When reconnecting with old contact, acknowledge time lapse
Nitya Sai Soumya
In this digital age, identifying useful contacts and expanding the network is easy. In fact all this so familiar that everyone has some tips for others. However, only a few people understand the importance of keeping the network alive and manage to do it. What is the point in having a ‘close to thousand' contact list, if you cannot ask the perfect person for help because you have not spoken to him for ages!
In a busy world, losing touch is bound to happen. With tight schedules, impending deadlines, and unexpected emergencies keeping you exhausted all the time, catching up with old friends takes a backseat. So popping up before one now, because you need him, makes you feel guilty.
Take a close look at everyday life and you realise that these situations more frequent than you think.
Fortunately, it is possible to reconnect with people even after a long gap. You need not let go a valuable contact because of the time lapse. And if you are intending to reach out to a person about a job opportunity, relocation or career shift, here is how you can make the reconnection less uncomfortable and potentially successful:
Choose right medium: Social media is a great platform to reconnect with people. But it works only to the extent of being in touch. Connections through the medium lack exchange of intimacy and seem impersonal.
So, if you are intending to build a good relationship, it is better you meet the person, do not leave him messages but talk to him in person. Invite him for a cup of coffee or dinner. In case he lives far away from you, call him or write a mail.
Make the attempt: To some extent, the other person is also responsible for the time lapse. Moreover, he too could be looking forward to opportunities to improve his relationships with his contacts.
So, do not hesitate to reach out to a long neglected friend. He might be actually excited to get back in touch with you and appreciate that you started the renewal process. Also most people feel complimented to know that their connections still remember them and consider them suitable to seek help.
Acknowledge the gap: When trying to reconnect with an old contact, first acknowledge the time lapse. You both know it exists; you cannot proceed without addressing it. So talk about it frankly and honestly. Tell what kept you occupied all this time. But d o not offer it as an excuse.
Be genuine: Be genuine about the kind of relationship you share with the person. Be transparent about the reason behind your attempts to reconnect. Do not act like his best buddy and pretend to care for him when you are reconnecting with the person after some years. Do not try to hide your agenda beating around the bush. The success of a reconnection depends on how tactfully you handle the question “why now?” Do not be surprised, annoyed and discouraged if at all you get a negative response.
Offer help: Whether the other person obliges to your request or not do offer him your help. Tell him that he can feel free to approach you whenever he is in need and that you are willing to support him to the extent possible. Stick to this promise. This approach creates a positive opinion of you on the person and marks the beginning of a promising relationship between you. He might reciprocate your help some other time in future.
Getting in touch with a person after a long gap is a difficult task, especially if you need a favour from him. However, if your approach is genuine, your chances of success are good enough.
Nitya Sai Soumya
faqs@cnkonline.com
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-opportunities/article968657.ece
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Communication Overdrive
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-opportunities/article938373.ece
Communication overdrive is the true productivity killer
Nitya Sai Soumya
Communication plays an important role in personal effectiveness and business success. This is the reason why there is so much emphasis on it in the workplace. However, of late, communication is out of control and is taking productivity out of work. Now it is time to control communication overload so that it does not burden further the already overworking teams.
Communication overload is in a way result of excess prominence we gave to collaboration and teamwork. With arrangements like remote teams, telecommuting and flexi-time coming to existence, communication has reached an explosive state. Another source of it is our attempt to increase visibility— the pressure to reach more customers, be more responsive and productive.
We suffer communication overload in different ways. Some of them are innumerable meetings, being copied to hundreds of unnecessary mails, receiving redundant information because the sender wants everything on records, and increased insistence on collaboration even where it is not really required.
Mobile phones, smart phones, PDAs, numerous ways to message and chat, social media, and tools that facilitate virtual meetings have made communication so easy that now it has become difficult to control it.
Communication overload is a bottleneck to productivity. It consumes time and energy, which can instead be used to do more important tasks. The pressure to meet demands from different directions coming at the same time causes stress. The flood of unwarranted communication diverts our attention and prevents us from focusing on a more important task on hand.
Another disadvantage to communication overload is that it can make us commit mistakes. When there are many communication sources providing several pieces of information, identifying and extracting relevant and current information from them is a tricky task. Making decisions based on this information is dicier. Using information from a mail while the latest update is waiting at the fax machine can result in costly blunders! So it is high time we realise the significance of communication in our lives and limit it to the extent required.
