New year and Resolutions

Come New Year, every year, year after year, some of us indulge in making resolutions as to how the next year is going to be! This is widely criticized as “ a one-time activity never revisited; or not taken seriously at all or being made only by those who cannot crisis manage”. Though they are not completely void of facts, still there are valid reasons for one to make some resolutions.

Primarily it enables one to review his shortcomings, consolidate the wish list and prioritize them into resolutions. On top of all these is the laudable act of one’s willingness & desire to go over the past and plan for the days ahead.  Only those who still aspire to bring their wayward activities into a constructive path, tend to indulge in such soul-searching jobs. It also shows that he does not want to give up on his past missed goals or shortcomings or failures and rephrase them into firmer resolutions for the next year. If one is so sincere, then he will also be ashamed that some of the resolutions are repeating year after year and that could egg him on to correct the same on top priority so that it is ensured that this does not find a place in the resolutions for next year. 

This activity of reviewing your acts or inactivity is expected of every individual and make periodical  course corrections in your life. But, as a matter of routine, say monthly, we will never do such a review as it becomes similar to the monthly review with our boss, which we loathe to attend. So, we need an occasion to make this and conveniently, we chose this as a new numerical year rolls over. Whether it is from Jan to Dec or from June-May, we will never really care as we need only a period of time. One has never heard of Deepavali resolutions or Pongal or Independence day or even birthday resolutions though these also come only once a year. May be following suite of the world we adopt this date, which is also universal. I am not going to become regionally parochial and advocate Tamil New Years Day resolutions . Let us not bother about the day so far as the outcome is beneficial to the progress of the individual, I am for it.

So, go head and in the remaining few days of the year, mull over the past resolutions, happily tick over those fulfilled – I am ever an optimist- and create newer ones for the year on the horizon. So far as the new resolution is “not to make any more resolutions” any resolution which makes you firmer and happy is welcome.

Just to help you in case you need, some popular new year resolutions that are also consistently not maintained are:

• Lose Weight and Get Fit
• Quit Smoking
• Learn Something New
• Eat Healthier and Diet
• Get Out of Debt and Save Money
• Spend More Time with Family
• Travel to New Places
• Be Less Stressed
• Volunteer
• Drink Less

"Suicidal" Thoughts

Age, like cricket is a great leveler  As you travel - down the years- your perspective, your outlook changes and you can view everything from different elevations giving different dimensions. I have seen and heard of few suicides in my life. Some of the souls I remember who decided to cut short their lives were many Tamil Actress like Shobha, Viji, Smitha recently a comedian, Director GV, Son of my Bro's friend who killed his near and dear ones and shot himself in U.S, a relative of mine and recently that of the husband of the popular carnatic musician in Tamilnadu.

Much is being said about the departed souls as cowards, irresponsible and fleeing from reality etc., As mentioned every attempt brings out a different feeling from the onlookers and I feel it depends on one's maturity  It is true that fleeing from reality is very close to irresponsibility but then one also has to get into other's shoes (coffins?)  to undergo the extreme pain of ending one's life. There could be some who were maintaining carefully a certain facade, which they might have felt that, if unveiled could expose their real face! There are some who could not digest the transformation of their near and dear ones. There are some due to unmanageable commitments. Some with marital discards……. In short depression, loneliness, failure, impulsiveness or mistakes seem to be some of the major causes driving to suicide.

The attempter must also ponder about the consequences of a failed attempt.There are various methods used such as fire, electricity, drowning, jumping, Gunshot and hanging which when fail leaves a  debilitating effect on your body and a more frustrating and angered relatives around you.

More than anything the trauma that one leaves behind for the family is pathetic and excruciating for the family members. Imagine a kid returning home from school to find that a parent has gone without leaving any clue for the child to understand!! Writer Sujatha used to quote often that suicide is a momentary lapse of confidence, moment of anger, moment of tit-for-tat and in all a 'momentary madness'. People who have failed or been saved from suicides have gone on record that they many not even think of committing such self defeating act ever again. But, being slowly driven to helplessness and orphaned feeling are definite symptoms to watch out. People who have these tendencies normally give out some clue, like the thieves who always leave some clue as there are no perfect crimes.

Theists on the one hand have strong conviction that all acts are from Him but choose to inflict on them this ignominy only by themselves  For long I was never worried about death because I was of the opinion that after death we may not be there to enjoy or suffer. But a browsing of Garuda Puranam dented my comfort area by narrating the harsher punishments meted out to those who choose to take God's allocation upon themselves.

