Hire and Retain the Tech Talent We Need

Harvard Business Review tells us how to Hire and Retain the Tech Talent We Need

It’s tough to hire good talent right now — and that’s especially true when it comes to employees with technical skills, who are in particularly high demand. To identify and attract top tech talent, regardless of your industry, try these three approaches:

• Take a broad view of the talent pool: Don’t just stick with the typical sources of recruits. Objectively testing for capabilities and skills, rather than relying on past experience, credentials, and connections will open up more opportunities for underrepresented candidates and widen your company’s talent funnel.
• Highlight access to senior leaders: The best talent wants to work in places where they can have real impact and their voices are heard. Make clear that senior managers are visible and willing to engage directly with employees.
• Foster a culture of coaching and development: High-quality tech employees will expect opportunities to continually improve their skills, and a focus on development will allow you to bring in candidates who have the right capabilities, but not necessarily the experience. Garnering a reputation for investing in your people will bring in a high-caliber, diverse workforce.

Interested to know more?

Read the complete article at: https://hbr.org/2021/11/how-to-attract-top-tech-talent

HBR Tells us to --> Put “Me Time” on Your Schedule

  Harvard Business Review tells us to Put “Me Time” on Your Schedule

    Many of us are so focused on doing it all that we forget to carve out time for ourselves. But ensuring your own health and happiness is critical. So give yourself permission to take care of yourself — now. If you put off self-care until work is less busy, your kids are back in school, your house is in order, or some other circumstances are exactly right, you may never get to it. 

    Start with the basics: We all need sleep, food, and exercise. Ask yourself where you’re deficient and what you can do about it. 
    Next, ensure self-care is your schedule. Determine how much time you have and what you can do with that time. Then block it off on your calendar — and stick to it. 
    Be sure to prepare yourself for “me time” by eliminating potential distractions or friction between you and your goal. For example, set a sleep alarm on your phone or lay out your workout clothes the night before. 
    Finally, set firm boundaries by being clear with others about when you’ll be turning your full attention to yourself

Interested to know more?

Read the complete article at:

https://hbr.org/2021/04/make-time-for-me-time?utm_medium=email

An 'Amazing Gesture' from our dear friends from Israel for Diwali

An 'Amazing Gesture' from our dear friends from Israel for Diwali

Happy Diwali!

Diwali Greeting in Broken Hindi and Even More Broken Marathi...

Living with Corona Times -- HBR tells us to Help Your Team Innovate with Urgency

 Harvard Business Review tells us to Help Your Team Innovate with Urgency

The pandemic has shown us how crisis can lead to rapid innovation.

Just look at all of the companies that quickly pivoted to curbside pickup or adapted their services to new health regulations.

How can a leader help their team retain this agility and sense of urgency even when there’s no crisis?

Here are three tips.

1. First, engage in small experiments. Think about change not as a big project, but as a series of tests that help you quickly learn what works, what doesn’t, and what it takes to execute an idea.

2. Next, challenge your team to set goals that are short-term, high-priority, and challenging — and that are completely unrelated to their existing tasks and projects. The point isn’t necessarily to achieve those goals, but to see what possible innovations may come of it.

3. Finally, lean in and get personally involved. For an innovation to take off, leaders need to be actively invested.

 Don’t wait for the next crisis to motivate your team; set the conditions for proactive — not reactive — innovation now.

 

Interested to know more?

Read the complete article at:

https://hbr.org/2020/09/innovate-with-urgency-even-when-theres-no-crisis

HBR Tells us What Efficient Mentorship Looks Like...

 Harvard Business Review tells us What Efficient Mentorship Looks Like...

While being a mentor brings purpose and satisfaction, it can also be draining. 

Fortunately, it's possible to do the role justice in a manner that benefits mentees — growing their confidence and their network — but also conserves your energy. 

Start by outlining your baseline expectations. For example, explain that the mentee should set the agenda, send the calendar invite, and arrive promptly to meetings. 

Be clear about how much time you have available for the relationship — you can even establish an annual number of hours up front. 

Also, think about how you structure your meetings. If you're mentoring multiple people, consider doing a group call or meeting. Not only will this be more efficient for you, it will also introduce your mentees to each other, opening the door for peer-to-peer mentorship and networking. 

Finally, think about how other professional obligations might double as mentoring opportunities. Could you invite your mentee to a webinar or a work event that you plan to attend? This will give you more time with your mentee and allow them to learn from your interests and networking skills. 

Interested to know more?
Read the complete article at:

https://hbr.org/2020/08/what-efficient-mentorship-looks-like?utm_medium=email

Indian National anthem being played on Iranian Santoor by an Iranian instrumentalist

Indian National anthem being played on Iranian Santoor by an Iranian instrumentalist is superb, fascinating and melodious.

Salute to this beautiful artist.🌹🌹👆

IKEA has redeemed itself -- Lamp Spike Jonze (2002 and 2018)

Even after 16 years, people never forgot the IKEA original commercial.

People didn't like IKEA because of this commercial and boycotted them because of it.

I never thought there would be a sequel.

Now IKEA has redeemed itself. They are now in my good books.

