HOW TO SET GOALS AND ACHIEVE THEM

Setting goals at the workplace might seem like a piece of cake to most employees and it is. However, the most challenging goal in itself is to achieve these said goals within the stipulated time. This is where employees falter. The idea might be extremely creative; the execution is what matters at the end of the day.

In the book ‘Flight Plan,’ author Brian Tracy juxtaposes goal setting and achievement at the workplace with an analogy of the process of flying an aircraft. Most aircrafts, once they take off, tend to go off-course. It is the job of the pilot to set down certain objectives, while dealing with storms, turbulence, crosswinds, etc. (which symbolizes the various hurdles every person has to deal with) which forces the pilot to make certain necessary adjustments. This, according to Tracy, is how goal setting works in real life scenarios.

In order to achieve the goals that are laid down, every employee must remember that productivity is the time spent working towards the goal (s). It really does matter how every employee uses his/her ‘time’ to achieve these goals. Let us find out how to not only set goals, but also how to achieve them. Here are 4 vital steps:

1. Determine what you want to achieve: The first step of goal-setting is to identify what needs to be achieved. It can be as simple as a promotion. However, multiple goals set at the same time can cause trouble. It is advised to set one main goal and other small goals which lead to the main goal.

2. Set specific sub-goals and be realistic: In order to achieve the main goal, employees need to set sub-goals and work towards achieving the main goal. When we take the example of promotion as a main goal, sub-goals can be (1) finishing a project well within the deadline and (2) maintaining good relations with the management. Employees need to remember that these goals have to be realistic in nature and something that might be a challenge to achieve but not impossible.

3. Note it down: When you have a goal in mind, it is advisable to write it down on a piece of paper or make a note of it. This helps the brain retain the goal on a subconscious level; it also provides clarity on how to achieve the said goal (s).

4. Remind yourself of the goal: Once you set the goal and are working towards achieving it, make sure you ask yourself everyday (EOD) if you were successful in your activities that day and if you are doing all you can to achieve the goal. If not, it is time to throw the turbulence out and make necessary adjustments.

Achieving a goal/goals is not an easy task. A lot of work goes into the planning aspect of achieving the goal (s). Sound planning results in sound execution and in turn produces results – results that determine if a goal (or a sub-goal) has been achieved.

4 Reasons why women have an edge over men in the field of training

The antiquated debate of which gender would be more effective in delivery of communication has dogged the field of training for a while now. The honest truth is that every training program must only be judged on a case-by-case basis and not in general form. This essentially rules out the possibility of the notion that women make better trainers being true. In fact, this argument boils down to which party has a stronger opinion, not entirely based on facts. What makes people think that one gender could be better than the other while delivering the same material? After all, each person would have had both good and bad experiences with both genders when it comes to training and over a lifetime, these things tend to even themselves out. Then why does this notion exist? Because even though no gender is a clear cut winner here, women do tend to possess certain innate characteristics in training that may favour their cause. Some are genetic, some are picked up along the way and some are just in-grained in female trainers. Let’s look at 4 reasons why women have an edge over men when it comes to the effectiveness of delivery of material:

1. Women are genetically programmed to show care. Taking nothing away from the care and concern showed by men, women are just genetically more superior in this regard. From the time of birth, the mother feeds & comforts her baby which results in the child growing up with a subconscious tenderness for women. Trainees would sometimes require an authority figure to share their emotions and their experiences. Men can be a lot harder to approach in this regard.

2. Women have an innate maternal instinct. There is a reason why female teachers are more in number (when compared to their male counterparts) at the elementary level in American schools. This is due to the uncontested perception that women have an instinctive connection with children.

3. Women trainers come off as approachable. Male trainers are often seen as stern authority figures while women are more approachable to trainees. This not only helps the students to relax a bit more, but also to maintain good harmony in the classroom. Trainees will then feel more comfortable in classroom participation – the most basic form being putting their hands up to ask a question.

4. Women trainers tend to possess a softer correctional procedure. Mistakes happen everywhere, even in the most unexpected of situations. It is up to the trainer to decide how to deal with the mistake made by a trainee. Generally, male trainers seem to be harsher in comparison to female trainers. Women, being genetically more caring and sensitive, try to solve a problem by emotionally connecting with the trainee.