To escape pain, agony, insults and failures one choose this path normally. But then again there are theories propounding that death is also as painful as ever and it also leaves one with the same nothing when he leaves as he arrived. Unfortunately these are all surmises and interpretations that some has made as we have no means of getting a first hand LIVE report from anyone dead!!

I feel it is foolhardy to attempt thwarting this at the last moment. Like cancer, the early symptoms are to be watched and addressed.

After all let us think about so much of happiness, virtues we are blessed with compared to our less fortunate brethren and one will certainly think twice before taking this extreme step. Life has got so much- to learn, to enjoy, to give and to realize. Why then should we take this unusual step of "Self murder" as my friend Bosskey used to say!!

Bracing up for the Appraisal!

Come January the annual performance appraisal system kicks up and the process keep winding strenuously with the pitch peaking anywhere between March and April depending upon the organizations' practices. This is only the time frame for the formal process to set in and peak but it would be foolhardy if the individual also wake up in Feb. For them, the appraisal starts on the first day of Jan, every year, year after year.  With some good planning and discipline, this could be converted as a pleasant and learning experience by all.

Basic input for an appraisal stems from one's daily activities and it is recommended to maintain a simple spreadsheet detailing all activities-  kudos, learning, training attended / taken, customer feedback, out of the box thoughts and efforts, absence etc.,  Also collect separately additional responsibilities you have taken such as internal audit, Defect prevention, Configuration Management, Information Security, Interviews etc., Built on a daily basis this could be a huge repository into which you can dig deep and create your own KRAs which is normally the first step in the appraisal process, in addition to the organizational expectation suitable to the role. Also note to stash the appreciations from various stakeholders in a safe location.

During the self rating period, all these inputs have to be referred so that during the appraisal discussion with your supervisor, you will be in a position to substantiate all your claims.

Apart from the expected increase in the salary and a possible promotion, the appraisal process brings out the best and the worst of an individual. Much depends on one's individual character, expectations and reasonableness in how the process is driven and led to the closure. But, one needs maturity to expect one's other side pried wide open, as seen only by your appraiser, who views your performance along with many others vis-a-vis the expectations. I feel this is the best part of the whole process which paves the way for a better performance in the subsequent year, if taken in its true sense.

Relationship between the appraiser & appraisee has seldom been smooth in reality. One could always witness & experience bruised minds, hurt egos and swearing but at the end one must rise above the occasion to get the better of the situation.

Remember the following during the whole process:

1.       Appraisal is an opportunity for you to present your deeds of the previous year.

2.       It also helps one to review their shortcoming, which creates awareness on the areas one has to work on.

3.       Be positive prior to the discussions with your appraiser and never open the meet with pre conceived notions-they may perhaps be the ghosts only in your mind.

4.       Listen carefully to the observations of your supervisor before reacting.

5.       Even if the observations are widely varying with your own, keep your calm and request the supervisor to substantiate his observations.

6.       Then present your side of the story, using the spreadsheet you have as a support to your claims, wherever necessary.

7.       Your supervisor is expected to provide you with an opportunity to express yourself about his/her leadership. If not done, politely insist that you have something to share and then proceed.

8.       Despite all the efforts, if the differences persist, close the meeting as friends and make it clear that you will be recording your disagreement on the observations.

9.       If the observations are wide apart and you genuinely feel that they could impact your career, prefer to opt for the "Review  Meeting" with the boss of your supervisor

10.   Never allow your disappointing appraisal to impact your work the next day.

God and the goddamn slips

I am at war with God !

Yes with doctors whom the suffering treat as Gods. The experience and incidences I am hearing about some of them are prompting me to take up against them, though I have the greatest respect for this ilk. This admiration has not a bit diminished, as even some months back I made a post in my blog "Gods in White Coats". But the recent incidents have shaken me as to how callous some doctors could be.

Sometime in the 90s my friend had a complex fracture in his hand from a bike skidding and had metal plates inserted. After 15 years when he was having some disturbances with minor pain, a local orthopedic, suggested removal of those plates and even fixed the date for surgery. Providentially, when he took a second opinion with another popular ortho, he was shocked to know that the removal of the plates was not possible as bone has grown over them. It should have been removed within 2 years else to be left as it is. Any attempt to remove them now will only result in crushing the newly formed bones, thereby making him a permanently disabled person without his hand, he was told.

