Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!

Category Archives: Artofmanagement


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Protocols

Definition of protocol

1: an original draft, minute, or record of a document or transaction

Setting up protocols is a tedious process
But once set, it makes things much easier.

When a team shares the same language they communicate effectively so protocols aid in communication.When rules procedures are set as the protocol to follow, workflow improves without hitches With protocols laid down like a step-by-step process every employee can have clarity on ways to address conflicts if any, and how to seek resolution.

Why is there a need and necessity of creating rules systems and follow protocols?

In the workplace, it can be a guideline for proper behavior at work and also can help prevent conflicts or protect from harassment.

With changing times and situations as they are, whether it’s a ‘Work from home or office’, netiquettes and manners can make a huge difference in the way businesses are run.

Every small exchange of interaction can make or mar the communication levels.
Setting up protocols and training modules can increase productivity and improve professionalism in conducting business.

Communication for Implementation

For protocols to be successfully implemented It has to be relevant and easy to understand. Often the rules can seem too confusing so communication is very crucial in getting protocols in place in any organization understood. And even more so in this changing world.

Standards and protocols when defined properly, can certainly help increase productivity at work. And as expectations are set and there is clarity for what methods are for the deliverables and the timeframes, there is greater ownership, attention and accountability in the organization to follow the procedures.

As a Consultant I have enabled teams across departments setup their systems in place as well as improvising on the set procedures , while making the required changes such that the process can work efficiently. Ensuring the protocols are followed is just as challenging as setting it up. However, it becomes easier when they are followed as a practice with checks and balances in all teams without too many exceptions to the rule, to support new employees to ease in to the system.

How important have Protocols been for your organization’s efficiency?

Have your teams been following through the set norms and have they been effective?

I would love to know. Do share.

Savvy


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Paving the way for Oneness

I am saddened when I come across the mention of race by color. I am saddened that still people are called black or white or brown or yellow.

We are called out for the shades of our skin, when the truth is, we are so much more. We cannot be confined or defined by narrow eyes.

The fact is, people, see colors differently, and they may not see all the same colors while seeing the same things. There is research on how our individual brains react differently to different wavelengths of light.
Technically speaking the colors we see is an illusion created by our brain. We are not yet certain exactly how animals see perceive us and in which colors.

Why then this prejudice in words to describe life.
Humanity knows no color or creed.

Why are we still resorting to identify people into boxes, giving way to mental pictures, and conformity?
We are capable of liberating ourselves to see the bigger picture.

A dance article recently published an article that sends out a message of how Misty Copeland is a black dancer who succeeds.

Yes, we have an unequal world filled with all the ‘isms’ and the issues they bring along. It is unfair and discriminatory and biased in so many ways. Not just in race, but in species, gender, age, weight, height, class, creed, caste, religion, status, authority, education, power, and wealth.

Yet the inner light of the being surmountable all odds. And life shines through the heart of the movements.

The world must come together, as it is time to release these frames of false convictions and find in itself the ability and strength to support one another in the power of life that’s beating within us all.

Let us see beauty and talent in all colors and not attribute efforts and success to any color by birth.
When we remove reference of being a particular color we bring to light the truth of the soul and the spirit of freedom to be.

In that light, everything is illustrated in the illumination from within.

Savvy


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The Young Ones

A Motivational message

To the Young Ones

In your 20s

Life is about to bloom for you
Youth is on your side today
If your goal is to make a difference
Know your road is a long one.

Just a word of caution in care
With thoughts from down the road
Every moment has potential
With possibilities unlimited.

Life is both beautiful and uncertain
It can summon the very best in you
It can challenge your deepest reserve
To stay on course, needs your sensibility.

Be brave for the strongest can tremble
Be stable for the steadiest can tumble
Be humble for pride never wins
Be mindful of the now and tread with care.

Many a person will sing your praises
There will many paths open to explore
There will be many discoveries awaiting
Succumb not to temptation of aiming small.

Choose to think expansive and yet focus
Every thing is on a fine thread of balance.
As you make your choices
You shift and alter your paths ahead.

Sharing a beautiful song by Cliff Richard The Young Ones

So many…

Mountains to climb and achieve
Oceans to cross and discover
Pathways to create your imprints
All this and so much more….

Intentions to manifest and more
Journey to make and understand
Life is just starting for you
Miles to go before you Settle!

Life is what you make of it
Success is in how you see it
Love is how you feel within
Laugh a lot! Live Life Lovingly!

Yes dreams do come alive
Stars will twinkle & sparkle on
Trust your path is in the making
All it needs is you!

God bless you.