If one thinks that the above reasons give female trainers the edge, one is right. However, these reasons are NOT in any way conclusive. From a bird’s eye-view, both genders have their advantages and disadvantages but it is really in the worm’s eye-view that clear differences can be seen. Are women better at training than men? It is definitely up to the trainees to decide on an individual basis, however, women do seem to have the advantage in the form of certain core skill sets that are innate in nature.

8 ways to deal with stress in the classroom

The learning that occurs within a classroom is directly proportional to the way that the trainees feel about the subject matter and more importantly, about the trainer. Trainees possess an innate desire to succeed in their field of work and hence are anxious about their learning and their ability to comprehend the subject matter. This, more often than not, leads to an increasing level of cortisol – the hormone related to stress. Although cortisol is useful in certain instances, consistently elevated levels of cortisol could lead to impaired cognitive abilities among the trainees. In other words, stress is an encumbrance to both the trainees and the trainer. Here are 8 ways for trainers to keep stress in check in a classroom:

1. Add creativity in the learning process.Trainers must not just resort to the deliverance of their module, but also add a pinch of creative & practical learning methods. Getting the trainees out of their seats for a practical session will result in a much better level of concentration once the trainees get back to their seats.

2. Encourage humour in the classroom. Laughing is the best way to get comfortable with the trainees. Once the comfort sets in, there wouldn’t be any scope for stress in the classroom. Flexibility in terms of humour goes a long way in reducing or preventing any stress between the trainer and the trainees.

3. Adopt the ‘flexible assignments’ model. Instead of assigning work with close deadlines on a consistent basis, the trainer could assign a packet of work to trainees and let them decide the deadline. This is particularly useful if a trainee is involved in other activities outside of work as it avoids the sacrifice made by trainees on their sleeping hours.

4. Encourage effort. Some trainees require ten minutes to complete a module and have the ability to get top marks while others require an hour to complete the same module with average scores. This is NOT the fault of the trainees as everyone has their own learning timeframe.

5. Allow chewing of gum in the classroom. Although this has always been a hotly debated topic, allowing trainees to chew gum in the classroom helps alleviate stress. The benefit of the doubt must be given to the trainees in this situation as everybody has a different way of dealing with stress and chewing gum might be one of them.

6. Be relaxed. A relaxed trainer makes for a relaxed classroom. Trainers set the tone for the entire session and it only helps when the tone that is set is stress-free in nature. If the trainer isn’t stressed about the results or marks (of the trainees), the trainees tend to be more relaxed as well.

7. Provide continual feedback. Feedback provided at just the right time can result in the end product being better. Trainers should provide ‘mini-grades’ or scores to trainees individually on a daily basis. Offering constant feedback helps trainees get back on track in order to make a difference to the end result.

8. Be aware of the set-up. Trainers must always make sure that comfortable arrangements have been made for the session. Bad seating posture or poor lighting could cause trainees to lose interest in the subject matter and elevate their stress levels.

Paper Presentation on Digital Education on IFIM Business School

IFIM Business School, Bangalore, hosted their 10th annual international conference called ‘Convergence’ from February 4-6, 2016 & the theme for the conference was ‘Digital Business: New Frontiers in Management.’ In a conference where over 50 papers were presented in different streams, the one stream that stood out was ‘Digital Education.’ Athiya’s very own Shirley Rose Louis, Project Lead (Blended Learning), co-authored & presented a paper along with noted academician Dr. Shubha B.N. on “Digital Learning: A Substitute Process to Traditional Learning.” Needless to say, Shirley has gained valuable experience in the field of research – a requisite of every trainer.

Shirley’s paper not only delved into the possibility of a future digital transformation, but also on the aspects that need to be carried forward (and not ignored) from traditional forms of learning. The argument of whether digital learning is in line to replace traditional learning is laughable to say the least. This is not an argument; rather a well calculated prediction. Certain papers that were presented discussed this transformation in detail and ruled that it wouldn’t be productive to digitalize education & learning. What these presenters fail to realize is that the world as a marketplace has already transformed into a digital hub. Make no mistake about it – this is the digital era where a person living in India can purchase a product from USA with only a single click of a button and the speed of delivery of the product is only getting quicker.

