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Are you an Obsessed Leader?

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Obsessed leadership is a style of leadership in which a leader is too focused on a single goal, idea, or outcome, often at the expense of other important aspects of leadership and the effectiveness of the business as a whole. Passion and hard work are good qualities for a leader to have, but an obsession can lead to a number of problems:

Tunnel vision: Leaders who are too obsessed on one goal may lose sight of the bigger picture and fail to look at other points of view or plans.

Lack of Adaptability: When leaders are fixated on a certain result, they may not be able to adapt to new circumstances or feedback, which can make it harder for the organization to deal with problems.

Stress and overworking: Leaders who are too obsessed on one thing may work themselves and their teams to exhaustion, which can lead to stress and less work over time.

Neglecting Team Development: Leaders who are too obsessed on their own success or goals might forget about the growth and development of their team members, which could hold them back from reaching their full potential.

Unable to Maintain Relationships: Relationships can get tense because obsessive behavior can make people focus on one goal instead of the wants and contributions of others, which can make it hard for people to get along.

Me Syndrome: A Leader who is too focused on himself or herself often has “Me Syndrome,” which means that he or she is more concerned with his or her own wants, interests, and goals than with the team’s or organization’s well-being as a whole. In these situations, the leader’s actions and decisions may mainly serve their own goals or agendas, rather than thinking about how they will affect the team, stakeholders, or the long-term success of the company as a whole.

Blame Other: A Leader who is too focused on himself or herself might be quick to say, “It’s your fault.” This is because they are very focused on reaching their goals or seeing their vision come to life, and they may not want to take credit for any setbacks or failures. Instead of taking responsibility for what they did, they may put the blame on other team members, employees, or outside forces.

Micro Management: Micromanagement is more likely to happen when a leader is very focused on something. When a leader watches too closely and too often over every part of their team’s work, this is called micromanagement. It often shows that the leader doesn’t trust their team members’ skills. Obsessed leaders want to be in charge and may feel like they need to be involved in every part of their team’s projects and tasks.

Threatening: A leader who is too focused on himself or herself can be dangerous to his or her team members by making threats like letting them go or firing them from their jobs. When a leader is too focused on one goal or result, they may do anything to reach it, even if it means putting the health and safety of their team members at risk.

Effective leadership requires a mix between passion and reason, with a focus on achieving goals while also thinking about the team’s and organization’s well-being as a whole. Leaders should be aware of the risks of getting too obsessed and try to lead in a way that is healthy and well-rounded.

Author

K M Hasan Ripon, Executive Director, BSDI

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Why you need new skills and continuous learning to advance in your Job!

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The fast-changing job market of today makes it easy to move up in your field. A degree or set of skills that would promise a job for life. To be successful in your job today, you need to keep learning. This blog talks about how learning new things can help your job.

In a workplace where things change quickly, you need to keep learning to stay useful. Professionals have to keep updating their skills to keep up with technology, business trends, and client needs. You can show companies how valuable you are by keeping up with changes in the business.

Upgrading Professional Competence:

Your professional competence will go up as you learn new skills and improve the ones you already have. Employers look for learners because they want to improve. Your understanding, ability to solve problems, and ability to deal with hard situations all get better when you keep learning.

Example: Nahida, a professional in marketing. In the digital age, she understood that her traditional marketing skills were becoming less useful. Amena didn’t want to ruin her career, so she took online classes on digital marketing, data analytics, and social media trends. Because of this, Amena’s marketing efforts became more data-driven, targeted, and successful, which impressed her employers and she got promotion with salary increment for her Measurable outcomes.

Opening up new opportunities:

Learning helps you get ahead in your current job and prepares you for new opportunities in the future. If you keep learning, you’ll be ready for new chances, such as promotions, moves within the same department, and career changes. A growth mindset lets you see more and try new jobs.

Example: Nishat, who worked as a software developer, knew how important it was to keep up with new technologies. He attended tech conferences, took computer boot camps, and worked every day on open-source projects. He got a great job at a cutting-edge technology company because he worked hard and kept learning. This gave him new opportunities to advance in his work and think of new ideas.

