Put the WHIRLING MIND at rest!!

Lately I have been thinking of the lifestyle I am leading owing to my commitment towards job and my family. I always feel that there is so much to do and so little time for that.
Was just having a morning "over the cup of tea" talk with my wife discussing how one should spend the whole day doing something or the other and should have some hobbies & passions to follow..

But then it just hit me my mind that am I clear about what I feel about these things?? About living a full life?? Do I actually know the meaning of all that I just said??
I guess I had such a life in the past and all my talks were based on the past experience.

However, my present is not the same.. Nowadays my Mind is always occupied with work, some pending electric repair work at home, cleaning my office drawer of the trash, cutting a DVD of movies, downloading a rip software for digital frame I just got although I have enough DVD players and computes at home!! My mind is never at rest and its continuously spinning!!!

Even when I am lying in the bed trying to fall asleep, my mind keeps spinning with all the things I need to do and the thoughts just keep ticking? (I even wake up in the middle of the night to scribble things on my pad.. phew!!)

I realize that we (I believe all of us) wind ourselves up like a motor when we pile on more things than can possibly get done in the time frame have. When we rush to meetings, speed in the car and make it to places "just in time", it's no wonder some of us can have a tough settling in for the night. Or settling in for the day! 

Wondering how can we keep our mind from whirling? I just tried to figure out as to why do we face these situations:

Matter of Life and Death:
Most of what is keeping our minds whirling isn't as serious as we make it out to be. Fetching the can of milk for home, getting something for the kids or trying to make it to the movie show is not life or death. Most of the time if things don't get done when we think they should get done, life stills goes on. Just think, when you are sick and down, does the world stop revolving?? But we forget this because we like to stay busy and experience the adrenaline rush.

I don't have time for myself!!:
Sounds familiar??? Yes, it is so important to have the time when nothing is planned; no meetings, no reunion with friends, no taking-the-kid-out. Maybe its the time to get some pampering done, like a massage. Or go for a drive all alone with your favourite music playing.. no phone calls, no grocery list in your pocket and no "From -To" schedule in your mind... Its really important to let yourself loose at times..

Review your TO-DO list:

Its very likely that there is a lot going on in our lives at the same time.. and its always logical to have a TO-DO list maintained for all those activities.. But did it ever occur to you that you should probably revise the TO-DO list to drop something from it?? 

Just give it a thought: 

Is it that you actually have to fix that leaking faucet in your kitchen yourself or can you simply hire a plumber?? 

Have you accepted an invite for a half day conference on "How to save the planet?" on the other side of the city, which you don't want to attend?? 

Have you actually denied the "Home pick-up" service for your car and decided to go all by yourself to the service station to get the car serviced?

We need to get rid of the TO-DOs that take up time but do not add to the quality to our life!!

Keep the Evening Subtle:
Usually the times I have trouble sleeping are when I have worked too late on the computer or have been watching an action packed movie right before bed. The computer screen and the quick-paced movie are too stimulating late at night. Though I realised that turning off the computer or TV at least an hour before bed really helps... I actually feel relaxed with some soft music or a book instead.

Work Life - Personal Life Balance:

We often talk about that at those social gatherings and at evening tea-time chats.. A few people boast of striking perfect balance between work and personal life.. I somehow have never been that lucky.. and am friends with people who are more like me (and I guess 90% of the people out there are my friends)..
There are people who feel extremely guilty when they are at work because they aren't spending time with their family. Then, when they go home they feel guilty that they aren't working. They feel miserable most of the time....

Its up to us to enjoy work when we are at work and enjoy with our family when we are at home. Living in the moment helps to be happier. 

As you can see, how just a few simple changes can bring us closer to a calmer and more peaceful mind. Hope we all strike that balance and have a peaceful and joyful life..

Cheers!!

TECHLAND TYRANTS - A perspective on those who made BIG

Read an intresting publishing in todays newspaper where the Leadership style of 2 of the most powerful leaders of 2 of the most successful companies was discussed.

Steve Jobs - APPLE & Bill Gates - MICROSOFT.

Just have a read..

TECHLAND TYRANTS 

compiled by Harsh Vora, published in PUNE MIRROR dated 18th May 2011

You think your boss is finicky the world’s most-popular nerds Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are known for their unforgiving autocratic management style. Here’s a look

STEVE JOBS

FROM IPADS TO CAFETERIA FOOD, IT’S HIS CALL
In his mid-blue Levis and black turtleneck tee, Steve Jobs looks almost harmless. It’s easy to picture him at the Apple Campus in California the Wonkas chocolate factory of the tech world working on the next wonder device and politely marshaling his engineers.This, however, may be far from the reality.

