As we embark on the journey of another insightful month at TCS, it is our pleasure to present a curated collection of Lifelong Learning tips designed to catalyze personal and professional development. In this dynamic corporate landscape, the ability to adapt, learn, and grow is paramount. Our shared commitment to continuous improvement finds expression in these pragmatic strategies, offering a compass to navigate the complexities of decision-making, problem-solving, and effective communication. From insightful approaches to meetings and conversations to practical methods for reducing hiring bias, these tips encapsulate the essence of our collective pursuit of excellence. Join us in exploring these invaluable insights, as we strive to nurture a culture of learning and achievement within our TCS family.
■ If you’ve already made up your mind
about a course of action, don’t go through the charade of involving employees only to do what you wanted to do all along. Example: Don’t call a meeting to “explore ideas” and then strike down suggestions that don’t support your decision.
■ Help people solve problems
themselves instead of dumping them in your lap by peppering them with questions. Ask: “What have you done so far?” “Who have you sought out to help?” and “What information do you still need to solve this?”
■ Sell your ideas
by playing upon your listener’s dominant emotion. Example: If your boss fears competition, show how your competitors’ recent triumphs have made your organization vulnerable.
■ Want to help employees
better understand your organization’s mission? Have them periodically write—in their own words—how their jobs support the mission. Publish the best entries in your internal newsletter—and reward the authors.
■ Reduce anxiety
by slowing down to calm down. Instead of rush-ing to a meeting, walk slower. Those few extra seconds will help you arrive more relaxed.
■ Maintain people’s attention
by stating your main points before handing over a memo. Why? The moment you hand over the memo, people will begin to read it, and you will lose their attention.
■ Speak more clearly
and persuasively by rephrasing negatives in positive terms. Example: Replace “It’s not my intent to mislead” with “I want to make this clear.”
■ Laminate some of your business cards
to use as tags on your lug-gage, briefcase, laptop or camera case. Besides serving as I.D., they may also spark conversations that could lead to a business or career opportunity.
■ Leave a note
if you want to speak with someone who’s on the phone. Don’t walk into the person’s workspace and wait, or—worse—try to speak to the person while she’s on the phone.
■ Post this reminder
where you can see it easily: “My long-range goal is . What I’m doing now will help me reach this goal by. If you have trouble filling in the last blank, you may be wasting valuable time.
■ Break out of a slump
by arriving at work an hour early. Use the time to tackle an activity you’ve been putting off, such as filling out your expense report or editing a memo. Your sense of accomplishment will keep you flying all day.
■ Reduce hiring bias
by setting measurable standards that top candidates must meet before you start your search. Beware: Research shows employers often favor applicants they interview late in the hiring process.
Leave a Reply