Your Journey...(Poetry)

Days passed and then years,
But you stay in my heart right here.

I still remember that day,
When you were going through that way.

I looked into your eyes,
Those were so wise.

Days passed and then years,
But you stay in my heart right here.

I still remember that day,
When you were going through that way.

You were trying hard, showing that you were strong,
But I knew something was wrong.

I looked at you, wanting you to return soon,
But life is not what we assume

Days passed and then years,
But you stay in my heart right here.

I still remember that day,
When you were going through that way.

Destiny was planning for you to go,
And wanted to shout at it NO.

Today as I write,
Your face seems bright.

I remember you as my father,
More as a friend rather.

Days passed and then years,
But you stay in my heart right here.

I still remember that day,
When you were going through that way.

I Went in Search of Humanity

I went in search of Humanity,

On finding so much Insanity.

Starting my journey, I met a Tree,
That stood there so Free.

I sat in it's Shade,
As the branches Swayed.

It gave me shade and Oxygen,
Without asking my Religion.

I sat there for Sometime,
Listening to the wind Chimes.

I went in search of Humanity,
On finding so much Insanity.

Sun was shining Bright,
But, the thoughts inside me were having a Fight.

There was fresh drinking Water,
And the day was getting Hotter.

The water killed my Thirst,
The thoughts inside were getting Worst.

Water did not ask my Surname,
And it tasted for everyone, the Same.

I went in search of Humanity,
On finding so much Insanity.

They say pen is mightier than Sword,
But, then why my words go Ignored.

I look at the Sky,
And wonder Why,

I have to search for Humanity,
And end up finding so much Insanity.

Listening Is An Important Aspect - Communication Skills

Listening is important aspect in Communication Skill. A good listener is a good communicator too.It is very important to be a good listener before being a good speaker.

Some of the Important Points from video are included below :

How do we communicate?

• Writing
• Visuals
• Speaking
• Body Language

Hearing versus Listening

Hearing is receiving of sound by ear.

Hearing does not mean one is paying attention.

Whereas

Listening is chosen to be heard with concentration.

Listening is helpful when done actively

How to be an active listener?

• Relax but be attentive
• Maintain fair amount of eye contact with speaker
• Don’t Interrupt
• Body language
• Be Focused
• Ask Questions
• Give Feedback

Remember

• Effective Communication includes Active Listening.
• Listening requires attention.
• Hearing and Listening are different
• Good Communicators are Good Listeners
• Listening plays vital role in leaning

Handling Customer Complaints

Handling Customer Complaints are crucial for any business. Above video are basics to understand handling Complaints better.

Being Woman is not easy. If you can't help her don't disrespect either

Before you start reading this blog and start thinking that it is the victim card that I am playing, that's not why I am writing this blog. This blog is for all those who are taking women in their life for granted. By women I mean your mother, wife, sister, daughter, boss or a subordinate.

Just because your ego gets hurt that does not mean you suppress her voice. She has her opinion too and has every right to voice it.

Just because you think she is wrong that does not mean that she is wrong. As father, brother or a husband don't crush her self-confidence.

She need not to take every decision based on your yes or no. It is her right to live and have experiences of her own. If she does something good you are proud and if takes one wrong decision you disown her. There are many platforms where she is disrespected. As a daughter sometimes she is disrespected for taking her decisions. As a wife sometimes she is disrespected because you don't like what she said. As a mother she is disrespected because she cares for you.

Men have difficult life too. They also have many challenges too face. This blog is not about who is right and who is wrong. This blog is about self-respect.

So, why I am writing this blog. That's because of an incident that took place today while I was returning from work.

I was standing by the roadside waiting for my friend as we had planned shopping together. I finished my work and left early and reached before her. I was still waiting when I noticed another lady standing by my side. She was waiting for someone too. Looking at her body language, I could make that out. I was still waiting when a man came towards her and said," Sorry dear I am late but I got stuck in an important meeting. Though I had informed my boss prior that I need to go early as my wife has an appointment with doctor, but the clients came and it was important to attend them." His wife smiled at him and told him that she was fine and had not waited much.

Before they could head to doctor, they decided to have juice at the juice corner which was next to where I stood. They ordered juice and started talking to each.