A recent article by Fortune magazine, details how one of the most successful and secretive companies operates. It reveals that the Apple CEO and enigmatic tech visionary is a corporate dictator, who doesn’t settle for anything less than perfection. Failures are anathema to him. Here are some insights into his autocratic management style.

I AM THE CAPTAIN, DAMN IT
Jobs, the article by Adam Lashinsky says, makes every critical decision at Apple and oodles of seemingly non-critical ones, too.From the design of buses that ferry staff members to and from San Francisco to the kind of food served in the cafeteria it’s his call. He makes sure that his approach to product design is shared by staff.

DUDS OUT, NOW
In 2008, Apple launched the first version of its iPhone that worked on 3G networks. It also introduced e-mail system MobileMe, which proved to be a disappointment.

When negative reviews started pouring in, Jobs summoned the MobileMe team and asked a simple question; Can anyone tell me what MobileMe is supposed to do After receiving an answer, he thundered : So why the f** k doesn’t it do that... You should hate each other for having let each other down. He then quickly named a new executive to run the group.

ARE YOU V-P OR JANITOR
He tells employees who are made vice-presidents that there is no acceptable excuse for not getting a job done. He draws a comparison between an executive and a janitor, illustrating that if the garbage in his office is not cleared and he questions the janitor, the latter could give an excuse that he didn’t have office key.

When you’re the janitor, reasons matter. Somewhere between the janitor and the CEO, reasons stop mattering, says Jobs, adding that Rubicon is crossed when you become a VP.

HUDDLE UP PEOPLE
At Apple, there is an employee’s group Top 100, which is not formed on the basis of rank. Each year, the group meets Jobs for a three-day strategy session at a secret location. Jobs preference for the venue: good food and no golf course.

 

BILL GATES

DONT DISAGREE WITH BILL, THE BULLY
A memoir released by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen last month portrays Bill Gates as a sarcastic bully who hates disagreements. In Idea Man: A Memoir by the Co-founder of Microsoft, he describes the software mogul who these days spends a significant amount of time and wealth on charity as a person who thrived on conflict and wasn’t shy about instigating it. Childhood friends Allen and Gates founded Microsoft in the 1970s.Here are some points made by Allen that show his former partner and pal in unflattering light.

A TALENT FOR TAUNTS
Many consider Gates management style as a key reason behind Microsoft’s initial success. Allen, who left the company in 1983, disagrees. He says Gates demanding and confrontational style destroyed their friendship and ability to work together. He claims the Microsoft chairman was unable to settle arguments rationally and publicly belittled co-workers with his favorite insult: that’s the stupidest f** king thing I’ve ever heard. A few of us cringed at the way he’d demean people and force them to defend their positions, Allen says. He writes of having fights with Gates that lasted hours.

HARD TASK MASTER
Allen claims Gates jeered at colleagues who sought time off. Once, he seemed baffled by a programmers request to take a day off after working 81 hours in four days.

He would apparently ridicule coworkers’ efforts with put-downs like I could code that in a weekend. According a report on the memoir by The Guardian, Gates would prowl the company car park to see who came to work on the weekend.

BLIND AMBITION
Allen recounts meeting Gates in the 1960s.At 13, Bill asked me: What do you think it’s like to run a Fortune 500 company I said I had no idea. Bill said: Maybe we’ll have our own someday. Allen accuses his former friend of mercenary opportunism. He claims that Gates wanted to reduce his share in the company when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease in 1982.

I’d thought that our partnership was based on fairness, but now I saw that Bills self-interest overrode all other considerations... My partner was out to grab as much of the pie as possible and hold on to it, and that was something I could not accept, he writes. 

Can't stop thinking if I also should start working on changing my management style to the kinds elaborated above.. It really takes THAT to make it big; I guess.. :)

Guide to succeed with a new BOSS!!

We all know it's true: Managing up is as important as managing down. That's especially true when you are starting a relationship with a new boss. 

When I switched my first job, I was apprehensive about the new person I was going to assist in next company. Then I came across this piece of writing where HBS Professor Michael Watkins discussed the importance of clearly defining goals with your superior.

It helped me.. hope it helps you too.. 

Working with your new boss

Your new boss will have more impact than anyone else over whether you succeed or fail. Your boss establishes benchmarks for your success, interprets your actions for other key players, and controls resources you need. Building a productive working relationship with him or her while you establish your mandate and negotiate for resources is a clear early priority.

 

Defining your goals

When you think about working with your new boss, keep the following goals in mind:

 

Clarify mutual expectations early. Begin managing expectations right away. You are in trouble if your boss expects you to fix things fast when you know that the business has serious structural problems. So it is wise to get bad news on the table early and to lower unrealistic expectations. Be careful to assess your new organization's capacity for change before making ironclad commitments to your new boss.

