MAKE SMARTER CHOICES

 As human beings we want a lot of things, it’s the decisions that lead us to where we are & that makes us who we are.

The first thing to remember towards making smarter choices is knowing what your goals are. What do you want to become in life? What are you REALLY REALLY good at? This also has to be your priority number 1.

Focus all your energy and time on this. For example, if you want to pursue hospitality studies or an MBA, put in your heart, soul and mind to doing it. Ultimately it’s your life. It’s important to know what your goals are to going after them.

Analyse your strengths and weaknesses pertaining to your goals and work towards them day in and day out. Weaknesses ultimately turn to strengths which is why you should work on them to the best of your capabilities. Analysing these makes you self-aware of yourself.

The last thing to remember is to always follow your gut. Some of the best decisions are made with the gut. Or if that doesn’t help flip a coin based on your choices and whatever turns up go with it. Always do what’s right. Doing the right thing always helps. The more you do it the less regrets you have in life.

 

 

 

 

 

Empower your mind with Neuro Linguistic Programming

Has it ever happened to you that your work performance with your peers has been great but you still don’t feel confident enough?

And no matter how much you practice and try, these situations reoccur and can cause hindrance in your progress. However, there is an answer to such issues. NLP or Neuro Linguistic Programming is a technique that helps you take charge of your thoughts, emotions and behavior.

What happens in an NLP session and how does it work?

Certified NLP practitioners train your brain in such a way that you can overcome your hesitations, fears, and restrictive mental conditioning. It liberates you from your old patterns that you have not been able to break with a conscious mind. It helps you sharpen your logical and decision-making abilities and explore your potential to the fullest.

What benefits can one experience from NLP?

NLP helps create new patterns, which make you more efficient and support you in every field of life.  Whether you are a student, housewife, artist or a professional.

One can experience improvements in the following aspects of life amongst others:

• Motivation
• Resourcefulness and relationships in career
• Habits and addictions
• Tension
• Anxiety
• Confidence
• Self-esteem
• Public speaking and communication
• Decision making
• Stress
• Illnesses
• Pain
• Past trauma
• Fears and phobias
• Achieving goals

To gain an understanding of how NLP works and experience many of its advantages, join a training program or a workshop on NLP. Not only will you feel empowered but also enjoy their interactive and unique approach.

How to be the Master of your Interview

No matter how skilled, or on top-of-the-game we are, interviews always tend to make us nervous. There are just too many uncertainties and the stakes are too high. A lot could go awry, based on who the interviewer is and his perception towards the candidate. The only thing we have in control is the way we present ourselves and the way we answer the questions.

A lot of people are unaware that, the way they answer the questions can put them in the driving seat as far as the interview is concerned.  Not the obvious, correct, well-worded, and confident answer but the answer that compels the interviewer to ask you what you want to answer next.

Here are some tested and tried ways that people have adopted to turn the interview questions to their advantage:

1.Extend your Introduction

“Tell me about yourself.” This question is the golden ticket for you to include exactly what you’d like the interviewers to get piqued about. Remember, in an interview, it is not just your education and skills that they want, but also want someone interesting and with a ‘personality’.  Anything out-of-the-box like unique hobbies, volunteer work, etc. interests the interviewer and influences them to ask questions about it, giving you a chance to reveal more of yourself to them.

 2.Talk about past experiences

Questions about your past experience gives you a chance to highlight your skills and achievements which cannot be put on paper. For example, if in the past, you’ve done successful crisis management, lay it out with a history of the situation and how you warded off the crisis with a strategic approach. Inevitably, questions like how, when and your learnings, etc. will follow, leading the conversation in your chosen direction.

3.Show interest in the question topic

While you need to be enthusiastic throughout your interview, you can always raise the interviewer’s curiosity on certain topics by showing extra interest in the question and its answer. It leads them to asking more questions on the same topic.

Being prepared for interviews is essential in every walk of life. But essentially, it is an art that you can master with practice and guidance at interactive workshops on how to master an interview.

 

Visit here to explore more of such workshops.

Advantages Of Experiential Learning

What Is Experiential Learning?