They seemed happy couple to me. Suddenly I heard man shouting at her (though his voice was not very loud, but it was loud enough for me and some of the students who stood to hear). He told her that she need not to speak to him on this matter (I am unaware what he was talking about). I will take my own decision I need not ask you. She stood there embarrassed and looking around she told her husband, " Please, don't shout. It is just my opinion. If you don't like it, that's fine. But don't shout." He told her that she could not be right every time. Before he could finish she added, "But, I cannot be wrong every time."

Her eyes were filled with tears and I decided to move.

I did not want to know the reason for the argument neither I don't want to prove her right. My only point is that she waited for him and even if he was late she did not complain. Even if her husband did not agree with her was this the way?


     

Importance of introducing yourself : Interview skills

Introduction plays an important role in the interview. A candidate introduces himself to the interviewer and gives the opportunity to interviewer to judge the candidate.

"Tell me about yourself"

This may seem an easy question to answer. If not answered properly it may complicate an interview.

To understand better let us do a case study

Case Study

Rahul was very excited as he would be appearing for a campus interview. He prepared a very impressive introduction. Just to make it more interesting he added reading to his hobbies. 

Finally, the interview day came. Rahul was nervous, when his name was called.

As expected interviewer asked Rahul to introduce himself to the panel. Interviewers seemed very impressed with him. One of the interviewer asked him about the recent book he read.

Rahul did not know what to say. The question was unexpected. He was not prepared. He kept quiet.

I hope you would have understood the importance of introduction. It is very important to introduce yourself effectively. 

How to prepare Introduction ?  

Before preparing your introduction remember few points.

• Read the job posting. Understand what employer is looking for. Read requirements and skills carefully.
• Read your resume. Know what is written in it.
• Be honest. You can lie to world but not to yourself.

Preparing and Practicing are the two effective ways.

Preparing your introduction

• Do not copy, paste blindly. You may google for reference but write your original.
• Introduce yourself to interviewer in such a way that you seem to be the right candidate.
• Do not include unnecessary details in your introduction.
• Introduction should not be too long or too short.
• Be honest and know what you speak.
• Prepare your introduction before interview and Practice.

Practice your Introduction

• Practice what you have prepared.
• Use simple language.
• Practice Pronunciation.
• Know the meaning of the words and sentences that you use.
• Practice with a family member or a friend.Let them act as an interviewer and practice with them
•  Practice in front of the mirror.

Do not forget that if you think you can, you can. Believe in yourself.

In this blog I have discussed Importance of introduction and what to keep in mind while preparing. Next blog would be how to prepare an effective introduction with some examples.

Handling Telephone at Workplace: Basic Skills

In this blog, we will discuss one of the important aspects of the business which is telephone handling. There are various calls received in a single day. Some examples are as below:

• A caller may call for the general enquiry.
• Call for sales.
• Sharing feedback.
• Business opportunity and so on.

Every customer calling is a potential business opportunity and handling the calls poorly may lead to loss of business. Moreover, it can cause damage to a company's reputation as well.

After reading this blog, you will be able to:

• Handle the telephone calls in an effective manner.
• Place a call on hold in the right way.
• Effectively transfer the call.
• Take messages accurately.

Before answering the calls:

• Make sure that the desk is clean and well organized.
• Be prepared all the time. Keep pen and writing pad handy.
• Clearly printed telephone extension list should be available at the desk all the time.

Opening the call.

• Do not chew anything while on a call.
• Pick up the phone within three rings.
• Always wear a smile and trust me it will reflect in your voice.
• Greet the caller as per the standard operating procedure of the company.
• Identify yourself, if it is in the standard operating procedure.
• Offer the assistance.

Some examples of call opening are written below:

 

While attending an external call.

"Good Morning, XYZ company, This is Y, how may I assist you."

 

"Thank you for calling XYZ company. How may I assist you."  

 

While attending an inter-departmental call.

 "Good Morning, Front Desk, Y speaking, how may I assist you." 

"Good Morning, Front Desk, Y speaking."

 

Note: Many companies have standard phraseologies, follow them.

Placing a call on hold.

