Delving Deeper

A fellow member of NIPM Kerala Chapter (www.nipmkerala.org) texted me to seek my views on how the profile of a new age HR professional would look like. That set me thinking and also got some material for this blog :-) So here's my take about the context for this whole piece: 1. Role of Data in driving / supporting people decisions have been taking centre stage in the new millennium  - this has given a new meaning to Analytical skills. 2. Understanding of neo Media – As Communication skills is an important need for any HR person, understanding of the current tools / ways by which employees seek and consume information is a prerequisite. Hence making solutions using Social media,  Real time IM tools like Whatsapp/Snapchat 3. Employee Engagement – With GenY employees being major focus for engagement activities, there is a need to revisit the age old practices (annual picnic / events being an example) and come up with tailor made, frequent and more connected activities which end up b

On May 9th 2015 my birding partner Premchand and I drove to Thattekad Bird Sanctuary. We were excited to be taking part in the first ever Global Big Day - an attempt by Citizen Science enthusiasts led by Cornel Lab's Team Ebird to list an audacious 5000 species of birds from across the world on a single day. We met our good friend and bird guide Rejeev at the usual spot near the bird sanctuary gate and proceeded towards Urulanthanni sector of the bird Sanctuary. This was my third visit to Thattekad after the birding bug bit me about couple of years back while on a wildlife photography workshop with ILCP Fellow and Conservation photographer Mr. Balan Madhavan. Thattekad is a special habitat, an evergreen forest which is surrounded by Human inhabited areas and also home to about 14 species which are endemic to Western Ghats. You can find the full list here . Here are some of the birds we saw and could take a pic without disturbing the subjects.  Sri Lanka Frogmouth Brown

I have been associated with NIPM Kerala Chapter from early 2008 - about a few months after I took up the role as first employee in India (Yeah, prouder to be an HR guy) for Arbitron Inc's (now Nielsen Audio and part of Nielsen , the Leading Market Research company. The current Chairman of the chapter Mr. Thomas Kadavan was one of the Seniors who had invited me to the think-tank then and I've thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity.  The activities which I got exposed at the chapter which was being ranked consistently among the top chapters of the National body of HR professionals was beyond the realm of stuff which I could have explored in my full time day job. Yes, that meant that I had to 'find time' / volunteer my time (post office hours and mostly wknds when it's not my personal day off / PDO's from work. So what made me keep up this interest ? Looking back, I feel the opportunity this gave to remain connected with Labour Laws and it's ramifications from

June 2012 was my first look at the SHRM National conferene. I've been very lucky to have the schedule coincide (with a lil bit of effort ofcourse) with the re-initiation of sorts of my annual trip to my then employer parent company. I had blogged about that  experience at #shrm12 from Atlanta here... I missed attending #shrm13 as my Dad was not keeping well that May-June and that made me miss my annual trip to US of A as well. The next year, I was lucky again as I got another need to be in US, inside a tumultuous time for myself and the company. I thought I was lucky as I did not have to take up steps explained in this article :-) seeking permission... Wonder if I'd ever get myself to do such a thing at work for any particular conference. So come #shrm15 and I'm in a very different situation - I'm now part of a energetic and committed team at SS Consulting whose founder who happens to be a Rocket Scientist (no kidding...) has taken it upon himself to see that IT S