Pigeon, Cat and Perceptions

Part 1:

On a summer day, while playing cricket, found this pigeon lying on ground, getting intruded by ants. It had fallen from a tower nearby and injured a wing, looking terrified on what next.

Feeling sad for its state and did not want it to get feasted by other animals and insects, got it home, applied turmeric to the injured part and kept in a temporary shelf.

It took some time for the bird to get adjusted in the new nest. Not sure what to feed, attempted with millets and rice, it worked. Every day used to feed with these, and bird started recovering from its injury though it could not fly.

It got adopted to the home, responding to our calls, walking around in balcony and terrace. Whenever left alone in terrace, other pigeons used to visit this peculiar friend, can’t fly but staying with humans.

After few weeks, it seemed to have forgotten it is a bird and always running or walking around (may be due to internal injury or broken wings did not support to fly)

In between got two more pigeons (thanks to friends who called whenever they found them in distress), got it treated and It flew away, but this one stayed back.

Several months later, observed a cat roaming around residence and had to safeguard this bird from it.

We were always careful of not allowing bird to venture into balcony or terrace alone and used to chase the cat away whenever found nearby.

However, on an unfortunate day, it barged inside and took this bird away by grabbing in neck. Hearing the commotions, rushed to the scene, only to find few feathers and a cat running away with a pigeon in distance.

It was such a heartbreaking moment, after saving it from ants and seeing it got killed by cat.

Thus, the dislike towards cats started. Whenever found one used to chase it away, even if it’s sleeping peacefully in some shade …….!!

Part 2:

It was many years, after the above incident happened, one evening, a guest walked inside the house from open door without any fear. Surprised at its gutsy nature, tried to chase it away, but it stood grounded and did not bother to run like a Tom from the famous Tom and Jerry series...!! Yes, we had a cat at home…!!

This cat was very well used to human nature. Though had aversion towards the animal due to the earlier experience, the level of hatred had reduced due to the time lapsed.

It made some space in the compound as its shelter and depended on us for food. Out of kind started feeding and it became a habit. It used to walk in by breakfast time, gets its part of food, roam around and in the evening back on time for dinner. It became friendly, playful, and eventually became a pet for all of us and we took great care of it due to its adorable nature with us.

After several years, at usual morning time it did not turn up. We felt it must have ventured somewhere and will return in a while. However, the tragedy struck when a neighbor informed, he saw a dead cat in next street, and it was looking like ours.

Holding back the tears, hoping it will be untrue, rushed to the spot, just to see the animal lying there, with bites at neck.  For some odd reasons it had ventured out of the safe compound and had got attacked by street dogs.

It took several days for all of us to let go the mood of losing a pet animal in a tragic way which it did not deserve. An animal which was hated few years ago and chased away, had pushed us to upsetting feelings.

Part 3

It is interesting to observe on how our perception changes towards various incidents in life. Either our likes or dislikes continues, till the feeling drifts away in memory and gets replaced with different experience.

You can replace the pigeon and cat in this story with anything in life – animal, place, people, or thing, we will have several such stories within us to recall and reflect.

Life is all about the perception we develop, to like or dislike, isn’t it…?!!

Calendar 2020

When I was being sold in a busy traffic junction in Bengaluru, little I knew that I will be witnessing one of the most historic moments in recent timeline.

Yes, I am calendar 2020, a year which many generations will remember, for whatsoever reason.

The number 2020 was always an inquisitiveness from many decades. I know people use to plan their life, career around it. Lot of dreams on how the year will be, what we would’ve achieved etc, mostly due to the attractive numerical it was.

While I was getting printed also, people at press were talking about their new year plans, Olympic Games at Tokyo, various crisis across world and possible solutions for it and was exciting for me as well.

When I landed up on this wall in this middle class family living room, I became part of their everyday celebrations and chaos. Saw their planning, joy, sorrow, celebrations, trying to adopt to the evolving lifestyle etc.

It was a small family, planning everything, saving for future, spending within budget, with weekend chats and inching towards assumed progressiveness.  The head of family was working in MNC, with little time for home, trying to manage few friends, occasionally.

