Which is important? Quality OR Quantity?

Hello! I am back with another not-so-sweet-preachy-words-filled-blog. Can't help it. Will change the mode of this blog in near future with some other kind of blogs. Till then here is one more for you and me.

In this blog, I would be sharing what I feel regarding the quality and quantity of work we do and its implications on subsequent appraisal(s). The work in this case can be tasks performed at office OR in personal life. I will try and limit the scope to the tasks performed at workplace....Though I don't see many reasons why it cannot be applied to personal tasks as well. Enough! Let's begin.

Somehow we love appreciation. We love being awarded/rewarded for the tasks that we do. One similar exercise is the appraisal- not a new word for corporate employees.
Dictionary says something like -The process of determining the value and thus the disposition of records based upon their current administrative, legal, and fiscal use; their evidential and informational (historical) value; their arrangement and condition; their intrinsic value; and their relationship to other records. (SAA)

The corporate has chosen this as the baseline for the annual/half yearly appraisals. It goes like
an appraisal is a formal meeting between your superior, in which your performance evaluation is done with comments,opinions and feedback of both.


The pre-requisite of this activity is:
1) Number of tasks performed during the cycle - the term Quantity in the title of this blog.

2) Rating of the above mentioned tasks - the term Quality in the title of this blog.

The best rated employees are the ones who strike the correct balance between the above two. This is because it is very difficult (although possible - depends on type of tasks and your experience and efficiency) to have both the quantity as well as quality of work. So far so good...But for ourselves, we are the best. Isn't it??

Repeated appraisal practice makes us experts in:
1) Adding a long list of tasks accomplished to our achievements
2) Rating most of these to the best(or a grade lower) grades possible.

But do we ponder for a second that we tasks we add, have we done them with good quality? I work in software industry and I have seen quite a few people who would take enough responsibilities(READ: tasks) in the name of initiatives, which are definitely worth for exceeding the employer's expectation- so expected to get better grades. But I have found a lot of such people, who would unnecessarily burden themselves with these tasks -and ultimately messing up the assigned work PLUS not following up with additional responsibilities. This sometimes goes against us during appraisals.
However, we are adamant on high grades for additional tasks for the sole reason that we did them apart from our regular work. What I feel is this:
No one would appreciate the additional tasks IF the assigned tasks are not performed well enough.
It's straightforward. I would pose an example from IT industry...What's important for a project delivery? I would say the time and quality of the delivery. The client need not know what did you do extra and to what extent, that took toll on the quality of the delivery. One cannot shield his failure in assigned job by success in extra tasks, unless phenomenal for the employer- which is not so easy.

It can be summarised as follows: First one should learn to perform the assigned tasks with GREAT quality and then think of some extra activities. This would raise even the ordinary/average extra task's grades and will be seen in positive light. But the reverse will not work in most of the cases - I feel so.

The above description might contain a lot of loopholes. So I would be waiting for comments from all my worthy readers.
And one more thing that I didn't touch throughout the blog about appraisals...can be found here. Great Reuse (That's for me)!!

Be happy with work and workplace !

I find people too much unhappy at work, at home , or both.
It's human! Even I have similar feeling sometimes.

You too might have heard such thigs like "I don't feel like going to office today...They don't give quality work"
"I am being overloaded with so much work"
"The work doesn't interest me!"
"My boss is unsporting..doesn't realise my work"
Why does it happen to me only?
"I am not able to devote time to me/family"
.So on and so forth...The list is endless.

There are a lot of reasons they quote for their unhappiness. But, on closely observing these citations, I can infer few points. People are unhappy because of either or all of these points (and may be a few more):

1) Quality of Work
2) Quantity of Work
3) Lack of Interest
4) Poor Appreciation
5) Other miscellaneous points like Work-Life balance etc.
6) Favouritism AND being unlucky :)

If you had some time to go through the traits mentioned here, the last lines say
Lord of himself, though not of lands;

And having nothing, yet hath all.


I love this poem, for its simple rules to lead a Happy Life. Most of us would agree with this poem only if we could resist our rational practicality coming in between. Some of us might say this is theory....In fast moving world, governed by laws and lawmakers, it is not possible to lead the life with such principles. How many us would want to lead a life with 'Having Nothing'?

Let me tell you, it is not that difficult to lead a happy life. I am flooding with ideas at this point..not sure how many of these will I be able to put in here.

