Women as better managers, Email, Glassdoors, Gmail

Here is wishing all a Happy Dasserra. It is the only day of the year, when I sit behind the wheel of my car and drive the 30 yards, (of course my driver sits beside just in case!!)as an auspicious beginning for the year ahead.

Interesting article posted in New York times,in which Carol Smith of Elle group which says women are in all sense Better Managers than men. After working for a Female manager and the female manager had a woman manager. I cant help to agree with the statement. They give you more head room and tend to seek and take your opinion more than male managers do. Of course, the issue is only that some times conversation can go a bit longer and you need to master the time management skills.

Here is an interesting website, Glassdoor which gives inside information on all companies thro opinions posted. Of course, this only perceptions of individuals who post what they feel.

Read last night on the HBR article in Sep issue on death by information overload. A must read article for those drowned by information, more so from Web and dont know how to manage. The article talks about thebrain and Twine as source of tools to help manage information overload. Let me see start using and see how it goes.

Hmm, Again Gmail had trouble this week, when I couldn't access my contacts for couple of hours. Wonder, where the invincibility disappeared?? Yes, again Mike and Mark are right, Always take a printout of contacts.....

Ok, Looking forward to catch up the next 2 days holidays with lot of catching up to do on reading.....

Until next week, take it easy and take care; live consciously.
Regards
Karthik

Eid Mubarak,Internet Kills, Tragedy, Art of living, Navaratri.

I am posting this blog in a more relaxed manner as tomorrow Monday is a public Holiday for the Islamic festival Id-ul-Fitr. I pass on warmest Eid greetings to my Muslim friends, more special greetings to my friends in my second HOME, Lahore; Pakistan. (Special friends in Monsanto Pakistan, Dr Rahman, Rana Rafiq and Zahid Islam, the last mentioned was instrumental in getting me to visit Pakistan) I am really amazed that in every religion the path to spiritual greatness are done thro sacrifice, discipline, (I am not an expert, this is my initial views, still a long way to go).

Saw an interesting web piece on 50 things that Internet has killed. I will add one more thing is looking at Dictionary or writing the correct spelling.

I found the web page History search engine Infoaxe cool, It helps you to search the web pages you visited and restores. Cool..... So no struggle for pages visited and lost.

I have posted a poll on linkedin on work life balance, a topic that is very close to my heart. I find it very irritating and frustrating to see many Indian companies and managers don't try to do a bit or walk the talk to enforce this important concept!!. I posted my brooding on this topic about an year back in my blog. Seems nothing has changed. They seem to live in a different plane(t) on this as compared to companies like bp, Honeywell. As much as we don't understand the western divorce concept as I was explaining to my wife.

I am listening to Malcolm Gladwell's Blink Audio Book. A must listen for every one to get a sense of thinking on feet as well as go by hunch. Gladwell also explains the concept of Contempt/ criticism which is a big take away for me as well as the concept of THIN SLICING...

It was heart rendering to read that a 12 year old girl died in labor in Yemen. It shook me to the core and it took me a while to regain composure. Where the world is going??????

I had a chance to examine my pulse thro Nadi Pariksha( Pulse Diagnosis) thro AOL. Some of the concepts and treatment are akin to grandmother's remedy in a core sense. (Pita, Kapa, Vatta).

Yes, navarathri, 2009 has commenced from Yesterday. It will fun filled 9 nights. Of course, We have not kept the Golu(Doll arrangement at home, I have been pestering Lalitha for one, may be next year!!). How much I miss the Gujarati Garba/ Dandiya Rass of Bharuch, Ankleshwar which are etched in my memory even after a dozen years of moving away from that wonderful place and people.

Yes, leave you with "GREED IS GOOD" saw the movie after 22 years of its release. What a theme and very relevant in present day context. Vintage Michael Douglas.

Till next week, take it easy and take care; live consciously.

Regards
Karthik.
Amritkala,Bangalore, India.

