Igniting Social Change

Its a tradition that dates back to the babylonian era. We all tend to set new year resolutions and try to work them to closure every year. Although a resolution can be made any time of the year - new year seems to be a good way to set new targets and goals. Reason - well forgetting the past is a tough thing - a new year automatically ensures -

a new diary

new dates

new holiday list etc.

But all our new year resolutions tend to be short lived. Here are a few tips to help them last longer

1. Set realisitic goals : Most new year resolutions are made in the wake of urgency. Normally decided upon just a day before or on the new years eve. Goals should be set much in advance and attempts muct be made to abide by the resolution prior to the new year eve.

2. Write down your new year resolution in your brand new organizer or diary.

Use the following format (more…)

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Although the concept of CSR has been developing since the early 1970s, there is no single, commonly accepted definition of CSR.  Below we provide some examples of CSR definitions.
 
“CSR is defined as operating a business in a manner that meets or exceeds the ethical, legal, commercial and public expectations that society has of business. CSR is seen by leadership companies as more than a collection of discrete practices or occasional gestures, or initiatives motivated by marketing, public relations or other business benefits. Rather, it is viewed as a comprehensive set of policies, practices and programs that are integrated throughout business operations, and decision-making processes that are supported and rewarded by top management.” Source: BSR
“CSR is the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large. (The above definition was developed in 1998 for the first WBCSD CSR dialogue in The Netherlands.)”
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Published in: Times Ascent
Success Sutras by Dr. Debashis Chatterjee

A not so desperate housewife tells me, “I want to change. I don’t like being changed”. The thirty something mother of three wants to break from the domestic rut. Yet, she doesn’t want to take up a soft teaching job that her husband recommends. She wants to grow and export orchids.

” I want to go out there and make a difference, but I am afraid of the unknown,” she says with a heavy breath. Honestly, I tell her, ” How can you be afraid of the unknown when you do not know what that is? You can only be afraid of something you know, isn’t it?” Then looking at her puzzled eyes and a mop of hair hangaing on her cheek like a delicate creeper, I say, “What you are afraid of is really giving up the security of the known. “We are scared to give up control of what we have. We cling like leeches to our past experiences. We are really afraid of getting unstuck from our past. (more…)

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Times Ascent :: Under the section “Success Sutras” 
Author: Dr. Debashis Chatterjee, Professor at IIM Lucknow

Most leaders are not known for their brevity. As they climb the stage, I whisper “KISS-Keep it short, Sir!” For me, a good speech is about valuing every word you speak. Each word, like a currency note, has a purchasing power. Every word counts when they purchase meaning for the audience. Ideally speeches should have an intimate introduction, a crisp conclusion and a very little in-between.   (more…)

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Dr. Debashie Chatterjee who is a Professor at IIM Lucknow contributes articles in the Times Ascent under the section Success Sutras.

The articles are so practical that you can relate them to your work life and to yourself. I’ll be including these articles in the Management section for our readers who do not have access to Times Ascent (supplement of Times of India newspaper).

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A good boss is really rare specimen. If you find somebody telling, “I had a good boss”, he’s right, he truly had one. We start liking our bosses only after they have left the company OR have left the world.

Although I have no management degree, with a few years of experience, I feel like writing a few tips on being a good boss, or rather how to seem like a good boss…!

Tip 1 : Good bosses have good understanding of the task relationship curve. Its a simple theory, all tasks seem dull and boring, they only way you can infuse some enthusiasm in the employees is by adding a bit of emotion and human touch to the act. Building relationship with your subordinates is the only way of doing it. After a few steps of building a relationship, add a few tasks to your subs kitty.

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In any organization, the role of a department can either be divided into cost centre or profit centre. A cost centre is a department that adds to the cost of the company. A profit centre is a centre that creates profit for the company.

The aim of both the departments is to add something to the bottomline. The profit centre achieves this by generating profits for the company. The cost department tries to reduce costs which effects the bottomline indirectly( A penny saved is a penny earned). (more…)

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Everyone wants to please his boss. Most effective IT managers want to please their bosses to achieve organizational objectives which is a positive approach. However, the same approach becomes venemous when you start neglecting your team members at the expense of pleasing your boss.

Have you ever reported to a boss who seemed like he was never free to talk to any of his staff members. You would call, send e-mail, to talk to him, whatever you thought would work. He would always be busy talking to the MD or some important strategic partner, which would be fine, but you’ll always miss out on the attention and guidance at our end. Such people fail to admit that they have too much on their plate which doesn’t make things any better at your end.

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Yesterday while having lunch, I came across Education Times newspaper which had some reference of Social Entrepreneurship. Quite curious, I started reading more and after completing the article decided to do some more research on the web. 

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