Here is some guidance on it:
Limit sources: Just because there are so many choices of communication available, it does not mean that you have to use all of them. Also, the communication tools that you use need not be available with the client.
So use popular communication tools and go for a new one only if it is really necessary. For example, you do not need videoconferencing to connect with a client in your city.
Organise sources: Maintain a log to enter details about phone calls. Separate messages/ faxes according to the subject or relevance and keep them in different folders/ files. Set deadline to reply based on priority. Once you respond to a communication, mark it so as to avoid confusion. Avoid sending and receiving redundant messages. You need not send a mail to your boss with details about what you spoke on the phone every time you speak with your client. You can update him when there is some significant development.
Protect channels: In a period when there is so much emphasis on expanding networks, it is enticing to give your phone numbers and email addresses to everyone you meet. But this will get unwanted communication that leaves you with little time for genuine business. Sometimes, you many even end up being inaccessible to true customers because your communication channels are busy.
Resist the urge: Overcome the obsession to check e-mail, phone messages and social media updates frequently. Try to allot time for it, say five minutes after every hour. Depending on the nature of your job, you can even limit it to once or twice a day!
When calling for a meeting think whether you really have to meet people personally at the point. May be it is enough if you send them an email. When in meeting, stick to the timings and the agenda.
When sending mails, consider whom you are keeping in the loop. Similarly, ask your colleagues and clients to keep you in the loop only if you should know what is in the message. Use predefined email distribution list judiciously.
Overusing communication and communication tools causes serious problems to personal efficiency and productivity. So, to make them serve the purpose they should be used only when they are needed.
Nitya Sai Soumya
Communication overdrive is the true productivity killer
Nitya Sai Soumya
Communication plays an important role in personal effectiveness and business success. This is the reason why there is so much emphasis on it in the workplace. However, of late, communication is out of control and is taking productivity out of work. Now it is time to control communication overload so that it does not burden further the already overworking teams.
Communication overload is in a way result of excess prominence we gave to collaboration and teamwork. With arrangements like remote teams, telecommuting and flexi-time coming to existence, communication has reached an explosive state. Another source of it is our attempt to increase visibility— the pressure to reach more customers, be more responsive and productive.
We suffer communication overload in different ways. Some of them are innumerable meetings, being copied to hundreds of unnecessary mails, receiving redundant information because the sender wants everything on records, and increased insistence on collaboration even where it is not really required.
Mobile phones, smart phones, PDAs, numerous ways to message and chat, social media, and tools that facilitate virtual meetings have made communication so easy that now it has become difficult to control it.
Communication overload is a bottleneck to productivity. It consumes time and energy, which can instead be used to do more important tasks. The pressure to meet demands from different directions coming at the same time causes stress. The flood of unwarranted communication diverts our attention and prevents us from focusing on a more important task on hand.
Another disadvantage to communication overload is that it can make us commit mistakes. When there are many communication sources providing several pieces of information, identifying and extracting relevant and current information from them is a tricky task. Making decisions based on this information is dicier. Using information from a mail while the latest update is waiting at the fax machine can result in costly blunders! So it is high time we realise the significance of communication in our lives and limit it to the extent required.
Here is some guidance on it:
Limit sources: Just because there are so many choices of communication available, it does not mean that you have to use all of them. Also, the communication tools that you use need not be available with the client.
So use popular communication tools and go for a new one only if it is really necessary. For example, you do not need videoconferencing to connect with a client in your city.
Organise sources: Maintain a log to enter details about phone calls. Separate messages/ faxes according to the subject or relevance and keep them in different folders/ files. Set deadline to reply based on priority. Once you respond to a communication, mark it so as to avoid confusion. Avoid sending and receiving redundant messages. You need not send a mail to your boss with details about what you spoke on the phone every time you speak with your client. You can update him when there is some significant development.
Protect channels: In a period when there is so much emphasis on expanding networks, it is enticing to give your phone numbers and email addresses to everyone you meet. But this will get unwanted communication that leaves you with little time for genuine business. Sometimes, you many even end up being inaccessible to true customers because your communication channels are busy.
Resist the urge: Overcome the obsession to check e-mail, phone messages and social media updates frequently. Try to allot time for it, say five minutes after every hour. Depending on the nature of your job, you can even limit it to once or twice a day!
