Loud Thinking

Archive for March, 2014

Boost Employee Engagement (and Make Customers Happy)

Companies with energized, motivated employees make an extra effort to create a superior experience for customers, who in turn reward the company with intense loyalty and contributions to its profit growth. This begins with leaders creating a culture that caters to happier, more engaged employees. First, give daily supervisors, not HR, the responsibility of stirring employee enthusiasm, energy, and creativity. Second, do regular “pulse checks” by conducting short, anonymous online surveys to truly understand team dynamics and see what can be improved. Finally, open up the dialogue between supervisor and front-line employee. Tap into the knowledge of your call center representatives, sales specialists, field technicians, etc., who know which aspects of the business most annoy or delight your customers – and let them know you’re really listening.

Adapted by HBR from “The Four Secrets to Employee Engagement” by Rob Markey.

MS Dhoni and 4 other Indian cricketers are paid employees of India Cements owned by N Srinivasan

NEW DELHI: Senior advocate Harish Salve on Thursday accused MS Dhoni, captain of both the Indian cricket team and the Chennai Super Kings IPL team, of lying about the role of Gurunath Meiyappan, son-in-law of N Srinivasan, to the Supreme Court-appointed committee probing allegations of betting and spot-fixing in IPL.

Appearing for Cricket Association of Bihar, Salve told a bench of Justices A K Patnaik and FMI Kalifulla that Dhoni, who is also a vice-president in India Cements (which owns CSK), had — along with Srinivasan — told the Mudgal probe committee that Meiyappan “had nothing to do with the cricketing affairs of CSK and was a mere cricket enthusiast supporting CSK”.

In its report, the probe panel stated, “Though the de-jure ownership (of CSK) vests with India Cements, the committee finds that Meiyappan was in fact acting as a team official if not the de-facto owner of CSK”. It added that he had access to sensitive information, including team strategy. The panel had found him guilty of betting but had said further probe was necessary to establish whether there was truth in the spot-fixing allegations against him and others.

Salve drew from the panel’s critical comments relating to Meiyappan to slam Dhoni’s conduct. He said, “MS Dhoni is a vice-president of India Cements and captain of CSK. Look at his statement! You are also the captain of Indian cricket team and you are making a wrong statement supporting Srinivasan’s stand before the inquiry panel that Meiyappan was a mere cricket enthusiast.

“Captain of Indian team is found guilty of corrupt conduct. He and Srinivasan were found making false statements before the apex court committee. This shows both Dhoni and Srinivasan indulged in a cover-up operation. That by itself is a corrupt conduct. For this, the CSK franchise should be terminated. But BCCI lets them off the hook with a mere reprimand. That is because Srinivasan comes to BCCI wearing a different hat, that of the board president.

“This shows the malady runs deep. The conflict of interest runs deep. L Sivaramakrishnan, R Ashwin, M Vijay and Ravindra Jadeja are all employees of India Cements. And here is Meiyappan having access to crucial team information and putting huge bets through punter Vindoo Dara Singh.”

Salve said Srinivasan’s seamless transition between India Cements chairperson and BCCI president must be taken to be at the core of the maladies haunting IPL and requested the court to hand over further investigation to an outside agency as BCCI could no longer be trusted with the probe.

“To unravel the entire facts behind the scandal, the probe needs to be handed over to CBI which must interrogate Meiyappan in custody. Only then will everything come out,” he said, adding India Cements was “directly responsible for Meiyappan’s conduct as it sought accreditation for him as official of CSK”.

Salve said Srinivasan wears one hat and tells the SC panel that Meiyappan was a mere cricket enthusiast and then replaces the India Cements hat with the BCCI one to let off CSK with a reprimand. This made the court remark that “Srinivasan is a multi-faceted personality, an all-rounder”.

When Salve said the truth had an uncanny habit of popping out, the bench said, “We all believe in ‘Satyameva Jayate’ (truth alone prevails). Truth may be suppressed for sometime, but ultimately it comes out and prevails.”

ICC…keep looking the other way, in the corruption, betting, match fixing and spot fixing scandals in the IPL..!

Now the Indian Supreme Court and ICC’s anti corruption unit must dig deep to check whether or not the ECB and CA chiefs had any business links with N Srinivasan, MD and Owner of India cements ?

Perjury by MS Dhoni (VP India Cements) captain of Indian cricket and the CSK teams…!

A news item of NDTV…

IPL scandal: Mahendra Singh Dhoni lied to inquiry panel, petitioner tells Supreme Court

Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s name came up in the Supreme Court on Thursday during a hearing on the Indian Premier League betting and spot-fixing scandal.

Counsel for the petitioner (Aditya Verma of Cricket Association of Bihar), Harish Salve, alleged that Dhoni is “guilty of corrupt conduct.” He accused the India skipper of making a false statement before an inquiry committee appointed by the Supreme Court. The BCCI’s lawyers did not respond in court. They also refused NDTV’s request for a comment. (Also read: Supreme wants Gavaskar to be BCCI president)

Salve argued that Dhoni had told the Justice Mukul Mudgal committee that BCCI president N Srinivasan’s son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyappan, was a “mere enthusiast” when in fact, he was an official of the Chennai Super Kings IPL team. (Read: Gavaskar ready for any challenge)

Dhoni has led the Chennai Super Kings or CSK in all six seasons of the IPL; the team is owned by Mr Srinivasan’s company, India Cements. Meiyappan has been accused of betting and sharing team information and was indicted by the Justice Mudgal committee in its report submitted to the Supreme Court on February 10. (Suggested read: People have lost faith in IPL, says Lalit Modi)

Dhoni is also employed by India Cements as a vice-president. Srinivasan is the Managing Director of India Cements, which also owns CSK. Dhoni thus faces charges of “conflict of interest.” (Srinivasan will step aside, BCCI’s offer to Supreme Court)

The Supreme Court proposed on Thursday that CSK and Rajasthan Royals should not play the seventh season of the IPL beginning in the United Arab Emirates on April 16, since there is an investigation on. It has also suggested that no employee of India Cements must be on the board of the BCCI. Sundar Raman, the man who runs the IPL, is also employed by India Cements.