Getting more flexible and strong:

Learning new things all the time makes you more adaptable and strong, which are important skills in a fast-paced workplace. Learning new technology and responding quickly to changes in business gives you an edge over your competitors. A willingness to learn gives you the confidence to deal with uncertainty.

Example: As a project manager, Kamal Khan had to deal with the fact that the market was always changing. To do well in this fast-paced place, he was always willing to learn something new. Kamal was able to improve his ability to adapt quickly, solve problems quickly, and lead his team through hard times by taking leadership classes.

Leadership skills:

Learning helps both skills and leadership. As you learn, you can teach your coworkers, help less experienced team members, and lead. A team member who helps others learn is a valuable asset.

Example: Emily, who works in human resources, knew that getting better at being a leader would help her make a big difference. She went to seminars on leadership, helped younger team members as a mentor, and started knowledge-sharing sessions at her business. Emily’s positive attitude not only helped her become a better leader, but also helped her team grow and work together.

Build a growth network.

A common way to keep learning is to meet new people and join workshops, seminars, or online courses. Meeting other workers in your field is a great way to make new connections and learn new things. A good professional network can help, give advice, and maybe even work together.

Example: Rebel, who was in charge of sales, knew how important networking was to his job. He went to many events in his field, talked to potential clients, and joined online sales groups. Not only did his networking keep him up to date on the latest market trends, but it also led to relationships that helped him grow his business.

In a job market that is always changing, it’s important to keep learning throughout your work. Learning new things keeps you ahead of the game and opens doors. You can take charge of your job by developing your leadership and professional skills through continuous learning. Always keep in mind that learning new things is an investment in yourself and your future. So start, try new things, and watch your job grow as you learn.

 

Author

K M Hasan Ripon

Executive Director, Bangladesh Skill Development Institute (BSDI)

Email: [email protected]

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How to find your first job after graduation from University/Polytechnic.

by with 2 Comments English Blog

To find a job that matches one’s talents, qualifications, and career aspirations, one must actively search for and apply for jobs. It’s an important part of a career and can be difficult and rewarding. To improve your chances of finding work, follow these suggestions:

Customize/Edit your CV or resume:

In your CV or resume, be sure to highlight any related projects or extracurricular activities. The projects you worked on during your time as a student. As well as your education, internships, and skills that are important to the job.

Video Resume:

Video resumes let job seekers show off their creativity, charm, and communication skills. It shows off both hard skills and soft skills, giving hiring managers a full picture of how well the candidate fits into the business mindset. Video resumes are especially helpful in the media, arts, and marketing industries because they let people show off their experience and give employers a chance to see how they present themselves, how confident they are, and what their skills are.

Use your college’s career services to their fullest.

Many schools and universities offer career services that can help you find a job, write a resume, prepare for an interview, and network with people who might hire you. If you need help, go to the career center on your college.

 

 

Maintain Your Network:

One way to network is to use your personal and business networks. Tell your friends, family, professors, and coworkers that you are looking for work. Sometimes, suggestions from people you know can put you in a better position.

Online job platforms:

Set up accounts on well-known job-search websites and social media sites for workers, such as LinkedIn. Look for and apply for appropriate entry-level jobs on a regular basis.

Apply Volunteering Experience:

Volunteering and jobs are both great ways to meet new people and get experience in the real world. From time to time, an internship can lead to a full-time job offer.

Increase Your Visibility:

You can talk to recruiters and hiring managers in person at job fairs and networking events, whether they are in person or online.

Company Research:

Do study on companies to find ones that share your professional goals and interests. Do a thorough search on these companies, find out what it’s like to work there, and then use their websites to directly apply for any open jobs.

Create Custom Applications:

For each job you apply for, make a cover letter and application that are tailored to that job and show how your experience and qualifications match the needs of the role.

Develop Interview Skills:

Prepare for interviews by looking at sample answers to common interview questions, making a list of stories from your own life, and practicing talking smoothly about your skills and achievements.

Accept Rejection:

When looking for a job, it’s normal to get turned down, so it’s important to keep trying and stay positive. Be determined and positive while you’re looking for a job.

Skill Development:

If you have some time between graduating and getting a job, you might want to take online classes or get certifications to improve your skills and make your resume more appealing to employers.

Personal Projects and Portfolios:

If it’s acceptable in your field, you might want to put together personal projects or showcases that show off your skills and creativity. This can be very helpful for artistic fields like design, writing, and coding.

