Author: S Ramesh Shankar

Born in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India, I have been brought up in different parts of India. Graduate in chemistry and post graduate in personnel management and industrial relations. Have been a HR practitioner for 38 years in the industry and have experience in working in steel , automobiles, FMCG and engineering industry. Was head of HR for Siemens in South Asia based out of Mumbai till March 2019. Currently founded hrishti - joy forever, a social enterprise to give back to society and work as Chief Joy Officer.

Unlikely partnerships

We are born alone in this world and we go back alone, when we die. But in the journey of life, we have to work with individuals and teams in whatever work we do.

While some times, we may get to choose our partners, there would be many times we may not be able to. We need to work with the most unlikely partnerships in life. How do we make it work and how do we enjoy this journey ?

Many employees have told me in my career, that they hate their bosses. I always used to tell them that , just like you do not choose your parents, you cannot choose your boss. Just like parents decide when to have kids, bosses decide whom their team members would be.

Apart from work, there would be many other occasions in life, where we may have to work with partners ,we do not know or have no inkling of their nature. It is here, we have the opportunity to learn and thrive, to work in groups.

We get, what we give to others. If we give a smile, we get a smile back. If we get angry at others, they also may do the same. Behaviour is always reciprocal. It is like the mirror. You always get back, what you give to others.

Let us look at the work scenario first. At work, it is the people in the organisation, who make all the difference. Individuals can never achieve their targets ,unless they enable each other to succeed. We do not work in a vacuum. We need to support others ,as much as we need support from others ,to get our job done.

Have we met people at our workplace, whom we always wanted to work with. What makes these people so special ? It is their attitude to work and life. They have a positive attitude and are always willing to take any challenge. They never give up ,till they are able to accomplish what they have set to achieve. They do not hesitate to ask for help, when they need one, and are always willing ,to learn from others.

So, it is simple. We have to develop a positive attitude to life and work. We should learn ,never to give up ,until we achieve our goal. We should seek help ,as and when we need it, since nothing can be accomplished all alone. We need to learn ,from everyone around us. We cannot and will not be a master of everything we do ,but there are enough resources around us ,to teach us.

Life is no different. We may end up with unlikely partners in life. It could be a travel journey in an unknown land or a room mate, whom we have never met before but have decided to share a room. All these are great opportunities to learn and grow together.

The qualities to evolve as a lovable partner in life, are the same. If we are positive, helpful, have a learning mindset and never give up, we can win over any partner ,we meet.

The responsibility of making a partnership successful lies ,more in me than others. We need to take the lead and create an environment around us, where people love to work and live with us.

Let the journey of partnership begin afresh today.

S Ramesh Shankar

24th Dec 2024

Acceptance is the first step

We all strive to be life long learners in life. However, our ego comes in the way of our learning. We all make mistakes and probably learn from it. Some times we learn and at other times we do not. What comes in the way of our learning is our ego. Acceptance of our mistake is the first step in learning.

Many a time, we live in denial. We refuse to accept that we have made a mistake. This may be because, we are the eldest in the family and are feeling ashamed to accept it or may be, we are the boss at work and consider it below our prestige to accept our mistake.

Acceptance is the first step in the learning process. Once, we accept our mistake, we may be able to realise what went wrong and why ,and then learn from it. However, when we live in denial, acceptance itself becomes a challenge and then the question of learning does not arise.

If we notice children around us, we realise that they accept their mistakes ,faster than adults. They are not conditioned by the environment around them ,like us. They are ok to make mistakes, accept them, learn from them and move on.

But, as adults, we get very much conditioned by the environment around us. We are guided by the image, we want to project in the society ,around us. Our ego gets inflated ,as we grow from kids to adolescents and then adults. So ,even accepting a mistake we have committed ,becomes a daunting challenge for us.

Unless we are willing to accept a mistake, it may be very difficult to learn from it and not to repeat it, in our lives. What else could prevent us ,from taking this first basic step of acceptance. First, it could be ego, second it could be that we are not aware of our mistake and somebody needs to point it out ,to us.

While, at most times, we may be aware of the mistakes we do, there could be occasions, where we are not . But, this does not mean that we cannot seek feedback. It may be a good idea for us ,to seek guidance from people, more experienced than us.

We need to realise that we learn more from our mistakes, than our successes. In project management, it is always a practise ,to analyse a project after it is completed, to learn from the mistakes made, so that they are never repeated.

We need to do the same ,in life too. All of us are human and it is natural to make mistakes. What we need to learn is that ,accepting a mistake is the first step. Then ,we could understand the root cause and take preventive steps, so that we do not repeat the same mistake again.

As long as we consider life ,as a journey of continual learning, we may not hesitate to accept our mistakes. If we ever imagine that we have arrived in life, we may cease to learn. It is like a sportsperson. Even after winning an olympic gold medal, they are open to feedback and accept their mistakes and learn ,so that they can do better ,in the future.

Let us learn to accept from today.

S Ramesh Shankar

24th Dec 2024

 

Rain or sun, life goes on

I have lived and worked in different cities and towns across India. Each city or town has taught me a lot of life lessons. However, the maximum learning as a working professional I got from the city of Mumbai.

Mumbai never sleeps, literally. You can walk at dawn or at midnight and the city is buzzing with some activity or the other. What I really admire about this wonderful city is that – “Rain or sun, life goes on” .

I would like to share some of my key learnings ,from this maximum city. I have seen every one ,working hard for their living. Irrespective of being a driver or a house help, they are always on time and have no excuses to offer. My security guard in my apartment ,travelled at least 50 kms every day ,one way ,in train/bus and walk ,but was never late for his duty.

My house help supported us right through the year. She would turn up at the peak of summer or even during heavy monsoon ,on time ,every time. Even, when we would advise her not to come, she would turn up. This made us admire ,her professional ethics.

This experience is applicable, to every walk of life. If I booked a cab and wanted to catch an early morning flight, I would tell the cab to come at 3:45 am. He would turn up at 3:30 am and sometimes may even wake me up from bed if ,I miss my alarm.

At the work place, I have seen my colleagues ,travel from long distances taking trains and buses and never late for meetings or appointments. It is this work ethic , which makes this city instill that discipline ,in your blood.

I may even say that an electrician or a plumber ,would turn up for their appointment ,on the said date and time ,without fail. They would never find an excuse to postpone their visit, like in many other cities.

The buses and local trains ,run on time and is the life line of this city. What amazes me, is the discipline in every walk of life. Further, any catastrophe does not disrupt this city ,like any other in India. I have witnessed a terrorist attack and city was back to normal ,the very next day.

The resilience of the people living in this city is worth emulation. Interestingly, people from all over India ,come to this megapolis in quest of their dreams and slowly but surely, imbibe the professionalism of this city.

Another important lesson I learnt from this city , is the simplicity of the citizens. They may be diamond merchants or wealthy businessmen but you cannot make out from their dress or demeanour. We may make out someone is rich ,only when they get into a posh car as otherwise they walk and talk, like all common people.

Mumbai makes you into a Mumbaikar and this is admirable. Every city in India is unique and does offer something to learn. However, there is no city in India, which transforms your life and work ,into a thorough bred professional like Mumbai.

Let us learn to live on happily, irrespective of rain or sun ,from the city of Mumbai.

S Ramesh Shankar

24th Dec 2024