Savvy


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Spaces between…

As the spider weaves its web…

It leaves us in awe of its perfection. Spacing between the webstrings
Interweaved in the intersections.

Speaks to us to understand
The spaces between our steps.
For those gaps in between
Holds us in place, as we are.

Lessons from nature,
Resonate now, more than ever
To value the spaces and pauses
To balance our very life and living.

Savvy

#learningfromnature ##lifelessons


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On Appreciation & Criticism

Appreciation vs Criticism

A lot happens in appreciation
And a lot is lost in criticism

We are social beings who are motivated through support and value.
Whenever there is effort, if it is noticed and nurtured it finds direction to be productive.
But if it is met with unfairness, criticism, hostility, lack of interest, disregard or disrespect it undermines the ability of the workflow or thought flow itself.

Effects on Creativity

Although Creativity needs encouragement and blooms in appreciation, yet in extreme circumstances, creativity manifests to become an act of expression and freedom of the being.

Creativity may be boosted by a shot of oxygen in appreciation. Likewise to appreciation which is supportive and encouraging, Critical thinking, analysis and feedback rather than criticism can be valuable fodder for creativity. Yet creativity becomes a let out in dire circumstances.

If something is meant to flow it will find it’s way to assert itself.

Value of Appreciation

Yet in the growing years especially, appreciation is an evolved method of correction. When children are young and they sense encouragement from parents they learn, they are supported and go on to achieve a great many things, as the parents become the wind beneath their wings.

When Appreciation is one-sided…

But as children grow up, they sometimes are so caught up in the competitive environment, not to mention the charm and complexity of a technology-driven world, that they hardly have time to take note or care of aging parents who may not have their speed and abilities anymore.

Appreciation matters for all.

Elders need patience, support & care to get by more than ever before without criticism. At this juncture of life, reality bites hard! In this phase, things are not the same, often there is dependence & helplessness. anger and irritation not to mention frustration and fear of coping alone. Age is not on their side and human frailties and aging tests even the most resilient. It’s an uphill road and the climb only gets steeper for life has changed course.

Suddenly time flies and it’s another phase of life, what was once easy to do like getting up and walking becomes the most difficult task to do.
In such times of difficulties, all the heart yearns for is a little bit of love and care.

The paradox of the Heart & Brain

The heart is ever-loving, young & hopeful and appreciative
It never ages as it keeps beating.
The brain is however twisted & contrived and critical.

It deciphers the pattern playing
It knows only too well
Everyone has their turn
For life comes a full circle!

Savvy


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When Competency alone is not enough!

In the service industry handling customer service requests there is truly never a dull moment. With a mixed bag of complaints and accomplishments, every day brings new challenges and cheer.

The joy of helping someone at another end the best possible way and working to ease the process is a great motivator. However, the flip side is the unexpected escalations that can derail even the most balanced performers.

Unhappy customers can be irritated bothersome indifferent downright rude, insulting begin name-calling, and can threaten as well. It certainly takes a great amount of emotional intelligence to know it’s not about you and not internalize it and work out an amicable solution.

In our busy life and living, every work problem is measured by the ability to find solutions. Technology is driven into the equation, research analytics and statistical data crunching become the fulcrum of deductions & resolutions.
Yet somewhere there exists a gap which we miss out often.

We forget that the problems we are finding resolutions for are customers who are unique Each with different needs and expectations. Simply put technical knowledge and expertise cannot create a successful business model that can be sustained.
We need to be able to recognize and identify the people who have the ability to bridge the gaps for seamless and effective process delivery.

Take for instance a service-oriented company that must never undermine the importance of great customer service strategy. So hiring the right people for the job with the requisite skills is necessary. But even more so is training them to be able to bring their authentic voice to create a great customer experience in every call. This can change the way customers perceive the company’s products and services as well.
Although it must be added that such an approach must be consistent across all levels of interaction with the company.

Art of turning down what you cannot fulfill.

There is a profound saying ” Don’t bite more than you chew”

Valuable learning to be applied from here is never over-commit and then fail to fulfill it. In the service industry, there are situations where a request from a customer cannot be fulfilled for whatsoever reason and must be turned down. It is of utmost importance to be able to say no, but also suggest alternatives with empathy and consideration of the difficulty faced by the customer and acknowledge without over-commitment on what cannot be fulfilled.

In customer service like in life, our knowledge alone is never enough. What is important is what we do with it and how we show we care that makes the job well done.

Savvy


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WFH -The Global Shift

This Global Shift to Work From Home was meant to happen. The lockdown just hastened the process. With more and more work being computer-driven the approach to online meetings finding acceptance the shift was inevitable.

