There’s no dearth of advice on the skills a new age HR professional needs to equip themselves with. Over the past few months I have come across recommendation on endless courses on time management, influencing skills, data analytics and empathy. Yet the whole suite of recommendations chooses to stay away from critical skills that HR … Continue reading FOUR COURSES HR NEEDS TODAY
Tag: HR
The beauty of simple tech
Complexity is a weak man’s crutch. The aim of technology is to eliminate friction and integrate itself into everyday life so seamlessly that you barely notice when it’s become an inseparable part. Good design draws upon minimum amount of conscious and cognitive effort.
No such thing as mental health
We have a long way to go before we crack the code to solving for mental health. Unlike most ailments, there isn’t a single virus, bacteria or fungi to fight but a myriad of reasons not all of which can be guarded against. It is a bigger battle in some cultures than others and to believe that a one size fits all approach will work is naïve.
Premature optimization: Learning from software development
HR needs to take a leaf out of technology’s book. We shoot down innumerable technology interventions worrying that they aren’t perfect. We struggle to pull together the budget for the perfect tech solution. We worry about scale even before we know if our idea will gain traction with users.
On Brand vs Generic
A few weeks ago I wrote about my disagreement with referring to the business teams we support as our customers. This isn’t a widely accepted thought and today I will take my argument a step further by attributing the poor design of our HR interventions to this reference. Sounds contrary to popular belief, doesn’t it? We have been conditioned to believe that viewing our business as ‘customers’ will lead to better service. But it doesn’t.
Data with a heart
I love data democracy, the power of being able to analyze data independently without being dependent on another individual. Products like these empower every individual in the organization to derive meaningful insights at team, business and organizational level. It doesn’t overwhelm nor fall short. Heartcount gracefully does all the hard work and allows you to jump straight to the meaningful insights.
The Experimentation Budget
One would imagine that in forward thinking organizations, innovation would flow in a straight line. Instead, the journey begins to resemble a circus show with one jumping over constant hoops and hurdles until the idea dies a slow painful death. The journey includes encountering people who hate the idea, those who love the idea but … Continue reading The Experimentation Budget
Client, Customer or Team?
Once in a while I get asked a question that leaves me stumped; not because it doesn’t make sense but because over time my world view has taken its own twist on reality. One such question I was asked very recently as a part of product design exploration was – “Do you refer to the businesses you support as client or customers?”
Care Packages: Wellness in a box?
I have always been fascinated by the care packages advertised on my Instagram feed. While I must admit I have never put one together, I did always consider it a good way to show a friend or family member that you cared. However, the last place I expected a care package to make an appearance … Continue reading Care Packages: Wellness in a box?
Dopamine Fasting Reconsidered
It took five minutes of rain and four hours of living without the internet to change my mind about dopamine fasting. Within two hours of no internet connectivity, I found myself strolling into the nearest store and walking out with a bag full of junk food. Over the next one hour, I ate my feelings … Continue reading Dopamine Fasting Reconsidered