One initiative discussed by Shirley during her presentation at IFIM was Athiya’s ‘ExceliNet.’ ExceliNet is a cloud-based immersive learning solution. It is conducive for both group learning as well as independent learning. ExceliNet offers a comprehensive English language program based on Business English Certificate offered by University of Cambridge. In today’s flat world, English language competencies and superior communication skills are key contributors to one’s career commencement or progression and ExceliNet helps in this regard as it offers an in-depth curriculum of the four essential components for English language mastery – Reading & Comprehension; Writing; Speaking and Listening & Comprehension.

If one thinks that digitalizing education cannot be done or should not be done, one must only take a look at historical evidences – CDs replacing vinyl, MP3 replacing CDs & streaming replacing MP3. This clearly is a precedent to digital transformation.

In a world where 4 in 10 households have a smart device, it is imperative to learn and understand digital communication. Digital learning not only helps students learn through technology, but also helps them learn about technology. Technology provides a dynamic learning environment and this is what teachers & trainers crave for. The attention of students/trainees may wear thin under a normal lecture but with the usage of technology comes ease of understanding. It helps trainees to understand the concept in a theoretical as well as a practical way. High importance is given to the application of the concept rather than just a discussion. Digital learning is slowly creeping in to the societal structure and will be a norm sooner rather than later.

Why oration is a must-have skill for trainers

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education”.

• Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr was an excellent orator. What makes him so, you may ask. It is because Martin Luther King Jr single handedly convinced the entire black community that they ought to stand up for their rights – only by his words, not by physical force. When a person can affect the public, especially millions of American people to such an extent by just words, he deserves to be called an excellent orator.

Much of training is conducted by oration – by speaking. Granted, there is usage of property and physical material during a training session. However, without speech, training would become a herculean task. Speaking, in its truest form appeals not just to the ear, but also to the eyes. Trainers need to keep in mind the power of oration when they are communicating with their audience. A trainer’s message – of what he/she is trying to convey to the audience is enhanced when the trainer is also a good orator. Oration goes a long way in conveying the message, through the right channel, to the desired audience.

“In making a speech one must study three points: first, the means of producing persuasion; second, the language; third the proper arrangement of the various parts of the speech.”

Aristotle

Let us look at some tips for effective oration:

1. Stop trying to be great. Trainers tend to look at videos of great orators and try to emulate them by incorporating new techniques. This must not be overdone. People want to listen to someone who is interesting, relaxed, and comfortable. Stick to the basics.

2. Don’t be scared to make mistakes. Everyone – even the greatest orators make mistakes. Mistakes are a part of learning what NOT to do next time. If there ever is a stumble, a trainer must carry on like it never happened – if he/she is confident in their recovery, then the audience tends to forget about the mistake.

3. Practice makes perfect. Every trainer must practice his material until it becomes routine. Even great speakers started out at the bottom. The amount of practice makes it seem as though they were born to speak in public. Trainers must never be afraid to try new things and practice them before showcasing it to their audience.

4. Make the audience want more. Build anticipation in your speech and make the audience want more of you. Most speeches are long and boring and are not well received. Making a speech short – a summary of whatever a trainer wants to say is perfect as it induces questions from the audience – in this case trainees. When trainees participate, their level of focus and concentration increases, thereby resulting in the message being efficiently communicated.

Good oration can help a trainer convey the message to the audience in a quicker and simpler way. After all, this is what trainers are paid to do – to effectively communicate the message from the company to the trainees.

8 things to keep in mind while receiving ‘negative’ feedback

In the previous article, we read about things to keep in mind while delivering negative feedback. If a trainer knows how to ‘dish it out’, he/she must also be ready to ‘get dished’. Negative feedback is part of every trainer’s job role. Besides the obvious criticism, it helps the trainer keep his/her foot firmly on the ground. How does it feel like to receive negative feedback from trainees and/or higher-ups? Let us now delve into the 8 things to keep in mind while receiving ‘negative’ feedback.

1. Receive feedback only when you are ready. Make sure you receive your feedback scores only when you are ready. It doesn’t make sense to receive negative feedback when you are in a vulnerable state of mind. So, hold the scores, fix a time and be mentally prepared. In case of receiving feedback from a higher-up, make sure to book an appointment as it gives you time to prepare yourself.

2. Listen carefully. When you are in a discussion about your performance (feedback), make sure you listen to every point that is being made. You may not agree with all the points but it is your duty to listen to all the speaker has to say. The next step is to mentally differentiate points into facts and opinions as the speaker is most likely to mix the two in the discussion.