Don’t hesitate for Personal Branding:

Personal branding can be done well with tools like LinkedIn, Twitter, and business blogs. A strong personal brand can help build trust and credibility in a field. Employers look at candidates’ social media profiles to see how they act online and how professional they are. To show their experience, knowledge, and interest, candidates share consistent and smart content on their profiles. Personal branding can lead to meeting new people, working with others, and getting job offers. Social media also helps candidates connect with leaders in their field and possible companies. This helps them build their professional networks and opens up new opportunities.

 

Just remember that getting your first job can take some time. Be flexible and keep changing your plans when you get feedback. Even after you finish, you still need to be proactive, keep learning, and make connections if you want to increase your chances of getting the perfect job. Best wishes!

 



Author:

K M Hasan Ripon, Executive Director

Bangladesh Skill Development Institute (BSDI)

Email: [email protected]

Customer Service

Eight customer service blunders that businesses should avoid

by with No Comment English Blog

Ignoring the priority of customers
Your staff should put the requirements of the customers and assisting them in achieving their objectives first. But occasionally, customer success managers (CSMs) put corporate development ahead of customer success, which is a common error in customer experience. While driving clients along the sales funnel may be advantageous for your business, it doesn’t encourage customer success and might turn customers off. It’s critical to show your consumers that you actually care about them and how your product or service may help them accomplish their goals in order to avoid making this error.

Example of MoviePass.
Customers of MoviePass, a subscription-based company, may see one film every day for just $10 per month. However, the firm discontinued its service and is unsure of its future when the Better Business Bureau received more than 1,500 complaints. One of the complaints that went viral was from a San Francisco client who had their account abruptly and without warning canceled. She subsequently found out that watching a “premium movie” violated the rules and conditions, resulting in the termination of her membership. This illustration shows how MoviePass put its own success above the comprehension of its customers and could have averted misunderstanding by being transparent about its policies from the beginning.

Not A CSM Leader Who Is Committed
An effective customer experience strategy requires strong CSM leadership. These team captains control team output and give CSMs the resources they need to help clients. It’s critical to choose the right leader for your company if you want it to expand.

American Airlines, for instance. When a traveler boarded an American Airlines aircraft, a flight attendant requested him or her to get off because the cello was thought to be “too big.” Due to a miscommunication, airport police later encircled the passenger. When it was eventually discovered that the airline’s regulations authorized the instrument, it was determined that the customer should have been able to board the original aircraft. This episode highlights how crucial it is to have a committed CSM leader who is knowledgeable about all processes, regulations, and rules and who can serve as a quick source of information when conflicts arise.

Lacking proactively serving customers
Together, customer success and support can deliver the finest experiences. They are essentially different, though. While customer success is proactive, looking to foresee and fix issues before they arise, customer support is reactive, responding to questions with responses. A solid customer success strategy is built on being proactive. Customers will feel appreciated if they receive regular communication, use conversational marketing techniques, and receive assistance along the way.

Example: An incident involving a phony Facebook account made by a user impersonating Target Target’s customer support team occurred. This impersonator made fun of clients who had issues with the business’s new gender-neutral signage. Target should have taken preventative action by designating customer service representatives to keep an eye on social media platforms and foresee what customers could say. They might not have been able to stop the bogus account from being made, but they could have been able to lessen the effects of the scenario with early discovery.

Over engaging Your Clientele
Even though interaction with clients is essential, going overboard with it can backfire and be more annoying than useful. Over-engagement frequently results from uncertainty, and CSMs attempt to get in touch with clients who are silent to make sure they aren’t experiencing any problems. To the detriment of other clients who might actually need assistance, this might result in time wastage. In order to avoid upsetting consumers or wasting agents’ time, finding the ideal engagement balance is crucial.

Comcast, for instance, In order to satisfy a customer’s demands, even account cancellation may be necessary. When a client wanted to discontinue their account, a Comcast agent tried to talk them out of it rather than help them with the cancellation procedure. This mistaken dedication to maintaining client engagement led to a bad experience and drew unfavorable media attention.