In case you need to check the details then place the call on hold. Below points are to be considered when placing a call on hold:

• Take permission from the caller and tell the reason for doing so.
• Also, inform the amount of time it will take.

For example,

"Mr. D, may I place your call on hold for a minute while I check the details."

 

In case it will take longer than a minute return to the caller  and inform him/her as per below:

• Thank the caller for his patience.
• Increase the hold time taking his permission and explain the reason too.

Phraseology could be used as below:

"Thank you for your patience Mr. D, the extension number for Mr. X is busy. May I place you call on hold again for a minute or shall I ask Mr. X to call you back."

 

Note down the details carefully.

Transfering the Call.

In case, the call has to be transferred to someone else inform the same to the caller.
Inform him/her:

• why you are transferring the call and who is the concerned person.
• Also, inform the concerned person who is on the line and what he/she wants.

Below is an example to understand the process better:

The phone rings at the operator desk of the hotel.

Operator: Good Morning, ABC hotel, This is James. How may I assist you?

Caller: My name is Mike Brown. I want to amend my reservation.

Operator: Certainly, Mr. Brown. May I place your call on hold for a minute while I transfer your call to reservations department.

Caller: Yes.

Operator dials the reservation number and talks to the reservation department.

John: Good Morning, John

Operator: John, this is James. I have Mr. Brown on the line who wants to amend his reservation.
Operator transfers the call.

John to the caller: Thank you for your patience, Mr. Brown. This is John. I understand that you want to make the amendments to your reservation.

Caller: Yes


This is a simple example. However, there are many calls that telephone operator handles. Calls and situation may differ during the calls.

Taking Message 

 

It is a simple yet crucial process. Understand what caller wants.

If you have message slip it will probably have following details:

Date and Time of Call.
Callers Name.
Message for.
Telephone Number.
Message.

After, taking down the message re-confirm it with the caller.

 

Ending the call

• Thank the caller.
• Ask if there is anything else you could assist with.
• Finally, add a positive note and disconnect using the finger so that you don't sound banging the phone. 

For Example:

"Thank you for calling Mr. Brown. Is there anything else I could assist you with"

 

 The Caller says no.

"Have a nice day." or "We look forward to welcoming you and your family for a memorable holiday."

 
 






   

5 Ways I Keep Myself Away from Backbiters.

Backbiting is one of the dark secrets at the workplace. Everyone encounters the backstabbers and the backbiters unless you are not one of them. I was working as an executive in a company, and after a year's hard work, I got promoted to a manager position. While, I was still celebrating, and receiving best wishes from my colleagues; my immediate boss called me to his cabin. 

We sat to discuss some business leads, and as we were winding up our conversation, he informed me about a team member complaining that I was not treating her well and many other things. I sat in front of my boss shocked. I supported her throughout. We were good friends. We went for lunch together every day. My boss knew what I was thinking. He understood more than shocked I was disappointed. I was feeling hurt and of-course betrayed by this act of hers.

My boss explained to me that this was a challenge to be faced and learning; how to deal with such situations. He further added that there are backbiters, but handling them will enhance my leadership skills. He further added that if I wished he could transfer her to another department, but then that was not the solution.

Jealousy is the main reasons for backbiting many times. Though I had the tough time with the backbiters then, today I have managed myself to keep away from them.

Below are 5 ways that help me deal with the backbiters. 

1) Know where to draw the line:

Being friendly with your colleagues is important. However, you should understand where to draw the professional line. Do not share too many personal details with everyone. Sharing too much information with others could be harmful. Too much talking can lead others to gossip about you.

2) Do not listen to them:

I don't mean to say that you socially boycott yourself. However, understand that a person who will talk behind others back can do the same behind yours as well. It may be difficult to control the backbiter, but you can always choose not to entertain them. Decide what you want to listen and what not. If you don't show interest, the other person will stop talking about others with you.

3) Control your Reaction:

Do not react to the person backbiting. If a person comes to you and tells that someone spoke regarding you, do not revert to him/her. Stay calm and control yourself. Find out the truth before getting upset about it. Have you heard about the Chinese Whisper game? Like the game it can happen that the person said something else but, it could be possible that it came to you in the wrong way. By, playing with the words a person can create confusion between two people. Before reacting to the loose talks, directly speak to the person.