3. Perception doesn’t matter. Sometimes employees complain of harsh treatment while receiving negative feedback – “it wasn’t what he said, it was the way he said it”, is one of the most common dialogues in this context. However, the way you receive the message is not important here; the message itself is. Make sure you concentrate on what is being said rather than how it is being said.

4. Don’t get defensive. When a person is providing negative feedback, saying, “You’re wrong”, will never help, even if the person is indeed wrong. Do not listen just to point out the person’s errors or spot distortions. Make sure you listen to everything that the person has to say and then analyze it, interpret it and respond accordingly.

5. Do not plan your reply. The key is to listen to the other person without planning a reply. Nod your head until the person is done and make sure not to show any emotion.

6. Ask questions. Asking questions will help ease the tension in the room. It will also eliminate the appearance of defensiveness.

7. Take your time. Once the negative feedback is delivered, ask the person for time to consider the feedback. This not only diffuses the immediate situation, but also shows that you consider the person’s feedback important enough to think and analyze the scenario in a calm fashion. Saying “I appreciate your feedback and will go through it carefully before I get back to you”, will demonstrate your seriousness.

8. Apologize. Even though it may not be your fault, always apologize. There must be a reason why the person giving you negative feedback is doing what he/she is doing. Hence, respect the person and make sure you apologize. However, never over-apologize. Remember that negative feedback and criticism are a fact of life.

Negative feedback can be tough to deal with sometimes. Everybody prefers compliments over criticism as compliments mean that you are doing something right whereas criticism means that you are going wrong somewhere. The most important thing to remember is to not avoid negative feedback but to accept it and to learn to deal with it in order to grow as an individual.

8 things to keep in mind while delivering ‘negative’ feedback

Everyone has put themselves in others’ shoes at one point in their lives and thought, “I could have done that better”. This is innate human nature. However, how do you express this particular emotion? Therein lies the problem that trainers/mid to senior level managers face in today’s corporate environment. Can trainers/managers shout at trainees/employees in order to get work done in the present day and get away with it? Perhaps, but this ‘technique’ is definitely not ideal and must never be used in the workspace. Raising your voice or taunting trainees/employees is unqualified, unprofessional and amateur. Let us now look at 8 things that trainers/managers have to keep in mind while delivering ‘negative’ feedback:

1. Make feedback a weekly routine. Whatever communication style a trainer/manager uses, if the feedback is relayed in a routine manner, the trainee/employee will expect it and hence the impact of the negative feedback is cushioned.

2. Ask for permission to give feedback. Approach the trainee/employee and inquire if the person is OK with being given feedback. This bridges the gap between the trainer/manager and the trainee/employee and allows for a free flow of communication.

3. Concentrate on what could have been done. Trainers/managers focus on the error committed by trainees/employees more often than the process of rectification of the error. Instead of stressing on the mistake, trainers/managers must always look at ways a certain task could have been accomplished and educate the trainee/employee regarding the same.

4. Never ask to alter personality. Trainers/managers must be very careful so as to not ask trainees/employees to change their personality traits. Instead, they must request them to change their behavior. For example, Trainer A must not ask Employee X to make personality changes or to “be more extroverted, more social”. The trainer must in fact concentrate on the behavioural aspects – what he/she sees or hears.

5. Do not stockpile negative feedback. Trainers/managers must not wait for the opportune moment and vent out their frustration on a trainee/employee with details of his/her past errors which were not addressed at the time. According to Kate Ludelman, “Feedback is best given real time, or immediately after the fact”.

6. Do not email negative feedback. Trainers/managers who avoid confrontation resort to using text messages or emails to convey their emotions. This must be avoided. Face-to-face conversations work better and leave no reason to be misconstrued.

7. Coach correctional behavior. Trainees/employees sometimes fail to identify and practice behavior that is originally expected from them. For example, Employee A comes in late to the organization by30 minutes every day. Instead of just criticizing and warning the employee, a good manager would find out the problem, find a solution and coach the employee on time management.

8. Do not make feedback personal. This rule applies to positive as well as negative feedback. When trainers/managers involve personal affairs in feedback, things are bound to get unprofessional over the long term.

Delivering feedback happens every day in organizations and ultimately the objective is to change or modify certain behavioural aspects among trainees/employees which will undoubtedly help the company in the long run. If the above steps are followed, the feedback process, just as the training itself can yield more fruit than one can imagine.