In month of February and later in March beginning I was watching news from my wall in living room and the word Covid / Corona became a repeated as day passed. Initially I use to hear in international bulletin and then it became a global news, before becoming headlines in India.

The crisis hit us by March and the lock-down was announced.

Initial few days I was confused with all these new words – lock-down, seal down, quarantine, but later got adjusted to it as if I had lived with it all these years.

I also saw the way this family evolved, from initial anxiety to sprouting with new outlook for life.

During the lock-down period from March to May, these people were completely sealed inside their house. While he was busy in his laptop as Work from Home, rest were watching news channels, which were showing the cases like cricket scores..!!

Than the normalcy set in. They started watching long forgotten marriage CD’s, family function photos. Installed all types of apps to connect with family and friends through net.

Online classes gained popularity, from hobbies to yoga to spiritual, many unexplored areas were tried. I had never imagined this virtual world, family get-togethers, multiple batches of friends connecting through video calls , from school  to college to ex-colleagues , varieties of recipes been tried and photos of it getting shared all over.

Reading habit was back and not to forget literature on various Ayurveda based immunity boosters..!!

I also saw kids (and elders) enjoying the good old Doordarshan serials and parents explaining their versions of watching TV, 30 years ago.

Many people also got impacted, lost their jobs, shops were closed, and people relocated back to their towns and villages.

Pollution was all time low, wild animals started venturing to city and dolphins were back in Ganga..!! A glimpse on what will happen if men vanished from earth.   

It also had the humanitarian side - volunteers helping the needy, giving hopes of humanity, still exist (or relived).

From June onwards, people started venturing out, with masks, gloves and getting essential things to home. But I also heard numerous stories of people getting affected due to virus and some loosing life.

Than things went fast, people started to resume business, factories. New business possibilities came across with encouragement for Self-Resilient India. Agriculture gained as thousands of acres under-cultivated lands was back to life, thanks to people migrated to natives.

People celebrated their festivals, participated in elections, and started long drives with street food … life has moved on.

This year has taught great lessons to these humans, on being connected and need of isolation, introspection of self to the care for the world, need to be present in real world and importance of virtual. The usage of modern technologies without losing the cultural heritage.

As I am ending my journey in a day, the most important observation is the spirited mankind, which keeps moving irrespective of any catastrophic eventualities.  This is the sprit which has kept this species alive from thousands of years.

While I welcome my Successor to this wall … I am 2020, a year not to forget, soon….!!   

Story of a Jr. Teacher & a Sr. Student

On a bright afternoon, in summer of 2003, neighboring uncle called him out to check something.  Uncle had a friend, businessman visiting Bengaluru from Erode in Tamil Nadu, on regular basis and wanted some on to help in teaching him Kannada. He asked this college student if he knows anyone to refer and at the end of the discussion he turned around the table and asked why don’t this student only take it up, which will also give some pocket money.

Though it was with apprehension, this guy agreed to meet the businessman, Thiru Sir and understand what the expectations are and later decide if he can take it up or not. With curiosity and fear of getting into unknown area, the meeting happened. The deal was simple, weekly once or twice the businessman will be in Bengaluru and after his work is done for the day, between 8 PM and 9 PM he will be available in a hotel and in that period, basic Kannada has to be taught.

The most attractive part of this entire conversation was not only about teaching language but for one hour, the payment was 75 Rupees!! Yes, it was a good deal to earn some extra pocket money for a graduate student and no reasons to deny the chance.

With this, the journey started. He purchased copies of Maggi Pustaka (Book with Basic Kannada alphabets and words, popular among local kids in Karnataka) and some notebooks. Gave few to Sir for his revision purpose and classes commenced.

Sir was very serious student. He used to make notes in his native language and write meaning of basic words. As the comfort level was built in, Sir was questioned why he is so interested to learn new language in that age (might be around 55 + yrs.) and making time in his busy schedule.

Sir responded - I travel interiors of Karnataka including Hubli, Mysuru etc. and its very much essential to know the local language to build better connects with customers and also he has time while travelling between the locations and he didn’t want to waste it , instead invest in learning new things.

