Iram Hamid Kahloon Blog

What do you wish you had done before a reorganisation?

Iram Hamid Kahloon — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:45:01 +0000

We often use reorganisations and restructuring to deal with performance issues rather than taking the time to re-think the structure of the organsation and whether or not we are properly organised and staffed to meet the needs of our customers. I would much prefer to use performance management to set strong standards and make sure we have the best people working for us, then I would suggest a Value stream mapping exercise to really understand what’s required in the future state to meet customer demand — under this approach, the necessary restructuring activities will become evident and actually tied to something of value.

How one should prepare for tests or examinations?

Iram Hamid Kahloon — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:22:49 +0000

People have given you a lot of very good, specific suggestions. Generally speaking, the methods that will be most effective are those that are consistent with your learning style preference – e.g., visual, auditory, kinesthetic, read/write. For example, simply reading the test preparation materials is likely to work well if your preference is read/write, but not if it is auditory. I had my students take a very quick on-line assessment of their learning style preferences. In addition to identifying your preferences (you may have more than one), the site provides very specific suggestions about how to take in information, study for tests, and take tests for each learning style preference. In many cases, the difference this information made in students’ learning was dramatic. I’ve listed the URL for the site below in case you would like to check it out. I have no financial or business connection to this site; over the years I’ve seen what a huge difference it has made.

Iram

http://www.vark-learn.com

What are some of your suggestions for online blogging and business success in 2011?

Iram Hamid Kahloon — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:19:19 +0000

Blog about what you know and don’t be afraid to highlight other peoples work and expertise. This creates engagement and conversation, as well as sets you on the right path for becoming a thought leader in your industry.

Focus on social media this year. It’s the future of now and everything is turning in that direction. Again, not to solely promote yourself or your product, but to engage new customers and re-engage old customers as well as create conversation between your company and the customers, which will keep your brand relevant.

If you were unhappy or stuck in a rut at work (or in life), what would stop you from working with a coach to move you on?

Iram Hamid Kahloon — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 23:03:23 +0000

I can’t have someone hold my hand at everything. If I did I’d always be stuck. I had a roommate who was a life coach and I just never got why anyone would pay him to make the same decisions I was making on my own. From what I’ve seen coaching (except for the sports kind) is another American invention to get money out of people and to keep people from growing up. It’s not like all the people who are alive now are the first to ever have problems; people have had problems for as long as they’ve existed so just deal already.

I’ve talked to professors and friends who are professionals for work mentoring and for any sort of “stuckiness” I’m glad I can turn to friends and family as well as yoga, meditation and other Eastern traditions. At one point I even contacted a native tribe and that was great too.

As I think we both know the one thing we can’t provide to someone to make that final move is the motivation or the decision. We are a mirror and supportive, but they must make the decision.
Others talked about therapists- I see coaches and therapists as very different.
A big issue that people probably won’t admit is they simply don’t have or don’t want to spend the money. Another is they don’t really want a coach they want a codependent partner to “share” their unhappiness.
Hiring a coach is making a decision… some folks don’t want to take even that first step.

How do you handle your workplace pressure?

Iram Hamid Kahloon — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:58:39 +0000

1. Honest priortization. Everything cannot be “RUSH” or “IMMEDIATE.” If this were so, then nothing is urgent because every item will equal urgency.

2. Delegate. If possible, hand off to others. You can manage this process but don’t get the idea that “the only way to do something right is to do it yourself.” You’ll be surprised by what others can do it you let them.

3. Realize that if you got hit by a beer truck today, the company would probably survive without you.

4. Work when it’s time to work. But learn to shut it down too. Many today live in a 24 hour, open-all-the-time business. . .but only because we choose this to be true.

and finally, the best way to handle workplace pressure and my secret to being a great manager. . .

Hire good people.

How do a young Entrepreneur fell especially working on week ends and holiday while they use to miss many thing in their life how to self motivate and focus on work in the above scenario How do a young Entrepreneur fell especially when working on week ends and holiday while they use to miss many thing in their life how to self motivate and focus on work even when family members and friends gone for an outing How to stay focused to fulfill the commitment to our client.

Iram Hamid Kahloon — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:47:01 +0000

It’s important not to be dragged into mindless optimism. Working for yourself as an entrepreneur is as you are well aware a full time job with too few resources and too little time initially. It’s hard and often soul wrenchingly miserable work and the draw of a regular salary is very very powerful.

All I can tell you is that in the longer term the rewards are worth it. Even if your first attempts at getting rich fail the feeling of getting your own business up and running are unbeatable. And when you make a success eventually you will be overjoyed.

And one day you’ll be able to sell up and enjoy your riches making up a hundred times over for the missed holidays, lost wekend, weeks of not eating properly and all the other degradations thrust upon you as a start-up entrepreneur…

You focus on the future. But you deal with the present.

Only you can motivate yourself. Put a list of goals on your wall, make the list a large poster size, not a small scrap of paper. Also keep a smaller version in your wallet. When the choice of leaving a family affair early or getting there late happens, look at the list. Ask yourself, will the family pay for those things on the list? Will they finance your home or your children’s education in the future? With those questions in mind, answer them and act on the decision you need to make,

Any tips or thoughts on how to keep in touch with people and make follow up calls after networking events? Most people lose out on the many benefits of networking (such as new business opportunities) because they don’t follow up. But why don’t they? What stops them? People go to all these business events and leave a pile of cards on their desk. It’s crazy but we all do it! And what tips and motivation can you offer networkers to turn those business cards into business and those contacts onto contracts?