4) Training:

It can play a major role in dealing with the problem of the backbiting at the workplace. Working as a team and having a stress free environment is very important for a successful organization. The continuous interactions with staff are necessary to encounter the problem of the backbiting. We all need to understand and respect the privacy of others.

5) Take Actions:

If you find the person who constantly is a guilty of backbiting about the others find the way to discuss the issue. As mentioned earlier training could be a tool if properly used can help you end this issue. Have company's policy regarding backbiting in place and make sure that every staff understands it well. If still the individual continues the same behavior, take appropriate action against him/her. 

Remember, backbiting is a negative practice not only at work but in personal life too.  

Managing the Time That's Ticking Away.

Time Management in simple language is Managing the time Efficiently.  Organizing oneself and efficiency is not only important professionally but also equally important in personal life too. Time Management will have many positive effects on an individual's life. A person who manages time can manage stress well. An individual with poor time management can feel negative effect not only on his/her professional but in personal life too. A case study on an employee working as Customer Relationship Manager in a multinational company can help us understand time management. 

X is working as Customer Relation Manager in XYZ company. He received an email from his boss stating that he needs to send a Powerpoint presentation within two days. X relaxed as he had two days to send the presentation. The first day was normal for him it was not a hectic schedule. Though, he did not have much work he decided to work on the presentation next day. The next morning when he reached the office he saw a reminder email from his boss, reminding that the deadline to send presentation was by 1900 hrs. X thought to himself that he had lots of time and would finish it post lunch. After finishing his lunch, he came back to his desk to prepare the presentation. As he opened the blank template a colleague came and reminded him. Mr D, an important client was waiting for him in the meeting room. He forgot about it completely. X was confident that he will finish his meeting in half an hour and still he will have ample of time to finish his presentation.

The meeting was taking longer than what X expected. Now, he started feeling tensed. Even the client realized that he was not fully attentive. Finally, the meeting ended. X rushed back to his desk. As he checked his mobile, he saw a message from his wife.

"Dear, we are ready and, will reach Sam's café in one hour and, as decided we will go to the doctor for Z's vaccination."

X completely forgot that today was his son's vaccination. He could not tell his wife that he cannot come because she had told him about vaccination three days earlier and last time also he missed the visit to the doctor with his son. Thus, he made a promise to his wife that he will surely be there with them. He started working on the Powerpoint and finished it as soon as he could.

As he hit the send button on his email, he noticed that he was half an hour late for his son's vaccination. He looked at his mobile there were twenty-one missed calls. He forgot to put mobile in ringer mode after the meeting. He got so engrossed in preparing the presentation that he did not realize that he got late for his son's vaccination. He had sent his presentation before the deadline but, he knew that it could have been better if he had more time with him. He called up his wife but, she did not pick up. As he rushed to the hospital, the nurse told that his wife left ten minutes back. 

In above case, X wasted his first day and, on the second day as well he kept postponing his task thinking, he had lots of time. He did not organize nor did he prepare himself for his day. He completely forgot about the appointment and vaccination. 

Even when meeting the client he felt stressed about not preparing the presentation that he did not give his  100% to his client. Also, he broke his promise of being there with his family.  

X could have handled the situation better, but due to poor time management, he messed it up. 

Let us discuss what Mr X did:

• He wasted time on the first day.
• He did not organize nor prepare himself. He could have had more time to prepare his presentation if he could have planned well.
• He could have avoided the increase in his stress level had he prioritized the tasks.
• He did not plan nor prepare on the second day as well. Therefore, he forgot about his appointments.
• He could have shown his capabilities by preparing an excellent presentation.
• He could have attended the client better.
• He was not able to give time to his family even after promising.
• He could have borrowed more time for himself if he managed his activities well. He could have prepared a better presentation and be there with his family too.
• Also sending such incomplete presentation will harm his reputation too.

 Tips to Remember

• Planning is important, however, flexibility is also an essential element in managing the time well. Prioritizing wisely is the key.
• Define your goals as a long-term goal, intermediate goals and short-term goals.
• Similarly rank as Highest priority, Moderate and Lowest.
• Overcome distractions.
• Be realistic while setting up goals and deciding priorities
• Poor time management is lack of self-discipline.
• Attempting too many tasks can also waste time.
• Not being organized could be another cause of poor time management. 
• There is the time when you have to say "No" based on priorities. You cannot be everywhere doing everything.
• Avoid postponing your tasks as it can create workload later.   