Austerity, IC, Gandhi, Children,India medical

I was away to Bombay on a private visit Saturday,after almost 7 years for a domestic travel( I had hobson's choice for Lahore!!) I had a chance to take Indian Airlines ( Rechristened Air India) flight.(Because of the ongoing Industrial action by Jet Airways Pilots with whom I hold loyal Platinum membership), To my pleasant surprise I found the experience enjoyable, both ways the flight was on time, the food was reasonable and the entertainment and papers on board were aplenty. So private competition has increased Indian Airlines service attitude to customers. Lets hope they sustain this!!.... As for Bombay visit, I was stuck in the unusual traffic jam for Saturday evening on the way back to Airport on LBS Marg Bhandup, thanks to the brevity of my cab driver, I managed to reach on time to board the flight.(The 20 Mile Journey took 2 Hrs!!, my plans catching up with friends on the way back went for a toss!).

On another news on travel front the news that is making headlines in India in on the austerity measures (!!!!!??) by the central ministers to travel economy and reduce spending.. Wonder how long they can stick to it...... knowing the integrity (All political parties are in the same boat) of our folks, they will find a way to game the system to get upgrades without cost, with pro quid pro, or arm twisting!!... Let's wait and watch. Of course, with mobile phone camera around it is easy for anyone to shoot photo of politician's caught on wrong foot and expose them.

I am glad that I read this article on Indian medical care,Lovely story self explanatory. Also this one on Mother in Law forming as association to protect their rights!! Wow......

I am not a great Gandhi admirer, ( I am from Patel, Bose Clan) but still found it interesting to read Obama's views on the father of the nation. Of course, I always believed that it is the dignity of British (personally convinced having a British Boss)that they let Gandhi do what he did. Anyone else, we might have to do with an Omar Muhktar. Hmmmmmm........

I leave with the images of the kids(Cant call anymore like that) growing fast. 2006 and 2009, the same place for my daughter's birthday party.... Time flies. Makes you feel old.. Scary!

Till next week, take it easy and take care; live consciously.

Regards
Karthik

Chase, Inhuman Resources, Drunken Grandmaster, YSR

I am now doing a wild goose chase and learning the frustration of handling customer service ineptness. About a year ago, I had ordered a home safety security alarm system from EUREKA FORBES(Honeywell make!!!!) at a discounted price at an exhibition sale in Honeywell premises. At that time, I had indicated to the salesman that I would require the system installed after 6 months or so at my new house and that I am purchasing, paying the full amount (US$ 300) to take advantage of the discount. It appears that salesman is no longer employed in the company. The company couldn't trace my order. (Being an average Indian company) I am not surprised that they have state of the art ERP to track orders. I am now not sure whether I will get the product or the money back!!!......... This is a lesson to learn to go after discounts or pre order.... Some lessons. I am also in a frustrating followup for a online order cancellation with ICICI Bank credit card, that is a story for another day.

We all know HR is a touchy area in many organisations and how much we would like to stay away!!(More so over the last decade and a half when it is getting more and more robotic!) emphasising that point is a great is a book by Michael Stanford which explains all the process of inhuman aspects at work thro your colleagues and boss etc etc and HR or any one cant do anything about it......... (except you to get inoculated against it)

Here is a funny side to sports in which a grandmaster came to play his chess match drunk and slept over the board. Hmmmm, at least he was sober to come to the right place in the first place.....

This morning during my walk I was listening to the podcast by Robert Goffee on his upcoming new book, Leading clever people. I had read the Article" Why should anyone be led by you" on HBR some time back. It was a very revealing article on authentic leadership.

On the management bookshelf, came across an interesting website which lists great management books of all time.

I will leave you with my thoughts on passing away of Dr YS Rajashekara Reddy, (YSR)the Chief minister of the state of Andhrapradesh(Hyderabad), killed in a Air crash. If I remember right, after 20 years, a state has lost its CM in office. May his soul rest in peace. But what saddened me was, that during the 24 Hrs he was missing and as efforts were on to trace his helicopter, 6 to 7 out of 10 messages that were posted in various new forums was that he would be found dead or good that he is gone. I am also averse to Indian politicians and many have done an irreparable damage. I endorse the saying by many that "India is doing extremely well, in spite of her politicians". But to hope that they all die, would lead to administrative vacuum. The other way is we choose,what we deserve!!. In my interactions with people from that state is that he had done his bit for the downtrodden. RIP......YSR.....