First thing first. We see what we want to see. This is because of our perception. Sometimes we perceive with our senses (Common sense included, for namesake), sometimes with past experiences, sometimes with advices and sometimes with pre-conceived notions. To see the ,world in general and workplace/work in particular, in better light, we need to change our outlook.
As they say Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder
same is the case with our perception. I do agree that one man's food MIGHT be another man's poison...but yet we need to be pretty sure about the two. It shouldn't be the case as if we may just feel/think that a thing is food OR poison. We should be sure about it. And if we are not, then its time we improved our skills. And the first point is to master the art of being flexible and more open. See things in positive light.

Second thing learn to ignore. Did I write correctly? Indeed, haven't we heard Ignorance is a bliss!!. Yes, it is. Again it depends on perception and how well we judge the situation. But yes, whenever you feel irritated or unhappy about something, just think for a second...or take your time and try to find answer to one simple question : Is the issue over which you are not-so-happy is worthy of spending your precious resources (Time, Energy, Sometimes money etc)? If the answer is yes, you have a right to be unhappy!! But if no, then leave worries aside or in other words, ignore them. Walk past the worries and go to first step.

I cannot touch all the points mentioned 1-6 above. Just a quick wrap-around work for all of these. Quantity of the work is again a perceived thing. For some it is always endless...some manage it carefully so as not to get overloaded. The logic behind this is in the approaches followed. One might do smart working - e.g. using tools to complement his work, may use better time management and work prioritization skills. Learn from the smart workers the art of working smartly. Not only you will perceive the work as lesser in amount, you will also note that you can get time for yourself/family.
Favouritism can only be tackled by good work...The quality speaks for itself. If you change your perception to somehow create interest in the 'Uninteresting things', you might prove your flexibility by tackling the otherwise dull work related issues and get appreciation for the same. It is not necessary that appreciation means good work but good work begets appreciation...now or later. Be patient! You are not unlucky. Everyone is special in some or the other way. Improve quality of work from your side.

So the major points are:
1)Improve Perception
2)Learn to ignore
3)Work hard to learn how to work smart
4)Create interest in work
5)Appreciation will come by...Don't wait for it. Do your work with efficiency,quality and positivity.
6)Any other which you could make out because I am exhausted at this hour.

See you later!! Thanks for reading.
Till then Don't worry, Be happy.

Clarification!!! Disclaimer!!!

If you find blogs too much preachy......I can't help but agree.
This is because being not an expert in blogging PLUS I couldn't find much time to review the ideas I am putting forth.

I just begin ..write the blog..finish it...Do a quick proof read....and publish.

So I will try and improve over it. It should then be a reader's delight.

Just a request! You can blend your own creativity and practicality with the ideas to achieve what you desire.

Character of a Happy Life

This is not a blog. This is a poetry by Sir Henry Wotton.
Great philosophy...an I am a fan of this one since I read this first in school.
Mark each and every word!

Character of a Happy Life

HOW happy is he born and taught
That serveth not another's will;
Whose armour is his honest thought
And simple truth his utmost skill;

Whose passions not his masters are;
Whose soul is still prepared for death,
Not tied unto the world with care
Of public fame, or private breath;

Who envies none that chance doth raise,
Or vice; who never understood
How deepest wounds are given by praise,
Nor rules of state, but rules of good;

Who hath his life from rumours freed,
Whose conscience is his strong retreat;
Whose state can neither flatterers feed,
Nor ruin make accusers great;

Who God doth late and early pray
More of His grace than gifts to lend;
And entertains the harmless day
With a well-chosen book or friend;

—This man is freed from servile bands
Of hope to rise, or fear to fall;
Lord of himself, though not of lands;
And having nothing, yet hath all.

Are you the part of the problem OR do you have the solution?

Hmm...I think this will be a small blog. Ask yourself before complaining...and try to get the genuine, true answer. Are you the part of the problem OR do you have the solution? Which side are you on? The side of the problem OR the side of the solution. If you find yourself on solution side, you don't need to go through this blog. But if you are one of those who are complaining and doing nothing...please continue. No- I won't be telling any advantages etc of being on either side. I would just put forth my stance and ideas.

Let's go!
We come across a lot of situations in workplace when we hear
Hey, I am late on this report, Can you help me with the other one?
I don't know how to do this...
I am not able to do this
How did you do this?
I know that you know but I don't know how to do this? Please help!
I tried and tried but the Code is not working.
etc...etc...
Doesn't it seem like that people don't have time AND they see a shortcut to complete the work in YOU
OR you see someone as the Know-All guy!!

A Chinese proverb says Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. This approach is well and good in certain cases where problems are in a limited domain or of a certain type. You tell someone how to solve those problems, and the approach. If he has some understanding, he won't bug you more.