Setting ambiguous expectations
Customers will doubt your credibility if you make promises that are unattainable or impractical to fulfill. When you miss a deadline, it decreases trust in your capacity to produce on time. Customers can measure you by a standard that you set by having clear and attainable expectations. Customers will assume you either forgot about them or didn’t appreciate their demands if you offer something and then fail to fulfill. Customers should be quickly informed whenever you are unable to achieve a deadline or expectation in order to minimize this.

Company as in Amazon Unintentionally, a consumer on Amazon spent $88 on an item that really cost $7,455 to delivery. The order was not refunded by Amazon because it was delivered on time, despite several complaints and calling customer support. Before Amazon agreed to compensate the consumer, it took two and a half months and media coverage. Regardless matter how long a customer has been a client of your company, this occurrence emphasizes the value of continually offering excellent customer service.

Building silos for customer success
Silos in customer success develop when teams and departments don’t communicate goals and information, which impedes the delivery of seamless customer experiences. You cannot integrate customer data to understand how consumers benefit from your product, for instance, if sales, marketing, and customer success don’t communicate with one another. For the purpose of achieving corporate objectives and providing superior customer experiences, silo-busting through cross-functional collaboration is essential.

Company Illustration: Spectrum An internet-setup maintenance visit was scheduled by a Spectrum client. When the repair worker didn’t arrive, she called support, who informed her that the worker was on the way. When they couldn’t enter the building, the employee eventually departed. The next appointment was in 15 days, and she would still be charged, the consumer was informed when she phoned assistance once again. She terminated her subscription out of frustration and changed to a rival. This might have been avoided by coordinating the maintenance and customer care teams.

Generalizing specific client outcomes:
Customer experiences that are general undercut customization and fall short of satisfying their unique demands. client success depends heavily on treating each client result differently depending on their own goals and preferences. To provide individualized advise and quicker replies, make sure your staff has appropriate knowledge of each customer. You may also define customized KPIs in your CRM.

Samsung is one such business. client care was contacted by a Samsung client who needed to be home to sign for a parcel but couldn’t afford to leave work. Instead of rigorously sticking to business policy, the customer support agent ought to have taken the matter up with a management to discuss possible exceptions. Negative feedback on Reddit resulted from not meeting the customer’s demands.

Approaching consumers that Are a Bad match:

It is pointless to put time and effort into forming connections with consumers that are a bad match. Early detection and withdrawal from prospects who are a poor fit are crucial. To spot bad-fit prospects and stop them from becoming expensive clients, work closely with the sales and marketing departments.

Propose is a company example. The CEO of Proposify made the decision to “fire” a client who had a history of complaining about the program and making unreasonable requests. The CEO wrote a thorough email in which he admitted fault, apologized, offered a refund, and even provided alternatives from other companies. By taking this action, you won a devoted supporter who saw your commitment to the interests of the consumer.

Adopting a new customer success strategy takes work, but prioritizing customers, being proactive, keeping your word, dissolving silos, and investing in leadership are essential first steps.

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The Consequences of Four Notable Software Failure Cases

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A computer and internet connectivity are all you need to build wonderful things, which is the beauty of software development.

Education, money, healthcare, communication, and other sides of our existence all show the importance of software. Software systems have a major flaw, even if they are good at computing vast and complicated data sets: they are made by people. We all commit errors as humans; there are plenty of them. Since faults and failures are inevitable in any software system, this is to be expected.

Our economy now depends on software systems so heavily that every failure of these systems has an impact on the economy. 3.6 billion individuals were impacted by software failure in 2017 and suffered financial losses of $1.7 trillion, according to a study conducted by the software testing company Tricentis [1].

In this essay, We will see instances of software failure and its ramifications to give you an understanding of the potential repercussions that may happen as a result.

St. Mary’s Mercy Hospital is the first case.

Picture receiving a letter from your hospital informing you that you passed away one morning when you checked your mailbox. The 8500 patients who received treatment at St. Mary’s Mercy Hospital between October 25 and December 11 experienced just that. How did it go?

Apparently, the hospital had just improved its patient-management software. Nevertheless, a mapping mistake in the program caused the system to issue a number of 20 (which signifies “expired”) instead of 01, which indicated the patient had been discharged. But it doesn’t stop there. Incorrect information was given to insurance providers, the neighborhood Social Security office, and patients as well. How [2] is done is unclear.