Also understood, he has planned similar programs for his travel in Kerala and Andhra !! This college student was impressed with this positive and learning attitude of the businessman.

In 2003-04, mobile phones had become trend in India and with this additional income of few hundred rupees,  the maintenance cost was now funded by teaching, it  motivated the student to have his own phone, thus the first phone was purchased with popular Spice connection...!!

Some times the Sir was busy in meetings or accounting work in hotel room, however he used to ensure pay the amount for that untaken class also, saying this guy has put efforts to reach the hotel and should not be penalized for not having class.

Well, this continued for few months and there was good progress in learning, easily identifying the letters and started connecting the words.

However, whenever there was festival season or accounting works, the classes were not conducted, and it led to a long-term program.

After a period 2 years, the graduate student had become student of master’s degree and his final semester exams had approached. By then, Thiru Sir had learnt to speak and read the language !! yes, he was reading headlines from newspapers and magazines and was comfortable in speaking as well.

Now in a position to learn on his own and his travel frequency had also reduced, and for student the priority was exams and job search, eventually stopped the classes on mutual understanding. He met Thiru Sir and explained the situations. Sir was generous enough and thanked him for the support and wished all the best.

In this journey of two plus years, he was able to build a great bonding with businessman, who use to explain his business, various interactions with people and experience earned, about his children and the most important thing - keep learning new things, irrespective of age,  to be active and never be idle person.

Presume by now most of the readers would have already guessed the student , yes, it’s me who had taken up this assignment to teach my mother tongue to a stranger and of course earned money to self-sustain my mobile connection during college days !!

Eventually I lost the contact of this gentleman, few times-tired reaching him by visiting hotel also, but in vain. Understood by than he had reduced his visit to Bengaluru.

As we are celebrating the Kannada Rajyotsava on 1st Nov, this beautiful memory keeps coming back. A wonderful experience to cherish not only from language perspective but on the entire journey I had in teaching and learning, which is indeed a good and rare combination.

Karma Bounced

As I was dumped in a road side garage, saw young Hritik sitting in the bus stop for hours. He deserved this fate… I felt this, seeing him waiting  for the public bus, the frequency of which reduced due to lack of passengers.

Hritik was a young professional, got placed in a reputed factory with handsome package after his graduation. He was among the top earners in his family. 

During his college days he was known to be arrogant with don’t care attitude. Having no value for money nor respect for others, he felt this is how the life should will be.

When he started the job, this disrespect for other just increased. He was good on his work delivery however he didn’t care for anything.

His father advised him for saving and investment, but Hritik felt, it’s the age to enjoy and not to think of saving for unknown future. He spent money in lavish way and unwarranted things.  When the need arises to own a two wheeler for local commute, he felt instead of spending 50 – 60 thousand its best to make use of things like me.

Well, I didn’t introduce myself – I am a humble bike. I was purchased along some more bikes by few hardworking, ambitious entrepreneurs, to start a bike renting company in this mega city. I was supposed to be used by citizen for ease of their work and travel. It was win-win situation for them and for my owners.

After initial launch days, people like Hritik abused me. Instead of thinking that I am a service provider, I was used like worthless item for their personal interests.

I was rented for short journeys by my riders and after their work I was getting dumped in many undesirable places. My spare parts were stolen, helmets were not kept back and finally some of my friends became disfigured permanently.

I still remember one day,after his late evening party this guy took me on rent and he eventually parked me in an edge of sewage drain canal, in a deserted area, just to ensure I fell in to it. I had heard stories of him from other rented bikes, which were parked on middle of highway or left abounded on top of busy flyovers.

When I was parked in such undesirable place, one of his friends did ask Hritik why he is doing this always after renting out, isn’t it unfair on the owners of the company to undergo lose due to such deed. Hritik was unsympathetic and said it’s the Karma of the bike and its company and he damn cares. He also confessed that he felt happy seeing such things getting damaged due to accidents, with a remorseless smile on him.

This continued for many days and I kept hearing about how my other bike friends were getting damaged by his purposeful act. I felt upset about my owners undergoing lose due to such people.