Till next week, take it easy and take care; live consciously.
Regards
Karthik

Awards, must known thing, Alumni, RFK

I am hugely distracted from routine over the last 8 weeks since moving in to our Apartment. The noise from construction from the projects within and the neighborhood have put spanner on the daily routine. What saddens me was that noise from construction projects are well past midnight with least concern or respect for people living in the community. I am aware that in Indian context the respect to compliance and following the law and order are minimal (More so when some norms are voluntary) and people try to work a way out thro bribe, coercion power, position or influence. But to see blatant violation as well as putting aside voluntary compliance is the saddest aspect. What is also shocking is the so called board of directors of such companies are much respected men in Indian society. I guess they have no clue to the ground level realities!!!. Remember Satyam!!.....

I am also puzzled by the craze to chase awards in many organisations, a friend of mine was sharing an experience of how his company is chasing awards in various function so much so that their HR and corporate communication functions were doing only the emails on awards protocols and sending emails to that effect. (Where is the question of not influencing!!??). It is a case that these functions have forgotten their primary responsibilities of meeting the internal customer requirements viz meeting HR deadlines etc.? Hmm, signs of things.....

Wayne talks about managing various aspects with Lisa Hanaberg in the 5th Anniversary podcast. I am pleasantly surprised that he mentions about my job profile in the conversation. Thanks Wayne!!.

A must listen for people who have direct reports the acid test, the podcast from Mark and Mike. It is simple.

Scary story of an Alumni suing her college for having not able to find employment. Read here...

Sad about the passing away of Ted Kennedy, great liberal champion. May his soul rest in peace. Incidentally, his brother Robert's assassination is the news, is as far as I could back to my childhood to remember times(1968 when I was 4 years old, staying in Madras!!!).

Till next week, take it easy and take care; Live consciously.

Regards
Karthik.

Back to posting.

I am glad to be back to posting this week after almost away for more than 3 weeks due to Ill health as well as chasing on issues, as well as laziness to some extent due to settling down at our new home. We are still not falling in to a groove, I guess it should happen say from this week.

Last Sunday( 9th Aug) I was glad to catch up with my classmate from college, Ganesh, who had come from USA to India on a 3 week trip. He took time in his schedule to work a visit Bangalore. The 4 Hours flew just like that. It was a good chance to recollect events that happened over the past 25 years.....

Mike and Mark have come with Excellent podcast on Airline travel in their career tools Podcast. A must listen for all the frequent travelers.

On connection, Anna Farmery has gone out a with podcast on the engaging brand show with Iggy Pintado. This 2 part podcast is a must listen for people to work out the intricacies of connection on Social media.

Ok, I will start active posting from next week, I promise. Until then Take it easy and take care; live consciously.

Regards
Karthik.

Kalaivani, 20p, Bribe, Songbird, Indians don't give!!!

Good to be back to blogging after a couple of hectic weeks with the move to our new apartment.

I was very much touched by this story forwarded to me. This goes to show how Kalaivani a 17 or 18 year old girl as a sales girl at a book Shop in Madras manages the family... There are so many families out there. The story has a happy ending.....

I was touched to read this saga/ epic struggle of this entrepreneur who had refused to pay bribe to the authorities for carrying out the legal formalities in connection with the house he had built. Corruption in this part of the world is given, more so to escape the opacity and slowness of the process. This story gives the courage to face the situation.

When are the times the money you carry is more its worth!!???. I remember old story of a Petrol station agent melting the coins to make fortune as the Silver that came out was worth more than its currency value!. Read this story here in UK where some discrepancy in date makes 20p worth 50£

The best of the 2009 Leadership blog survey is out, I had voted.Some interesting thoughts on leadership expressed in these blogs and this survey is done by Kevin Eikenberry thro his blog.

On the question of best business books I had come across an intersting link. Worth going thro and help you choose the best books in Print or audio form.

On the tech front, here is a challenge to ITUNES from Songbird. The Ipod software to sync your Ipod with a Computer. I have downloaded it and will begin using it. The reviews on Songbird are pretty positive.....

On the way of life in India, I came across a thoguht provoking article in mint on why Indians dont give back to the society like the way it happens in West. I have heard of stories of famous Indian personalities becoming tight fisted when it comes to charity..... Some truth I guess.. I assume the Hindu way of life of living as a zero sum game!!!.... Hmmmm...,,

As always I leave with obituary of two people who passed away recently, Robert McNamara, the first international figure I had known from my school days (As world bank president). The other person was Walter Cronkite, who was a famous announcer. Coincidentally both were in 90s, and both connected to JFK......

Lot reading to catch up!!!.....

Till next week take it easy and take care; live consciously.
Regards
Karthik.