 

National Health Service, the second instance

Neither not taking your medications at all nor taking the incorrect drug is better, in my opinion. It doesn’t matter which way you look at it, a software flaw caused at least 300,000 cardiac patients to receive the incorrect medication or advice. What then occurred?

SystmOne, a clinical computer program, was found to have a flaw in 2016 that had been causing it to calculate patients’ risk of heart attacks incorrectly since 2009 (see also: 2016). Due to the fact that many patients were assured they were at minimal risk, many experienced heart attacks or strokes, while others experienced unwanted side effects from taking medicine that wasn’t necessary [3].

 

Third instance: LAX airport air traffic control

The crucial duty of alerting pilots of aircraft of the pertinent information on weather, routes, the distance between other aircraft, and other matters falls to air traffic control. It might be disastrous if you don’t get in touch with the pilots of your aircraft right away.

Air traffic control at the Los Angeles airport lost vocal connection with 400 or more aircraft on September 14, 2004, at about 5 PM, when many of the aircraft were en route to one another in the southwest of the United States. How did it go? Unexpectedly, the principal voice communication system was turned off. A few minutes after it was switched on, the backup system also failed, which was the cherry on top.

The communication system’s internal millisecond timer, which runs continuously, was the root of the issue. It would shut off once it hit zero since it was unable to clock itself. Over 800 aircraft were impacted nationwide by the outage [4].

 

4th instance: Toyota

Many Toyota owners complained that towards the middle of the 2000s, their cars would accelerate without them having to press the accelerator. Investigators learned that software problems were to blame for the unexpected acceleration following a string of incidents that prompted inquiries.

In this instance, the software in Toyota automobiles had a number of flaws, including memory corruption, improper memory handling, the disabling of safety features, single point of failure systems, and hundreds of global variables. Millions of Toyota automobiles were recalled, and a month after the root of the issue was found, the stock price of Toyota dropped by 20%.

In this instance, the need to release the product quickly shows the costs of not paying enough attention to testing and sound programming techniques.

 

Conclusion

Various instances of software failure and their effects were investigated in this article. These incidents show how dependent our society is on software and how when it malfunctions, there may be ramifications beyond just the financial ones.

Software systems will include flaws and be vulnerable to failure as long as people are involved in the development process. As programmers, it is our duty to make sure that the systems we created have undergone extensive testing in a variety of accurate and realistic circumstances. In order to make sure that the program we are advertising may truly benefit its users rather than hurt them, this is necessary.

A lot of times, introducing an unproven and incomplete product is driven by competition and the desire to be the first to market. As software users, it is our duty to use the tools we employ to assist our actions rather than slavishly following whatever advice or outcomes they may provide.

 

References

[1] https://www.techrepublic.com/article/report-software-failure-caused-1-7-trillion-in-financial-losses-in-2017/
[2] http://www.baselinemag.com/c/a/Projects-Networks-and-Storage/Hospital-Revives-Its-QTEDeadQTE-Patients
[3] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3585149/Up-300-000-heart-patients-given-wrong-drugs-advice-major-NHS-blunder.html
[4] http://www.cse.psu.edu/~gxt29/bug/softwarebug.html

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The Story of the Failure of a Software Company

by with No Comment English Blog

There once existed a software business called InnovateTech. It all started with a group of enthusiastic and gifted people who had a goal to develop ground-breaking software solutions. They set out with high expectations and lofty objectives, but they ran across a number of obstacles along the way that finally brought about their demise.

InnovateTech first concentrated on creating a ground-breaking product that they thought would revolutionize the market. They put a lot of effort and money into research and development, striving for excellence. They concentrated all of their efforts on developing the ideal product, but they overlooked other vital facets of managing a prosperous software company.

Challenge 1: Insufficient market research and comprehension

InnovateTech didn’t carry out adequate market research or comprehend the requirements and preferences of their intended market. They believed that their novel solution would instantly draw clients, but they soon discovered that their offering did not meet the needs of the market. Low consumer uptake and little market penetration were the results of this lack of market understanding.