With increasing traffic and the associated fatigue, the rising costs of real estate, infrastructure, and equipment to maintain and sustain a physical office environment the Work From Home seems to be a more suitable effective and efficient alternative in the current scenario.

However, this will soon gain greater acceptance as employers will find although there are challenges people actually can be productive from wherever they are. And there are ways and tools as well to ensure it. So much system integration and analytics only show how it can turn the majority into adopting this method of employment. Unnecessary travel time and cost are saved, the energy can be utilized with resourcefulness.

Virtual meetings are adaptable and can even be recorded and replayed. So training modules can be conducted once and replayed.
As change is the need of the hour a series of altering and shifting of perspectives will be taking place simultaneously. In such difficult situations, we need to learn to be pliant to what’s required. Learning to be more collaborative cooperative and supportive to make the purpose worthwhile.

Virtual Work is the Future.

While this is an advantage for employees to be flexible with timing with greater time at disposal by cutting travel times and the need to get ready etc. It is also a possibility of radical shifts for Future entrepreneurs will have to learn from this experience and weigh the pros and cons carefully and cut unnecessary costs to be resourceful productive.

As for employees though the multidimensional dynamics of social interaction and sense of community in a physical office is lost, an online conversation is replete with its own tools to circumvent this.

However, with no face to face physical interaction, lesser office politics, and no watercooler gossips, it could certainly reduce the waste of unnecessary time and lead to greater efficiency.

Already with the drastic changes in the world economy and the predictions for challenging times ahead, it is time to find ways to reduce costs and increase online engagement which is already offering an array of productive resources and end to end collaborations that can change the way we work. It’s time to rethink and reinvent the way we work!

Savvy


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You Matter.

Are you too empathetic for your own good?
Are you putting yourself in others shoes so much that you disregard yourself?

Are you neglecting your own self for others’ needs?
Are you having shoulder stress and general fatigue?

Are you feeling worn out often and yet get dressed and show up?

Are you feeling you are giving more than you have…in words and deeds?

Maybe you are overstretching in the giving.
Remember you need to reach out but only until you are able to keep your own self in balance.
Otherwise, you will soon feel you have nothing left to give.

Are you unable to sleep well?
You toss and turn all through the night.
Are you are so tired that you are constantly down and have chronic pain?
Are you overpressured?
You feel responsible for others’ problems.

Time to check your own state of being.
It is quite possible …
Maybe you are being over accountable.
Maybe you are over accommodating.

Many of us may identify with some of these sensations. I have also born the brunt of being in the state, with my health affected, in spite of being aware, thinking it will self heal in time.

The truth is many us may even know we are in such situations that are exhausting our reserves and yet at times may be unable to take drastic measures to prevent them. Knowing is not enough! It is necessary to take a step to change.

The trick is to understand the circumstances that we are feeling overwhelmed by and choose to target our changes realistically.

To each, the problem presents itself uniquely! For some, it may be relationships and family or careers. For others, it may be a personal affliction or tendency to multitask beyond themselves or even battling over perfectionism.

Whatever the reason the sooner you realize that it is detrimental for your health and understand you need to implement lifestyle changes the better it will be.

Often in our efforts to be the best version of ourselves, we may go into a mode of putting ourselves into more than we can handle. Our mind body and spirit also need rest and recovery from the daily stressors that life doles out to us all.

We can learn from nature

Everything is best in balance.

Savvy

Each of us may have different coping strategies to overcome the challenges but the problem is our purpose of being is so passionately driven and in the determined perseverance of what we choose to accomplish and achieve in our lifetime we often fail to recognize the state of our own lives until it feels too overwhelming.

Until the lack of sleep creates discomfort and disorders eventually leading to inflammations and diseases in the body and mind. We are guilty of undermining ourselves. We need to remember our sole responsibility as adults rest with us and we need to adhere to our health needs. After all, it is the only body we have. The importance of a healthy body and mind cannot be stressed enough.

Things every one of us can easily implement include :

  • Optimize food: Check your health and improve your food habits
  • Avoid self-victimization: Choose to not feel overtly responsible for all.
  • Plan your day: Prioritize tasks Schedule a personal time as often as you feel necessary. And value it.
  • Avoid procrastination: Recognize your symptoms and take action.
  • Sleep well. Remember you matter and health comes first. Only if you are healthy can you do anything else?
  • Do what you love and you will love what you do.
  • Most of all choose to Live life lovingly!

Savvy


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Take a moment

Take a moment and answer to yourself these 10 questions that will work as a gentle reminder towards developing Self awareness.