Another relative who had undergone an angioplasty went for the first consultation after his discharge from the hospital. While the doctor prescribed the correct medicines, the assistant who wrote the prescription gave the medicine name wrongly thus omitting the vital "Aspirin" component. His son accidentally (fortunately?)  noticed the slip and brought it to the notice of the doctor whose first reaction was to ask them to rush back to the hospital and destroy the wrong prescription, a vital piece of evidence had things gone wrong.

Few years back when my brother undertook a routine complete medical checkup, the attending doctor reading the reports said there was a hazy spot in one of the X Rays and 'if he is interested and can afford it' he could go for further tests. Since the option was given to him he chose to skip further tests.

Another friend had some urinary problems in 2007 and took a scan from a 'Nationally' well known scan center which suggested some cancerous growth. The urologist who studied the scan somehow chose to or was negligent in reading the report properly with the result the finding went unattended.  Now in 2012, when he went for a routine checkup the doctor sat up on seeing the 2007 report and urged him to get a scan done immediately. To the relief of everyone, particularly the doctor, the results were 'benign'. He then went on to 'advice' not to take scans in that particular center as the reports about that was not good. That he was silent on why he did not react then is a different issue.

The same 'National . . .' scan Lab mixed up the report of my brother and delivered a combo report with the top page of his and the rest of the pages of a different patient. When the faux pas was detected only by a family member, the lab said' Sorry' !!

In all the above cases, Doctor's/Hospital's / Lab's negligence was at the centre despite a huge bill being sucked up from the patient.

What if he had gone ahead with an attempt to remove the plates? His bones would have crumbled and he would be a permanently disabled person.

What if the attendant has not noticed the absence of administering of Aspirin/Disprin for a heart patient? I leave it to the doctors' learned mind to imagine the consequences. I am more shocked by the cunningness of the doctor in procuring the slip back and destroying it, to cover his back.

The failure of the doctor in not insisting on an immediate follow-up resulted in my brother's death due to lung cancer! If the complete medical check results are not analyzed and patient not advised on the followup action  what is the purpose of undergoing such checks other than filling up the coffers of the hospital?

What if the cancerous growth maliciously warned by the lab report was true? The patient would not have gone for the next checkup in 2012, as he would have gone forever.

How can a lab center afford to provide incorrect medical report and also negligent in mixing up the reports? 

What is the recourse of the innocent patients who could only pay and go for medical checkups?

When I was lamenting with these thoughts, my learned nephew who works for an insurance major tells me that in countries like US, there are policies for liabilities under 'errors and omissions' committed by professionals such as doctors. Not sure whether doctors in India are aware of this or chose to be blissfully ignorant. Is it not time to make it mandatory for them to explore such avenues for compensations in case of liabilities due to negligence? But, in the case of loss of life and debilitating diseases such as cancer . . . .??  God help the patients. When people treat the doctors as 'Gods in White Coats' its time they realize the expectations and deliver more responsibly. 

In the light of such disturbing revelations, would it be impertinent to suggest that such doctors read daily the Oath of Hippocrates  whereby they 'promise to preserve life and act in the best interest of the patient'? 

"'Tete-a-Tete" at IIT, Madras

I had always enjoyed interacting with those looking for changes, particularly jobs. It fascinates me to learn what the anxious minds look for, the great expectations, their beliefs, their convictions which at times are misplaced, their plans in deriving their paths and their efforts towards these. Its all the more pleasing when people are willing to look for guidance and have the right mindset to adapt themselves in pursuit of their goal!

One such opportunity came knocking at my doors, when  Technobankers, a group of Bankers with IT world experience  , was approached by IIT, Madras Alumni Association to conduct a mock interview to their final year students and provide feedback on their performance, suitability and preparedness of their venture into the Finance and Banking sector. In view of my association with Technobankers as a consultant, I was offered the chance to interact and I accepted it with happiness, anxiety and some thoughts.

I had handled hundreds of interviews for different positions at different levels but I was aware that this was a different kettle of fish. I was aware that I need not be concerned about their technical excellence about which I am not even aware of. Their technical skill are already proven which has been rewarded by their berth in the Institution. Taking this burden off my mind enabled me to focus better on my assigned task. These folks are expressing their intention to make forays into my familiar areas and so was I interested. After some introspection and brainstorming with another learned and successful friend, I had the defined parameters handy and when I reached the verdant venue, I had a clear strategy to serve the expectations.