Challenge 2: Poor project management and communication

The business has issues with team communication and project management. Due to ineffective coordination and weak processes, deadlines were missed and deliverables were behind schedule. Collaboration was hampered by unclear communication routes, which left team members perplexed and frustrated. Their software’s quality worsened as a result, which caused unhappy customers and unfavorable evaluations.

Challenge 3: Poor client relationship management

InnovateTech failed to build trusting client connections and manage client expectations successfully. They struggled to comprehend and meet the needs of their clients because they lacked a focused client management approach. As a result, they had trouble keeping clients happy and obtaining long-term contracts, which hurt their reputation and revenue.

Challenge 4: Lack of Innovation and Adaptability

InnovateTech failed to adapt to changing market conditions and new technological developments. Due to their complacency with their current offering, they neglected to make necessary improvements in order to stay competitive. They lost market share and customers due to their incapacity to develop and provide new features or solutions.

Outcome and Lessons Learned:

Despite having a strong staff and an original idea, InnovateTech failed for a number of reasons.

  • Ignoring market research and consumer knowledge may result in the creation of items that don’t satisfy client needs.
  • Poor project management and communication can cause internal chaos, missed deadlines, and subpar products.
  • Poor client relationship management can result in unhappy clients, lower retention rates, and a detrimental effect on sales.
  • In a market that is evolving quickly, failing to innovate and adapt might result in obsolescence and a loss of market share.

Software firms may learn a lesson from the narrative of InnovateTech. It focuses on how crucial it is to perform market research, set up efficient project management and communication procedures, give client relationship management first priority, and promote an innovative and adaptable culture. Software firms may aim for success and steer clear of the traps that could cause failure by taking note of these lessons.

 

Author: K M Hasan Ripon, Executive Director, BSDI

Getting old is not a problem (8)

How Bangladesh Made ‘Practice Makes Perfect’ its National Motto

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K M Hasan Ripon, a well-known skill activist and changemaker, launched a campaign in 2019 with a tagline that has now become well-known in Bangladesh. The campaign’s motivation was the tagline “Practice Makes Perfect,” which connected with individuals from every phase of life. The motto in Bengali was “অনুশীলনে সবই সম্ভব” which translates to “Practice Makes Perfect” in English.

Mr. Ripon traveled to more than 50 districts in Bangladesh, 7 countries across the globe, and over 136 institutions, including public and private universities, polytechnics, general colleges, youth groups, and corporations, throughout the campaign. This allowed him to interact with approximately 62,000 individuals directly and indirectly, reaching about 28 million people via social media networks.

 

 

Non-resident Bangladeshis who work in various locations across the world also backed the campaign and slogan, broadening its reach and influence. Mr. Ripon is often asked to use the phrase “অনুশীলনে সবই সম্ভব” with the audience in his unique way whenever he travels for a seminar, workshop, or public speaking event.

The goal of this campaign was to promote positive feelings in individuals and spread confidence across the nation. Mr. Ripon’s tagline, “Practice Makes Perfect,” requests individuals to work hard and always better one another, creating a can-do attitude and an ambition for excellence. The campaign’s influence may be observed in people’s enhanced happiness and motivation throughout Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh, K M Hasan Ripon’s campaign and phrase “Practice Makes Perfect (অনুশীলনে সবই সম্ভব)” have become symbols of happiness and encouragement. The campaign’s influence is still being felt, pushing individuals to strive for greatness and attain their best potential.

Getting old is not a problem (7)

The Power of Cooperation: A Path to Success

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I embrace cooperation over competition. In today’s world, collaboration and cooperation are crucial for achieving goals. Competition is important, but it should only be with oneself. One must strive to be better than they were yesterday, demonstrate new skills and work with others.

During my student years, I learned the notion of beating others to secure a top position. My friends held similar beliefs. Sadly, many of us failed and became frustrated. However, during an art competition, I saw my daughter and her friends sharing their colored pencils. I asked why and she replied, “They’re all my friends and we each have different ideas, sharing tools won’t impact our ideas but bring inner peace.” She said her school and teachers taught her this philosophy.

During a trip to Australia to study effective teaching methods, I was awarded a scholarship to study at TAFE Hunter Institute in Newcastle for a project on Competency-Based Education for Higher Education. I learned that there’s no such thing as “PASS” or “FAIL” but instead “Competent” or “Not Yet Competent”. When I asked my supervisor why they eliminated those words, he said “PASS” or “FAIL” create negative energy and ruin the theme of cooperation and collaboration.