All people wanted at that time was for that poor lamp to find a home.

I never agreed to throwing out useful items that still had some life left in them.

Now that has finally happened and I'm so happy. :)

Somehow throughout the Corona journey, I managed to keep my Sunny Side Up!

  

  Although Corona recovery was a roller-coaster ride, the above title pretty much sums up my Corona journey. What started as a simple symptom of fever eventually put me into thinking – what really matters the most in life is our health and family.

    Did I mention family? My whole family tested Corona positive one after another and everyone was hospitalized. In hindsight, what we overlooked was un-controlled deliveries to home which could be a potential cause. To be truthful, you never really know how you can contact the virus; so stay home, wear a mask, and keep social distancing.

    After all, it was not so scary for us. Corona effects started showing up and my home quarantine took an interesting turn. Initially, I was skeptical, but I got a lot of time to introspect on what I really wanted. The OTT platform was a saviour and I watched all 4 seasons of “Money Heist” in the 2 weeks 😊

    It was also not completely rosy as we were stuck by Remdesivir injection shortage. This is where both family and friends chipped in for the search and to get the same. I am a part of Amdocs Blossom Volunteers, which now has a WhatsApp group, which is helping many people. This is in addition to the Amdocs Covid Helpdesk which is an amazing initiative. A worthwhile mention of Amdocs Medi-assist team especially Pramod, who helped me on a holiday to close my hospital billing and discharge formalities

    However, it was a good learning experience. My recommendation to others is don’t freak out if you get infected. Being vaccinated helps as it reduces the risk of severe infections. And use this time to chill, introspect, and catch up on stuff you always want to do.

   COVID-19 has taught me that ‘If you can’t go outside, go inside the refrigerator or yourself... 

Actually, go inside first, always. Regardless of what is happening outside 🕉💖☯️

Continuing the Cloud Journey.. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

 Happy to be AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner today...

On the Cloud Journey...
View my verified achievement from Amazon Web Services (AWS) at:

https://www.credly.com/badges/d0341264-1af2-4ba6-844e-fd6581e23275/public_url

Living with Corona Times -- HBR tells us to Negotiate a WFH Strategy with our Partner

Harvard Business Review tells us to Negotiate a WFH Strategy with our Partner

In Corona times, If you're living with a partner or spouse right now, and you're both working from home, you're probably bumping up against a few challenges when it comes to what’s fair and equitable. 

That's okay, but don’t let resentments fester or inequities grow. It might be time to negotiate — or renegotiate — the division between work and family roles. 

Start by addressing small frustrations and annoyances as they come up throughout the workday. If your partner's loud typing disrupts your focus, for example, talk about it before you smash their keyboard. 

Next, be explicit about what you need from your partner when it comes to housework. Have an open conversation about roles and responsibilities to proactively arrive at an equitable solution. 

Then, instead of declaring “problem solved,” check in with each other regularly to make sure your arrangement still works for you both. Your needs will change over time, so be prepared to improvise and innovate. 

Couples who reframe this challenging moment as an opportunity to share and better understand each other’s needs will emerge with a stronger, more supportive relationship. 

Interested to know more?

Read the complete article at:

https://hbr.org/2020/12/how-couples-can-find-balance-while-working-from-home?utm_medium=email

Join us for the Design Carnival...

     If you are keen to enhance your overall Innovation Skills such as Problem Identification, Creatively Thinking, Visual Communications, Innovation Storycrafting, Capturing Insights, Why Integrity is important & knowing the art of Trendspotting.

Then, Join us to Discover a new way of thinking and Innovating for The Everyday Innovator

#innovation #leadership #designthinking

#DesignCarnival #AmdocsInnovation 

In Corona Times -- 6 Strategies for Leading Through Uncertainty

  In Corona Times -- HBR advices us on 6 Strategies for Leading Through Uncertainty

Uncertainty is unavoidable. As a manager, you need to be prepared to lead your team through murky waters, but doing so requires getting in the right mindset yourself. Here are six tips to help you shift your perspective:

1. Embrace the discomfort of not knowing. Move from a know-it-all to a learn-it-all mindset. You don’t need to have all the answers.
2. Distinguish between "complicated" and "complex" issues. They require different solutions.
3. Let go of perfectionism. Instead, aim for progress, expect mistakes, and recognize that you have the ability to continually course correct as needed.
4. Resist the urge to oversimplify and come to quick conclusions. Take a disciplined approach to understanding both the complexity of the situation and your own biases.
5. Don’t go it alone. Connect with your peers who have their own set of experiences and perspectives to draw from.
6. Zoom out. Taking a broad, systemic view of the issues at hand can reveal unexamined assumptions that would otherwise be invisible

Interested to know more?
Read the complete article at:

https://hbr.org/2021/04/6-strategies-for-leading-through-uncertainty?utm_medium=email

In Corona Times -- 7 Ways to De-stress When You Can’t Go Outside

 In Corona Times -- 7 Ways to De-stress When You Can’t Go Outside by HBR

It can feel like stress is unavoidable these days.

Changes to how we live and work, social isolation, and anxiety about health and finances are triggering us and exacerbating our emotions.

