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Visited in 2009…

There you are, at last at the O’Hare International Airport, Chicago, our destination in the United   States. As it was known as the second busiest airport in the world we were tense; how long it might take for the immigration formalities. As several flights have landed the queue were long, specially those demarcated for Non US Citizens. In snails pace we are moving in the zig_zag route, when an officer comes and makes the route straight and directs us towards the counters marked only for US Citizens. A bit of confusion and after some discussions between themselves we were in front of a counter marked only for US Citizens. Passports please; then photography, fingerprints and then came a volley of questions; most of which seemed non relevant. Maybe the guy there was felting others anger on us; a la more work load. Finally after exactly 35 minutes of questioning he stamped our passport and we made it to the United States of America.

Our place of stay was in a hotel at Downtown Chicago and we the group of seven adults and two kids got into an Airport Shuttle for starting our maiden journey in Chicago.  As we reached the hotel and got down we felt what awaited us in Chicago. It was impossible to stay outdoors due to the chilling wind coming from the Lake Michigan, only 150 meters away. Maybe this is why they nicknamed Chicago as ‘Windy City’. Only the warm interiors of the hotel made us realize that it was June not December. Make a mixture of the chill of December with the wind of February-March in Assam and you can create the weather. 

A brief about Chicago, one of the largest cities in USA. 

Incorporated as Town of Chicago in 12 August, 1833 it is in the southwestern shores of Lake Michigan in the state of Illinois with over 2.8. Around 50 million people visits Chicago annually and is one of the world’s top ten Global Financial Centers.

Chicago is known by different nicknames, ‘The Windy City’ – due to Chicago politicians and residents boasting about their city, ‘Second City’ -due to the city generally being the second most prestigious in the nation in terms of transportation, culture, and finance, ‘The City of the Big Shoulders’ – for its numerous skyscrapers, which were invented in Chicago, and described as being husky and brawling.

Devastated by the 1871 Great Chicago Fire today’s Chicago is an architect’s delight.  Due to the soft, swampy ground near the lake it was not suitable for tall masonry buildings. To overcome this constraint steel frames were tried and the invention of the skyscraper made it a leader in architecture and set the model for achieving vertical city densities worldwide.

May Day is also believed to be a result of strike by workers lobbying for an eight-hour work day on 4th may, 1886 at Haymarket, Chicago. 

For us it is the place from where Swami Vivekananda marveled the world with his inspiring speech on Hinduism at the Parliament of the World’s Religions at Chicago in 1893.

Jet lag took toll of us and we had to call it a day. 

to be concluded….

In any Leadership Program the main emphasis is on ‘Listening Skill’. 

So how does one aspire to be a good leader if he or she does not listen to others. In our culture also we are taught from our childhood to listen and then only talk. In our younger days, during dinner when we all had the opportunity to sit and eat together numerous discussions surface. There was never such discussion where we could not comment or take part, but our parents made it clear that before putting up any comment you have to listen attentively. They tired to imbibe this habit of Listening in us as they knew from experience that it will yield positive results. Both my parents have been successful and widely admired in their respective fields. 

But, now we pay to listen to celebrities, coaches speak these simple things. The reason why I say is simple because we have been created by the almighty as such, with 02 ears and 01 mouth.

Today, sadly most of our leaders pay no heed to the reality, they do not want to listen the truth, more like, they say that they walk the truth but in reality, it is the opposite. Again, we find some leaders who tends to listen, but they listen only to reply or confront. 

This is a habit that is inculcated in someone from an early stage, and it requires considerable effort to develop good and true listening skills. 

We do not like people who do not listen to what we say, interrupt in between… So, let us then try not to be one such…

This is a simple but giant step to develop ourself professionally and contribute to the Society. 

Water is precious and is very much essential for life to be in the universe.

We find water everywhere in abundance but to find water fit for drinking is difficult and has to be purchased. Let’s understand some of the interesting facts of the chemical substance called water.

When one atom of oxygen and two atoms of hydrogen meet in a complex chemical process we get water. Water existing in three different states – gaseous (vapor or steam), liquid and solid (ice). About 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water out of which only 3% is fresh water and the rest 97% is saline water of the oceans, seas etc. Fresh water is available from lakes (87%), Swamp (11%) and rivers (2%) and Lake Baikal in Siberia is the single largest source of water.

