What it means to be a professional ?

Many people have asked me this question right through my career. The answer is simple but we make it complex. We think professionalism comes only from professional education or joining professional organisations. Professionalism is a way of life. It is the way we live, act and respond to everyone around us in life.

My five Commandments on how to evolve as a professional would be as follows :

A. Keep your time : The simplest, yet the most difficult thing to do in life is to keep your time. Yet most of us fail in this simple thing. Whether it is a time givento your kid or to your vendor, supplier or employee, it does not matter. It also does not matter if the person is higher in social status or lower. In my view, you are a true professional only when you keep your promised time with everyone around you with equal respect.

B. Respond : Another simple thing we fail to do every day is call back people, who called us when we were busy or away. It could a phone call, a message or a visitor. It is always a good idea to call back each and everyone who called you irrespective of whether known or unknown ( except toll free numbers and marketing calls). We do not consider it important to call back people.

C. Empathise : Every decision we take will be perceived fair and professional if we are able to put ourselves in the shoes of the persons, who are likely to be impacted by our decision. Any amount of data analytics cannot substitute empathy and its related emotions. Professionalism does not mean unemotional decisions.

D. Dress for the occasion : One has to be one step better than what the organisation promotes as a dress code. It may be worthwhile to find out and dress appropriately. A business suit does not necessarily make you a professional nor a casual wear makes you unprofessional. However, remember that you need to be better dressed than what they expect of you. You could do research and find out what is appropriate dress in an organisation or even a nation, when you go abroad.

E. Keep your commitment : If you promise someone, something , you have the liberty to think before you promise. But, you do not have the luxury to go back on your commitment. Again it does not matter whether you have made the promise to your family, friends, colleagues, suppliers or customers. A promise is a promise and one needs to do everything to live up to it. In case, there is a delay, one could always seek for extension of time rather than forgetting it and lowering one’s professional image.

One could argue that there are multiple dimensions of being professional. I agree but it is worthwhile to start from the basics. These are the basics and the simplest. The simplest things in life may not be easiest to follow. It is like our new year resolution of going for a jog every day. How many of us have been able to live up to a new year resolution even to ourselves.

It is worthwhile to remember that professionalism may not be taught in business schools or other professional institutions. It is a way of life and culture. We need to learn from the environment and people around us both at work and beyond.

S Ramesh Shankar

15th July 2019

The red carpet

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I have always wondered as to why we use a red carpet to welcome important people on festive occasions. It could be a tradition or custom. It could also be a symbol of celebration. I should confess that I have not done any research on this subject. But I felt it may be worthwhile to spread my wings and let my imagination fly for the reasons.

In many religions red symbolises goodness. This could the reason. It could mean the occasion is auspicious and hence the red carpet. It could mean that you are remembering God while welcoming a guest.

Red could also a symbol of blood. It could show that you are welcoming your guest with your body, sweat, blood and soul – in a way whole heartedly. Blood may also relate to life and relationship and hence a connection is established between the host and guest.

In some countries red cars symbolise energy and youth. I understand that red cars are even charged more insurance. This is because they are likely to drive fast and more likely to make insurance claims. Thus red could represent energy and enthusiasm while welcoming a guest.

Red in Hinduism is sacred. It is supposed to protect you from all evils. This may also may be a way to welcome your guests and protect them from evil eyes being cast on them. It is fascinating how a colour could reflect so many things.

I wonder why the carpet could not be blue or yellow as they are also primary colours. I have no reason to believe why it is so. A simple logic could be that red does not fade easily and hence it may be easy to maintain red carpets unlike other colours.

It may be useful to reflect that colour of the carpet does not make the difference. It is the spirit in which it is used. In India there is a quote, which states that ” Respect your mother like God, Respect your father like God, Respect your guest like God and Respect your teacher like God. “. This means that the guest has to be respected like God. This could also be a logic for using a red carpet to welcome guests.

The red colour reflects royalty. It possibly is linked to the kings and queens of the past. If we look at the world of cinema, a red carpet is the symbol of the Oscar ceremony and may be reflects a regal ceremony.

I have no doubt that red is royal and regal. It expresses the emotions of the host to the guest in visual form. We have no doubts that a visual representation speaks more than a million words. This could also be the reasons for using red to welcome guests.

Red is used in most advertisements and this may also be a factor. Red could represent a colour which is striking and will be viewed by all. We can either believe our past and agree that there is logic in using a red carpet for any or all the reasons above. On the other hand, we can forget the past and change the colour to blue or yellow and see what people around us react.

The choice is ours. Red or blue – the emotions remain.

S Ramesh Shankar

8th June 2018.

Did you see the moon today ?

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Every evening I look at the night sky to look at the moon. The moon is beautiful everyday it appears in the night sky. It is romantic and soothes your mind. I have wondered many a time as to why the moon is so romantic. What is the beauty we see in the moon ?

A sculptor sees beauty in a raw stone. An artist admires the beauty of nature all around her. A child admires the beauty in the eyes of his mother. A poet is inspired by the moon or the sun. Each of us see beauty in some thing or the other.

I admire the beauty of the moon. I can sit on a sea shore and admire the beauty of the moon all night. It symbolises coolness. It reflects the sun light and thereby shows its generosity. It is non discriminatory and goes around the earth to share its beauty with everyone around the earth.

I admire the sun as well the moon. Everything in nature is admirable. If I miss to watch a sun rise, sun set or the moon in the sky, the day is incomplete for me. The moon by itself is sheer beauty. When it is reflected on the ocean, it multiplies its elegance to the human eye.

Let me try to reflect on the qualities of the moon, which makes it so adorable. It is sparkling white in a dark blue sky. It is selfless and reflects the sunlight for our benefit without keeping anything for itself. It is hard working and tireless as it revolves around the earth throughout the year without a break.

What do I lose if I miss to see the moon on any day ? I miss a thing which I admire. I am devoid of the beauty in the night sky. Sometimes on a new moon night, I realise the absence of light and how difficult life would be without sun and moon light every day.

I have wondered many times how poets and lyricists have written so much on the moon. Now when I sit and reflect I realise that if I can tirelessly admire the moon every day, there is so much inspiration for them to write endlessly admiring its beauty.

The sun, moon and the stars are nature’s gift to mankind. While each has its unique qualities, the moon is the most beautiful of all. I can watch the sun for a few moments and the stars forever without really seeing much. But the moon gives you the unique opportunity to admire it forever and without any break when it appears on the night sky.

The moon also teaches us to be devoted and grateful. It revolves around the earth without a break and transmits light to us from the sun without asking why. We as human beings find it difficult to give anything without knowing the reasons. May be the moon can be a good source of inspiration for us to give back more to society.

Life without the moon will be a life of darkness. Let us hope the moon will continue to shine in our life and inspire us every day.

S Ramesh Shankar

17th June 2018