Posts

Showing posts from May, 2021

7 WAYS LEADERS CAN MINIMIZE OFFICE POLITICS

  Today’s modern fast-paced working environment can be hampered quite easily if employees engage in gossip and office politics. Corporate politics is a common phenomenon, and it happens in every workplace worldwide. After all, we are humans. Being political savvy is in our nature. However, minimizing it to avoid too much damage to the working environment and consequently, productivity, is important. Here’s what leaders can do to deal with office politics. Allocate Openly As long as employees are working on things that benefit the company, it is prudent to let them work on whatever they want. If someone wants to transfer to a team, let them move their desk for that period. If the division of labour is no more a political favour to be “allocated”, employees don’t need to play office politics to bag good projects. They can concentrate on working on things that interest them, instead of sitting around and gossiping. Also, when you allocate tasks, make it very clear who is to perform wh...

TIPS FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL ETIQUETTE

Travelling for business can be quite stressful. Regular business travellers might take several flights a month. While you might be accustomed to travelling, others might not be so used to your customs. Hence, it is prudent to maintain a certain level of etiquette, especially if you’re travelling for business. Business travel etiquette means not disturbing the locals and ensuring a smooth and comfortable time for you and everyone else. Be on Time This is irrespective of where you go for business. Being punctual is the cornerstone of good business travel etiquette. People hate waiting, and they don’t care whether you’ve come off a plane, bus or a train. If you’re travelling frequently to meetings, ensure that you take into account travel time and try to be on time always. Here it is to be noted that different nations treat time differently. For example, in Japan, if a meeting is to take place at 11 am, you should be there and ready to start by 10:45 am. Don’t take offence or get...

SWITCHING JOBS – DOS AND DON’TS

Changing jobs isn’t a new trend in the industry. People have started switching jobs and often careers, more than they used to earlier. Before the explosion of the internet, applying to a new role was quite paperwork-heavy and tedious. You needed to print/create a physical resume, scour newspapers for jobs, show samples of your work, etc. Now, however, thanks to sites like LinkedIn, you can change your job at the drop of a hat. This is the gift of modern times. However, you also need to be careful. Starting a new job is easy, but you need to keep certain things in mind. Here are some things you need to do before starting a new job. Wrap Up Your Affairs in Your Old Organisation Don’t leave any loose ends at your old company. Wrap up all your affairs. Most companies call your old workplaces for a reference, and the last thing you want is a poor image of yours being given to your new team. Ensure that you leave your old organisation on a good note, and if you don’t, explain to your new emp...

HOW TO EMPOWER WOMEN AT WORK?

  There should not be any talks of inequality in these progressive times yet we speak of treating women at par, not depriving them of their rights and see women fight for their own safety. Society has long enjoyed the rivalry among women. According to a survey conducted by McKinsey, reflecting back at the data of five years across 600 companies, in 2019 the company reflected a 5% increase of women workforce at senior level, in their report. Women have long proven their power to break glass ceilings and are still not respected at par. Women often find themselves struggling for sustainable development, to accelerate their   careers   in proportion to their effort and caliber. More women are taking up challenging roles and breaking the stereotype. With a forward-thinking approach, many companies are ensuing towards a change in their work culture. They are empowering women at the workplace and running women’s empowerment programs in India. A much needed shift. A fulfilling, d...

HOW TO CREATE A CULTURE OF APPRECIATION?

  Employee engagement is at the crux of every company’s   Human Resource strategy . Some work cultures glue their employees with a vibe that makes everyone want to be part of it. The kind of vibe you want your employees to emit, attract and retain your customers – a cool office, enviable perks, culture of appreciation, etc. High employee engagement rates result in higher productivity, stronger employer and employee relationship and they are better devoted to their work. Even though it is popularly believed, and it holds true, that money is a great motivation to employ and retain workforce. It is not the only factor. Surprisingly, being genuinely appreciated, rewarded for their work, inclusive culture, freedom & flexibility also play a role. Employees want to feel valued, as if they matter for the organisation. Working day in and day out as a  machine , becomes mundane. Many companies are striving to provide work-life balance and are paying heed to advantages of a cult...

HOW TO MANAGE REMOTE TEAMS?

With the advent of technological advancements a lot of day-to-day activities have become convenient, without face-to-face interaction, saving time, money and effort. Banking is at fingertips, errands like grocery shopping that involved a trip to the supermarket is simply a ten minute e-shopping activity and everything is delivered at doorstep. With the world moving with newer ways to convenient lifestyle, even organisations are opting for remote working operations. How to  manage remote teams? Apps like Zoom where companies can easily video conference, Skype that make calling easier, and Whatsapp, lets you stay connected at all times. Remote workforce management today is simpler proving that  long distance  relationship between a manager and his team is easy, can last long and derive optimal results. Remote team management generally involves two team members located in different parts of the world, operating on different time zones with a common project, goal and vision. ...