10 Questions in Self Awareness

1.What are my thoughts focusing on this now?
2.What am I cultivating in this now?
3.What am I creating today?
4.What am I inviting myself?
5.What am I holding on to?
6.What am I letting go of?
7.What are my needs?
8.What are my wants?
9.What am I grateful for?
10.What is my learning today?

Choose to be honest with your answers as you pause to understand and you will find guidance in Balancing Your Life In Every Now.

Savvy


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Staying Peaceful.

Living in this now is a sustaining yet exacting task and as every moment presents itself uniquely there is no game plan other than living in it, being at peace, sensing peace and spreading peace in every now as life plays on…so own up to your share of peace.

Savvy


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Power of Celestial Light

We are reborn every night

As the beam of sun shines upon us

Every day, we are restored with hope

And faith in the consistency.

Every night awakens to a new day

At the dawn of light

Darkness gives way even in the presence

Of a single ray of light.

Such is the power of light

To instill hope faith and trust

In the possibilities awaiting us.

To envision and uncover our undiscovered light.

To overcome the shadows

As they recede & fade away

For light makes the world more beautiful

As nature is all aglow, in its pristine glory.

So if you are feeling overshadowed in this now

Keep the faith, for your ray of light

Is just around the corner to meet you.

Keep the faith! You will step into the light!

Savvy


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Settling into new norms.

A few reflections

As the world grapples with the current scenario of a pandemic, we need to support one another to be emotionally stable to deal with the challenges ahead.
Often the fear of being infected by being anywhere near a quarantine area is scary for most of us. We overthink of infections of many kinds that are looming large around us.

Our inner demons surface and we need to put to rest our internal fears of panic to survive through this all.

We are all unique individuals and are differently motivated. But in these difficult times, we need to rise above our individual perspectives and opinions and think about how we can be more responsible from where we are.

First of all we need to update ourselves of the changing times and educate ourselves as to what measures we can begin to adopt. Like home quarantine or self isolation. If so then we need to know how to effectively manage our existing resources and most importantly efficiently use our time at hand.

The initial euphoria of unexpected holidays will soon wear off as after all humans are social beings. They will begin to miss the sense of community and interaction in time.

What is important…

We need to come up with, how we plan to structure our day. Each of us in different parts of the world is affected in one way or another.
But acceptance of what is, and adapting along the way helps us tide through to be more positive and productive instead of getting depressed and demotivated.

Our immune system needs to be cared for by the intake of healthy hygienically prepared food. We need to stay hydrated.
Besides that, we also can ensure we are able to set aside some time for movement and physical exercises be it in the form of yoga pilates dance or workouts.

The importance of sleep and play in keeping us healthy cannot be stressed enough.
Exercising consideration and care in expression becomes paramount in these times.

It is necessary to stay motivated and empowered in empathy in these difficult times.

In case of lockdown situations if applicable besides working out on self-sufficiency to survive, we need to make an effort to create amicable situations at home as emotions can be highly strung in time.

If we are working from home, then a bit of forethought and planning can help better the entire experience for you as well those you live with.

If there are broken links and spaces created all of a sudden, remember light enters through them all to reset everything to alignment.

And despite all the gloom and doom that we are experiencing at this moment remember there is always something positive that springs forth in time.

In the meantime let’s be grateful enough to appreciate the blessings we already have and pray for those who need them most now.

God bless all.

Savvy


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On Being



When  things seem to turn chaotic
When all seems a little askew
When challenges seem to surmount
When life seems a little too dreary

Choose to believe
There is hope
Believe in the good
And be the good!

Savvy


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Beauty of kindness

A small gesture of kindness be it in words deeds or actions builds up the world with hope and happiness.

Every bit of kindness paves the way to enthuse another heart.

The world needs kindness to survive these critical times

Kudos to all the kindhearted whose selfless acts of goodwill are leaving impressions in the sands of time.

Let’s stay kind and encourage kindness in others

Kindness is beautiful!

Savvy


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Making the most of it.

An interesting story share that conveys the importance of making the most of lifes difficult situations…. do read.

After 60 years of ideal married life , they had no secrets between each other. The wife’s only request was not to ask anything or open the wooden box she had kept in the attic. The husband respected that.

On her deathbed the wife told the husband ok. I want to tell u everything. Pl. Bring the box on the attic.

When he opened the box, there were 2 woollen dolls, his wife made and 10 lakhs. in cash.
The wife explained,when I came newly married to your house my grandmother gave a wise advice. She told never to argue with you for anything. If I’m angry she told me make a woolen doll which I was good at. I practiced that all these years.

Only 2 dolls. The husband was so happy he made his wife angry with him on only 2 occasions in theses 60 years.
What about the 10 lakhs? he asked.
Oh! That is the money I got by selling the other dolls I made.