But in this fast changing, rapidly shifting world - The problem doesn't come alone....It comes in as problemSSS [in all possible shapes & sizes & severity - You may add more S's if you like]. So it is ineveitable for you to skip someone , for whom you solved a problem, when he comes in with a brand new issue.

The problem lies in the mindset of the troubled one. Why does a person prefer to lie as a part of the problem AND not on the solution side? There might be a plenty of reasons...You can find those motives by seeing the situation from the perspective of a third person - who is neither the troubled guy nor the solution guy! [Leave this exercise if this is not understood].

So what we have discussed in this blog is the problem. You may well say that we are discussing only the problem THOUGH the blog aims to move from problems towards solutions! It's not the case, let me assure you. Let's come to solutions then:
1)It has to be inculcated gradually. Mind you it needs will power to strive solving a problem.Try solving problems yourself - Make 'Asking someone' as the last resort.
2)Build up confidence and improve brain power. See my blog on Stepping Up of Brain and on building confidence.
3)Try to find answers...See here.
4)Now come to the most action packed point: If a problem is troubling you, try to view it in its basics. Try to figure out in black and white- What is needed and what is available. What are the ways to accomplish the job and what are the pros and cons for each way. Then try to build logical blocks to solve the problem. I am short of example right now but will add as and when I find it.
5)A third person's view of the problem also helps. You can easily locate the faults in your approach from this perspective. Also helps to avoid the problem being blown out-of-proportion.
6)If possible, try to think out of the box!! This might come with a relaxed mind.
7)Ideally, this should be the first point. But I am mentioning it in the last. You can say it as strategically placed.:) The point is Don't be overwhelmed by the problems! Believe in yourself. Problems are meant to be solved, right? Have faith in your capabilities.
8)Take the help from someone who you think might help. Make sure you also get to learn the approach of problem solving from him. Though I might be contradicting myself, but in certain cases, it is not good to re-invent the wheel. However, you should know how to build a wheel if need arises.

I had thought the blog will be short, but...Sorry for that.
I sincerely hope that few of us move from the 'PART OF THE PROBLEM' side to the 'PART OF THE SOLUTION' side and instill the instinct -the knack to solve problems. After all, that's what the problems are made for.

Cheers!!

Step up your Brain

Somewhere I had heard that brain cells stop growing after a certain time during adulthood. Try and google it, we may find some data for that also...But side by side we may come across something like...Learnability never stops!!

Let's not debate the point whether or not brain goes stagnant after a certain age. Let's focus on how to improve the brain and brain power. There are a lot of ways. These can be termed as brain exercises. With a little effort, we can find a lot of such sites which show us different brain exercices [both free and paid], e.g.,teasers, games, quizzes etc. I don't doubt their capability. They are good, in fact. One such site is http://www.braingle.com This site has loads of activities which can be performed to improve the power OR shall we say the capability of the brain.

However, usually such websites offer the solutions which require the person to sit and look at the computer. I know that you are reading this on a computer as well...but let's face it. Playing games or answering trivia or solving teasers sitting in front of a computer MAY improve the brain but at the cost of eyes and body. This is because these exercises take some time to perform.

The risk is:
If we perform good, we want to try more and more of such exercises, If we are slow, we might spend a lot of time on these things.

So my suggestion is to do:
1) We'll start with the old axiom A healthy mind resides in a healthy body...see more at http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/
Eat healthy to feel healthy. And yes, if possible, then physical exercise is a very good option.
2)Whatever method you choose to train your brain, never let these take a toll on your rest and sleep. A good sleep is a prerequisite to a fresh mind and a fresh mind is a prerequisite to a better learnability.
3)Improvement is a gradual process. Don't expect miracles...The high expectations might disappoint you. Let it flow slowly bit by bit. Absorb what you are trying with relaxed mind...You are doing this for your own good, right? If yes, then you have all the time in the world.
4)Try to work with these exercises away from computer. Take a printout instead or a pen and paper would suffice for most of the puzzles. Never strain yourself.
5)Let's keep computer,pen,paper out of picture. Give yourself some time to observe what is happening around you. See if you can find any other better ways to accomplish the same thing. Try to do things differently, but harmlessly :)
6)Say if you don't have Internet/Computer and you don't read this blog. Someone informs you of these things. Then would you say are we dependent on computers to improve our brain? The answer is a big NO. We can do away with computers as and when we want. For example:
a)Newspapers have been carrying out Crosswords, Sudoku and other puzzles like Spot the difference etc since long long time. Find some time to solve these. They are a terrific source of refreshing the brain PLUS improving it gradually.
b)Other activities may include exercising your brain with unusual acts,e.g., Write spellings reverted OR inverted OR reflected like- golb for blog.
c)Try to do things with your other hand. For example, you can try to practice writing with left hand if you are right handed OR vice versa. Once you master it, try step b) given above. Mind you, it is not easy and will take a lot of time.
d)Try to create,innovate...work constructively. You can try your hand at Origami-A japanese art of folding paper into various shapes.
e)Try and solve some Mathematics problems, which you had left years ago when you started your job. If interested, read things about economy, physics , biology -anything you like. It may be a part of your Curriculum or a detective novel.
f)You may also learn any new language, a new musical instrument or even painting- Anything which relaxes your mind, opening new vistas for your brain parallely.
g) Share your knowledge, experience, ideas with others. This will result in the in-flow of ideas from other people to your mind. Consequently, the improvement will come by.

