HR learning: 12 June, 2017

1.
Learning in the digital world

New-age learning organisations need to invest consciously on solutions that will facilitate delivery of learning anytime anywhere. 

Gone are the days when learning was all about classroom sessions that lasted through the day. Learning is now sought in instant packets, easily consumable and conveniently applicable in dynamic work cultures. Same as everything else that has been transformed by technology to become more instant, interconnected and dynamic, learning in the digital world has also undergone a heavy makeover. 
Organisations of the present and the future seek continuous learning and see it as the key to business growth and success. That is why, new-age learning organisations now need to invest consciously on solutions that help deliver learning that is available anytime anywhere over a range of platforms. The various e-learning or digital learning platforms that progressive organisations are increasingly leveraging are as follows:

1.      Virtual Learning

2.      Mobile Learning

3.      Social Learning

4.      Gamification

2.

Stepping out of the comfort zone – A leader’s view

The sense of achievement when one steps out of the comfort zone is extraordinary. Here is a take on how you can push yourself and your teams to take that leap.

What is a comfort zone? To some people it may be something that can be done easily, something that they have been doing over and over again and the risk of failing is minimal in it. Academically, Bardwick defines the term as "a behavioral state where a person operates in an anxiety-neutral position.”

A word of caution arises when we become lethargic in our comfort zones. In such scenarios, more often than not we are bound to lose our differentiating edge and may end up being a moderate performer. 

Last week, I had an opportunity of listening to Varadarajan Srinivasan, a global HR leader with over 3 decades of experience, former CHRO at Tata SIA Airlines, on how can we push ourselves to step out of our comfort zones. He shared various examples from his experience where he was pushed to step up and sense of achievement on accomplishing the end results was phenomenal. Starting from being deputed to manage the HR functions at a liquor factory down south, to facilitating his first ever training program, to flying off to Muscat 25 years back in 1992 for his first ever international role, to leaving a well-established job for starting a BPO in the times when outsourcing industry was at the most nascent stages in India. When he took up all these leaps, while he was not full of confidence, a little anxiety is was what helped him outperform expectations.

During the conversation, Raja pushed us as a group to consider what he calls Person’s Optimal Anxiety (POA) – not to be too anxious to flunk but some amount that takes us out of our comfort zone and that is what pushes us to overachieve. 

An obvious question that would come to each of our minds is: why to step out, why risk it? While a thoughtful response may be that it accelerates performance and provides more learning opportunities, as leaders a critical consideration is to avoid developing redundancies. If as leaders and teams we stop stepping out of our comfort zones, it will become impossible to survive when the change comes. Exploring the new territories not only enhances productivity but also propels creativity and makes us push our boundaries easily.

As shared by Raja, here is how we can push ourselves and our teams to step out of the comfort zones:

1.       Take the first step 

2.       Face your fears 

3.       Change your mindset to be comfortable in taking risks

3.
Takeaways from Zuckerberg’s speech to help you keep the motivation on

Mark Zuckerberg, in his recent commencement speech at Harvard University made several pertinent points about the role of millennials in shaping the future. We bring to you the key highlights and their implications, for millennials

The year was 2006.  It was a Ranji Trophy Cricket Match between Delhi and Karnataka.  Delhi was in the process of losing the match because the last pair of recognized batsmen were at the crease.  An 18-year-old boy going by the name of Virat Kohli walked out to bat and saved the match for his team.  He had just lost his father that morning at 03.00 am.  Nobody expected him to play the game and his team was surprised to see him at the grounds.  They told him that if he wanted to go home and be with his family, they would understand and fully support him.  But he insisted that he “wanted to bat”.  Though he looked blank, he remained focused and did not let his team down.  His great commitment, attitude, and determination were the early seeds that were sowed to what he has become today – a world-class icon and a very inspiring leader.  His passion for excelling and conquering the odds has earned him a special place in the game’s folklore!

Does success need any other definition than the journey of the Prime Minister of our country, Shri Narendra Modi?  He rose from being a humble chaiwallah or a tea vendor to taking n the reigns of being the Chief Minister of Gujarat from Keshubhai Patel.  His rise was met with opposition from within the party due to lack of experience.  However, Modi stood his ground and became one of the most successful heads of state in the country.  The success of Gujarat from what it was 10 years ago to what it is now is amazing to note.  He is credited with encouraging economic growth, reducing corruption in the state and patronizing privatization.  Financial and technological parks were established and real-estate deals worth Rs.6.6 Trillion were signed.  By the year 2010, genetically modified cotton increased to become the largest in India.  An agricultural growth rate of 19.97%, which was the highest for any state was registered.  As Prime Minister of the country, Narendra Modi has promised the emergence of a new India and citizens of this country are watching with bated breath to find out what this go-getter of today’s times can do.