On Team building- By Amrita Thukral

"It is amazing how much people can get done if they do not worry about who gets the credit."

In an industry like ours where our core objective is to best service our clients, team effort tops the list of internal measures. And each of us would definitely have variedly experienced a nagging boss or a credit stealing co-worker or even an always available junior. The one factor we’d love to witness in our work place would be a balanced team structure with set responsibilities and cooperative co-workers.

No one can ever have a control on others’ thoughts --- thoughts around escaping work, thoughts around being casual, thoughts around simply stealing the work and so on and so forth. What we all can at least work towards is better team building activities. I’m sure some of these are already being followed but just to list down:
·        Work Related
o       Team meetings on alternate days --- to assign responsibilities around each task and gather status
o       Penning down of all discussions --- for clarity and avoiding any confusions
o       One mail at the EoD by all detailing out the client discussions happened over the day --- to keep the whole team at the same platform
o       Monthly staff meeting --- to discuss broad aspects of the on-going work, current and new clients, internal issues etc
·        Recreational
o       A team lunch / dinner / snacking out (self contributory) once in like three months
o       A small treat by the team leader to his / her team on a successful event / project
o       1 movie in 6 months (great if company can sponsor J or else self contributory)

And yes, the one thing all of us can really benefit with would be an offsite J … After all, all of us form the big Imprimis TEAM!

Would be great to have more suggestions pouring in …

Comments requested.
  

The Sania -Shoiab controversy finally over?

The Sania – Shoaib controversy was so fumed up that the media forgot about the other important issues and for a few days the Dantewada Maoist attack which claimed the lives of 76 security men seemed less important than Sanya- Shoaib wedding. Not only in TV & print, the search was on even in the web-world and this became the most read about article .

...and how could not be……?

 Pictures of Sania were burnt in Mumbai after rumours of her becoming a Pakistani national or playing tennis for Pakistan. Ayesha emerges.  Shoaib denies everything. Shoaib admits to everything. Shoaib divorces Ayesha. Shoaib marries Sania.

We are glad that they are married now and finally it was a ‘proper NIKAH’ and not a ‘telephonic marriage’. Let’s just wish the both of them a very happy life ahead with no more post- marriage controversies hopefully!

Vote : The media needs to concentrate more on the burning issues in our country, which directly impact the people. The controversy raised on Sania & Shoaib’s wedding was entirely their personal matter and should not have been given so much media priority.  YES/NO???

Removal of 10th boards: yay ?or nay?

The announcement for X’th standard Board Examination as optional with grading system for assessment in class room has evoked mixed reactions.

Some people are happy that it saves the students from the burden of one board examination. 

At the same time the critics want to know whether it is possible for assessment at class level where the class teacher is assumed to be impartial especially in a society where divisions based on caste, class and religion are still visible? Will there be uniformity of assessment throughout the country? Compare this with a board exam based on a set of syllabus and the answer papers corrected by teachers who do not know any identity of the student.

Thus, there is a need to define quality of education, delivery mechanisms and impartial systems of grading.

Aman Ki Asha-Hope for Peace

Aman Ki Asha, a peace initiative campaign by TOI & the Jang group- the two leading media houses of India & Pakistan, aimed to discuss the core and non-core issues that have resulted in a state of mistrust between the two countries for the past 60 years. It also intends to promote the economic, cultural and educational benefits that an honorable and durable peace between the two neighbors will bring. The campaign was launched on New Years Day and the reason behind was that this year would indicate a change in Indo-Pak Relations. Major Events took place- such as T.V. commercials spoke about the objectives for about 2 months and a musical concert by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan & Kailash Kher with various other artists at Old Fort was organized as part of their campaign.

The question that is on everyone’s minds is that-will all this really help in getting the two countries together. Will Aman Ki Asha be successful in building the bridge between the people of two nations? 

What’s your opinion?

Security experts in the US have come up with a  full-body scanning technology, which uses x-rays and radio waves to create a three dimentional image of passenger's body underneath his or her clothing- which if in use might have caught "underwear bomber" Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.

We want to know your opinion:

Fine, look at my body — just keep me safe.

My security is way more important. The scanners are as necessary as metal detectors.

The privacy risks are too great.

 The machines offer no guarantee for stopping determined terrorists. Also, there's nothing to prevent an image of your naked body from being retained by government employees.

Scan passengers — but be selective. Not every air passenger is equally likely to be a terrorist, and those deemed "higher risk" are the ones who should be made to undergo full-body scans.

Comments anyone?