If you feel like you’re cracking under the weight of the past year, try introducing some of these simple, proven habits into your day:

1. Move, move, move. Any exercise is a fantastic stress reliever.

2. Breathe. Practice meditation and mindfulness exercises to tame your mind.

3. Blow bubbles.  The act of blowing bubbles requires you to take a deep breath (increasing the intake of oxygen in your body) before releasing the air in your lungs.

The increased oxygen in your body sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax.

4. Journal. Writing can help us unpack what’s going on inside. Start by documenting what you’re grateful for each day.

5. Laugh. Watch a funny show, call a funny friend, and feel some joy.

6. Find your flow. What activity or task demands your deepest focus?

7. Listen to music. Research proves that it helps us relax.

Interested to know more?
Read the complete article at:

https://hbr.org/2021/01/7-ways-to-de-stress-when-you-cant-go-outside?utm_medium=email

The Ultimate Truth

Beautiful redention in an equally Beautiful Background of Adi Yogi Mahakal

Happy to feature on the Amdocs Community Relations Facebook Page

 

I'm happy to feature on the Amdocs Community Relations Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/AmdocsCommunityRelations/posts/3452249621503341

Follow the link and the post is as below:

The Amdocs Mentorship Program allows our colleagues to learn, interact and grow with their Mentees through this wonderful journey!

Sanjay Ishwarlal Upadhyay, our Amdocs Mentor from Pune shares some snippets from his mentorship experience:

"Our mentorship journey was exciting and rewarding at the same time. Keeping in mind that there was a lockdown in place in Pune – we used to regularly catch – up through virtual calls. This was a blessing in disguise, allowing us more time and flexibility in our daily calendars.

There was much to learn for both of us and we decided to focus on her interview skills, enhanced networking as well as corporate readiness. My mentee was facing several corporate job interviews and I could harness my experience in this sector to help her prepare.

Mission Accomplished: In August, my Mentee secured a job of her liking and it was a joyous moment not only for her, but also for me. As a Mentor it is extremely rewarding to see your Mentee achieve their goals

As our Mentorship journey comes to an end, I have nominated myself to be a Mentor again and I am equally excited for this new chapter"

#Impact #mentorshipprogram #corporatementoring #CSR

HBR Tells us How Leaders Have a Crucial Role to Play in Covid-19 Vaccinations

 Harvard Business Review tells us How Leaders Have a Crucial Role to Play in Covid-19 Vaccinations

Now that the first Covid-19 vaccines are being rolled out in many parts of the world, a major challenge is persuading people to take them. 
Corporate leaders can help amplify and increase trust in the messages from public health officials. 

Start by understanding how your employees feel. For example, does anyone have cultural beliefs that may dissuade them from getting vaccinated? 
Next, work together with public health officials to create targeted messaging around the goals, safety, benefits, and latest news. 
Finally, be sure that people in your workforce don’t have to choose between getting paid and staying healthy. This means creating policies that protect wages and providing paid time off for vaccination and health care treatment. 

By joining the campaign to persuade people to get vaccinated, Leaders will not only help themselves, they will also help society overcome sentiments that are a danger to us all. 

Interested to know more?
Read the complete article at:

https://hbr.org/2020/12/employers-have-a-crucial-role-to-play-in-covid-19-vaccinations?utm_medium=email

Corona with a Silver Lining... Virtual Mentoring

       Every not so often, we encounter an event, which shakes us from the core. The corona pandemic is one such event, which made us think what legacy and good-will we would be leaving behind as an individual in this capricious world. But who would have known that the pandemic will come as a silver lining?        

       My mentoring activity needed too much efforts from my Mentee. She had to travel 1 hours each way for the mentoring session which was of around 2 hours. This made me a bit uncomfortable too.

       And then, the Pandemic changed everything. With Both of us working/studying from home, Virtual mentoring became the “In Thing”. The mentoring sessions which needed is much efforts, suddenly became the easiest thing to do.

• No more Timing Restriction

• No travelling for 2 hours

• No college-time clash issues

    Discounting the occasional eavesdropping by my 8-year-old son to see what I was doing, we both enjoyed the virtual setup. What started as a casual mentoring, now had a definite mission, the mission to secure a job for my mentee in the most desired company that visits her campus.

    The first Virtual meeting in lockdown, after the initial hiccup went fine. What ensued after that was the 6 months marathon to achieve the mission → to secure a job in the most desired company.

We together did

• Resume review/refinement

• Enhanced the LinkedIn Profile

• Group Discussion topics and how to excel in the same.

• Interview Preparation

• Last minute polishing as she had interview later in the day

• Celebration as my Mentee got campus-placement in her most desired company

       With the Mission Accomplished, next step was to make her corporate ready. We went over what etiquettes and readiness she needs to have when she joins her desired company. Also discussed on What would set her apart in the dynamic corporate environment. And How she can showcase her strength and resilience in highly competitive world that she was stepping into.

          To conclude, we decided stay in touch, and she can always reach out to me for whatever advice she needs in future. The mentoring journey was a learning experience both ways and I decided to continue mentoring to “Make a Difference”

P.S: For all the prospective mentors out there 😉