 

Secure commitments for the resources you need. In conjunction with establishing goals, begin to negotiate for the key resources - people, funding, and knowledge; you need to succeed. Don't commit to goals without getting corresponding commitments on resources. Otherwise you won't have much bargaining power.

 

Aim for early wins in areas important to the boss. Whatever your own priorities, identify what the boss cares about most and pursue results in those areas. That way, your boss will feel some ownership of your success. But don't make the mistake of doing things you consider misguided or trivial. In part, your job is to shape your boss's perceptions of what can and should be achieved.

 

Aim for good marks from those whose opinions your boss respects. This is an aspect of building supportive internal coalitions. Your boss may have pre-existing relationships with people who are now your subordinates. If so, their assessments of you will take on additional importance.

 

Establishing how you will work together

It's essential to figure out how you and your boss will work together. Your preferences may differ, such as over how much information the boss wants (and you want to give) and how involved the boss wants to be (and you want him or her to be) in the details of what you are doing. Rather than allowing misunderstandings to complicate your relationship, spend some time at the start discussing how you will work together. Even if you don't develop a close personal bond, doing so will help you create a productive working relationship.

 

Matching your requests for support to your situation

The type of support you need from your boss will vary depending on the business situation you are facing. The role of the boss in a startup is very different than in turnaround, realignment, or sustaining success situations. So you need to gain consensus on the type of situation. Then you have to think carefully about what role you would like your new boss to play and what kinds of support you will ask for.

 

Living by the golden rule

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. You will almost certainly hire new people as your subordinates. Just as you need to develop a productive relationship with your new boss, they need to work effectively with you. In the past, have you done a good job of helping subordinates make their own transitions? What might you do differently this time?

 

Planning for five conversations

Your relationship with your new boss will be built through a series of conversations. These conversations begin before you accept the new position and continue through the time before entry and on into your transition. It is critically important that you cover certain fundamental subjects in these conversations. In fact, it is worth planning for five distinct conversations with your new boss.

 

The situational diagnosis conversation 

In this conversation you seek to understand how your new boss sees the business situation. Is it a turnaround or a startup or a realignment or a sustaining success situation? How did the organization get to this point? What are the relevant factors; both soft and hard that make this a challenge? What resources within the organization do you have to draw upon? Naturally your view may be different than your boss's, but it is essential that you understand how he or she sees the situation.

 

The expectations conversation

In this conversation you seek to understand and negotiate expectations. What are the few key things that your new boss needs you to accomplish in the short term and medium term? What will constitute success? When? How will it be measured? Here again, you may come to believe that your boss's expectations are unrealistic and have to work to reset them. Also you should take care, as part of your broader effort to secure early wins, to under-promise and over-deliver.

 

The style conversation 

In this conversation you work to understand how you and your new boss can best interact on an ongoing basis. How does she prefer to be communicated with? Face to face? in writing? By voice mail or e-mail? How often? What kinds of decisions does he want to be involved in and where can you make the call on your own? How do your styles differ and what are the implications for how you should interact?

 

The resources conversation

In this conversation you negotiate for critical responses. What is it that you need to be successful? What do you need your boss to do? The resources in question need not be funding or personnel. In a realignment situation, for example, your boss can play a critical role in helping you get the organization to confront the need for change.

 

The personal development conversation

Finally, you need to discuss how your time in this job will contribute to your personal development. Are there projects or special assignments that you could get involved in (without sacrificing focus)? Are there courses or programs that would strengthen your capabilities?

 

In practice, these five conversations are interwoven and take place over time. But there is a sequential logic. Early conversations should focus on situational diagnosis, expectations, and style. As you learn more, you can move to resources, revisiting situation and expectations as necessary. When you feel the relationship is reasonably well established, you can begin the personal development conversation.

Jumping Jobs??

You're tired all the time; you don't want to get out of bed in the morning; you can't concentrate at work anymore. Guess what, you could be one of millions of people that need to consider a job or career change.

If you even think you are starting to feel 'burned out' or uninterested in what you are doing make some time for a real conversation with yourself - starting with the question. 

"What do I really want to do with the rest of my life?" 

Most people consider themselves lucky to have a job. But it may be time to start asking just how happy you are with it. Gone are the days when you could expect to work for the same company all your life and then receive a pension that paid income for life. 

As against older people who are at the end of their careers and are comfortable in their existing set-up, younger people get most frustrated in the same organisation after a couple of years. 

Also the same comfort level can be termed stagnation. Hence they are even ready to take risks and move to a different industry. So if you are ready for the switch, first do intense personal assessment and consider the following tips: 

Find reasons

You need to pinpoint why you are looking for a change and whether you have the right reasons. It is better compensation or benefits or is it dissatisfaction with career potential? 