I applied these new insights in my team and workplace, with great results. There was no competition, just teamwork towards a common goal. Collaboration and cooperation increased. Instead of rejection, the word “Improvement” was used. To produce the best results, each team member must work together to bring out their best. Teams with unity, positive thinking, cooperation, and collaboration will reach their goals. The question now is how to enhance cooperation and collaboration within a team.

Enhancing cooperation and collaboration within a team can be achieved through several effective strategies. One way is to encourage open communication and active listening, where team members are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas and actively listen to each other to promote understanding.

Another way is to foster a positive and inclusive team culture by promoting trust, respect, and a sense of belonging among team members. Setting clear roles and responsibilities for each team member, and encouraging teamwork and collaboration on projects and tasks can also help to promote cooperation and collaboration within the team.

For example, a team could hold regular check-ins to discuss progress and ensure everyone is aligned, and allocate tasks based on each team member’s strengths and interests to maximize their contributions and build a strong sense of teamwork.

In conclusion, Cooperation is the way to go. Competition, a concept rooted in outdated 20th-century capitalist ideals, is no longer relevant. Cooperation and collaboration within a team are crucial for achieving success and reaching common goals. By prioritizing cooperation and collaboration, teams can work together effectively and achieve their targets in a harmonious and productive manner.

Author

K M Hasan Ripon, Executive Director, BSDI

Getting old is not a problem (6)

The Power Of Mindset: How To Fight Against Laziness

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Life is a journey that presents us with both challenges and opportunities. It can be difficult to navigate at times, but with the right mindset, we can make the most of our experiences. One of the most important aspects of living a fulfilling life is overcoming laziness and becoming more productive.

Recently, I had the privilege of discussing life with my mentor, Mr. Gemunu Wijesena from Sri Lanka. During our conversation, he imparted to me a simple yet effective formula for leading a fulfilling life. The formula consists of five powerful words: Active, Skilled, Money, Friends, and Happy. Each of these words holds a connection to the next, and by focusing on one, we can positively impact the others. This formula has greatly helped me comprehend the significance of productivity and the interdependence of various aspects of life.

The purposeful life’s formula is simple,

  • Being Active will make you SKILLED!
  • Skills will help you earn MONEY!
  • Money will get you, FRIENDS!
  • Friends will make you HAPPY!

On the other hand, if we look at it from the opposite perspective, the formula for an unsatisfying life can be described as follows:

  • Laziness will keep you inefficient!
  • Inefficiency will make you worthless!
  • Worthless life will make you friendless!
  • Life without friends will make you unhappy!

The ultimate lesson from this formula is that our mindset plays a crucial role in shaping our lives. Our creator almighty Allah has provided us with the capability to operate our lives in the right direction, but it is up to us to utilize the resources given to us effectively, or risk having a meaningless, hopeless, and unproductive existence.

So, how do we fight against laziness and live a fulfilling and meaningful life? Here are a few ways:

  1. Set goals: Having a clear and specific goal in mind will give you a purpose and something to work towards.
  2. Create a schedule: Set aside specific times for different activities and stick to them.
  3. Surround yourself with positive influences: Spend time with people who inspire and motivate you.
  4. Take care of your physical and mental health: Get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and take care of your mental well-being.
  5. Practice gratitude: Appreciate what you have and be thankful for the blessings in your life.

To sum up, the five-word formula shared by my mentor, Active, Skilled, Money, Friends, and Happy, is an effective way to comprehend the connection between various elements of life. It highlights the significance of being active and efficient as the foundation for a satisfying and purposeful life. By managing our mindset and actions, we can conquer laziness and accomplish our aspirations

 

Author

K M Hasan Ripon, Executive Director, BSDI

Getting old is not a problem (5)

From Shouting to Leading: The Impact of Leadership Style on Employee Retention

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In today’s society, it is not uncommon for professionals to work in offices without maintaining a high level of professionalism. Unfortunately, some professionals may not even realize that they are engaging in unprofessional behavior during their professional activities. This is a problem that I have personally encountered in my own career.

