ever lose your sense of humor, no matter what role you play in the organization. You want to be felt approachable by other colleagues. Besides, it is very important to have fun while working, else monotony and work pressure will kill you.
• Appreciations are good (all do it to make the other feel great, you never know when you might need him); but also ensure that genuine feedback on areas of improvement is shared.
• You remember 1/3 of what you read, 1/2 of what people tell you, but 100% of what you feel 
• One-up Funda - Once you become a manager, from day 1, start behaving and thinking like a senior manager, otherwise don’t be surprised if you are at the same designation for 3, 4 or more number of years.
• A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter, or to others, is not a nice person (this rule never fails)
• Think creative and start taking risk. Safety is just an illusion in today’s workplace. Just grab the right opportunity or rather create it and capture it…success will follow. Inventions and discoveries happen only to people who take risk.

 

Feel free to share your feedback on this post...

Finding it Challenging Staying Fit @ Work? Read and enjoy...

This one is especially for all you office people out there – how many of you feel fatigued, low on energy and slack when at work? Is it because most of us have sitting jobs? Well, if the answer is yes, then you have reached the correct page to find out practical and self-tested ways to feel energetic at work.

“0930 hrs – Lemme quickly prepare my to-do’s list for the day” …and once, we start, the pen goes on and on and on… There is an instant depletion of energy at the sight of this never-ending list. Well, believe it or not, exercising in this scenario keeps you pumped for the day. Did I scare you with this solution? Did you just say, “Oh I just won’t have the time…there’s too much work pressure”? Let me share some simple and workable solutions:

1. Walk as much as you can:
• The moment you get a phone call, get up from your desk and walk out to receive it. This way, you will also not disturb your colleagues and you end up exercising with a 2 minutes walk. You will burn 25% more calories.
• Buy a headset for your phone, so that when you talk while moving you are free to swing your hands as well.
• After lunch, no matter how light or heavy, walk in the parking space of your office, or any other close-by location with flat ground. The food needs to pass through your internal system smoothly. You will also energize physically and mentally.
• In case your printer is located at a distance from your desk, don’t request house-keeping or the office boys to get the print-outs for you, rather, walk up to it and take it yourself.
• Elevators are a much easier option, but remember, short-cuts are often wrong-cuts. In this case, for your health. Take the stairs, rather better than this; you can pump up the intensity by taking 2 stairs at a time.
• Clean / re-set your drawers once a week. This movement makes you lose a fair amount of calories.
• When you have to deliver a presentation, don’t be lazy. Move your lower side, stand and like a thorough professional, use the empty space to deliver your spiel.
• Set an alarm to go off every hour to remind you to stand up and move around. Even if you just swing your arms or take a deep breath, you'll feel more alert.
• Use a pedometer and keep track of how many steps you take. Aim for 6,000 to 10,000 steps a day. This is an android feature and most other phones also have this special trait.
• Wear tennis shoes to work, rather than your stilettos. You may change when at work.
2. Resist
• Guess what! You can work-out your abs sitting at your desk too. Take a 5 minutes break every 1 hour and while sitting upright on your chair, gently lower your torso so that your chest and thighs touch each other. Hold this position for 5 seconds. Repeat this at least 6 to 8 times.
• Keep resistance bands or tubes in your desk drawer. Take 2 minutes of every hour of your work day and complete 1 strength training exercise with the resistance band/tube. Anything you can do with free weights, you can do with a resistance band/tube.
• Bicep Curl: If standing, place tube or band securely under your feet while keeping the abdominals tight to protect your back. Keep palms forward and elbows tucked into the side of your rib cage. Curl the tube or band up toward body and slowly release down returning to start position. If seated, sit on the edge of the chair with your back straight or neutral and repeat as if you were in the standing position.
• Since most of us travel to office by local transport, we understand that you have to wait on the street for quite some time. Here, you can do extra-slow calf raises: let your heels hang off the edge, and contract your calves to lift to tiptoes, 4 seconds up and 4 seconds down. Tighten abs and buttocks to help you balance, so you don't have to grab a sign post.
3. Check your food habits:
• Drinking warm water instead of coffee or the usual cold water helps in burning loads of calories per consumption.
• Eat food which is cooked in ‘Extra Light Olive Oil’.
• The more the vegetables, the better…the less the ‘masala’ the better.
• Have at least 5 meals in a day – breakfast, snacks at 1100 hrs, lunch by 1330 hrs, evening tea / snacks at 1630 hrs and dinner before 2000 hrs.
• Remember no salt post 2000 hrs.
• Green tea is an excellent anti-oxidant. It lowers the risk of cancer, arthritis, dental problems and heart-attacks. Additionally, it raises immunity. 3 cups in a day are good enough.
• Come out of potatoes and ghee. Try it for 21 days, post which it will become a habit.
• Start your meal with a big bowl of salad. By the time you finish, you will already feel a little stuffed and hence, will avoid eating a heavy paratha or rice oriented lunch. 1 to 2 thin chapattis are good enough with a bowl of dal.
• Move to multi-grain flour brown rice / bread.
• Limit rajmah, kadhi, chole and other such rich foods to 1 such dish in a week.