h)Compete with others. Compete with yourself. Competition opens newer avenues and newer avenues mean newer level to which you can improve your understanding. [Sorry, if this point sounds weird]

Can't think of any more points now....Also the blog has grown quite long. I would suggest that we continue later sometime. Till then Step up your brain. Don't follow any advice on this page till you can feel it is correct. Your belief is important before you do anything to your mind :)

B+ ... Or simply put 'Be Positive'

How many times have we been preached over by this adage....Be Positive ..Doesn't the preacher know the plight we are in...How the heck can he ask us to be positive when everything is against us...But yes, since that's an old saying PLUS it is known to be effective if followed religiously.

I am just putting my raw ideas as a series of blogposts here. These can be articulated by someone or me for better presentation.

Alright let's start off!!! Someone asks us to be positive because he feels that we are worried OR thinking too negatively. We might appear as a pessimist to him...Alas. And the time when he asks us to be hopeful and positive, we might think that it cannot be since we only are aware of the situation and know how bad it is.

Can't we say that low confidence and negativity are a bit interlinked. Cure one - the other will be disappear!!

So my first advice[See, I look like one of those preachers:)] would be to pay heed to them. Fill yourself with a drop of over-confidence to boost your drooping [or dropping] confidence. Though, not always applicable, this approach works most of the times. The reason: We have a habit of exaggerating the problems....once we are pushed to a corner, we feel there is no way out. Here, advice or even a recapitulation of the situation from sincere friends/loved ones can help.

Here is a step by step procedure on how to come out of a pool of negativity:

1)Leave everything aside and talk to a dear one. If he/she is aware of your situation, it is guaranteed that we would be in a better position to face the situation after the talk. If not possible, then set aside everything, and go for a walk or listen to your favourite music...That might help relax the brain, and might just fill you with enough zeal.
2)Though it shouldn't be followed always, but for time being, do not think any thing as Urgent..I know many would disagree...But still, I would suggest to try it once. Something like a suspended piece of work.
3)Cool off your mind. Think of the situation from different perspectives - self, your boss's, 3rd person etc. Come to a solution.
4)Remember, if you face a situation fearlessly, soon there will be no situation to face. Yes, you read it right. The miracle that you expect to happen will happen!!
5)See the job being accomplished. Feel the job being accomplished. Then only would you be able to accomplish the job.
6)Lastly (Can't think of any more points right now!!), think about the scene after you accomplish the job. The satisfaction that you would be bestowed upon, Appreciation from colleagues/superiors, Love from dear ones [You would have time for them, right] and the gust of positivity.

The above steps are just few of the many that you will discover while going through the journey from negativity to positivity.Caution: Keep yourself grounded during these phases or else they might prove adverse:)
Some might feel this as too dreamy or unrealistic. It works for me!! The beauty of this approach is you end up feeling good > better > best.....and push out the negativity of your life. This helps in many ways[We'll discuss that later].

So, be good, be free, be great and be positive!!!

N.B.:On googling, I found a link to Wikihow at http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Positive which also lists some tips on being positive....No comments. Haven't read that!!

Blogs for beginners

What is blogging??
Won't bug you more. It is simply WEB-LOGGING ,aka, BLOGGING.
If you use WEB ,i.e., the internet to keep a log or a diary to publish your views on various matters- It is blogging!
Wasn't that easy newbies?

With this series of blogs, I would be touching upon various issues and try to put forth my understanding on these. The issues may range from Homely issues to Professional/ work realated issues.....from casual to more formal ones and so on.

The target audience might also range from school going kid to thorough professionals.
Let me make a point: I would be posting my personal opinions in here, so no one is bound to follow these. If you like something I write, then try to inculcate the thing naturally.

All views are personal....So are the examples. Just one thing to end up my first blog in this context....We (You and I) will try to remain as positive and as open as possible throughout the journey.

Thanks a lot in advance....Cheers!!