Manage Time well as it is Ticking Away. 

Thank you for reading. Share your thoughts too by commenting in the comment box and share this article too.    

          

Ultimate Guide for Those Attending their First Interview

Interviews can be nerve-racking especially the first one. Getting butterflies in the stomach, those weird dreams about the interview and sleepless nights are common. My first interview was for Jet Airways and I still remember dreaming about the interview each night and yes, they were not the good ones of course. Those were the real nightmares. A night before the interview I, dreamt of attending the interview without wearing shoes. 

Here’s an ultimate guide for those attending their first interview:

Firstly, let us answer the question that comes to mind when going for an interview.

What should I wear?

Though, it is important to look presentable in an interview however an interviewer is not going to select or reject you based on what you wore. The presentation does matter, however, don’t over think. Wear formal neat and well-ironed business attire, neatly combed hair, clean socks, polished shoes and smell good.

Keep it Simple, Yet Professional. 

During my first interview, I concentrated so hard on what to wear that I spent half of my time shopping and other half matching the accessories with it.  I did not concentrate well on the most important part of the interview preparations. 

That was Being Prepared.

Yes! Preparation plays a major role in a successful interview. It is the most important factors. Preparing an introduction and researching about the company and the industry is equally important. Even though you are a fresher but basic knowledge is a must when appearing for an interview. Knowing about the organization and industry are an added value. Not only this, read the job posting carefully. Most of the interview answers may be hidden there. Read the job description and skills required and include them in your answers smartly. This can help you answer the interviewer that why should he hire you. Practice and prepare yourself. 

Resume

Since it is your first job interview, do not over with your resume. Remember there are certain dos and don’ts for a resume to look professional.

• Don’t use fancy fonts.
• Font size should be considered.
• Don’t use bright colors for highlighting.
• Choose your resume layout carefully.
• Updated and correct information should be mentioned in the resume.

Few, suggestions for fonts would be Arial, Times Roman, Georgia, Calibri and preferable font size is fourteen for the headline and twelve for the description. Avoid Capitalization and use of the bold letter. Apart from above, you need to understand the different types of resume. Though, a resume can be designed in various styles. However, there are 3 types of formats for the resume.

• Chronological Resume
• Combination Resume
• Functional Resume

Chronological Resume is for those who have a strong work history. This may not be ideal for newcomers.

Functional Resume focuses on skills more than experience. This type of format is for those candidates who have less experience, frequent job changes or gap in the career.

Combination Resume It is a combination of Chronological Resume and Functional. In this skills are lighted at the top and work history below. Though work history is not the highlight of the Resume.

Below are the samples of the three types:

Sample 1: Chronological Resume

Sample 2: Functional Resume

Please note these are only the samples to explain the types of Resume. The writing style in actual will differ.

Sample 3 : Combination Resume

 Tips to Remember

• Keep it Simple
• Be Honest
• Don’t include irrelevant details
• Keep it Organized
• Plan and write
• If you add you your photo ( I recommend adding it), make sure that it is passport size in formal uniform with the proper background.
• Check spelling mistakes
• Don’t include something you don’t know. Example many times I have noticed that candidates add reading as their hobby and when asked which was the last book they read? They go blank.
• When carrying a hard copy of resume along with you for an interview remember it should be printed on clean and crisp paper filed properly.

Body Language

• At no time display poor body language in an interview. Though body language is a vast topic, we will here discuss the basic yet important points related to it. 

• A smile is very important. Know the right amount of smile. A smile is important but you should not fake it.

• Maintain your standing posture.

• Maintain right sitting posture even while waiting for your turn in the waiting area.

• Be attentive

• Know when to smile

• If your handshake with the interviewer make sure that it is strong and firm one.

• Maintain right amount of eye contact. Don't stare.

• Feeling nervous in an interview is normal but do not let it show on your face. Yes! Your body language can depict that you are feeling nervous. Some examples are shaking your hand, fidgeting with an object or pen.