Although pure water is said to be tasteless but human and animals have developed senses which enables them to evaluate the potability of water e.g. salty etc. The term used to describe the study of movement, distribution and quality of water is called Hydrology. The weight measure gm as defined in 1795, France is the weight of a water cube of 1/100 of a meter at the temperature of melting ice.

The human body contains 55 to 78% of water and hence a healthy person requires about 6-7 glass (2 litres) of water per day.

Power is also generated from water when the water drives a turbine connected to a generator and the electricity generated is called hydro electricity. Pressurized water can be used for cutting and is called water jet cutters.

Today we are feeling the pinch of water shortage. According to a global study it has been estimated that by the year 2025 more than half of the world population will be facing water shortage. Today the agricultural sector uses around 70% of the fresh water available and with growing population and the demand for more food the agricultural activities shall increase leading to more consumption of fresh water. Considering this serious there to life in the planet it was decided that the year 2005-2015 shall be observed as ‘Celebrating water for life: The international decade for action’. For this purpose the date 22nd March of 2005 was initiated as the ‘World Water Day’ and is yearly celebrated. Organizations across the globe celebrates ‘World Water Day’ to create awareness about this very important and basic need.

The theme for World Water Day 2018 is ‘Nature for Water’ – exploring nature-based solutions to the water challenges we face in the 21st century.

We at our individual level have a much more large role to play.

Starting for our home we should educate our children, other family members, servants about the need for conservation of water and reduce its wastage. As many noble steps for conservation of water and reduce its wastage are available in the textbooks, it is our duty to instil these into habits of our wards, the neighborhood people. It is easier said than done, but if we make them understand the cost and effort undergone by the organization and the people involved in the process they will definitely try to sustain the habit and try to propagate the same habit among their friends and near and dear ones.

There are numerous small measures which we can adopt, without losing anything to save water. What is needed is an urge from within to feel it and act. By the grace of the Almighty and as a gift of nature, water is abundant in our place. However, we at home try to minimize the use of flush, garden the plants in the evening, reuse the water used for washing vegetables for watering plants, immediately report leakages and many other such small steps. This is done to make the kids realise the importance of conservation of Water, the essence of life.

Once we are able to realize the need, we shall not only be able to instil but also sustain these measures for water conservation and prevention of wastage.

The choice is ours…we need to act…and the best place…our home itself. With our head high we can say that we too contributed in the desired way…

Water is precious, Let’s Act…

That day someone forwarded me an article, more precisely a paper cut where the author speaks very nicely about his enlightenment after retirement. I salute the author for being so honest to speak his heart out.  

However, I fail to understand why it took so many years for him to realise this simple thing. I say simple because it has been the lesson learned during our childhood, from my father. He asked us to refrain from accepting gifts, favours which some people go out of the turn to offer due to the position one attains. It was a valuable lesson learned during childhood, the value of which is immeasurable and has helped me to live with my head high.

Its human nature to love getting pampered and translating it into official terms it will be like, enjoying the company of Yes Man.

Such persons who do not realise this simple truth and go on for so long not only causes harm for himself and his family but in the larger context it causes genuine harm to office work and the society at large.

Imagine a person in a powerful position crave for gifts during festivals. Broken into simple terms, one who offers festive gifts is the chosen one and one who does not is left behind. Sadly, its true in most of the cases and this is the irony.

Like the author, who only after his retirement during celebrating Diwali found that no one has offered him customary ‘Sweet’ or ‘Dry Fruit’ packets which were plenty during his service days. 

It also gives me immense happiness to share the following screenshot of Marshall Goldsmith, a renowned coach.

The reason is that what today top executives learn by paying, I and many like me have learned such WISDOM in our childhood from our dear parents.

Thank you “Deuta” (Father) for making me wise so early. 

Presenting a few Quotes that have come out in different moments of my life from within.

We are created by the almighty with a mouth and two ears. Does it make any sense or ring a bell!!!!

In school we were taught about three (03) monkeys of Mahatma Gandhi. I remember the picture our teacher showed to us, first monkey was covering the mouth, second one was covering the eyes and the third one was covering the ears. We were taught that we must not speak no evil like the monkey covering the mouth, see no evil like the monkey covering the eyes and hear no evil like the one covering the ears. 