If you are ambivalent about leaving, career consultants say there are a number of red flags that signal unhappiness at work. 

The root of your discontent could be linked to anything from dysfunctional relationships at work to a personal clash with the organisation's values. It could be lack of close relationships, either with colleagues or your boss that could be disheartening. 

A simple change can often be the remedy to your workplace woes. When contemplating a change, think about classes you took in college and even high school that appealed to you and left you inspired.

What's the way you like it? 

You needn't change the organization. Maybe what you do is not what you like. The solution could be as simple as moving to a different department. Voice your commitment to the organisation and express how much you'd like to stay.

Then ask about other positions that might suit you better. When considering a professional makeover, don't think in terms of job titles. 

Those can be limiting and can feed people's fears that they're pigeonholing themselves into doing one thing for the rest of their lives. Don't feel pressured to stick to one job. There are options beyond those that we can visualise. We just need to seek them out.

How does the industry look at you?

There is no rule as such, but put yourself in the position of a potential interviewer and think how you would react to your own CV. 

While your current job may not be right for you in the long term, it is in your own interest to develop your role and responsibility as much as you can before you move on. Interviewers will naturally want to know what you have achieved and what has made you decide to change jobs. 

Your application will be much more attractive if you can show evidence of your ability to manage your own personal and career development. Most important of all, you can use this experience to ensure that your second job is a better fit. You should be much clearer on what is important to you and what you have got to offer. 

Consider your finances

If you're unemployed and bills are stacking up, you might take the first offer that comes along, even if it isn't perfect. But if you are considering a job change, make sure you aren't loading yourself up with debt. 

Too much debt causes you to be more vulnerable during a job transition. Therefore, get your financial picture in order and give yourself a cushion of about six months. But you should know what you are worth on the open market. 

Get connected 

Stay up-to-date on technology, industry trends, customer needs and any other factors that are important to your personal and professional self-development. Upgrade your knowledge and skills in ways that are consistent with your own future interests and career development. 

Find out what's happening within your industry. Those who struggle the most are just in tune with their own little circle. You may also consider contacting a head hunter, and make sure the headhunter is working in your best interest.

The amazing INTERVIEW(ee)..

I wanted to share the experience I had while interviewing a candidate for a position in my organization.

He happens to come to us through reference of a very good friend and I decided to give him a chance to show me what he has got. My friend had already vouched for him and wanted me to be more considerate while I was interviewing him since he wanted me to place the guy somewhere within my team. I also made my mind that if the person shows some level of commitment and has some content only, I will groom him to be a part of highly aggressive and productive team we have at our office.

Last evening, I get this call and the person on the other side says,” Mr X must have spoken to you about me”.” I am Mr Y”, he said. “Could you please confirm me the time when I should come to your office to meet you?” was what he asked me straight away. I took it very lightly and briefed him that since next day I have a meeting in the morning, so I will reach office only after 11 and he can come after that to see me.

But, the gentlemen didn’t settle for that much. He shot another question at me and this time it was a little upsetting. He wanted me to speak out the entire address of my office to him over the phone. Well, I know that telling addresses to people is a very common phenomenon, but is it really common to ask that question to your prospective employer whom you might have to impress by your analytical abilities and smartness?

Anyway, I had to speak the entire address to him on the line and not to mention the landmarks and major junctions that he might have to cross to reach the place.

I hung up the phone (only after he was comfortable that he can reach the place without any trouble) and went on with whatever I was doing (actually had completely forgotten by then).

Next day, at about 9 o’clock in the morning I got a call from the same gentleman saying that he was already there at the gate of my office and there was no one in the office For a moment I felt as if I was talking to some inspector from FLYING SQUAD who has come to inspect if my office opens up in time.
I calmly reminded him of our last day’s conversation where I had asked him to come after 11 AM. But this man turned out to be a very enthusiastic fellow and he claimed so for himself. He said, “I thought that I should reach early so that you do not have to wait for me before the meeting.” I was zapped for a moment and didn’t know what to say. However, I appreciated him for what he has done and asked him to wait for his watch to tick 11 since I was unable to make it before that.

He agreed readily and assured me that he shall wait and believe me I was so glad that he didn’t create any fuss out of that (pun intended).
So, there I was, in the first hour of a long day, feeling like a criminal who has made someone wait for 2 long hours. I was feeling do guilty for what I had done.

I somehow did not happen to meet that person due to some reason but I really wanted to meet him and know more about him...

Better luck next time... :)

Simple ways to reduce STRESS.. TRY THEM.. they actually work..