Know What You Say

I am going to break this sub-heading into few situations or questions.

How to handle a situation when you don't know an answer?

It happens many times that we go well prepared for an interview but the interviewer puts on a question for which the answer is not known to us. What to do in such situation? Wait, don't panic. An interviewer put you through different situations to understand you and it is perfectly fine to not to know something. If you come across a situation where you don't know answer firstly, don't panic, stay calm.  Do not react immediately and don't let it show on your face. Maintain the calm and confident composure. Buy sometime from the interviewer by asking clarification on the question. Maybe you know the answer but you might not have understood the question correctly. Still, if you don't know the answer accept it in a smart way by saying something like, " I am unaware about it, however, can I take some time to consider it and get back to you."

Remember to research on it later and if you meet the interviewer again or maybe talk to him include the answer in your conversation.

How do I answer a negative question? 

Some examples of negative questions are:

What is your biggest weakness?

What makes you angry?

I am not saying you lie about it but answer smartly. Do not talk negative nor talk negatively about someone. I would never hire a backbiter. 

How much should I talk? 

Being enthusiastic is good but too much talking can backfire. same way talking too less won't help either.

Take Follow Up

Don't wait for the interviewer to get back to you. Don't hesitate to write an email or call to take follow up

3 Quick Tips to apply online to get Right Job

I work as a Business Consultant with a recruitment firm. Working on different hiring assignments, I come across many candidate profiles. There are different methods that I, use for hiring and one of them is a job posting online on job portals. That is one of the most common ways of a candidate hiring. There are many online job portals available along with social media. Naukri.com, Monster.com, Shine.com, and LinkedIn are the most common ones to name. Even the website of the organizations has career page. However still many times candidates struggle to get a job at the right place, and we as recruiters face difficulty in finding the right candidate.

Below are few tips for candidates who want to apply online:

1) Updation of Profile: 

Keep your profile updated. Do not apply with a profile that is not updated. By, the updated profile I mean current designation, current company, contact number and email id. All of these should be updated.

2) Read: 

Just don't hit the apply option without reading. Read the job posting. First, important thing is to know what you are applying for. I mean if you are a software engineer, you can't apply for a general manager at a hotel. As a recruiter, I have encountered this and have no other option but to write a rejection mail. Next is the location. Ask yourself, am I ready to relocate? If the answer is yes, move to next step. Read the job description well and understand what employer is looking for. Read the roles and responsibility too. Understand the skill requirement. Find out what are the other requirements, that are required by the recruiter.       

3) Consider these Factors too:  

Experience:

Read what experience recruiter is looking for. Below are two examples for you to consider:

Case 1: An employer posted a vacancy for a certain position. Candidate finds that it is matching his profile. He goes through the job posting and finds out that everything seems to fall into place but then finds out that experience required is five years but the candidate's total experience is four years. What should a candidate do? My advice is to go ahead and apply.
Case 2: A candidate exploring online jog portals finds out job posting. He has just passed out his college and is looking to start his career. He reads the job posting and finds out that employer is seeking a professional with an experience of 10-15 years. He is a fresher but he is excited about the salary package. The Candidate decides to apply. Do you think he will get an interview call?    

Salary: 

Many recruiters like me are specific when posting jobs. I mention the salary range. However, some prefer not to disclose. In that case, you could apply and discuss it later with the employer. But if you are looking for salary hike as one of your main priorities than consider below while applying. Let us consider two examples again.

Case 1: An employer posted a vacancy where the salary range has been specified as 25,000 - 30,000 INR but, you want something between 32,000 - 35,000 INR. What will you do? Apply

An employer will not lose the good employee. If the candidate stands out in the interview, the employer will not let you go. 

Case 2: A candidate looking for salary hike. He is getting 40,000 INR. There could be many possible reasons for which a candidate may be looking for a salary hike and new job. But would he apply for job posting which offers the salary ranging between 25,000 to 30,000 INR?

I know that job hunting can really be a tiring and tough phase of one's life. But it is about your career and it is very important to choose wisely. Don't simply click to apply for the job.

I hope you find the article interesting and helpful. Please do leave your comments in the comment box.

