Spilling the beenz

The best laid plans ....etc etc My iron-clad resolution to write regularly sadly couldnt escape the rust of procrastination. So it is, after a long hiatus that I return to my blog, determined to get back on track. In my defense, I DID write a couple of articles in this period, which I have posted today as well. Perhaps at the end of a day of mass communicating, I'm all communicated out? I seem to be part of a dying breed that feels no burning urge to stay connected with as many people as possible in as many ways as possible, at the same time!! No, I'm not on FaceBook. My life still feels pretty complete as of now, so guess its status quo for the foresable future. I feel truly sorry for my followers on Twitter. Watching paint dry would prove far more interactive and rivetting! Well, baby steps, as I said in the beginning....... I'm back here. So lets take it one post at a time

'17 Again', the movie poster announces and I laugh at the timing. 38's around the corner and 17 looks pretty tempting! Having suffered from a chronic Peter Pan syndrome all my life, birthdays post 30 have pretty much been occupied with tearing of hair and gnashing of teeth, although I've had to take it down a notch recently – somehow replacing crowns and caps just isn’t that much fun anymore. Okay, I'm gone take it on the chin(s) – time to take stock and see how bad the situation is. Granted, I'm not queen of the world as per my plan at age 6, but, I do have my own little world in which I am loved and adored, short temper, flabby arms and all. Okay, not a bad start. I don’t have the adrenalin pumping excitement of being on the race track (horse/bike/car – anything was fine at 10) but I do have heart stopping moments, albeit when watching little baby steps being taken for the first time, or the first word being spoken by my daughters, not to mention their first g...

The red light flashes. It’s a summons I cannot ignore. Doesn’t matter where I am. Or what I'm doing. Or who I'm with. The red light MUST be heeded. At once. Or the pain will follow. Distracting me from the conversation I'm in. From the book I'm reading. The TV show I'm watching. The long story my kids are telling me. The ice-cream I'm eating. Nothing is stronger than the call of the red light. Not to respond to the flashing red-light means unbearable anxiety. So many unanswered questions that only heeding that call could answer. Just the agony of not knowing……it's too much to bear. I can't do it, I have to respond. Now. I know it's rude. It's going to upset people. It's going to cause misunderstandings and possibly fights. But you don’t understand. You cannot see the red light flashing and ignore it. I disgust myself sometimes. I never thought I would be so meekly subservient. So ready to give the red-light such a high priority in my life, af...

Chicken or the egg situation - do you get a bunch of engaged, motivated employees by being a good organisation, or do they make an organisation better? How big a role does the environment play in generating the excitement and commitment a start-up always seems to have? How do you sustain that zest and passion through to post-launch, without letting them get jaded? Keeping anticipation levels up is one way. Involving the company in what's next and making them feel they have a role to play in it will keep the enthusiasm levels high. Management continuing to keep closely involved with their staff at all levels, even after the company has grown exponentially, makes a difference as well. Appreciate those who have taken risks (within limits!) even if the idea didn't pan out. Management have to walk the talk - live the brand values, don't preach them. Love to hear what you guys have to say........spill the beans to beenz!!

I'm reading so much about retaining employees in a time of crisis; who holds the 'power' now - the employer or the employee...etc. Its not rocket science. At any time, all people really need in order to be actively engaged, is to know they are important to management. As people, not just drones who get the job done. Be flexible about timings when it comes to kid related stuff - PTA meetings, doctor visits, etc; have an open door policy that lets them feel their opinion counts and they have the freedom to air it; make sure they are your brand ambassadors - let them be your test groups, get the product first, get all company announcements before the media.......simple things that yield results. Loyal employees will stick with you through the thick and thin, if they know its being appreciated. Being taken for granted sucks, in personal relationships as well as professional ones. Talk to your people and be honest. Take them along with you for the ride, whether its an aerial dir...

Amazing how the tensest of situations gets diffused by a little madness! A little dose of laughter and everyone going nuts for a bit and calm is restored. I know most bosses hate 'official email' being used to send jokes and stuff around, but I think its a great way to bring your staff together and keep stress levels down. Sometimes people surprise you with their reactions as well, giving away more about themselves with the kind of joke that makes them laugh!!

Dont you sometimes feel the credit crunch has actually saved a lot of companies from losing their best people? Everyone's scared to leave and join a new place at this time, without any guarantee that they will not be chucked out of the new place in the next round of lay-offs! So they stay - at least physically and on the records; but mentally they are so out of the workplace. The minute the economic crisis gets sorted out and stability returns to the market, there will be an unprecedented level of churn across the board. Should be interesting to watch, not to mention, opening up new avenues of employment! Hows that for a silver lining :-)