And then the pandemic crisis hit the world. My company had major issues as there were not many takers for the bike rides and on addition I was severely damaged due to the inhuman acts of people like Hritik. I was left to the care of bike garage and I am resting here from many months.

I also heard, Hritik lost his job and it’s been six months now. With no savings to backup he is literally in tears searching for new opportunities. Though getting few calls to attend interviews, he is not able to be on time as he can’t afford the same bikes which he ridiculed earlier and wait for the unscheduled public transport. This has pushed him to undue pressure and today he is sitting in this bus stop waiting for his next destination.

The same bikes which were pushed to scrap, like me, are watching the Karma getting bounced at people like Hritik.

  

Disclaimer: All the incidents, characters, names are fictitious and any resemblance to anyone or events is pure coincidence.

Contact Tracing

I am done with this job. Tomorrow I will update my resume and start applying through all my contacts and portals, Dharma proclaimed. 

He was working in this manufacturing unit for nearly five years and was established. He got handsome salary, raised to newer positions, groomed further and well known resource in the organization handling a critical assignment. 

However, from past few weeks he was vexed at his work due to a minor disagreement with his team, his idea was not considered over his junior’s proposal and with ego being hurt, decided to look out at any cost. It was a negligible incident, but high on self-esteem, he wanted to teach a lesson by quitting the company. 

No doubt, the pandemic had created some kind of unrest in market, however there was no dearth of new opportunities for skilled and specific industry resources and he was confident to get one. 

His manager felt something amuse in Dharma’s new work approach and asked if anything to sort out, he also explained why his role is very important, future plans to groom him and not to worry about anything else, however Dharma neglected the advice and said will let know in few days. 

As work got resumed in factory, he and his team members were asked to work from office premises, equipped with all precautionary measures including contact tracing app, made mandatory by Government. Meanwhile, he started applying for job in market and was counting days when he can bid goodbye to this place. 

One evening, he got a call from a well-known company asking him to attend interview in two days. Next day in office, after a long meeting with his boss, he applied for a leave on pretext of personal work.

Dharma, next day morning was in this interview place. It was a competitor company. Attending his interview with a senior manager, he opened his heart and cribbed about workplace. The manager also motivated him to speak about their business model, challenges and issues they have. It was a lengthy discussion and Dharma was sure he will get shortlisted. The manager also spoke about how he plans to build this business, role of the new team member and how eager to have him onboard. 

He also spoke ill about Dharma’s company and questioned what made him to work for five years, spoiling his career opportunities and asked him to move out soon from there and join his team for a promising life. This had made Dharma to speak more than required answers. 

Next day onwards, with hope of new offer soon, the attitude towards current work changed, in office premises, with all arrogance dealt with people and supervisors. The goodwill from management started eroding in to negative. He also informally announced to few that he will quit soon, thus getting him undesirable attentions. 

After a week, his current manager fell sick, didn’t attend the office and within 2 weeks, he was diagnosed covid positive. Through contact tracing app, it was identified Dharma , who had a long meeting , is also a contact and need to be isolated soon to stop any possibility of spread of the infection. Coincidentally the status of Dharma’s app also changed as primary contact. 

Dharma, staying at home was restless. He was irritated with his team for putting him in this trouble and also anxious no updates on the new offer. Finally he reached the interviewed company seeking inputs and for his surprise, the Sr. Manager who had taken his interview was also infected and hospitalized, delaying any decision on candidatures. 

Cursing his luck, continued to work from home, till he was fine to resume the factory work as per authority’s guidelines on primary and secondary contacts. Back in office, Dharma met a senior staff and in a friendly chat they were discussing about the manager, his health etc. Curious to know, Dharma asked if any news on the source of infection. 

Yes, the senior staff said, your manager didn’t get infection in office. He had met a candidate in a café who was not comfortable to attend interview in our office. Both of them spent considerable time discussing the new role and candidate was too eager to join us as well. Might be in that process of meeting in open place, somehow both got infected. The candidate is also infected and he is still in hospital. 

Inquisitive to know, who the candidate was? Dharma asked. Staff informed, he is the senior manager from the competitor company. As the business is not well, and his career is stuck for many years, he was looking out for job. He applied through some source and also heard in interview he did well with knowledge of our business, ideas to improve etc. he might get offered. 