       

  

When my Domestic Help came across Padman Challenge.

I log in to my twitter account and read the tweets everyday. I was so engrossed looking at the Padman challenge that I did not realize that my domestic help walked-in.  Suddenly I heard her scream, "Didi, yeh kya hai." (What is this?). I jumped off my chair. Her voice had so much panic that I got scared that there was something threatening my life. I looked at her confused and she was looking horrified and was starring at laptop screen. I asked her why did she shout so loudly. She asked me again, "ooh, didi yeh kya hai." (What is this). I looked at the screen and replied that she is Deepika Padukone. She looked at me and said, " iske haath mein kya hai." (What is there in her hand) I replied," It's a Pad, why what is wrong with that."  Her horrified look shifted from Deepika Padukone to me. She giggled, "aise." (Like this)  and ran to kitchen. I was confused but soon understood. I called her back with a cup of coffee and told her to sit by my side and showed her few more tweets on Padman Challenge. Also told her about the movie and told her the story of Arunachalam Muruganantham. We spoke about menstruation for more than half an hour.
She has left and I still feel guilty. The guilt is not because I bleed but because I was embarrassed about it. Not only she even we are responsible for Period being treated as a Taboo. Because, we decided not to ask questions. Why don't we call menstruation by it's name? We have our own code words for it. Initial years were so difficult not because I used to bleed but because it became a mental tension. Looking at the dates because some family function was coming soon. Would I be able to attend it. Not because I was sick.
Hope Pad Man brings the much needed change. But before changing the mentality of others we girls need to stop taking it as an embarrassment. It is a natural phenomenon and cleanliness is everyone's right.  
   

Being Parent is Not About Being Totalitarian, Changing My Approach. Are You Going to Change?

I write blogs about career, training and development. I don't only write but also love to learn and then share what I learn by writing Blogs. However, today I learned the most important lesson of my life. My today's teacher is 5 years old girl and I am sharing it as that's the mistake we make frequently.

My 3 years and 8 months girl loves going to school. Everyday she comes at 1210 hrs as her school is five minutes drive from home. Today also my whimsy girl enthusiastically entered the gate. As everyday she narrated her entire 3 hours spent in school in ten minutes. As we were about to enter a very good friend of mine came along with her five years old daughter. Made them comfortable and I went to kitchen, while I was still there my daughter kept her bag at the place, opened her shoes, kept her socks in laundry bag. Then she took out her lunch box and placed it in the kitchen sink. She was doing it all right and my friend was observing her closely. I entered the room with glass of milk for children and coffee for us. As I sat my friend pointed out at her daughter, "Look she is only 3 and how responsible she is and you are five and still don't keep your shoes properly." Little girl did not know how to react, she choose to keep quiet but starred at my daughter and she was the cause of  this embarrassment of hers. I choose to change the topic.We were still talking when my friends daughter interrupted to tell what happened at her school. My friend told her to keep quiet and drink milk.
My daughter came and two girls planned to play with doll house. My daughter finished her milk and kept the cup at the kitchen.

My friends daughter was still drinking it and she took her glass and started playing with my daughter. Two girls became so involved with the doll house that by mistake milk got spill over the carpet. Before I could say anything my friend got up and slapped her and shouted at her, " Look how the little girl drank whole milk and you are so useless, you have spoiled whole carpet." and then she slapped her again. I interrupted, " Please don't hit her even I have two small kids at home and they keep spilling something or the other." We ate lunch and she left.
My daughter asked for water and little water got spilled out. My son who was standing next to us slapped my daughter pointing out at the spilled water. My son is two and half years old. My daughter's eyes were teary. I took my daughter and son in my arms. Still confused how to explain my two and half that hitting is not the solution.
As I am writing now my daughter is peacefully sleeping and son is sitting by her side turning the pages of his story book. I am feeling bad because thats what even I do sometimes. Even I am guilty of that one tight slap way of handling kids. Not only this I realized many things that as parents we want our kids to grow up our way. Sometimes killing their creativity.   
Comparison is the biggest mistake that we commit. Majority of us do it. We threaten our kids and sometimes fill their heart with fear too.
Today I have learned my lesson and I am definitely changing my approach. Though it might take sometime for me to change but I will change