In the time assigned, I could speak to around ten candidates from different streams and each one was an experience. I happened to interact with some very alert guys who had clearly defined their ambitions sometime back and were already on the job. This was easy meat for me and my job was narrowed down in identifying the specific shortfalls, for them to work on. There were some from as divergent stream as Metallurgy and Civil and my challenge was laid bare there as I had to delve deep to make them introspect  why they wanted to take a deviated path. But, to the credit of all, everyone was somewhat aware of their current state of preparedness, had some reasons for swinging from their line and were keen & willing to listen to the feedback. When some new thoughts were deliberately tossed up, they were quick to realize the potential and in no time enlarged the same- they just flowered with the ideas. Of course, this was not unexpected as I was dealing with some All India Rank holders in the range of 500 to 1400!

I also had my share of surprises when some were found carrying doubts and uncertainties which are no different from others. It was here I felt we could pitch in and contribute more. As usual, whether it is interviewing for a Developer or Test Lead or Test Manager my experiences are always wonderful and this time interviewing techies from IIT was no different. I was happy that I could provide some guidance and also pick up few things from the Interaction.

During a break, I observed the calm and excellent green shaded campus resembling a serene sleeping Dal lake. I know that daytime is not the right hour and the real tigers will be on prowl late in the night and anything appealing to the intellect will be devoured with passion. The Alumni association had made elaborate arrangements for the event and the General Manager of IITMA defied the expectations based on his gruff voice with a nice manner and played an excellent host. 

When I drove out of the campus after a feast of time with the students and a real good lunch from the organizers, my heart was as full as my stomach - with good satisfaction of having guided some young future entrepreneurs of brighter genre.  When I braked at a signal, I glanced at the books given by IITMA, one of which read "The Second Last Bencher" and smiled . People vie for the last bench in IITs too !!

When I read in newspapers that in today's campus interview there were 90+  organizations chasing the students who were busy moving across 60 interview rooms, I sent a silent wish to the folks I met;  that they land up in the job of their expectations ! I am sure most of them will.

Tete-a-Tete: A private conversation or interview, usually between two people. 

                   From French, meaning “head to head.”

Delivering without pain

Ever since I started relaxing away from official chores two years back, I have been attending quite a number of lectures- some on social topics, some on religion, on sale of insurance &  some on subjects like banking , software testing, cyber crime and on a myriad other matters. Some of these were delivered so well that I got riveted to the speaker and was left with very little time even to observe other trivia. But, some are so lethargic and in such a monotone that the trivia suddenly loomed larger than the topic. The worst was from presentations beamed on screen and a voice reading all the contents, without any emotions (like "Floods in Bihar " in the erstwhile Films Division newsreel in Cinema theaters , without additional inputs and least of all concern for the audience. At times, I had to rudely shake myself and struggle to realize where I was and come back to this mortal world!

To make matters worse, those that were more unprofessional were mostly from the erudite with elite background. I was reminded of my brother's saying "The more scholarly a person is , the more he struggles to teach students, as he finds to difficult to come down to their level".

Some months back, a senior bank executive was just quoting the extracts of the Book of Instructions from his bank, which every bank staff is aware of!

Last month, a criminal lawyer was defining the basic law points from his slide which again lulled the audience into a blissful sleep!

On the other hand, I was fortunate to hear a senior Supreme Court judge, nicely elucidating from few points on the screen and bringing out points relevant to the subject.

Here, the religious exponents perform better as they always manage to bring different connotations of the same epics!

As they say, experience makes a man perfect and my takeaways from these sessions are:

• Do not clutter your slide with paragraphs of text.
• Follow the 8 by 8 rule in a slide- each slide to have 8 bullet points and each bullet not more than 8 words
• Never read every point from the slide
• Give only indicators as points over which one has to expand.
• Do not reproduce the definitions on a slide, unless the contents are absolutely essential for the topic; Unless you have something to add on, never quote the basics
• Speaker must attempt to provide more information around each point. If he has nothing to elaborate on, just leave the point there, as everyone is capable of reading
• Prepare the presentation with pleasing and printable colors.  Do not have jarring colors which does not go well when projected or printed.
• Animations are kid stuff and are a strict 'No No'
• The only sound should be from the speaker's voice box and not from the slide unless the intention it to shake the audience out of their slumber
• Request someone to handle your presentation on the laptop , wherever possible , so that you could focus on the lecture
• Have a pointer instead of touching the screen with hands
• Last but not the least, it's not only a good habit to start on time but also finish on the stipulated time

On the other hand, if the speaker opts to go extempore without any presentations, let him be well prepared with the points, sequence and flow. Else, he would land up in a situation where a speaker started speaking and could not proceed beyond the words " I conceive". When repeated attempts from the audience failed to energize him, a wag commented " Well, the speaker conceived many times, but failed to deliver" !!