Switch Off... Save On

A Dark Night that brings Light... Contradiction right there, don't you think? Flashback to the year 2007, when the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) at Sydney organized a 'switch off' event to drive awareness on the issue of climate change. What started as an environmental event in a city, soon catapulted into the international sphere, reaching the interiors of almost every single nation on the globe. This event was no other than 'Earth Hour' - a day marked with people switching off their power for an hour.

This initiative is to gear people to become more responsible and thoughtful citizens of Earth. Earth gives us plenty of resources that help us live. However, we have been depleting the planet's resources at an alarming rate. While environmental issues like deforestation, pollution, animal cruelty, among others, power consumption is one issue that is escalating with furious abandon. We, as children of Earth, need to learn to save power to save Earth.

Earth Hour that is mostly scheduled in the month of March, is a day that focuses on the issue of conserving power to help in reducing the issue of Climate Change around the world. Our consumption of power increases radiation that causes climate as we know it to undergo dangerous unbalance. Global warming, ice-caps melting among the rest are some of the few examples of how our irresponsible behaviour toward power can bring destruction to our planet and to us.

It's never too late to join in a noble cause. You can pledge your support for Earth Hour by visiting the following links:

Earth Hour Website

Earth Hour - FB Page

Earth Hour India - FB Page


Team Ogma Robur have pledged our Support to Earth Hour... not just for today, but for everyday. Are you joining too?

Photo Courtesy: Earth Hour India

Embed Value in Appraisal

Appraisal is one of the company features any employee looks forward to. His annual performance is taken into account, weighed and analyzed to determine his future. This system is fraught with tension, awkwardness and frankly, a lot of dilly-dallying by the employers and the employees. Most are familiar with this routine, but have you ever thought of changing it? Have you thought to embed value in appraisal?

Esteemed Mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik once narrated a story about Hanuman and his mother. In this story, Hanuman’s mother asked him why he went through the trouble of building a bridge to Lanka when he could have struck the demons with one swipe of his tail and save Sita from Ravana. Hanuman answered saying that, no one asked him to do that, whatever Ram told him to do, he did that. He said that it was after all, Ram’s story, not his own.

In the above story, you can see that Hanuman carried out the duties set to him. His abilities were kept in the background while he fulfilled the role set to him. Also, since it was Ram’s story, it would be inappropriate of him to take liberty with Ram’s mission.

An appraisal should be simply that. An assessment of the assignments delegated to the employee, and the performance of an employee in doing justice to them should be considered in the appraisal. It is a measure of the appropriate usage of resources to achieve the results or goals set down. If an employee has performed effectively to meet the requirements – then no question should arise on his capability or efficiency – the fact that he has delivered what was asked of him should be enough to determine his appraisal.

One also needs to take into account that an employee does not work on his own on a project. He is aided and assisted by a team, juniors, subordinates and seniors. In an appraisal, one needs to look at the growth, qualities, and development of the employee himself, rather than seeing how the employee has contributed to a company’s growth. Wondering why so? Well, when you appreciate a person for their self-growth, it builds a sense of higher self-worth that reflects in the performance, which leads to… the company growing. Avoid making an employee feel like he’s doing a favour to the company, it will never work. Instead, appreciate and acknowledge his inputs, as well as failings, give him an honest, balanced feedback that will help him help you.

Inculcate value in the organization by valuing the good qualities of the employees. They are not just a means to the company’s end. They are the company – they make the company what it is, which is why it is extremely essential to value them.

On a Lighter Note - Dilbert

What Goes Around Comes Around

You might have come across the phrase 'What goes around, comes around'. Have you ever wondered why exactly is this phrase uttered? Consider the circular path of life and the world.

In our Galaxy, the planets revolve around the Sun on the path of their Orbits. They go all around the Sun and come back to the same point. A similar circular path is found in the Food Chain - the plant grows in soil with the help of the sun, a grasshopper eats the plant, a frog then eats the grasshopper, followed by a snake that eats the frog, the snake is then consumed by a hawk, the hawk is a top predator - that is, it does not have a natural enemy - so the top predator (hawk) dies and decomposes back to the soil. The Food Chain therefore completes a whole circle. The Circle of Life too has the four stages of Birth, Growth, Reproduction, and Death. The process of Birth - Death - Birth creates a Circle of Life in the World. This process is expressed beautifully in the famous animation movie 'Lion King'

The Circle of Life - The Lion King

Every minute action brings about a chain of incidents that make one go through a cycle of emotions and changes. There is no real end, as a circle denotes motion. Think of the wheel - a circular invention to help in the movement of machines and vehicles.

In business too we have departments, designations, and processes that at the very basic level follow a circular path. A system is set in place in order to process the work in an organized and methodical manner. This circular process follows a steady rhythm and helps in the smooth functioning of the company.

The movement in a circle is never stagnant. When there is movement, there is experience, and when there is experience, there is learning, with learning comes knowledge, and knowledge helps us to 'move' forward. So, there you see, we are back to 'move'ment! The Circle continues. It only takes a pint of goodness to begin the chain of positive experiences.

What are you waiting for? Start the Circle of Goodness now!