Sometimes it seems as if we're on a collision course with insanity. The pace of life, the endless demands and incessant contact through email, cell phones, and other "electronic leashes" seem to keep us in a constant state of alert. I'm convinced that stress management is as much about the little ways we decompress daily as it is the big annual "week at the beach" vacation.

Here is a list of a few simple ways to reduce stress...most of which I've used regularly. Many of them may be a "blinding flash of the obvious" but if you practice one, several or all of them on a regular basis, I predict your life will become more peaceful, less stressful and more joyful to live.

Spend some time everyday just sitting...watch clouds float by or listen to the birds;

Savor a cup of tea or other soothing beverage;

Give time to someone who cannot repay you;

Pray or meditate;

Laugh at yourself...lots!;

Enjoy the company of a pet;

Watch children playing at the park;

Take a nature walk;

Read poetry;

Look around and find five things to be thankful for...write them down;

Stretch your body from head to toe;

Arrange a bouquet of flowers or work in a garden;

Call a friend;

Burn candles and watch the flame;

Massage your hands or feet;

Ask someone else to massage your hands or feet;

Breathe deeply;

Have something beautiful in your office to reflect on;

Send someone a handwritten note of thanks or simply a "thinking of you";

Walk through the produce section of a grocery store or market and marvel at the colors, smells and textures;

Drive the speed limit;

Reduce your caffeine;

Listen to music that soothes...classical, baroque and jazz are proven stress-relievers.

Our lives are made up of thousands of moments, lived one at a time. Taking a few minutes everyday in which to relax, reflect and rejuvenate is a great way to remind us that we can choose peace anytime of day.

"Be happy with what you have while working for what you want."

7 POWERFUL TIPS FOR LASTING MOTIVATION AND GREATER SUCCESS

If you could sustain lasting motivation, how much more successful would you be? Wouldn’t it make a dramatic difference to your life?
With that in mind, here are seven tips to help you stay motivated and to achieve much more...

1. Success is not achieved accidentally. It is a systematic, deliberate process of deciding what you want to do with your life, what you will do when you get there, and what the steps are to get you where you want to be. One of the most important aspects of success is the ability to visualize your path and stay focused on your goal until you reach it.
   
   
2. The sooner you envision your dreams and develop a plan to turn them into reality, the faster you will accomplish your goals. Mental pictures are a mechanism to lead you down the path of true independence and motivation.
   Procrastination is a self-defeating behavior that develops in part due to low self-esteem and fear of failure. Your imagination is like a preview of your future. If you don't use your imagination your life will remain mundane and unfulfilling.
   
   
3. Overcoming procrastination is the first step in helping you create the lifestyle you desire. You must change the habits and behaviors that led you to procrastinate in the first place. Change is a slow process so be sure to reward yourself along the way for small achievements.
   Instead of focusing on the difficulty of a large task, break it into smaller jobs and create a timeline for finishing them.
   
   
4. small jobs done over time are much more manageable that one large task with no end in sight. You'll be astonished at how much you can get done if you concentrate on one thing at a time instead of cluttering your mind with multiple tasks. Try tackling the more undesirable tasks early in the day so that by afternoon you can pursue more pleasant activities.
   
   
5. Relieve yourself of the pressure created by clutter in your office or home. Develop a filing system, rid yourself of unnecessary papers, and give yourself an organized place to work. When you exercise self-discipline in your surroundings as well as your behaviors, you will make major strides in accomplishing your goals in a shorter period of time. No matter what is happening around you, keep your mind focused on the reward you'll receive by reaching your goals.
   
   
6. If people or outside forces distract you, use the power of the human mind to block out what impedes your progress and concentrate solely on the task at hand. You will make remarkable progress by refusing to let others alter the path you have chosen. Overcoming procrastination and staying motivated is the way to lifetime success and happiness. You'll achieve your goals rapidly when you stay focused on your destination and the rewards that will follow.
   
   
7. Review your habits and way of thinking to determine what you are visualizing most of the time. If your visions do not lead you in the direction of accomplishing your goals, then you must change them. Discipline yourself to concentrate on your goals the majority of the time, and if you stray from the path, get promptly back on. Imagine what the rewards will be when you finally reach your destination and keep that thought foremost in your mind.

Procrastination is of no use to you in your quest to fulfill your dreams. Lose those old habits and replace them with habits that lead to self-motivation and control over your life.
You know what to do. The big question is how do you find the inspiration to begin and how do you stay motivated over time despite setbacks?


You already know what procrastination and low motivation is costing you. And you know deep down that nothing is going to change for the better until you do.

MENTORING: An intervention for success in professional life

"Mentoring" as an intervention can help new recruits and interns to understand the JOB well and reduce the frustration and confusion that they have to go through during the first few weeks of joining a new organisation.

