Towards Win-Win Associations

We are living in a fast paced competitive corporate world. We are short on time and temper. Today most relationships are through social media and cell phones. In these fast changing and dynamic times it becomes critical and pivotal to have deep meaning full win-win relationships.

These pointers will help you achieve Win-Win associations:

1. Complements:

Complement people on their looks , attire, attitude, nature and achievements. People are fond of kind words and niceties. Every time you complement someone you make a special emotional deposit in their minds and hearts. Say nice things and it will make all the difference.

2. Remembering Special Days:

If you remember people they will never forget you. Remembering Birthdays and Anniversaries will surely create a special feeling and fondness towards the one who wishes .Make notes of special days of friends and colleagues. Remember them, complement them and celebrate with them and within no time you would have great awesome relationships and more people to love and share with.

3. Remembering Names:

The sound of one’s name is sweet to everyone. Remember names through mental associations. People always feel good when you take their name and greet them. Taking and remembering names breeds familiarity and lead to lasting rich relationships.

4. Investing Time:

To get something you should give something. If you desire rich win-win relationships you will have to invest time into them. Take out some time to call up old friends and former associates. Complement them, share with them, respect them and they will reciprocate with the same for you.

5. Avoiding Politics:

Avoid gossip, back biting, cheating or groupism .These spoil the office atmosphere and create negativity. Keep aloof of gossip mongrels and make friends with positive focused and happy people.

6. Authentic interactions:

Be truthful and authentic. People get to know when you are lying or trying to be politically correct. People operate through feelings and they respond to feelings. So avoid that fake smile or that curt comment or below the belt sarcasm. Be authentic and truthful. Be nice and people will be nice to you.

By:

Siddharth Anand

Faculty, INLEAD

Everything Is Just A Thought

Come to think of it…everything that you experience is just a though and an emotion. Happiness is a thought…misery is a thought…enthusiasm is a thought…depression is a thought.

Victor Frankel was a German psychologist who was captured and tortured in Nazi concentration camps of Hitler’s Germany. He was awarded solitary confinement and was locked in a dark empty rooms with no outlets. While he was going through this torture he realized the fundamental of all freedoms….the freedom to choose your thoughts and emotions…..so he started thinking happy thoughts and proved that no matter what the situations you can still have happiness and joy…so you can become happy when you want and all thoughts are choices….you choose your thoughts and this is a great truth…perhaps the greatest truth.

 So to take control of your thoughts you have to realize:

1. You have the freedom to choose:

Just as Victor Frankel realized that he had the freedom to be happy even in the midst of all the torture by thinking happy thoughts…you can also start to exercise these freedom by taking control of your thoughts and creating a space between stimuli and response.

2. You create your Destiny

Your Thoughts and Actions create your character and your character and habits create your destiny. The trick is to make a habit of thinking positive happy and motivational thoughts so that you are happy and successful wherever you are.

3. Detachment & Awakening

You need to detach yourself from the wrong habits that you have formed over the years. You need to stay aloof and observe without involvement. The more you observe the more you detach from your thoughts and emotions and you can control and use them to be happy and successful. 

By:

Siddharth Anand

Faculty, INLEAD

Hard Work vs. Smart Work

We are living in a digital age where we are overloaded with information and this is a good thing as well as a bad thing. Good thing because we are able to get information at a click of a button thus saving precious time and bad because we have become too dependent on technology.

Hard work is passé. Smart work is the new buzzword. Smart work does not mean shirking or taking shortcuts instead it entails using intelligence, cooperation and interpersonal expertise to create the right kind of synergy to get the work done before time without compromising on quality.

Smart Work has the following Characteristics:

1. Synergy

Synergy means one and one become eleven. It means taking the intelligence from all possible sources to maximize the team’s effectiveness and efficiency. In synergy all are equal. All can contribute not barring positions.

2. Creativity

Creativity is critical in this innovation driven world. Creativity and Innovation are appreciated in every work environment. Creativity brings in new opportunities and avenues thus creating a dynamic vibrant work environment

3. Resoursefulness

You have to be open to all sources of information, be it office gossip or the hot new news. Information is critical to resourcefulness. One has to be innovative and develop the ability to think on your feet.

4. Spontienity

Corporates are creating dynamic and creative work environment so that people are driven towards creativity and innovation.Spontanity brings in new thinking and new possibilities.
You do not need to toil your life away searching for and seeking success. If you use the above mentioned techniques you can be smart and easily sail through life and actualize your goals.

By:

Siddharth Anand

Faculty, INLEAD

What Is Professionalism?

Someone brilliantly put it “When in Rome, do as the Romans Do”. This old and wise saying is as relevant in today’s corporate world as ever. When you are working in the corporate world you need to look the part. You are representing the company and the company’s image depends on your behavior and demeanor.

It is a great responsibility to represent a company and you need to ensure that you do your best and look the best too.

