Social Enterprise Evolution - Need of the Hour

Writing an analogy about the socialising habits using Facebook , Twitter , Whatsapp, Linked IN and Skype in the personal space and comparing it with the socialising we do at our workspace...an interesting topic to ponder further

Everyone who works in a corporation deals with the same issue - how to drive revenue and increase the bottom line ( and cohesively preserve the cash). Afterall - Revenue is Vanity, Profits are sanity and Cash is a reality. That means higher productivity,better business processes,faster decision making,fewer meetings,less travel, less e-mail,and less time wasted...

CEOs and CIOs have tried to deliver business value by spending massive amounts of money and time selecting exactly the right technology for their organisations. This worked for a while.The entire industry got really good at automating tonnes of business processes with layers of management ,protocols and silos-pulling every bit of cost imaginable out of the business.But though
we have spent billions of dollars (and time) and become at automating the enterprise,we have overlooked something critically important...

Consider the fact that the business is spending 70% of their annual operating budget on their people..

Yet what have we done for them ? The vast majority of employees still work with old tools and slow bureaucratic ,time sucking processes,which require countless meetings ( and e-mails floating up and down).In some research it was found that people waste 28 hours per week doing mindless tasks like responding to e-mails ,searching for information, collating reports and sitting on irrelevant meetings ....

Why wouldn't we want to make an investment in our most important asset --- our people ?

The most important question to ask is ---HOW can we bridge the gap between the way people now communicate and engage in their personal lives and the way they work everyday ?

The new workforce ( 90%) is SOCIAL. They grew up on Facebook,LinkedIN,Skype,Whatsapp and Twitter.They are used to getting instant responses from their networks via IM and group texts...
EMAILS ,however is an ancient Tool.Younger workers do not relate to the polished english literature of the past generation..They do not know how to set up --let alone check ---voice mail when the light flashes on the desk phone.They are mobile...Smatphone adoption is faster than any other major technology shift, including television,the internet,e-mail and even radio...

They live in the cloud ,they need information whenever and wherever they are across all their devices. Who has the time or inclination to be chained to a workstation ? They do not want to use an e-mail system thats 40 years old,an ERP system thats 25 years old , a CRM application thats 15 years old .

It is time to turn the TITANIC.The enterprise is replatforming due to the convergence of the cloud,
mobile,big data & social. Its changing the way work gets done---forever.Social enterprise platforms that combine these technologies are drastically transforming business cultures and creating business Value...
Instead of just servers and network systems connecting ,in the new world of work,people,placesand content are now connecting to work better.When employees can navigate this information,get personalised results and consult the social graph to find more relevant information,they can spend more time doing what they love----and get paid to do it ! Instead of wasting time,they can work more,code more,develop more,sell more,market more and innovate faster....

THE BUSINESS VALUE OF SOCIAL IS REAL...

I have always believed ( and dreamt) that the social era will be the most important transformation that happens in the enterprise...But untill now we have heard too much talk about social for social's sake.Today we have turned the page on the social software in the enterprise. Its not just about FUN;its just not about the TECHNOLOGY; and its not Facebook for the enterprise.

You need to know why you are using social technologies and platforms to grow revenue,increase profitability and spur innovation. If done right ,social will become the mission critical technology in any business.

Forward-thinking enterprises recognise that to advance and engage the new workforce,you can't use old tools to do new things.Every company in this modern era has to learn how to retool around social,mobile,big data and cloud ,unlock the silos and break down the barriers. Hundreds of companies have already started on this journey using social business tools to create value.These companies were once in the exact place where we are today...

We are still at the beginning of the social enterprise evolution. But the rising tides of the new workforce cannot be ignored. We deserve business systems that unlock creativity and human potential.We are right on the cusp of changing the way work gets done...

I am already gung -ho about this transformation

Sd/-
Roohul Haq

Relationship between Motivation and Talent

Hydrogen and oxygen are distinctly different elements, but sometimes they combine to form water. Something similar is true for motivation and talent.

Motivation is what we LIKE to do naturally.  Talent is what we DO well naturally.  They can exist independently, but when they combine, they create something special.  They create
motivated talents.