THE FUTURE OF PEOPLE ANALYTICS

  We live in an era of digital transformation. Technology has pervaded every aspect of running an enterprise and has even made its foray into  human resources . HR practices have changed over the last few decades. Analytics and big data have become important areas of consideration for HR professionals, who are pushing for the transformation of traditional HR practices. Data in our age is like what oil was earlier, basically a catalyst for growth and change. Companies, however, need to be rich in both data and information. The problem with the business fraternity is that even though most organisations believe that human capital is the most important factor for a firm’s success, very few firms actually invest in people analytics. This sets up challenges for HR professionals. As a competent and thorough HR professional in today’s day and age, you must know what jobs are affected by automation, what technology trends are most relevant for your business and what HR d...

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING CERTIFIED IN AI AND ML

  The Artificial Intelligence (AI) industry is growing at an unprecedented rate. Companies and individuals are realising the benefits for automation, and AI is being implemented in more business processes every day. Naturally, while the industry is growing constantly and at such a rapid rate, there’s a steadily increasing demand for well-qualified AI professionals. AI is a broad topic and quite deep as well. You need to thoroughly understand the concepts of this branch before you move to its application. Those who are interested in entering the AI world may consider getting an AI certification and an ML certification. What are  Artificial Intelligence or AI degrees? AI degrees prepare specialists who create intelligent machines and systems that perform tasks normally executed by human intelligence, like playing a game or understanding natural language. Common examples of AI include chess-playing computers or self-driving cars. They rely on neural netwo...

TOP TRENDS IN HR FOR 2020

  The journey from inception to success or failure to success is an effort of teamwork. Employees are the real assets of your company. Hiring right people, for the right job at right time can make all the difference. But it’s not just about hiring that matters anymore. Retaining employees, creating an enviable workplace culture that balances well-being, growth, training and productivity is equally important. The more you look after your employees – the real assets of your company, the lesser the liability of re-hiring, cost of training and development and better the productivity levels. So what are the recent trends in HRM and future trends in human resource management, HR managers need to keep in check? Employee Health & Well-Being Are Important Prioritise health and well-being of your employees. Late hours and longer working hours do not equate quality work. Instead set up your employees with flexible working hours. Understand their health, mental health and familial needs. A...

THE KEY ELEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL MARKETING PLAN

  Two things that are of utmost importance to any business are resources and time. And oddly enough, these are also the two things that most of the businesses face the maximum paucity of. It seems like there are never enough resources to expand the business further, and never enough time to handle all the multifaceted responsibilities that are there. In such a scenario, we believe, having a sound marketing plan is like getting half the problem solved because not only does it saves a business from wasting time in futile strategies, but also ensures that investing resources brings the maximum returns. Now, having a successful marketing plan in the highly competitive environment of today is not the simplest of jobs. It is a multistep process where every element deserves due importance in order to get the desired outcome. On that note, without further ado, let’s at what those key elements in a marketing plan are and the vital roles that they play. A THOROUGH AND DETAILED MARKET RESEAR...

HOW DOES THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT BENEFIT FROM BROADENING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE EMERGING BUSINESS ENVIRONS?

  ‘Business is an ever changing landscape. The sooner you learn, adapt and change, the bigger chance you have at being successful.’ The changing face of modern business has undoubtedly set new benchmarks for today’s business minds. All the different facets of the business world have undergone crucial evolutions, and one of them is the process of management and administration. We all hear of new business ventures popping up every single day, but only a few manage to make it a success. From business strategies, product developments, and product launches to marketing techniques, financial obligations, and customer service, there is plenty that is demanded by a successful venture. This is precisely where the roles and responsibilities of senior management in a business organisation come to the fore. UPPER-LEVEL MANAGEMENT NEED TO STAY ATTUNED WITH MODERN BUSINESS ENVIRONS The changing times require senior management professionals to constantly adapt new and inventive ways to lead thei...

THE IMMENSE BENEFITS OF DATA SCIENCE FOR THE E-COMMERCE INDUSTRY

  A mere click of a mouse can help to accomplish any minor to major goals nowadays. Probably this is why the current era is often referred to as the revolutionary ‘digital age.’ The twenty-first century is thriving on the digital platform. A recent significant survey states that about 80% of the purchases and selling are performed online nowadays. The ‘E-commerce industry’ is taking the world by storm. There is no denying that there has been notable and rapid growth in the rise of E-commerce in the last decade. In this article, we will be shedding light on how the e-commerce industry is gripping the consumer attention and how the blooming technology of data science has come to the aid of the e-commerce sector, benefitting the same immensely. UPPER-LEVEL MANAGEMENT NEED TO STAY ATTUNED WITH MODERN BUSINESS ENVIRONS The e-commerce market has taken over as a significant trend in today’s time as it leverages several plusses that have literally made life easier for both the consumers as...