Woooosh! Now this was quite a bit.

Believe me; all of this is practical and self-tested. I practiced most of this and was perfectly fit and away from physical ailments. Now, after 2 years I have got back to this regime…thanks to my husband, Raman Bansal and a dear friend Sunaina Nargis (once you click, scroll down and click on Supplements HT City section page 6), who motivated me to look chic and sleek all over again after 2 years of this gap.

Remember – HEALTH IS WEALTH…What’s the point if the money you earn every month is spent in hospitals and clinics?

Preach and Practice - Which is Easier?

Life is a paradox in itself…there are contradictions at every step. While making your New Year resolutions, one of them is surely linked with health – mine too was to eat less sweet, and here I am, just can’t come out of sweet. Similarly, people say that they want to work in organizations that provide them with job contentment, but don’t most of them end-up chasing the paycheck with the maximum digits?

People like you and me will believe in lots of things and will also talk about it all the time, giving ‘gyaan’ to others surrounding us; however, how much of it, do we REALLY practice? Well, my answer to it is – It is impossible to do it completely.

I may not be able to lessen 100% of the weight of contradiction that we undergo every single day; however, I may be able to guide you towards the first step in lessening their impact on your life.

I will take you to the days when we were studying Cognitive Dissonance in our Psychology class. This indeed sounds like a fancy term, but refers to something extremely simple. It refers to the feeling of discomfort that results from holding two contradictory ideas (To Be or Not to Be…!). This happens when we believe in eating healthy food, but cannot resist Pizza Hut. It also happens when we believe in time management but the other person always keeps us waiting. In such a situation, you can make only 2 decisions – first is to rationalize that “the other person is always late because of which my tasks get affected and delayed in the process”. The second is to believe that either it is wrong to be good time manager or wrong to expect that everyone is as good a time manager as you. The reality is that it is indeed easier to rationalize (that’s what we think)…but much more challenging, yet important to change our expectations from all around us.

Once you start being truthful with yourself, just start questioning what you do and why you do it. So much of whatever we do is a result of sheer conditioning and habituation. We do things because we have always been doing it. This makes it all the more important to start questioning these things: Why am I doing what I'm doing? Why do I believe what I believe? More often than not, we'll see that the real answer to those questions is: because I've been told/conditioned/manipulated, etc. to do so. Then, and only then (once this is acknowledged), can we start living true to ourselves. Thus, it's important to question both what we preach and what we practice. Maybe we'll see that one, either, or even both aren't really based on anything valid at all, but rather conditioning, fear, and basic selfish desire.

My next thought leads me towards self-control. The most important thing here is, if you have knowledge of something – believe it in first honestly. You know that junk food is bad for health, but do you believe in it? Don’t you keep proliferating this to everyone, but still end up lying to yourself by eating those scrumptious ‘pani-puri’s’? Well, first Believe! The next step is to begin with little steps.

I remember, I used to work for 15 to 16 hours, without feeling tired; but, gradually realized that it started taking a toll on my personal and social life. This realization did not lead to a magical, over-night change. It took me time to shift my behaviors and habits to what I believed were true and here I am today working from 0930 to 1830 hrs, giving complete effectiveness and efficiency at work and of course, having lots of time for myself, family and friends.

You will realize that this post talks about the core of how we change things in our lifestyle. The trick is to just be honest with the person called ME. Remember, rationalization is so powerful that it always gives us false faith that we are right.