People often are naturally good at something (talented), but it just doesn’t turn them on.  For example, Hema is good with numbers, but she doesn’t go out of her way to find tasks calling
for that talent.  Most people have such talents.  But then there are those talents that we really enjoy using.  These are the motivated talents, and this is where the magic is.

We use motivated talents every chance we get.  Most of the time we don’t even think about it.  For example, Harish has a motivated talent for conversation, and he naturally engages both friends and
strangers in dialog.  He doesn’t consciously determine to do so; it just happens.  It’s natural and unforced.  He enjoys it, and he’s good at it.  That’s the hallmark of a motivated talent.

Motivated talents tend to be irrepressible.  They find expression. In fact, if you’ve ever tried to stifle a motivated talent (either yours or someone else’s) it probably felt like you were trying
to hold two dozen ping pong balls under water at the same time. Motivated talents pop out, even if no one else is asking for them. And doesn’t that make sense?  After all, it’s what we do well AND enjoy.

Well then, wouldn’t the ideal job be one where you can use your motivated talents daily and get paid for it?  Absolutely!  But more on that later.

Sd/-

Roohul Haq

Who is a Leader ?

Want to have some fun?  

Go to the book section of Amazon.com, enter the keyword "leadership" and see how many hits you get.

The last time I did this I got over 18,200 hits. Eighteen thousand two hundred! Why is there so much material on this one subject?
The law of supply and demand would say it is because people are buying it. But I suspect there are other, more subtle reasons.
One of those reasons is the underlying belief that leadership can be taught. With enough training, anybody can be a leader. The theory
is that leaders are made, not born. Or are they?

The other day a woman told me that she sees definite leadership traits in her son. I asked her how old he was. "Six," she replied. Too
young to have been through any leadership training. So are leaders born or made? The answer is both.

The problem is that we often get fuzzy about what can and cannot be taught, and at the heart of the fuzziness is the difference between
talent and skill.

Talent is what we do well naturally. It is our bent. Talents are inborn, and can be discovered and developed. They cannot be taught.

However, skills can. Skills are simply how to do something. They are learned and transferable. When we confuse talent and skill, we set ourselves
up for disappointing expectations from training.

What does this have to do with developing leaders? Everything. For example, the ability to create vision and strategy is a key leadership
trait. Some people have a talent for it. They do it naturally and continually. Others don’t. Both can learn some skills that will help them do it better.

The difference is that the one with the corresponding talent can be excellent at it, while the other one can be adequate at best. Talent is required for excellence.

Who wants more "adequate" leaders?

Here’s the bottom line for developing your leadership potential: become the leader you are designed to be. Discover your natural
motivational talents, and build on them. Volunteer for assignments and training that complement your natural giftedness. Get on the
track to excellence by aligning your development with your talents.

There are all types of leaders. Some rouse and inspire. Some organize.  Some are strategic, and some tactical. Some spot opportunities, and
some protect against disaster. All are needed in this world of ours.

What’s the best type of leader to be? The type you were designed to be.

Sd/-
Roohul Haq

Pedh --Poetry

  An amalgamation of thoughts from my HRLW experience on April 30. GSS HR team inspired me to plough these on the field.

मेरा घर का आँघण कितना फैला और बडा था
जिसमे मेरे सारे खेल सम्मा जाते थे
और घर के सामने था वो पेड़
कि  जो मुझसे काफी ऊंचा था

लेकिन मुझको इसका यकीन था
जब मैं बड़ा हो जाऊंगा ,इस पेड़ की ऊंचाइयों को छू जाऊंगा
इतने बरसों में
हर गली में खेला हूँ
दुनिया घूम आया हूँ
ज़िन्दगी के तपिश में कहीं ग़ुम हो गया हूँ

बरसों बाद लौटा हूँ , अपने घर के दवार पर
आँघण कुछ छोटा हो गया है
पेड़ मगर पहले से भी कुछ ऊँचा हैं
 

What is your Life's purpose ?

Let us look at a very different topic today. This endearing question lingers among all of us..." How to know my Life's purpose ? " " What is my Life's purpose ? "Interesting mystic question to find an answer to, isn't it ?

