When I was in class XI, my best friend wrote a skit that we were supposed to act together on teacher’s day i.e. 5th Sep 2001. Since it was written by my best friend so I had to be the part of it. And yes, it was the first time when I had to act. So, of approx. 15 minutes skit my dialogues were of 4 lines only. And all I was full of fear. Fear of delivering those 4 lines in front of the whole school. Then something happened, the dialogues were reduced from 4 lines to 2 lines. Again I was full of fear. Further it got reduced to 1 line that too in group. Yet again I was full of fear. When the time came to deliver (remember in group) my heart pumped out loud in fear.

For a second time in February 2002, we had thought to prepare a skit for our class XII seniors as farewell. This time I was supposed to write the dialogues for my role as well. At the time of act, this time though I was able to speak my lines yet I could not look to the audience. And bingo…
It was FEAR!! Stage Fear!!

The year I joined my Engineering college, the first year decided to perform a skit on Engineer’s day – 15th Sep 2003. During the ragging (those were really fun days), they found out my talent to act. So I and my friend sat together with the skit she had written where we discussed about my role. We practiced as a team for the skit numerous times in the hostel where full hostel was our live audience. Our regular practice in front of all gave me a lot of confidence. Just before the performance, all had some stage fear inside but here I was “Yaar darr hi nahi lag rha aaj” (I had
no fear). And finally I rocked the stage with my dialogues and confidence.

This was how I finally learnt “Practice makes one perfect”.

The take away from this experience was always confront your fears. Whatever you fear conquer
it with your actions, consistent actions.

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Want a High Performing Team?

“YES” is what you will have as an answer from every leader you ask for.

Ever wondered what makes a team high performing?

Each person daily goes to their job to do better. No one wants to be any less in their work. But as
leaders have we thought where the energy of teams are getting drained of?

Everyone wants to be trusted. Do we trust our teams in return?

The word “TRUST” has its own magic. Trust gives the comfort of taking up the challenges and
makes the team ready for taking moderate risks. For they know that they have their leader’s back
if something goes wrong. Trust gives the courage to team where they can put their ideas,
creativity into words and raise their voice to the wrong.

Below are 4 ways where one can instill trust in their teams:

• Listen to them carefully – Do not listen to respond only or prove them wrong but to
  understand the given situation and explain the consequences / solutions accordingly.
• Resolve and make it win-win for the team – No one wants to be proved wrong. If any
  conflict rises in the team then the same has to be concluded with a win-win point. But
  make sure any conflict which breaks the team has to be acted upon ASAP.
• Debit is mine, credit is theirs – If any task goes wrong, then its the responsibility of the
  leader and if the work goes well then the credit is of the team. Make sure you explain
  them the consequences & right solutions to any work that goes wrong.
• Show them the overall picture – We all want to do only the work assigned by the boss.
  Whereas, we all have internal customers within the organisation. Its very important to
  explain team the overall picture or consequences of the tasks given to them. The growth
  of team is applaudable if the company grows with it.

Act on these bullet points and enjoy working with your high charges teams.

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Though some of the articles or expert opinions say that the deadly virus will see the endemic soon. At the same time we cannot deny the fact that the pandemic has changed the way people think or want from their respective lives. That’s how the term “Great Resignation” has come to the existence.

In India, the attrition rate has grown in 2021 and would continue to grow in 2022 as well. Those who have survived the second deadly wave value their lives more than ever. They just don’t want to work only for money but they all want more of work life balance. They are tired of the constant work and in turn no time for their family, health and social life. For many years, for work employees have been missing their kids school activities, family wedding, meeting old friends, vacations etc.

Today its not the compensation which brings the ownership in the employees instead the employers need to deep dive into the mind and hearts of the employees in order to retain them. It includes giving their employees the flexibility at work. But the sense of belongingness will definitely top the list.

Though people spend most of their time at work than home but their sense of belongingness is more towards their family. Coz, they are involved and own them completely. So, employers need to see this side of the coin as well. As a leader, its their responsibility to have this sense of belongingness and involvement among their team.

Below are 7 main points which would help the same:

1. Make sure you appreciate the good work done by the team member. Reward them for the
   good work done, for any extra mile taken.
2. Spend time with your team other than work atleast once in ten days. Have a personal
   connect.
3. Listen to them not just to respond but to understand.
4. Maximise their potential.
5. Never comment negatively / sarcastically when they ask for leaves.
6. Build a team that support each other.
7. Let them know their value, their contribution to the team / to the company.

We can grow only together. People are any time the biggest assets of any company.

The post Stop the Attrition!! first appeared on Quatika.

During the year 2009 – 2012, I completed my PGDM PT from IMT Ghaziabad.
During the course, 5 days in the evening from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm after office hours we used to have our
classes. It was a wonderful time then:
Day Time: Work with American Auto Components MNC
Evening Time: College time with my great group.

We were a group of 6 people, we used to study together (in whatever time we all could manage with work), we used to complete our assignments/projects together and finally the presentation in the class.
All those times in these 3 years, during our joint study no one was allowed to take the phone calls (as the same used to disturb our available limited time), except Me.
I was allowed to take all my official calls as I was taking care of Process/ Customer and Receiving Quality there.
And whenever my phone used to rang then my group used to smile and say together:
“Kuch bhi ho Customer ki line nahi rukni chaiye”
“Whatever may happen but the customer line should not get stopped”
My group helped me continue with my dedication/passion towards Quality.

The post Whatever may happen but the customer line should not get stopped first appeared on Quatika.

My senior in college was bucking me up and said Good Geetika!! Great Geetika .. You can do it
Geetika. In 2005, it was semi final match – Mixed doubles badminton !!
And our match was against the best mixed doubles duo of college!! My BTech college!!
My senior told that he would take up the charge from back so that he can take care of the shots and
I was near the net. So that we earn points there. This is how we won that match, high shots we
defended our points and with near the net shots we earned the points.
Now after so many years I know the importance of when to take the charge and when to back off!!
It’s not always important to take charge only , it’s equally important to back off as well.
Similarly, to maintain quality it’s not always important to take charge and do pig projects only. But
also to make sure that the team is bucked up enough and we back off to let them take charge. It’s
more important for a team to be motivated enough to ensure that the target is met!!
This is how Quality culture is made .. and quality -way of life !!

The post Way of life first appeared on Quatika.