In Dhaka on Thursday, Dhoni skipped a pre-match press conference ahead of India’s ICC World Twenty20 match with Bangladesh on Friday. The BCCI also cancelled an IPL launch press conference in Abu Dhabi. (Related: ‘Ganguly best person to become BCCI president’)

“People are attracted to you by what they see in you; they remain attracted to you by what you see in yourself.”

— Mark Amend

Kindness is to act friendly, generous and considerate to others.

“Neither fire, nor moisture, nor wind can destroy the blessing of a good deed, and it will reform the world. ”

Buddha

Consider the Goal Before Giving a Presentation

We rarely think about whether presentations are the best way to express our ideas; we just blindly create and deliver them. But sometimes, a conversation is much more appropriate and effective. How do you know when that’s the case? Ask yourself what needs to be accomplished in the time you have with the group. Do you need to simultaneously inform, entertain, and persuade your audience to adopt a line of thinking or to take action? Or do you need to gather more information, have a discussion, and drive the group toward consensus on a goal? Generally, if your idea would be best served by more interaction with your audience, you should probably encourage discussion rather than deliver a presentation.

Adapted from “A Presentation Isn’t Always the Right Way to Communicate” by Nancy Duarte.

No body gets out of this world alive…

How to live your life and age gracefully..?

Many people feel unhappy, health wise and security wise after 60 years of age owing to the diminishing importance given to them and their opinions. But, it need not be so if only we understand the basic principles of life and follow them scrupulously.

Here are ten mantras to age gracefully, make life after retirement pleasant, enjoy and treasure the elder years of wisdom and intelligence at its best.

1. Never say ‘I am aged’: There are three ages, chronological, biological, and psychological.
The first is calculated based on our date of birth; the second is determined by the health conditions and the third is how old you feel you are. While we don’t have control over the first, we can take care of our health with good diet, exercise and a cheerful attitude. A positive attitude and optimistic thinking can reverse the third age.

2. Health is wealth:

If you really love your kids and kin, taking care of yourself and your
health should be your priority. Thus, you will not be a burden to them. Have an annual health check-up and take the prescribed medicines regularly. Take out a health care insurance coverage.

3. Money is important:

Money is essential for meeting the basic necessities of life, keeping good health and earning family respect and security. Don’t spend beyond your means even for your children. You have lived for them through out and it is time you enjoyed a harmonious life with your spouse. If your children are grateful they should take care of you. But never take it for granted.

4. Relaxation and recreation:
The most relaxing and recreating forces are healthy and religious attitudes, good sleep, music and laughter. Have faith in God, learn to sleep well, love good music, and see the fun side of life.

5. Time is precious:
It is almost like holding a horse’s reins. When they are in your hands, you can control them. Imagine that every day you are born again. Yesterday is a paid cheque. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is ready cash — use it profitably. Live this moment.

6. Change is the only permanent thing:

We should accept change — it is inevitable. The only way to make sense out of change is to join the dance. Change has brought about many pleasant things. We should be happy that our children are blessed.

7. Enlightened selfishness:
All of us are basically selfish. Whatever we do, we expect something in return. We should definitely be grateful to those who stood by us. But, our focus should be on the internal satisfaction and happiness we derive by doing good to others, without expecting anything in return.

8. Forget and forgive:
Don’t be bothered too much about others’ mistakes. We are not spiritual enough to show our other cheek when we are slapped on one cheek. But, for the sake of our own health and happiness, let us forgive and forget them. Otherwise, we will only be increasing our BP.

9. Everything has a reason; a purpose: Take life as it comes. Accept yourself as you are and also accept others for what they are. Everybody is unique and right in their own ways.

10. Overcome the fear of death:
We all know that one day we have to leave this world. Still we are afraid of death. We think that our spouse and children will be unable to withstand our loss. But, the truth is that no one is going to die for you; they may be depressed for some time. Time heals everything and they will carry on.

NOBODY GETS OUT OF THIS WORLD ALIVE!

Keep Well, Keep Smiling………….

“Instead of living your life on the edge of desperation and numbness, live your life in the center of inspiration and aliveness.

My letter published today by the daily “The Frontier Post”.

Street child football WC

Posted on 2014-03-27 05:35:36

If Brazil can hold street child foot ball World Cup, why can’t any Pakistani organisation go a step forward and hold a “Street Child Tape Ball Cricket World Cup?” for which we don’t need any approval from ICC or any other such body.

Believe me, if we can hold this innovative World Cup not only it will be a smashing success but the whole world will come to know about the soft image of Pakistan, as well; and Pakistan will emerge as a world sports power on the map of the Earth.

If we can hold different provincial sports and cultural festivals, by spending billions and billions of Rupees, what is the harm in spending a few billion Rupees, for marketing brand “Pakistan”?

One never knows this tape ball cricket may soon get such a large world following that it becomes an Olympic recognised sport, even before the T20 cricket, for which ICC is struggling for many decades.

Come on Pakistan….together we can do it..!

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad
Lahore