Experiential learning, simply explained, is a process of learning through first-hand experience. It is a method of acquiring expertise and skill through practical application of concepts, theories and problem solving techniques instead of just reading or hearing about them.

Why Experiential Learning?

The purpose of experiential learning is to have you world-ready by the time you complete the education program. For professionals who are already working, experiential learning will help them in enhancing skills and managing their roles effectively.  It makes use of tools like internships, service-training, field work and practical activities to impart learning. Its approach is more about what you need to know and less about what can be taught.

Advantages of Experiential Learning

Experiential learning encourages application of knowledge and concepts to real- world situations with learning support from the trainer. Some key advantages of this method of learning are:

1. Accelerates Learning

‘Learning by doing’ is far more effective and long lasting than theoretical learning. Further, experiential learning also promotes development of multiple skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and effective decision-making at the same time.

2. A Learning Environment With A Safety Net

Since experiential learning involves working on real-world situation simulations, it offers the students freedom to think and operate differently without crushing their confidence if anything goes wrong.

3. Merging Of Theory And Practice

What has been learnt from books can now be applied in field to understand its effect and behaviour. It also helps in remembering concepts and ideas.

4. Increases Team Work

experiential learning engages participants in various team-based activities thus training them on team building and leadership. This benefits the participants because they learn from each other and also because they will have to work in a team in a professional environment.

5. Assessing Learning Is Easier and Accurate

Simulation of a real-world situation with optimal outcomes, shows whether participants are able to understand the concepts as expected or not.

6. Motivation to Learn and Impactful Activities

These are the indirect yet important advantages of experiential learning. The method encourages active participation and kindles a desire to learn.

Watch this video of a workshop on Experiential Learning by Welingkar’s Hybrid PGDM program, and learn about how participants get involved in interactive learning.

You can fast track your learning process and experience the multiple benefits of experiential learning through interactive workshops.

Explore more such workshops by Welingkar’s. Visit here.

 

4 keys to Effective Crisis Management

“The secret of crisis management is not good vs. bad, it’s preventing bad from getting worse.”

A crisis can occur anytime. There are no tools to completely safeguard an institution or a business from a crisis. However, one can develop effective crisis management practices to bring situations under control at workplace before they become catastrophic.

Check out these 4 key ways to manage crisis effectively and restore balance at workplace:

1) Timeliness

“It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.”

The first step to crisis management is having a crisis management plan ready beforehand for exigencies. You won’t have the time to formulate one when trouble starts.

Do not delay responding to the crisis. Don’t assume it will blow over because it won’t.  Respond quickly and factually.

2) Handling Information

“In absence of information, we jump to the worst conclusion.”

Information is the key to managing any situation. Without ample information, the team involved will be handicapped or worse, misguided, when it comes to doing damage control. Hence, pass all necessary information about the situation and its background to core team promptly and properly.

At the same time, snub out any inaccurate information that might be circulating, by responding to it.

All stakeholders, media, and public should receive information on a regular basis too. Keep it simple with no room for speculation.

3) Communication

“Problems can be solved just by communicating.”

Assign a spokesperson representing the organization till things settle down, All communication beyond your core team should go through this single channel.

Don’t be afraid to communicate empathy and concern towards those adversely affected by the crisis.

Don’t dodge questions, if you don’t have an appropriate response or information, say that you will get back on that.  Avoid the ‘no comment’ approach – it’s murky.

It is better to reveal the bad news yourself, instead of trying to hide it and letting an external source discover it.

4) Ownership

“Keep calm and take Ownership.”

Probably the best thing you can do to salvage a situation and your reputation, is taking ownership. If you have made mistakes be courageous to acknowledge it than evade the same.

The dynamics involved in effective crisis management can be learnt from experiences and also management training that uses interactive workshops. Adopt such innovative learning methods and excel in your crisis management skills.

7 Benefits of Industrial Visits

Educational institutes in India are largely adopting industrial visits as a value-added learning method for management students. Learning from textbooks, lectures and other study material does not suffice for holistic learning. Practical, hands-on learning is essential for better understanding of work processes and business functions.

Industrial visits give greater clarity about important management concepts, as students practically experience how these concepts are put into action.

