The HR way :)

Reason to Smile: The HR way.. !! ;)

 

Mr. Ankit Sindhi, someone from Quston Technologies who was inviting HRs to blog on the said subject, invited me to write something on HR and the challenges faced by most HR professionals so that it can be of some help to all of us who are leading this so called ‘fraternity’ in our respective industries.  

I was so blank about it that I said I won’t write anything on HR related topics because they are all over the web ! 

While he was busy qualifying me to see if this could be an opportunity for me to share my thoughts on HR, I informed him that I write blogs on adventure activities and what keeps me happy ! :) Yes, I write on my weekend adventure experiences and share them with my friends and readers who wish to know how I keep myself happy OR what is my 'reason to smile' :)

Yes, that’s what my blog (www.blognehamehta.blogspot.com) starts with – Reason to Smile. It’s more like an online dairy for me to collect memories and I don’t mind publishing them for the sole reason that if it can make even a tiniest difference in someone’s mind and life, I have contributed my part :)

Oh by the way, who is this ‘I’? I am Neha Harshad Mehta, { always loved my Dad for this name ;) } a so called HR professional in an MNC media company heading the division with no one reporting to me – literally. Yes, I have no qualms in admitting that I manage this position without support. I have a 9 to 6 job – Literally. Also, I have no issues in admitting that I get enough time to do things that I love to do ‘during work hours’ apart from maintaining the decorum of official work. Shocking?? No big deal. I just call it effective time management  :)

This was also the sole reason I told Ankit that I don’t think I would be appreciated on the content I give you by most HRs because I know what they exactly go through ;) He found it hilarious. He said what I told him was refreshing because out of all the HRs he interacted I was the only one who said I can give you content on anything but HR :P 

So If you think I am here to share data and content on = 
 

-       How to manage key employees or focus on the way to manage people
 

-       Effective Time Management or Work Life Balance
 

-       What is the fine line between flexibility and discipline among employees
 

-       Performance Evaluation Methods
 

-       Career Moves and Progression Techniques
 

-       Organizational Initiatives
 

-       Govt. promising employment boost
 

-       News on latest HR inventions across the globe??? 
 

You guys are going to get disappointed ! Big time ! :P
 

I am right now giving him content (during work hours :P) for HR readers to come up with what they thought should have been ‘excluded’ from this blog :P 
 

While I am just done introducing myself, I want to confess that HR surely did not come to me by choice. Like any other confused graduate, I was not sure what profession was I to choose except that my family wanted me to look for a job that pays well and that it can give me a respectable position after some initial struggling days. When I was bestowed with those thoughts, it was not anything formal. By birth, this is a natural instinct in any Gujarati :P We are a breed that can eat, live, spend, pamper and equally save ‘money’ :P 
 

I was a sociology student while I was doing my BA. Again without a choice. Yes, I had an option of choosing among Economics, Psychology and Sociology as subjects for my majors in the last year. I went into the world of sociology only because I hated economics and I had too bad marks to pick psychology :P And post that, a fresher with sociology as a background back in 2002, I was generally being picked for Admin and HR jobs. That’s how I got my first break – Mapro Industries – God knows what I did there ! But I recollect assisting my boss in Nursing Recruitments with some internet research here and there and business development with some emails to forward here and there J Then came TeamLease, Indiagames, Sahara, and so on.. No looking back. That’s me and my attitude too :P  
 

Yes, I took on opportunities as and when they came to me because it was a taboo to be jobless and sit at home doing nothing. Back home, the way we are groomed - if I am not ambitious, I am hopeless :P
 

However just because I am an HR I have faced certain hopeful as well as hopeless ‘reactions’ from friends and acquaintances. For e.g. If there is a conversation going on ‘how to organize things for an outing’ and if I come on it with my suggestions; the immediate reaction in the group is ‘And there comes the HR! ’ Huh, Why? Cant it be in my genes?  
 

When I leave my office on time or reach home before 7 pm, all I get to hear from my friends at times is ‘Oh ya, you are HR right, Lucky guys, no work at all.’ Duh. Really? If we don’t work, who gives you the job? The so called management? Yeah, Right.  By The Way, even sending an offer letter on time needs accuracy. 
 

One witty comment from me, and the whole world around me thinks I say that because HR has taught me to be so. Really? I am not sure if most of you HRs also go through it. But I do. And I don’t like it. Not because I don’t like my profession, but because I don’t want be labelled like that. I surely would invite all appreciation and criticism for my position while I am at work. More than willing anytime. However for me what’s more important is that people should know that I am Neha, the HR not HR who is called Neha.  
 

Yes, Let me make it clear guys, I came to the world of HR, HR did not come to me. I have my identity outside this HR world too and I am pretty possessive about it. I am two different personalities for sure – professionally and personally. While the basic nature and instincts remain the same, I take immense proud to say that I have maintained the fine balance between my presence at office and home. No arrogance or attitude, just because that has kept me happy. That’s it.  
 

Infact I am so clear about the fact that had I not been in HR, I would have been a creative person. Somewhere. In life all that makes a difference in ones living is to be happy. Extremely happy. Contentment and satisfaction is the key to all the decisions one takes. No matter what decision you take, what’s more important and essential is if that’s what got you happy. For me, I follow that. I hope you do so too.  
 

Lastly I always tell myself one thing -  ‘I may be ordinary but my dreams are not’ ! :)
 

Thanks for reading if this gets published. Keep dreaming. Keep Smiling ! :)