Later on with the help of #Google I came to know that “the inspiration for most monkey groups comes from a carving above the portico of a 17th century temple in Japan called the Nikko Toshogu Shrine which includes a carving of the three wise guardian monkeys in a representation of a sacred stable.  In Japanese ‘don’t see, don’t hear and don’t speak’ (‘see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil’) is translated as ‘Mizaru, Kikazaru, Iwazaru’.  (Ack.: Emil Schuttenhelm, https://oldcopper.org/special_topics/three_wise_monkeys.php)

The significance of our one mouth and two ears is that we should listen more and speak less. This belief was inculcated in our childhood by our parents and wise teachers which has helped in the present day job performance. But, many a times listening to certain rubbish talks in meetings/discussions mostly spoken by the #Introverts for proving themselves makes me remember the 3 monkeys, by alas, I could not cover my ears. It so happens that people like me who are normally #Extroverts, who opines only when asks for, misses out the opportunity to speak or express. Maybe, we need to take more initiative. But, for the direct words that we speak anguish others because we cannot use a lot of adjectives and limit ourselves to #less talk and more listen. So many a time, people like me lose out, gets hurts and also marked as inefficient until the leader tries to understand us and observe our on the job performance keenly.

The good encouraging aspect of adhering to our universal creation is that you #Google out to find the leadership traits, what one must do to become a good leader amongst various qualities one important quality that one needs to develop is to # “Listen More” or # Active Listening or be #Good Listeners or #Listening Effectively etc. . If you are a person who listens more but talk less, you may not be a great leader but in the long run you will have a # Fulfilling LIFE, both professionally and personally .

So, behave naturally, as you are being created, # Two Ears and a Mouth.

“Respect: a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.” Oxford Dictionary.

Mutual Respect at work is the foundation of establishing a healthy working environment as it when we have mutual respect for one another we can value and appreciate the qualities, abilities and achievements of others. We feel happy, loyal and are motivated to contribute our best in our organization if we feel we are valued, appreciated and belonged. In simple terms, we respect others only when we feel we are being respected.

If we have mutual respect in our workplace we tend to create a conducive working environment which leads to enhanced productivity, efficient operations, more communication leading to more collaborative approaches leading to happy and satisfied workforce. A happy and satisfied workforce is more engaged and this is the need of the hour for all organization striving to be the best with competitive advantage.

An environment of # Mutual Respect leads to employee satisfaction resulting in enhanced employee engagement which in turn reduces stress, enhances share and care.

Statistics Speaks; in the # 2018 Gallup Study of more than 350,000 American employees it was found that only 30% were engaged at work.

# HBR survey found that out of 20,000 employees, # respect was the leading behaviour that encourages greater commitment and engagement.

The goal for each one of us is to create an environment of # Mutual Respect. We can do wonders if we imbibe it in ourselves.

In my capacity, I try to treat each person, no matter what he/she might be with respect. When we treat a person of low social status with respect, the brightness in his/ her eyes speaks and it makes me so happy that can’t be expressed in words. Lets try or continue…

Why we need to smile???

That day I was talking with my kids and was explaining to them the need for smile. How a smile can make a great difference. When new people come to join my organization as a first point of contact, I have a session with them, sometimes in small groups or sometimes individually. I have felt that a few words at the start of their new life which may be their point of transition from college life or change from unemployment to employment etc. these works or the interactions really works. One of the most common thing I explain to them is the need for smile. The smiles do not come to their faces even if they are informed about the benefits of a smile. But, when I give an example that relates directly to each of them, immediately the situation changes and #SMILE flows and this is the #SMILE from within.

I start telling them, Imagine you are going to buy vegetables from the market. As you enter, out of the many sellers one or two welcomes you with a smile followed by some encouraging words, words of respect “Sir”, “Madam”, “Brother”, “Sister” etc. . Your brain acts immediately and you are inclined to go to that person who smiles at you with those encouraging and respectful words, even that person may not have the best of the vegetables with him or her or may be at the far end. A relationship starts and it remains for long i.e. the #SMILE has made the breakthrough, a beautiful business strategy. “Why, why you go to him/her?” Because you liked, felt happy and comfortable. So, my question to you all is now “Why can’t you be like the vegetable seller???”, “What stops you?”, “Does a smile cost you something?” So now, #SMILE and the job is done.