Dharma got in nervousness mode, feeling trapped…. He started tracing his action of being ego, arrogance, negative image he got created, of letting his company’s secrets to a potential candidate who lured him to quit ASAP, only to know the interviewee himself joining his company. 

What went wrong and what should be his approach…..He is still thinking, like a tracing app.

Disclaimer: This story is of imaginary work and if any resemblance to any incidents is pure coincidence. 

Mixie

Amma, pls stop this mixie while I am working at home, have lot of calls to attend and this mixie is not allowing me to speak nor hear ...

Yeah, I will stop, but do not ask what is for lunch or snacks every day. I cannot manage like this … anyways let me know when I can restart.

This was a routine conversation at Karun’s house, a small place, suiting his monetary condition in this big metro city. This house has also become his home office after the lockdown and keeps arguing with his mother to shutdown kitchen work while he is on calls.

He is the only earning member in family after his father’s retirement. With lot of dreams and responsibilities to manage, he had joined this small firm and was indeed a hard worker and was putting lot of efforts to ensure the job demands are met at any cost. He was one of the favorite in team for being humble, soft-spoken and no nonsense attitude , due to his background, he was shy and tried to be alone, never spoke to his team members other than his work and stayed away from all other conversations.

When the work from home started due to a pandemic situation, like everyone Karun took some time to settle down and eventually got adjusted as way of life, except the mixie’ s noise. Though this sound was noticed earlier, his family was not in position to buy new one and the repair shop guy had to given up hope on it long back, so they continued with it.

Few months into the crisis, things did not seem to improve across globe and thus his company also got in to trouble. The client for whom he was working in backend but in critical role did not want to extend the ongoing project as they felt it will not be liked by their end consumers and had given notice to end it.

Karun’s job was in stake. Lot of deliberation was done on retaining but company finally decided to let him go with one-month notice. It was a tough decision they had taken but without any option.

On that unfortunate day, while Karun was working in his laptop, he got an unannounced video call from his Manager. Surprised to see it, Karun joined the call and after all the initial greetings, Manager started talking about the client position and difficult situations due to this crisis. Just when his supervisor started to talk about the job and how regrettable to tell him he has only one-month notice to end the job, Karun’s mother switched on the mixer in the nearby kitchen.

Karun could not hear anything and in panic of his manager scolding him of noise, muted his audio also, thus other side did not know Karun is not able to hear anything. Being a video call, he was not able to walk or signal his family to stop the mixer as well and pretend to hear what has been told in the call.

After couple of minutes, in coincidence, the mixer work ended, and his manager also completed his talk on giving notice and wishing him all the best and keep continue good job, Karun in his way of being humble said , he understood what has been told without realizing he has been served one month time to exit.

Karun continued his job in natural zeal and continued his backend support for the client with innovative ideas. His management felt bad of not able to retain such good associate who is being so committed during notice period.

One of the idea’s Karun had given turned the clients fortune and they decided to continue the project. Management quickly decided that this employee must be retained immediately since only he can implement this idea and delight the customer.

Thus , another Video call from his Manager to Karun, this time to inform him to stay back and as fluke the mixer started at same time, forcing Karun to mute his audio and pretend agreeing to his manager words. Only words he heard at end was his Manager was appreciating and thanking him for being passionate despite in this situation.

Well, what If he had heard the initial decision, would he be continued to be passionate of job, nor give ideas, leading to client business reviewed, company retaining project and finally saved his job… is it because he was ignorant of the message or mixie played different role for him, no one can predict.

As the lockdown continues and return to office is not yet confirmed, Karun’s life underwent a roller coaster ride without himself realizing it in this unpredictable life.

Indian Workforce Management - Challenges and Opportunities

As the world restarts the business operations, covid era has made everyone to think a common question, what next?

It can be from sourcing of raw materials to supply chain management, from sales meeting to customer interaction, from administration of premises to financial aspects, it all starts with what next..?

One area need to be taken care on priority is Human Capital, The People, who will work to solve most of the above questions and help to restart the economic cycle. 