If you happen to ask many citizens about what they find endearing in a life journey, I bet 80 % of them would probably say that they wished had been leading a more happier and fulfilling life .

We find this as an astounding discovery. Why is this the case ? 
Why should human beings given the god's gift of socializing,thinking,collaborating,loving,empathising etc be leading unhappy lives?

The most common refrain that you can hear is " I have wasted my life and am half way through it ".I do not know what my life is all about ?

So let us now look at people who have led astounding lives (20%)and gauge for answers through them.When you look at their (20% happier citizens) path of progress, i found an amazing discovery that they knew something about their life purpose,because they knew 5 things...

1. Who they were ?
2. What they did ?
3. Who did they do it for ? well those people wanted or needed ?
4. What they got out of it ? 
5. How did they change as a result ?

Everyone has been amazed about the topic and there has been a deluge of books written on life's purpose by umpteen number of sages,authors,spiritual seekers, novelists etc.Its as simple as those 5 questions ,as it gets....

So in the next 10 minutes, let's figure out our "life's purpose" by answering the following question together.
1. Who are you ?   ---- Roohul Haq

2. What do you do ? ---- I am into people development. To help myself and others be the best they can be.

Note : " focus on what is one of the supremely qualified skill you like to teach or do " while answering this question

3. Who you do it for ? ---- For myself,employees in the corporate world, community and 
underprivileged society

4. What do they want or need from you ?  --- Privileged consultant to advice and counsel about their development needs, future career , skill development and continuous learning.

5. How do they change as a result for what you give them ? ---- They become supremely confident Leaders and Managers who can take decisive actions for the betterment of  corporation /society. They create employment opportunities for the next generation.

So, here you go ! Take a shot at the above questions and find your life's purpose in a jiffy... cool isn't it ? I have answered mine, you have the next 10 minutes on your watch ...tick tick tick...

Sd/-
Roohul Haq

Creative Inspiration

A wonderful poem for the uninhibited creative force in you (and me)

Creation is an enigma,
Making paths unknown,
Staring at obscure spaces...

When you express yourself,
Always choose the active voice,
Energy is more stronger and intense,
when you choose to create with conviction...

Energy that is active is felt better,
than an energy that is passive,
It is the frequency and vibration,
that the universe responds,

If you create works of art,
piece of writing,
piece of anything that is you,
create with such boom,
that everybody will stop and notice...

Do not fear ridicule or shame,
as there will always be people,
who will understand your voice ,
and your energy...

Just go with the flow,
Make your own masterpieces,
And live the creation...

Sd/-
Roohul Haq

Deep Dive-Self Worth

A deeper look at the way we energise our "self worth " 

Self worth is intrinsic; meaning everyone has it and born with it. So it becomes more of an internal process of recognizing your own self worth. To recognize your own self worth; your relationship with your own self has to be analyzed. How you see yourself on a fundamental level as a person when all definitions of who you think you are is stripped away. Self worth resides in your core essence of who you are and does not attach itself to the roles and identities that we take on in life.

What's left is the bare bones of who you are; an individual that is born to enjoy and experience life. I do think in order to recognize our worth we do have to see humans and ourselves from a positive and higher point of view. it is much difficult to understand self worth if you operate and see yourself from a low self esteem or negative perspective of who you are.

 That's why I think its essential to strip away all you think you are and just recognize that you are a spirit having a third dimensional experience. Personally for me; I tend to look at it from a spiritual perspective because it just makes sense to me; but others can also have great self worth without spiritual connotations.

Self worth is also what's left standing when all things in our lives go wrong or we experience breakdowns or difficult challenges in life. if all things that you hold on to dearly is stripped away and you are left with nothing but your dignity, integrity and self worth - a person with a sense of self worth would still feel that life is worth living.

Would still feel that he or she is worthy of happiness and success and not get attached to the failures or the difficulties. So in a sense; self worth gives the person the ability to feel a sense of being ok regardless of what life throws at them. It is a grounding feeling and it gives a lot of strength and resolve to the person in times of difficulty.

Sd/-
Roohul Haq