A person can not have too many mentors. As a student, one might have several formal and informal mentors at the same time.

Mentoring, therefore, is a relationship rather than an activity. The relationship between the mentor and learner is unique, since mentoring is a protected relationship in which learning and experimentation can occur, potential skills can be developed, and results can be measured in terms of competencies gained rather than in curriculum covered.

What is a MENTOR?

The word "mentor" has its origin thousands of years ago in Greek mythology, in the tale of Odysseus. When Odysseus was away from home for many years, he encouraged and entrusted his son, Telemachus, to his friend and advisor, Mentor. When Odysseus was gone, Mentor served as guardian, teacher and father figure to his young protege.

In modern-day terms, mentors are influential people who significantly help one reach one's major life goals. They have the power -- through who or what they know -- to promote one's welfare, training, or career.

Mentors, according to Webster, are:

A wise, loyal adviser

A teacher or coach


What Do Mentors Do?


Mentors help students in several ways. Mentors give advice and constructive feedback of the student's actions and products, formal and informal instruction (on organizational politics as well as on more technical information), introductions to people who can help, and opportunities for students to demonstrate their skills.

During the mentoring relationship, the mentor is a major source of information as students look to "Bridge the Gap" from the academic world to the world of work.


What Are The Benefits Of A Mentoring Program?


Students have opportunities to observe and interact with experts: receive encouragement; acquire knowledge and numerous professional skills; save time by learning shortcuts and strategies that are normally learned by trial and error; ask specific questions and get one- on- one feedback on their planned careers; gain important personal contacts and other resources; and make a smoother bridge to adulthood and maturity.

Mentors have opportunities to: increase their mentoring skills, which they can use in numerous areas of their lives; learn new technical knowledge and skills; indirectly "pay back" their own mentors for help received; increase their professional network as they interact with other mentors, students, guests, managers, and others; and gain tremendous satisfaction from contributing to the development of capable individuals.

Understand the question well to answer better: Few interview questions

During my own preparation for job interviews while I was studying management, I listed down various questions that are generally asked in interviews to assess an individual's competencies (skills, knowledge, attitude) for the desired position.

Then while working for corporates in Competency development area, I began to understand these questions better and you can only answer well if you know the question well..

The following are a few questions generally asked in the Interviews to understand the level of competency possessed by the individual in the respective area (sub-heads). Interviewees tend to misunderstand the question and end up with a irrelevant answer.

The following set of questions shall be of help to those who might know all the answers about their skills and abilities but might not be sure of which question to attribute them to during the interview. Please read them and make notes of your best answers to them..

CORE COMPETENCIES

Adaptability

• Tell me about a time when you changed your priorities to meet others' expectations?
• Describe a time when you altered your own behaviour to fit the situation?
• Tell me about a time when you had to change your point of view or your plans to take into account new information or changing priorities?

Client Focus

• Give an example of how you provided service to a client/stakeholder beyond their expectations. How did you identify the need? How did you respond?
• Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a client/stakeholder service issue?
• Describe a situation in which you acted as an advocate within your organization for your stakeholder’s needs, where there was some organizational resistance to be overcome?

Communication

• Describe a situation you were involved in that required a multi-dimensional communication strategy?
• Give an example of a difficult or sensitive situation that required extensive communication?
• Tell me about a time when you really had to pay attention to what someone else was saying, actively seeking to understand their message?

Organizational Awareness

• Describe the culture of your organization and give an example of how you work within this culture to achieve a goal?
• Describe the things you consider and the steps you take in assessing the viability of a new idea or initiative?
• Tell me about a time when you used your knowledge of the organization to get what you needed?

Problem Solving and Judgment

• Tell me about a time when you had to identify the underlying causes to a problem?
• Describe a time when you had to analyze a problem and generate a solution?
• Tell me about a situation where you had to solve a problem or make a decision that required careful thought. What did you do?

Results Orientation

• Tell me about a time when you set and achieved a goal?
• Tell me about a time when you improved the way things were typically done on the job?
• Describe something you have done to improve the performance of your work unit?
• Describe something you have done to maximize or improve the use of resources beyond your own work unit to achieve improved results?

Teamwork

• Tell me about a time when you worked successfully as a member of a team?
• Describe a situation where you were successful in getting people to work together effectively?
• Describe a situation in which you were a member (not a leader) of a team, and a conflict arose within the team. What did you do?

ROLE SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

Developing Others

• Tell me about a time when you coached someone to help them improve their skills or job performance. What did you do?
• Describe a time when you provided feedback to someone about their performance?
• Give me an example of a time when you recognized that a member of your team had a performance difficulty/deficiency. What did you do?