I had a reporting boss who was highly trained and experienced, but his behavior was consistently unprofessional. For example, he never took responsibility for his mistakes and refused to see areas for improvement. He had a tendency to blame others, shout and engage in misbehavior. As a result, the organization had a very high employee turnover rate. On the other hand,

I also had a boss who was very cooperative and helpful. He was always open to identifying areas for improvement and provided constructive feedback and suggestions for the future. He was polite, and calm and took ownership of his responsibilities. This type of leadership helped to improve employee retention in the organization.

I also want to share another example of my early day’s professional experience. I was assigned to lead a small marketing team and one of our responsibilities was to hang street banners. However, my boss noticed that the banners were not placed in the right places or in the right way. Instead of scolding us, he inspired and guided us on what to do next.

The following day, we again hung the banners but the results were the same. This time, my boss didn’t say anything but joined us the following day with the team to show us how to do it. With this positive attitude, he taught us how behavior can help inspire a team. After this incident, the team learned the idea of what the boss wanted us to do.

Being a boss or a manager is a challenging task that requires a combination of skills, knowledge, and experience. However, even the most experienced managers can make mistakes that can negatively impact the performance of their team. In this blog, we will discuss some of the common mistakes that most bosses make and how to avoid them.

  1. Not going into detail: One of the most common mistakes that bosses make is not providing enough details to their team members. This can lead to confusion and a lack of understanding of the task at hand, which can result in poor performance. To avoid this mistake, it’s important to clearly explain the task, the objectives, and the expected results.
  2. Only defining, no description of the task: Another common mistake is giving only a definition of the task without providing a clear description of what needs to be done. This can lead to confusion and lack of understanding among team members, who may not know how to proceed. To avoid this mistake, it’s important to provide a clear and detailed description of the task, including the steps that need to be taken.
  3. Just instruction, no demonstration: A boss may give instructions on how to perform a task, but not demonstrate it, which can lead to mistakes and misunderstandings. It’s essential for a manager to show how the task is done, and also to answer questions or doubts that the team may have.
  4. Only seeing others’ mistakes, never correcting by doing himself: A common mistake of a boss is only seeing the mistakes of others and never correcting them by doing them himself. This can lead to resentment and a lack of motivation among team members. To avoid this, it’s important for a boss to lead by example and to be willing to correct his own mistakes.
  5. Not sharing a clear vision and goals with team members: A boss may have a clear vision and goals for the team but not share them with the team members. This can lead to confusion and a lack of direction among team members. To avoid this, it’s important for a boss to share his vision and goals with the team and to ensure that they understand and are aligned with them.
  6. Only providing orders: A boss may only give orders to the team without providing the necessary support and guidance. This can lead to poor performance and a lack of motivation among team members. To avoid this, it’s important for a boss to provide guidance and support to the team, and to be open to feedback and suggestions.
  7. No proper evaluation and monitoring: A boss may not evaluate and monitor the performance of the team, which can lead to poor performance and lack of motivation. To avoid this, it’s important for a boss to regularly evaluate and monitor the performance of the team, and to provide feedback and support as needed.
  8. Lack of delegation and unawareness of biases: A boss may not delegate tasks properly or may not be aware of his own biases. This can lead to poor performance and a lack of motivation among team members. To avoid this, it’s important for a boss to delegate tasks properly, be aware of his own biases, and take steps to mitigate them.

This is a common scenario where the boss only gives advice but does not show how to do it and if the result is not as expected, they start shouting again. In my experience, I found that employee retention depends on a leader’s approach, behavior, and professional positive personality traits. A positive attitude and guidance can inspire the team to improve and learn. It’s important for a boss to lead by example and to be patient, understanding, and supportive. By fostering a culture of professionalism and positivity, organizations can improve employee satisfaction, retention, and ultimately, productivity and profitability.

In conclusion, being a boss or a manager is not easy, but by avoiding these common mistakes, you can create a positive and productive work environment for your team. By providing clear instructions, leading by example, sharing your vision and goals, and providing proper evaluation and monitoring, you can inspire your team to achieve success. Additionally, it is important to delegate tasks, be aware of biases and provide necessary support and guidance.

 

Author

K M Hasan Ripon,

Executive Director, Bangladesh Skill Development Institute (BSDI)

Email: [email protected]