When calling for a meeting think whether you really have to meet people personally at the point. May be it is enough if you send them an email. When in meeting, stick to the timings and the agenda.
When sending mails, consider whom you are keeping in the loop. Similarly, ask your colleagues and clients to keep you in the loop only if you should know what is in the message. Use predefined email distribution list judiciously.
Overusing communication and communication tools causes serious problems to personal efficiency and productivity. So, to make them serve the purpose they should be used only when they are needed.
Nitya Sai Soumya
ASI - Karnataka
Dear fellow ASI members,
Wishing You & Your family a Happy & Fruitful year 2011.
Karnataka State Chapter has been contributing vibrantly in its activities since we last communicated to you all. CMEs were conducted at length & breadth of the state, namely Chikodi, Gadag, Bellary, Bangaluru, Bidar & Belgaum.
Chikodi branch was enthusiastic and enterprising in organizing a CME programme under the able leaderships of Drs Rohini Kulkarni, Dayanand Nooli & Ravindra Bhate. Showcasing local academic work in the form of a symposium was novel. All specializations were covered in the symposium ‘Endoscopy’.
This year another Annual CME & clinicals for postgraduates named SURGIQUEST at Bellary commenced under the stewardship of Drs. Vidyadhar Kinhal & Channanna. With increasing number of postgraduate students, it would be worthwhile to develop regional CME & clinicals centre for postgraduates in addition to the present B’luru. The popular Bangaluru PG CME attracted staggering 325 postgraduates! Being aware of inherent inertia & feasibility issues, yet I am sure with some leadership it would be possible to replicate the successful model of Bangaluru at Mangalore, Belgaum & Bellary as well.
Bidar was the latest city chapter to be inaugurated under the leadership of Drs. Ragate, Bali & Kamtikar. We wish this young & enthusiastic branch blossoms to make a mark across the state.
2-day CME at Belgaum was thoroughly organized and executed by Drs Shashi Uppin & Dr. Shrishail Metgud. In addition to the participation of local & invited faculty in the CME & clinicals this year, an quiz programme for the Post Graduates by Dr. C. S. Rajan was the highlight.
The Chairman had the privilege of Inaugurating & participating in a 2-day Basic Surgical Skill programme conducted by Mysore Medical College under the able leadership of Drs. Avadhani Geeta, Ramachandra & Ravikumar. Interestingly, they have been independently conducting this programme for last few years which has one novel programme ‘Guru Vandana’. Such good program needs to be associated with the State Chapter to increase the visibility and widen horizon.
The Annual PG teaching programme, conducted by Bangalore City branch stood to its reputation of cohesion, abundant clinical material and very high registration. This year’s mantle was undertaken by Drs Anjanappa, Kalaivani & Rajan. Quiz Master Dr. C. S. Rajan spearheaded the Annual Quiz Programme for Postgraduates impressively yet again.
On the chapter policy front, the present body noted two important areas where the chapter needs to ponder and take action. Firstly, there are hardly any districts in Karnataka that don’t have a medical college, needing a revisit to the existing reservation as medical College area & non medical college area. Secondly, need to digitize the records of the state chapter. This body made an effort to act on these however consensus seems to be eluding. I hope the efforts would continue by the next body for the benefit of deserving aspiring leaders.
Amidst unraveling of scams affecting every sphere of the society that reveal the nexus between the very guardians, healthcare sector is not likely to be far behind. Our profession has witnessed sudden change in its mode from unorganized small entrepreneur to capital intensive corporate enterprise. Already, there are loud allegations heard about existing nexus with drug & instrument industries that is detrimental to the interests of the patients. These exposures might act as a wakeup call to reflect.
Finally, health care delivery to consumer and healthcare sector as an industry are a reality today. However, the patient perception and regulatory rules are archaic. They need to be updated by proactive participation by us so as to make them contemporary or else we will be the ones facing onslaughts after media & lobbyists!
Kindly do visit us @ http://www.kscasi.com/ for more.
Wishing to see you at Bijapur,
Dr. Sharad M. Tanga
Chairman
Wishing You & Your family a Happy & Fruitful year 2011.
Karnataka State Chapter has been contributing vibrantly in its activities since we last communicated to you all. CMEs were conducted at length & breadth of the state, namely Chikodi, Gadag, Bellary, Bangaluru, Bidar & Belgaum.