Professionalism includes:

1. Looking the Part:

A well ironed white shirt with a red tie and a black suit just fits the bill. Be sure that your clothes are well ironed and fit you well. Wearing a tie is not compulsory but adds to your demeanor and enhances your brand image. Shoes should be polished and should be black or brown. Hair should be neat and it important to be clean shaved. Over all you should appear to be pleasing to the eyes.

2. Maintaining Protocol: 

You should be careful not to cross boundaries or overstep authority. If you do this you might seem to be over ambitious and rebellious, both of which are tags you would rather not have. Give respect and you will get respect. Always follow the right protocol when suggesting improvements or escalating issues. This will earn you respect and the comrade of your co-workers and seniors

3. Character & Integrity:

 Some believe that Character is passé ,but is as far from truth as you can get. Character is critical to success. Virtues like Honesty, Sincerity and loyalty are still greatly valued. You also need to work on your image making the right moves at the right time at the same time not compromising on integrity.

4. Competence:

You should be a Smart Worker rather than being a hard worker. Because we are short on time trying to burn the candle from both ends, so to make the best of one’s time and efforts it is important to be efficient and effective.

By:

Siddharth Anand

Faculty, INLEAD

Food Trends

People earlier people had reservation in leaving their native country to settle down in a different place, while, the fear was about cultural diversity, one of the main concerns was also about food…habits, taste, diet restrictions and beliefs. Well, globalization to a large extent took care of that aspect.

A vegetarian today can find comfort in USA, as how a Korean can find his food in India. Of course exceptions are there, the Chinese food that we eat in India is exclusively available here, even Chinese do not have in China. People now are becoming Vegans, now that’s a new trend that we are talking about. Restaurants are finding ways to feed their guest beet green, seaweed and kale which is one of the most popular greens. Vegetarian comfort foods are on the rise with vegetable alternatives to pizza and pasta. Restaurants are turning experimental with replacing traditional plate set-ups with bowls and butcher to table. Insta food is a rage which is mostly dominated by the millennials. 

Here are few other trends that are gaining popularity around the world:

• Vegetarianism continues to be celebrated as a choice rather than a compulsion.

• Animal proteins and rich accompaniments will make way for vegetables. It was also mentioned in a survey done by Pintrest that the most searched word was veggies as compared to lasagna or pizza. The chances of vegetarian being the comfort food is more possible in the months to come. People now are opting for vegetable crust as compared to the original and are replacing pasta and rice with mashed cauliflower

• Another trend that’s becoming a fad is contrary to the previous trend mentioned is that of peoples love for “butcher – to – table”, mostly served in fine dine restaurants where the guest can be a witness to the entire preparation whether it’s a grill or a rare done steak to charcuterie.

• Breakfast gets a makeover at few hotels where the traditional breakfast gets replaced by more aggressive and crunchier items like fried chicken, stuffed Indian breads, spiced sandwiches and chimichurri. Popularly they are referred to as BRUNCHFAST.

• Greens…greens and more greens. Spinach and Kale was considered to be the powerhouse in this category. Chefs are considering alternatives to this, it’s now being replaced with equally healthy alternatives’ like beet greens, turnip greens, mustard greens and carrot tops. 

• Zero waste is what any food serving establishments focusses on. Restaurants are aiming to drastically reduce the waste.

• Food apps continue to dominate, where it gives options to users where to eat and what to eat.

• Indian grains will get a lot of mention on the food menu across restaurants and also kitchens would stress on un processed and preservative free food.

By: 

Ms. Bindu Menon

Sr. Faculty, INLEAD 

Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace

Dale Carnegie once said, that when dealing with people always remember you are dealing with creatures of emotion not creatures of logic. People are emotional. They have feelings and they respond to emotional stimuli.

Unfortunately, people have starting manipulating emotions for their own vested interests this has given a bad name to emotions. Emotions are meant to create positivity and synergy. Emotions are meant to create cooperation and inspire contribution.

Emotional intelligence includes:

1. Sensitivity

Humans have emotions. They are sensitive. We need to be sensitive to people’s emotions and create positivity. If you complement someone or say something positive the personal will remember it always. As someone rightly said people will forget what you said but they will never forget how you make them feel.

2. Responsiveness

We react. Response means having the freedom to choose from your emotions and actions. Many a times we get angry or enraged and that just shows that we are not in control of our thoughts and emotions. We need to take the reins of our mind in our own hands. Only then will we be able to respond and create a positive work environment.

3. Positivity

We should work towards creating a positive work environment. We can all contribute greatly towards spreading emotional wellness and positivity by giving complements, smiling, greeting, contributing and cooperating.

4. Emotional Deposits

Every time you say something nice to someone you create a deposit in the heart of the other person. If you make someone feel good he will always remember you. When you give complements people feel good and they will respond with positivity too.