As the possibility of remote working is becoming way forward for technology based companies, it also give raises to certain challenges and opportunities in people management, especially from Indian perspectives.

Some of them are noted below as a thought to ponder, while working towards such possibilities:   

Opportunities:

Talent Attraction – with remote working we can hire resources from any location of the country, even from the remotest part where employee can sit and start delivering the requirements.

     Retention Management – one the major reasons for exit was relocation due to family reasons. No more such reasons are required and we can retain key resources to work from their preferred job locations. 

    Happy Employees – with associates able to manage time between home needs and office work, take care of dependents at home, remote working will help them to address such topics and concentrate at work in ease.

      Fewer Events – most of the organizations were spending huge amount towards those big events and sometimes with celebrities on stage. With social distancing and crowd management, such mega events will not be allowed, same with sports and cultural activities.  

    Reduced Facilities cost and related concerns  - we will not require those big buildings with large number tables and chairs, spacious cafeterias, transportation, F&B, facilities  thus resulting in less cost towards infra and also the concerns related to it from employees.

    Better Productivity – employees might be ready to put that extra hour saved from commuting to office premises, coffee breaks taken in pantry.  Possibilities of Employees applying leaves to address personal challenges will also be reduced, thus getting more working hours every year.

   Newer Market Info – with employees based out of remote locations, they might help to gather the information on the local customer base, consumer mindset, without spending money on research data which can help in business development and employee recognitions.

    Reduced Compensation Cost – as an employer, you might get opportunity to explore untapped locations and attract talents at lesser cost compared to candidates in cities. Even candidates might agree to join at lower salary considering the cost of living and savings from being away from metropolises.

     Shorter Meetings, Webinars and Discussions -leads to better participation by resources.

Challenges:

Risk of Attrition – the way a company can hire people from anywhere, competitors can also target skilled resources, offer and pouch them. With very little information on what employees are up to, with no physical presence in office, attending video based interviews from remote locations, it should not be a surprise when people send their resignation mail.

Talent Retention – there might be employees who stayed back in an organization due to the location constraint, travel distance, especially in mega cities. Now with possibility to work anywhere and limited requirement of physical presence, the same employees will start scouting for their dream companies and roles.  There can also be situations of employees starting their own ventures in tier 2-3 cities by quitting their current jobs.

Limited Engagement - with reduced social bonding among people, the essence of engaging them through various forums and forms will be lost and isolation feeling will start impacting. Don’t forget, no more team outings.

Monotony – as the remote work kicks in, there will be monotonous of job, feeling of separated will start and organizations will need dedicated counseling help lines to support employees in their personal and professional grievances. The need to talk to someone to share their problems will increase which would have been taken care by close colleagues in office space.

Rewards and Recognition - with virtual award ceremonies, the feel of being recognized in mega events will be missed. The mailers and desktop backgrounds will have limited recalling effect. No more dinner or travel vouchers will motivate, there will be need to reward people in newer and better ways.

Advanced Planning– Managers will need to give advance notice to employees to be available in office for any purpose. In case of project exigencies, lack of people around might complicate situations and also possible business loss.

Team Management -  Managers will have huge task of ensuring fairness while treating people on remote working, roster planning and dealing with disciplinary issues.

Health Issues – the need of being in front of system for long hours, can also lead to physical and psychological stress. In long term it might lead to attrition. Addressing unhealthy lifestyle issues will become organization issues.

Amendment of various policies and laws- Policies like Accumulation or Lapse of Leaves will ask for rethink to balance between employee need and organization goals. With possibilities of employees applying for vacation reduced, there will be higher number of lapsed or accumulation, which leads to higher encashment cost during exit. Another example can be Working Hours. We need to amend such policies to suit the requirements.

With advantage and disadvantages are natural in any new spheres of life, Workforce Management will have initial challenges but will evolve along with Organization based on the experiences, feedback as it progresses over a period of time . People Managers will have to be ready to partially unlearn the current, learn and adopt to the new ways.  

Disclaimer:  None of the above points are related to any organization. This write up is based on authors understanding through discussion in various forums, reading of articles on evolving situation and experience gained in people management domain.