Saturday, February 7, 2015

TCS TTT @ Periyar University, Salem

Hi Everyone,

I was at Periyar University, Salem last week for an ILP Train-the-Trainer program. It was an excellent time - loads of opportunities to observe, share and self-reflect. TCS BPS has had an excellent relationship with the University.

This time, to improve the readiness & reduce time to deployment of our new hires from colleges, ILP will be conducted at the campuses by select TCS certified professors/placement officers/faculty. This task took me to Salem in the second week of December to interview 38 professors. 21 were shortlisted for the TTT program and 16 attended the three-day Train the Trainer session.

The sessions focused on Leadership, Interpersonal communication, Mindfulness, Developmental Feedback & Value Messaging through small group discussions, theater, video-based feedback, opportunities to facilitate and also create content.

TTT pics

Thursday, May 1, 2014

If you cant get out of it, get into it

I was on a break from blogging here. Wasn't intentional, but just that I have been writing a lot more on our TCS portal.

(FYI: TCS today has about 3 lakh employees and one of the ways we keep connected to the large family is through a social networking portal called - Knome. This is a micro-blogging/blogging website with various communities & interest groups).

My role at TCS is to manage the L&D function for over 3K associates in the Banking domains, Chennai. The last year and half was spent in rejuvenating the function & making the L&D presence felt & Thank God we have been successful.

Lately, my thoughts have been focused at reviewing the way I process work & to see where I could do better. There are times when work seems more like firefighting. But, I desire & want to see a glorious future.

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A blurred vision is like shooting in the air - You fired your best shot but it hit nowhere.

And thus came vision FY15 - really simple yet profound statements to ensure my team & I focus on the Big picture.

Zig Ziglar says : You can not make it as a wandering generality, you must be a meaningful specific!

And the more my mind has asked me to pause/stop... I see myself getting into it deeper.

I finished my first TTL partnership call last week and in God I am so excited for what is to come. The future is exciting when God is in it!

The next few days & months I look forward to getting into this Vision more deeper than ever.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

The prayers that sustain us

The biggest blessing for any successful family are the people who pray in it.

I am blessed to be part of a praying family. Prayers of my parents and siblings have sustained me. Their passion and commitment to prayer bring hope.

Prayers have brought us together, kept us together. 

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Motivation (...when I badly needed it)

My journey to TCS is amazing. But better more is the journey in TCS.

The hours that go in each day is about 10-12 hours (in rare cases like yesterday it went 15 hours). But the beauty of the experience is I can sit back and say it is worth every bit.

Like yesterday, I had two amazing experiences.

First: I had an awesome time with our TEG (Talent Engagement Group)team at Spencers yesterday. All the TEG folks who entered my room (7th Floor HR Room) were welcome to two small activities yesterday. 

One - a game of Jenga and the other a rope (ribbon) activity.

If you haven't played Jenga - You Should.

What happened there is amazing. I heard laughter (high tones) like I have never heard before. Lot of engagement in the fun + learning activities. Lighter moments in the room and of course a pinch of dopamine (a neurotransmitter released in the brain when people are motivated or have a pat on the back).

Later in the night, I was in an Idea Factory session for my people from 7:30 - 11:30. Was amazing people connect and learner engagement. I left work at around 1:30am. Exhausted, drained and wanting sleep.

Wake up in the morning and here is a mail from one of my participants from yesterday:


'Thank you for this excellent session . I have never seen this type of session before. I really enjoyed this session and this was truly amazing. I  will  try to attend atleast 2 to 3 session of yours in the upcoming months.
I have never seen persons like you. First i thought attending this session was waste of time and once I attended, i realized the uses of this session. I will complete the WBT which you have mentioned below. Once again thank you so much for this superb session.'

I got my dose of dopamine for the morning!

Friday, June 28, 2013

Why the mix?

A soloist with a guitar shares the stage with a pianist, bassist and a drummer. The strumming of his guitar keeps his vocals in sync with the rhythm.

The other musicians know what to play and are extremely talented. Yet they don't overplay. The beauty of the song lies in the power of restraint.

Time and again when I see some awesome musicians/bands I tell myself that the beauty of the song lies in playing less and fitting into the mix.

The mix displays our unity without compromising our indivuduality. A band without a bass would seem like a car without tyres.

What is the mix?

In music it is about ensuring that the frequencies from each channel (the vocals and instruments) complement each other both in tone and volume. In life, it is about appreciating differences and finding how we should work together.

In the end, people want to buy the cd and listen to our song again and again because every instrument fits into each other.

Working with people? Bring beauty by exploring the mix.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

TTT for Consumer Banking Leadership team @ TCS

Last Wednesday I had the amazing opportunity to train six of our Leaders in a Train-the-Trainer workshop.

When this need was discussed three weeks ago, I suggested getting an external vendor or engaging our Leadership Development team to deliver the session. A week ago, I was informed that I will given the opportunity.

Ever since, my mind was racing. I was telling myself - Whoa! What am I going to say? What am I going to do? What questions might they have? How do I make their experience memorable?

Last Tuesday, I was tensed - not because of the topic... It is just that it was a 'senior' audience. And my first such kind of session at TCS. My role permits me to train upto a Band 6 (Senior Managers). But my audience was Band 7,8 & 9. Natural shivers. 

I was just praying for grace, for wisdom and the ability to connect. Interestingly, the passage of my devotion that day was this 'Pls. give us this day our daily bread'. Interestingly, it said that God gives us what we need on a 'daily' basis. Today's bread for today! He doesn't want us to worry for tomorrow but wants us to trust Him with today.


Last Tuesday I slept post 11:30pm, woke up Wednesday morning and grace abounded. Received inspiration on what to speak. Changed my slides... added a few more topics.

Guess what? The session on Wednesday turned amazing! I had a great time with our Leaders. At the end of the workshop they found it valuable and wanted more sessions.

I have found this pattern about life: Our equipping comes with surrender. Total Surrender to God! And believe me - It's a beauty to be led.

Pic source: crosscards.com

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

19th March 2012 - a page from my diary

19th March, 2012
Manchester Regent Guest House
Cognizant, Coimbatore

'Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.'

'When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.'

'In his heart a man plans his course but the Lord determines his steps.' (Proverbs 16:3,7,9)

The week Feb 12-17 was amazing. I have been low on finances and asked the Lord to feed me. And how awesome God is.

Every single day God fed me!

12th & 13th Feb - Advanced Presentation Skills at Ford Business Services, (Had complimentary Lunch)

14th & 15th Feb - Shepherding the Horse workshop (2 days of buffet lunch @ Rs.50)

16th & 17th Feb - Phillips ROI workshop (5 Star Buffet lunch at Chancery Pavillion, Bangalore)

Isaiah 55:1 says: Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost.

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19th March, 2013

Yesterday, while I woke up I just felt like going to my diary and saw this page. Had to share it.
However small your needs - God cares!

Click here for a year ago in time