5. A simple Smile

Smiling is simple but it is fantastic too. When you smile at someone you are sending the message that I accept you and I like you. You send the message that I am happy to see you. Smile and it will make all the difference.

We should use emotions to create positivity, cooperation and synergy. By using our emotional intelligence we will be able to succeed personally and professionally. We will become happy and content at the same time we will be able to contribute to our company’s growth and development.

By:

Siddharth Anand

Faculty, INLEAD

A Centuries-old City with a Well Preserved Heritage

India’s capital is an enigmatic destination, blending modernity with history. It is the main business and political hub of the Country. With a perfect blend of modernity and ancient Indian culture, New Delhi has emerged as one of the most sought-after contemporary MICE destinations.

A Rs 260 billion master plan for a new convention Centre in Delhi has been approved by Indian Government. Land for the site of the new venue was earmarked by the government in Dwarka, south- west Delhi in March 2016.The Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (DMICDC) has said that the major National infrastructure project would generate trade and industrial development through the MICE Industry and help economic growth.

There are many prominent reasons New Delhi is ahead of the rest of the cities of North India in terms of its business potential. It is the commercial hub of Northern India and has evolved into one of the fastest growing cities. It is one of the most financially developed cities of India, welcoming a constant flow of business tourists.

The city promises a world-class experience for planners at all levels by offering an array of venue options, such as big hotel chains like Hyatt, Taj, Oberoi's, Starwood, ITC Hotels; huge exhibition grounds like Pragati Maidan; and premier Convention Centers like Vigyan Bhavan and Habitat World at India Habitat Centre. These venues are famous for hosting conferences of international stature, joining the glamorous 5-star independent hotels like The Ashok, with seating capacity for 3,000 people.  Another one is -The Taj Palace hotel has nine conference halls rooms and provides conference facilities like broadband, wireless internet connectivity etc.

The Culinary excellence in Delhi’s legendary, upholding the heritage of recipes pf bygone era of royal banquets. It boats fine dining restaurants serving cuisines from many countries that also cater to Delhi’s significantly expatriate population.

Delhi’s the first major city to have its entire public transportation system run on green fuel. A well connected to the rest of the country via the National Highways. The various modes of public transportation include metro, buses, taxis, shuttle, and railways. The Indira Gandhi International Airport acts as the main gateway for domestic and international air passengers.

The charisma of the city lies in its heritage buildings and monuments like Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Qutab Minar, Old Fort, Humayun Tomb, as well as the colorful market places like Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place, and Dilli Haat. The exotic restaurants, bars and pubs, as well as the countless mega malls also add to the glamour of the city. The centuries old city has a well-preserved heritage that is juxtaposed with the modern city, with international hotel chains.

[Top Image: Lifeandtrendz]

By:   
Sakshi Vig
Faculty, INLEAD

A Newbie’s Look Into The Politics Of India

Quite often when we the student community get together, politics is the last point of discussion amongst us. Yet we do get involved when we hear of stone pelting in Kashmir, Donald Trump’s political gaffes, and of course when discussions veer towards the Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal. So I did something, I did a little online research on what is the kind of political system India has. Go on read my initial few bytes.

Politics in India takes place within the framework of its constitution, because India is a federal parliamentary democratic republic, in which the President of India is the head of state and the Prime Minister of India is the head of the central government. India follows the dual polity system, i.e. a double government which consists of the central authority at the center and states at the periphery. The constitution defines the organization powers and limitations of both central and state governments, and it is well-recognized, rigid and considered supreme; i.e. laws of the nation must conform to it.

There is a provision for a bicameral legislature consisting of an Upper House, i.e. Rajya Sabha which represents the states of the Indian federation and a lower house i.e. Lok Sabha, which represents the people of India as a whole. The Indian constitution provides for an independent judiciary, which is headed by the Supreme Court. The court's mandate is to protect the constitution, to settle disputes between the central government and the states, to settle inter-state disputes, to nullify any central or state laws that go against the constitution, and to protect the fundamental rights of citizens, issuing writs for their enforcement in cases of violation.

Types of political parties

There are many types of political parties in India - National Party and Regional/State party. Every political party must bear a symbol and must be registered with the Election Commission of India. Symbols are used in Indian political system as an identity of political parties and so that illiterate people can also vote by recognizing symbols of party. Like Lotus is the symbol fo BJP, Hand that of Indian National Congress.

In the current amendment to the Symbols Order, the Commission, has infused the following four principles, which, in its view, should govern the polity in the country, situate as it is in its present state.

1. Legislative presence is a must for recognition as a National or State party.
2. For a National party, it must be the legislative presence in the Lok Sabha and for a State party, the legislative presence must be reflected in the State Assembly.
3. In any election, a party can set up a candidate only from amongst its own members.
4. Recognition should be given to a party only on the basis of its own performance in elections and not because it is a splinter group of some other recognized party. 

By:                       
Rishabh Kothari

Student, INLEAD