Chikodi branch was enthusiastic and enterprising in organizing a CME programme under the able leaderships of Drs Rohini Kulkarni, Dayanand Nooli & Ravindra Bhate. Showcasing local academic work in the form of a symposium was novel. All specializations were covered in the symposium ‘Endoscopy’.
This year another Annual CME & clinicals for postgraduates named SURGIQUEST at Bellary commenced under the stewardship of Drs. Vidyadhar Kinhal & Channanna. With increasing number of postgraduate students, it would be worthwhile to develop regional CME & clinicals centre for postgraduates in addition to the present B’luru. The popular Bangaluru PG CME attracted staggering 325 postgraduates! Being aware of inherent inertia & feasibility issues, yet I am sure with some leadership it would be possible to replicate the successful model of Bangaluru at Mangalore, Belgaum & Bellary as well.
Bidar was the latest city chapter to be inaugurated under the leadership of Drs. Ragate, Bali & Kamtikar. We wish this young & enthusiastic branch blossoms to make a mark across the state.
2-day CME at Belgaum was thoroughly organized and executed by Drs Shashi Uppin & Dr. Shrishail Metgud. In addition to the participation of local & invited faculty in the CME & clinicals this year, an quiz programme for the Post Graduates by Dr. C. S. Rajan was the highlight.
The Chairman had the privilege of Inaugurating & participating in a 2-day Basic Surgical Skill programme conducted by Mysore Medical College under the able leadership of Drs. Avadhani Geeta, Ramachandra & Ravikumar. Interestingly, they have been independently conducting this programme for last few years which has one novel programme ‘Guru Vandana’. Such good program needs to be associated with the State Chapter to increase the visibility and widen horizon.
The Annual PG teaching programme, conducted by Bangalore City branch stood to its reputation of cohesion, abundant clinical material and very high registration. This year’s mantle was undertaken by Drs Anjanappa, Kalaivani & Rajan. Quiz Master Dr. C. S. Rajan spearheaded the Annual Quiz Programme for Postgraduates impressively yet again.
On the chapter policy front, the present body noted two important areas where the chapter needs to ponder and take action. Firstly, there are hardly any districts in Karnataka that don’t have a medical college, needing a revisit to the existing reservation as medical College area & non medical college area. Secondly, need to digitize the records of the state chapter. This body made an effort to act on these however consensus seems to be eluding. I hope the efforts would continue by the next body for the benefit of deserving aspiring leaders.
Amidst unraveling of scams affecting every sphere of the society that reveal the nexus between the very guardians, healthcare sector is not likely to be far behind. Our profession has witnessed sudden change in its mode from unorganized small entrepreneur to capital intensive corporate enterprise. Already, there are loud allegations heard about existing nexus with drug & instrument industries that is detrimental to the interests of the patients. These exposures might act as a wakeup call to reflect.
Finally, health care delivery to consumer and healthcare sector as an industry are a reality today. However, the patient perception and regulatory rules are archaic. They need to be updated by proactive participation by us so as to make them contemporary or else we will be the ones facing onslaughts after media & lobbyists!
Kindly do visit us @ http://www.kscasi.com/ for more.
Wishing to see you at Bijapur,
Dr. Sharad M. Tanga
Chairman
ASI
Dear Fellow ASI members,
Most have returned attending the 70th Annual National Conference relishing the gala academic feast emphasized by the newer challenges of entrepreneurship & technology.
On similar lines, the response for the slated 29th Annual State Conference at Bijapur has been amazing. The leadership headed by Chairman elect, Dr. Tejaswini Vallabh, Organizing Chairman of the Conference Dr. Arvind Patil, Organizing Secretary, Dr. Mallikarjun Patil and others are leaving no stone unturned to make the conference a success.
The impressive brochure that has wonderful information, layout and printing; the individual efforts of each one of them to go personally to various regions of the state to invite and facilitate registration and other endeavours are all testimony to the desire of making the conference memorable.
The conference would be grander and still better with bigger contingents from Bengaluru, Mangalore,
Dear members, kindly register in groups if you haven’t done so far.
Greetings for a Happy & Purposeful year 2011.
Yours truly,
Sharad M. Tanga
Chairman, ASI-KSC
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