Iram Hamid Kahloon — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:37:05 +0000

The essence of networking is about what you can do for others, without necessarily expecting instant reciprocation. To show that you have paid attention you focus on what you contribute by finding and forwarding information they need. That is how you establish dialog and long-term contacts that may lead to the information you need, such as leads to opportunities for jobs, sales, you name it.

Basically, people get turned off when you simply approach the gathering with a thirst for what your immediate needs are. If you think about it, you probably have many things to offer to a prospective employer: build your communication in terms of sage advice that you freely share – it can lead to a dialog in which the prospect asks how you would feel about working for them, but don’t make that the narrow focus of your contacts.

Don’t be hasty with filtering out prospects: the true value is when your information gets shared with others, and others, so it becomes a viral marketing campaign. Think in terms of how what you contribute can take on long-term and lasting value, and you will be surprised how some of that returns to you like a boomerang. In fact, the person you initially approach may merely play a role of carrier pigeon in the scheme of things.

Collect business cards and explore how you can provide useful information while furthering your cause. Networking is about sharing and helping: once you ask for help in follow-up your prospects diminish. So, if a prospect bites and asks for more information then instead of asking for a job you suggest that it might take a log more close collaboration to achieve truly effective results, and you would be open to be a part of that.

It is all in how you play the networking game to make it more successful in the long run: don’t expect miracles tomorrow.

I believe it happens because they believe the OTHER person will reach out to them or refer them. This is the dilemma of sales in general. Too many salespeople and small business owners leave the activity on the other person. Or they try to pitch everyone in the room and expect those people to reach out after the event. NEtworking is NOT pitching and selling. It IS relationship building.

Sales people should remember that part of the networking process is the follow up. If you aren’t going to follow up, why go? Exactly! At the same time, salespeople and small business owners should remember that sales is an activity. You have to DO things to grow your business.

When you go to a networking event make a decision about how you are going to behave and set up a plan of action. Decide you are going to learn about 1-2 other people. Ask open ended questions and don’t monopolize conversations. Let others talk about themselves. Really listen to them and when you can help them solve a problem (especially a problem you can’t personally solve), help them; connect them to the solution. That is a great way to build relationships. You are letting the other person know that you care more about them than you do about selling.

Send a personal note to the people you meet after the event or invite them to coffee so you can continue to build that relationship. In my estimation, networking is about building relationships with people who may or may not need what you have to sell. You turn business cards into business and contacts into contracts by being someone others can trust. THat means getting out of sales mode and into relationship mode.

Should creative individuals showcase their creativity? We all have seen over brewing enthusiasm of a new scientist, a poet, a singer, or a painter. The most common is – they would not stop until you walk away. Reading about the psycology of creative individuals, I find two distinct types – those who seek to stay off the publicity or at best stay indifferent to acceptance or rejection of their creative work (rebel types e.g. in early years of Einstein) without actively competing with tohers for the outcome, while the other group mostly (Freud for example, and Einstein in his later years) seek public approvals and endorsement. We come to know of real creative genious of first group only years after they are gone (e.g. Monet). In the modern R & D, I also the same two types. The acceptance of ones creative ideas/products by the peer group is most essential for growth for some and others simply don’t care. Should or should not path breaking creative minds worry about acceptance/rejection by others? How corporations should handle the first type.

Iram Hamid Kahloon — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:33:30 +0000

here is something called needs/drives within every individual that pushes him towards the goal. For ex, need for achievement, need for affiliation, need for competence, and need for power, as per David McClelland.
Also, there is something called Personality types, rudimentarily, the introvert-extravert type, and many more
Creativity could be triggered within an individual due to following reasons:
1) inherent talent
2) need to achieve followed by appetite for recognition
3) Divergent thinking capacity

Individuals with high need for achievement try to display their creativity. Individuals who are extraverts make a big sound about it. Thus, high need for achievement followed by extraversion calls for display/showcasing.
Individuals with high need for competence and who are introvert types dont make any sound but they are capable to asserting themselves.
If you look at the life histories of Sigmund Freud and Einstein (cited in your question), these are two different individuals with different outlook towards life. Freud experienced oedipus complex because his father praised him publicly about his high IQ. I quote, “my sigmu’s toe is bigger than my brain”. He grew up with public adulation. While that is not the case with Einstein.
In some cases, some organizations, dont recognize creativity and thus individuals remain silent on their creative solutions.

We have lots of ways to describe “creative” and differentiate between surreptitious behaviour vs. showcasing. Criminals do in many cases exhibit creativity that they do not share. The context of a new scientist, a poet, a singer, or a painter is one in which sharing is the most common, it is certainly not unusual for creative genius to remain private. Sometimes the reason for posthumous recognition is simply that the creative ideas clash with prevailing beliefs or established knowledge, that requires a more gradual acceptance than what breakthrough genius delivers. The Einstein example has more to do with the acceptance of his ideas that led to active interaction. Genius does not depend on collaboration: it can be propelled by it if multiple stimulated minds feed off one another. Corporations have a distinct culture to simply reject, harvest, or cultivate creative contributions. The logical strategy for a creative genius is to seek an environment that is fertile for them to grow their ideas and creations.

One’s Creativity has to be showcased.

Creator will seek feedback and he may receive the same at showcase. That will allow him to improvise and do better.

On the other end at showcase new talent comes for guidance. So knowledge and thoughts flow to next generations.

In Short answer is “YES”.

Iram Hamid Kahloon — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:10:09 +0000

To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go

To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause

And I know if I’ll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I’m laid to my rest

And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star

Contact Page

Iram Hamid Kahloon — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:22:43 +0000