I liked the “Top 10 Reasons to Smile Every Day” by Mark Stibich, PhD, https://www.verywellmind.com/top-reasons-to-smile-every-day-2223755

1. Smiling Helps You Live Longer

2. Smiling Relieves Stress

3. Smiling Elevates Mood

4. Smiling Is Contagious

5. Smiling Boosts the Immune System

6. Smiling May Lower Blood Pressure

7. Smiling Reduces Pain

8. Smiling Makes You Attractive

9. Smiling Suggests Success

10.Smiling Helps You Stay Positive

To sum with a beautiful quote of Peace Pilgrim…

Paul Hersey and Kenneth Blanchard in the 60’s came out with the explanation, “handing off responsibility from a leader to a worker” which later came to be known as the Delegating Leadership Style.

It is also known as laissez fair (non-interference in other people’s affairs, French Term), as the leader places greater responsibility on his subordinates. 

“Successfully using delegation of authority as a leadership style would take more energy and time, but it is worth to make employees involved and empowered. It is good to know that you have helped them develop, succeed and meet your expectations, while building their confidence.” (http://www.josephchris.com/6-delegating-leadership-style-examples)

While working as a Team Leader, I have effectively utilized the Delegating Leadership Style. The results were Awesome. We, as a team were able to complete the assigned tasks effectively on time and in several occasions before the stipulated time. The most satisfying aspect is to observe the high level of zeal and passion of the contributing  subordinates/ team members. It generates trust and confidence, motivates and empowers people. 

One can become a delegating leader only if he/she has the capability to judge his/her subordinates effectively, have a firm grip on the subject, believes in empowering and motivating his/ her subordinates or team members. According to my practical experience, before applying this style, one should

· Critically assess the capability of the team (skill & knowledge of team members)

· Understand the readiness of the team

· Plan for the task

· Set clear deadlines

· Pinpoint responsibilities with accountability

· Review in regular intervals

· Scope for mid-term corrections

· Regular Interaction and Feedback

A person can effectively adapt the Delegating Leadership Style only if he/she has a high level of:

· Trust

· Good Communicator

· Effective Planner

· Excellent Communicator

· Time Management

· Believes in Empowering Others

My motto  and firm belief of “Successful Task Accomplishment (STA)” has always been a major contributor in the positive and effective contributions. 

In plain-speak, I prefer to say it as “Sharing and Caring Leadership Style.”

“Celebrating Success is a big moral booster and motivating factor in this style.”

References:

· If You Want It Done Right, You Don’t Have to Do It Yourself!: The Power of Effective Delegation by Donna M Genett 

· To Be a Great Leader, You Have to Learn How to Delegate Well by Jesse Sostrin

“Sunk Cost” is the cost that have already incurred and cannot be recovered. 

The money has already been spent and it cannot be recovered and hence it should not be a factor in future decisions.

The sunk cost effect is manifested in a greater tendency to continue an endeavor once an investment in money, effort, or time has been made. Individuals commit the sunk cost fallacy when they continue a behavior or endeavor as a result of previously invested resources which may be time, money or effort. (Arkes, H. R., & Blumer, C. (1985), The psychology of sunk costs. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 35, 124-140.)

“Sunk Cost Fallacy” –  People have stronger emotional connections to things they’ve lost and the urge to recover becomes a strong motivator; resulting in bad decisions. than they do to the things they’ve gained.

A simple example may be that you have spent time, effort and money to buy a Pizza. However, as you start eating it, you do not like the taste, not enjoying it, but you continue eating it and finish it since you have already spent your time, effort and money. So, not eating it may be a loss to you and hence you have fallen prey to “Sunk Cost Fallacy.”

Remember the Concord Project which lead to the term “Concorde Fallacy”. Its a great example. The Concorde Fallacy refers to the fact that the British and  French governments continued to fund the aircraft even after it became apparent that there was no longer an economic case in it.   

“The idea that you should continue to spend money on a project, product, etc. in order not to waste the money or effort you have already put into it, which may lead to bad decisions.” (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/french)

Interested readers may visit the like to know more  https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimblasingame/2011/09/15/beware-of-the-concorde-fallacy/#ae25b6a4e226

If we try to remember the effect of Sunk Cost Fallacy in our life, we may make better and fruitful decisions by exploring various available options; leading to a better utilization of our effort, time and money.

Thank you for reading… any views, comments shall add value and motivate.