Impact and Influence

• Describe a recent situation in which you convinced an individual or a group to do something?
• Describe a time when you went through a series of steps to influence an individual or a group on an important issue?
• Describe a situation in which you needed to influence different stakeholders with differing perspectives?

Innovation

• Describe something you have done that was new and different for your organization, that improved performance and/or productivity?
• Tell me about a time when you identified a new, unusual or different approach for addressing a problem or task?
• Tell me about a recent problem in which old solutions wouldn't work. How did you solve the problem?

Leadership

• Tell me about a time when you had to lead a group to achieve an objective?
• Describe a situation where you had to ensure that your "actions spoke louder than your words" to a team?
• Describe a situation where you inspired others to meet a common goal?

Relationship Building

• Describe a situation in which you developed an effective win/win relationship with a stakeholder or client. How did you go about building the relationship?
• Tell me about a time when you relied on a contact in your network to help you with a work-related task or problem?
• Give me an example of a time when you deliberately attempted to build rapport with a co-worker or customer?

Resource Management

• Describe a situation in which you took a creative approach to resourcing to achieve a goal?
• Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a particular resource management issue regarding either people, materials or assets?
• Describe the options you would consider to resource a project or goal if you did not have the available resources within your own span of control?
• Describe a situation in which you established a partnership with another organization or stakeholder to achieve a mutual goal. What steps did you take to ensure the partnership was effective?

Self-Management

• Describe the level of stress in your job and what you do to manage it?
• Describe a time when you were in a high pressure situation?
• Describe a time when things didn't turn out as you had planned and you had to analyze the situation to address the issue?

Strategic Thinking

• Describe a challenge or opportunity you identified based on your industry knowledge, and how you developed a strategy to respond to it?
• Describe a time you created a strategy to achieve a longer term business objective
• Describe a time when you used your business knowledge to understand a specific business situation?

The questions actually asked must be different from the above, however the intent shall be the same.

INTERVIEW QUESTION

"Tell Me Something About Yourself?"

"Tell me about yourself" is a question that most interviewees expect and it is the most difficult to answer as well. Though one could answer this open- ended question in a myriad of ways, the key to answering this question or any other interview question is to offer a response that supports your career objective. This means that you shouldn't respond with comments about your hobbies, spouse, or extra curricular activities. Trust me, interviewers aren't interested. To start with there is no correct answer to this interview question. I would lean in the favor of a quick reference to some personal traits that give a quick-view of who you are. From there one could move to a one sentence of any relevant education/qualification. There should also be a mention of employment history.

Purpose of the Question:
There always is a purpose of asking each and every question in the interview. One cannot ask anything and everything. Again, set of interview questions varies from industry to industry and position to position. Interviewers use the interview process as a vehicle to eliminate your candidacy. Every question they ask is used to differentiate your skills, experience, and personality with that of other candidates. They want to determine if what you have to offer will mesh with the organization's mission and goals.

What type of answer is Expected???
Try to avoid this type of answer: “I am a hard-worker who is good with numbers. After I worked as a financial analyst for a few years, I decided to go to law school. I just finished and now am looking for a new challenge.”

Speak something like this: “I began developing skills relevant to financial planning when I worked as a financial analyst for three years. In that role, I succeeded in multiplying the wealth of my clients by carefully analyzing the market for trends. The return on the portfolios I managed was generally 2% more than most of the portfolios managed by my company. My initiative, planning, and analytic skills were rewarded by two promotions. As the manager of a team, I successfully led them to develop a more efficient and profitable strategy for dealing with new accounts. My subsequent training in the law, including tax law and estate law, gives me an informed view of what types of investments and charitable gifts would be most advantageous for your clients.”

This way you discussed everything about your abilities without leaving the interviewer wanting to know more since by now he might have had an idea about your clarity about your own self and how well you know that you are suitable for the position.

Preparing for the Answer:
Follow the following steps as outlined below to ensure your response will grab the interviewer attention.

1. Provide a brief introduction. Introduce attributes that are key to the open position.
2. Provide a career summary of your most recent work history. Your career summary is the "meat" of your response, so it must support your job objective and it must be compelling. Keep your response limited to your current experience. Don't go back more than 10 years.
3. Tie your response to the needs of the hiring organization. Don't assume that the interviewer will be able to connect all the dots. It is your job as the interviewee to make sure the interviewer understands how your experiences are transferable to the position they are seeking to fill.
4. Ask an insightful question. By asking a question you gain control of the interview. Don't ask a question for the sake of asking. Be sure that the question will engage the interviewer in a conversation. Doing so will alleviate the stress you may feel to perform.

There you have it - a response that meets the needs of the interviewer AND supports your agenda.