7 benefits of Industrial Visits for management students:

1. For students pursuing professional education (Marketing/Finance/Operations/Supply Chain etc.), industrial visits help them gain hands-on experience of how industry operations are executed.
2. Industry visits bridge the gap between theoretical training and practical learning in a real-life environment.
3. Industry visits provide opportunity for active/interactive learning experiences in-class as well outside the classroom environment.
4. With industry visits, students are able to better identify their prospective areas of work in the overall organizational function.
5. Industry visits help enhance interpersonal skills and communication techniques.
6. Students become more aware of industry practices and regulations during industry visits.
7. Industry visits broaden the outlook of students with exposure to different workforces from different industries.

Watch the following video to understand how industrial visits by Welingkar Institute expose students and professionals to the in-depth functioning of a business.

Be a part of such real-life training sessions with interactive workshops and join the community of  Hybrid PGDM learners.

 

5 Essential Tips for Effective Time Management

Time management is a much talked about, yet, one of the most overlooked managerial attributes.

As a manager, a professional’s key responsibility is to manage his/her time while helping the team to manage their own. Not only is effective and efficient time management beneficial, but it is also critical to an individual’s and organization’s success.

Here are 5 essential tips you would want to follow for effective time management:

PRIORITIZE:

There will always be multiple things to be done together. But by understanding what is most critical and of the highest importance, that you, as a manager will be able to allocate time to tasks. With proper prioritization and careful management of deprioritized tasks, you can bring order to chaos, reduce stress, and manage time smartly.

ONE-THING-AT-A-TIME:

Remember when our teachers in school used to reprimand us for trying to do too many things at a time? We need to recall that and implement it in our professional lives too. As a manager, you are expected to do multiple things like answering emails, making proposals, reports, attending calls etc. – all at the same time. Hence it is highly essential that you handle one type of tasks at a time and move on to the next, only when you finish the previous one.

SET SPECIFIC GOALS:

Effective and efficient time management calls for setting ‘smart’ goals. It motivates you to work in a time-bound manner. However, ‘goal-setting’ does not merely end with setting goals. You need to chart out a plan of action to realize these goals. And most importantly, you should stick to the action plan that you have created. That is when you would know if you are able to accomplish it in a timeline you have set.

COMMUNICATE:

At times, when you are trying to accomplish multiple tasks, you might not be able to communicate in an ideal manner. But effective communication is indispensable for managing time efficiently, especially for high priority tasks where you must set aside time to communicate with the people involved. Consequently, you would realize that just by communicating at the right time, with the right people, you are able to manage your time.

TAKE-A-BREAK:

Sometimes, when we try to handle a lot of responsibilities, fatigue gets to us. Hence, it is necessary to take a break and refresh your mind so that you come back recharged with more productivity. Experts believe that more you space out your thoughts, the better you are able to think and with clarity. This not only helps you achieve your goals but also instills positivity within your team.

As a part of management studies, aspiring managers, executives and professionals are taught about time management. Online Hybrid PGDM programs impart training to enhance time management skills through various interactive workshops, simulation exercises, experiential learning and so on.

So learn to value your time just as you would value your money. After all, “time is money”, essentially, isn’t it?

FUN BEGINS AT WELINGKAR’S INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS

What’s the next best thing to a lecture? If you are thinking of cafeteria, here is an option to consider – go for a workshop!

The traditional education system sometimes breeds a dislike for attending lectures, and there are good reasons why this happens. After all, a lecture is usually a one-sided performance, and there are limits to how long one can concentrate. After a while, attention drifts, and one is left to run over notes to absorb the main concepts.

Interactive workshops are a learning phenomenon by themselves, as anyone who has attended one would testify.

Why everyone should attend an interactive workshop

Unlike lectures, a workshop is essentially a participatory platform. It is where participants get to think for themselves, receive inputs from others, and learn as a single group.

Among other things, you will find the following features that make interactive workshops unique:

• Participatory approach to learning
• Variety of learning methods: audio/video/role playing/presentations
• On-the-spot assignments and feedback by the presenter and the group
• Workshops given by specialists and industry experts
• Exposure to different perspectives and opinions
• Networking with peers who share similar interests
• On location or getaway spots that stimulate thinking
• Fun and games

Welingkar’s workshops are designed to offer a complete package of practical and interactive learning. Their aim is to broaden perspectives that relate to your chosen stream, whether it is a diploma in marketing management, a healthcare management course, or an MBA in banking.