When broken down into manageable pieces, the question, "So, tell me about yourself?" isn't overwhelming. In fact, answering the question effectively gives you the opportunity to talk about your strengths, achievements, and qualifications for the position. So take this golden opportunity and run with it!

When Asked by Different People?
HR manager or CEO of the company or the Departmental Head can ask the same question and your answer should vary. The expectation of each such person is different.
When asked by HR Manager your response must be like this: "My career has been characterized by my ability to work well with diverse teams. I seek out opportunities to involve others in the decision-making process. This collaboration and communication is what has enabled me to achieve success in my department. People are the most valuable resource of any organization."
When asked by CEO your response must be like this: "I have achieved success in my career because I have been focused on the bottom line. I have always sought out innovative solutions to challenging problems to maximize profitability. Regardless of the task or challenge, I always established benchmarks of performance and standards of excellence. I have never sought to maintain the "status quo." An organization that does not change and grow will die. I would enjoy working with you to help define new market opportunities in order to achieve the organization's goals."

In each instance, we responded to the "needs of the individual." It is almost guaranteed that, when you respond appropriately to the diverse needs of the different managers, you will become the standard by which all of the other candidates will be measured.

Conclusion:
The question is very tricky and being the first question of the interview…one need to be a bit more careful in answering the same. This question can make or break the interviewer’s interest in you.

KNOWING THYSELF!!!!!!

I am too much into introspection these days, you see.. last time with the DRINKING thing and now with the AIM OF LIFE!!
I was wondering if I am overdoing myself? Is it that I am expecting too much out of myself? Do I actually understand my limits and boundaries? Because if I don't know them, how will I cross them!!
I think and think and think!! and what do I realise?? Well.. nothing actually.. :(
In a moment I am fill with faith and trust in myself and I start pushing myself to achieve something.. nothing seems impossible, unachievable, undoable!!!
But, after a while when I actually am on to do something, I start feeling dejected, demotivated and feel low about it. May be that's a reason why inspite of doing well in all the endeavors in the past I still feel hollow and empty from within..
I never wanted to grow on money or name or fame, but to mature as a person and have a strong character and intellect.. I have achieved that as well to some extent.. but I feel that I have got so obsessed with this thing that I am loosing on the actual aim of life that is "LIVING IT"!!
I had a great childhood, wonderful schooling, amazing colleges, a great and a very learning youth.. now I am happily married (just for 2 month though ;).. My parents are proud, my wife is glad and happy, my brother feels great about me, my friends love me.. but the most important question of all is that am I happy with myself??
I don't know!!! I always wanted to make people around me proud and happy.. there they are!! Proud, happy as never before.. but still I am missing something..

And that tells me that what I beleived about myself for all these days and years was not the truth.. it is something else.. and I need to figure it out.. soon..
Prey for me..

Bye.. Good night.. I know I m crazy.. ;)

Am I GREAT?? No!!! Why??

Oh my god!! I don't believe this!! Its almost 2 at night, I was almost as asleep as dead when I wake up suddenly with a weird.. yup.. a very WEIRD thought up in my mind...that WHY THE HELL I DON'T DRINK?? Can u believe this??? 
I mean, what is it that I am trying to ask myself?? or probe?? or prove?? may be... 
Is it that i am some kind of NICE GUY here, who does all things right.. who thinks too much to NOT TO DRINK because that wouldn't be GOOD??? Do all of them who drink or smoke think that much about what they are doing?? Or is it just another thing that they do in life??
I mean its kind of strange!! Isn't it?? Does being a NON SMOKER and a NON DRINKER (I don't know if that word actually exists) make me better than others who do that stuff?? If yes, then how?? What is that they probably don't have that I have?? Or what is it that they loose and i save?? Going as per what is said, they loose valuable days of life, will get sick at some stage in life and will face serious medical consequences due to their habits... But is that actually the reason why I stay away from it?? May be not so exactly..
There are many things which can have adverse effects at some point in life but still most of us do these things.. don't we?? Even I keep doing certain things like over eating, less of physical work, improper sitting and standing postures, high calories and fat in diet, excess of watching TV and working on computer etc... But hey... all these things are not declared as social evils???.. whereas SMOKING and DRINKING are!!!
So, am I convinced here that I am a better person than all those in the world who drink or smoke??? Well, I don't actually know as yet!! I guess I need more probing, more introspection here... need to ask a few more questions to myself and find answers to them... but one thing I am sure about is that whatever the answers may be, i am always going to be a NON-SMOKER and a NON- DRINKER (I don't know what they call'em ;)..)
By the way, now since i am going to stop here to get back the bed; I really feel strange for what I am thinking and doing for last 30 mins.. I mean.. that's outrageous... How can I.... arggg..... forget it... bye... good night...