Among other things, you can attend these workshops to gain new ideas in your field, re-learn basic concepts in a new setting, get to know your peers and forge professional bonds, try class room concepts in practical and fun ways, and find solution to your specific problems.

In short, these interactive workshops are a high energy learning experience packed in a short duration. In the end, you will come away with a different outlook on your chosen subjects.

Check out this leadership trek to the Himalayas recently organized by Welingkar’s Hybrid Distance Learning Program:

For more information on Welingkar workshops, visit www.workshops.weschool.in

THE CHANGING FACE OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

A popular joke on developing human resources went something like this. A CFO objected to the CEO’s training plan by asking what if they invested in it and the employees left? The CEO famously replied, ‘What would happen if we don’t, and they stay?”

The methods of managing and developing human capital today attract much attention. Not surprisingly, practices in this field have caught up with other advancements and changing workplace dynamics.

 

Let’s take a look at some of the trends which have and will be shaping the way human resource management works.

Building and integrating a global workforce: In the global economy, multi-national and other corporations are looking at flexible structures that allow smooth functioning as well as leveraging of local culture advantages.

Use of Big Data insights: The use of Big Data goes beyond marketing and strategy. HR departments have been deriving benefits from such insights and using analytics to determine the potential of recruits.

Maintaining corporate brand image: The competition to acquire and retain the best talent means companies are trying to extend their brand image inside as well. The HR strategies are therefore aligned with the overall brand image.

The two-way channel of social media: HR marketing through social media is indispensable as it facilitates two-way communication, acts as an evaluation platform for branding initiatives, reaches out to a vast pool of talent and aids in verification of background information during recruitment.

The rise of contingent workforce: Whether to meet short-term organizational goals or fill up temporary gaps, contingent workers with special job skills are in demand. This makes HR departments plan ahead and offer the needed benefits, pay policies and likewise.

In addition to the above, it is now common to find worker friendly policies in place that provide benefits of flexibility, alternative career paths, a family-friendly organization, telecommuting, and many others.

If you’re pursuing an MBA in human resource management or a diploma in human resource management, keeping abreast of evolving HR trends will aid in building and managing the workforce of the future.

To know more about Human Resource Management, check out what Welingkar’s Hybrid Distance Learning Program advises here:

 

 

The 5 must-know benefits of Welingkar’s Hybrid PGDM programs

When the internet ushered in easy access to information, it also opened up gates to higher education. And as competition rose, it became easier to boost career prospects with greater choices in basic and add-on qualifications through online education. Today, online learning is here to stay, and more so with hybrid programs, which provide the flexibility to pace your studies as per your convenience.

The anytime, anywhere nature of hybrid programs has made them popular with working professionals. Technology enables them to easily acquire the degree or diploma of their choice and do it all online – from enrolling to attending lectures, paying fees and completing the exams.

If you are curious to know what factors make Welingkar’s Hybrid PGDM programs popular, here are the top five benefits:

1. Higher education for all: If you missed out on that essential professional qualification, the hybrid program presents a range of choices – from diploma in banking, marketing management and hospitality management courses to tourism and HR.
2. With you throughout the course: The hybrid programs are structured to allow everyone to complete the course with least disturbance to their personal and professional life. So you receive a rich and multi-formatted education without facing the usual stress.
3. Hybrid makes it all flexible: Through online lectures, webinars, experiential workshops, industry visits, teamwork and a host of other activities, you receive a sound and creditable qualification that cultivates new perspectives and ways of thinking. Great flexibility means you don’t miss out on anything.
4. Good tutor support brings best of both worlds: As the above point illustrates, the hybrid course adds to rather than diminish the quality of teaching and mentorship. It provides the best of both the old and new methods.
5. A time to learn time management: Putting you in control of your learning and schedules makes for a good experience in time management. It also gives you self discipline that comes in handy in your professional growth.You can explore the world of Welingkar’s Hybrid PGDM programs in more details through this video:

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv1iOC0jCJ8