Friday, August 7, 2009

MapleCode Talent Search: Vision and Promise

At MapleCode there are five imperatives to business – Clear Vision, Target & Commitments, Transparency, Meaningful Marketing and Performance-Oriented Management. We focus on priorities that will assure we are acting on things that are most important for our Client organization. We generate value by asking what do our customers (hiring managers and candidates) want and need and how best we can serve them. We want to become more competitive in our industry and improve. We work on a clear strategy and process. Customer focus is mandatory and Value creation is always the measure of our effectiveness. Our message is simple, we must first listen and then think. We initiate talks with people from different functions to fix problems. You learn only after you listen to people.

MapleCode’s vision is to be the "Best in class Talent Search organization with focus on Quality of Hire, Cost, Time to fill and Hiring Manager + Candidate Satisfaction, every time and everywhere". We aim to do existing things better and newer initiatives faster. We are motivated and our passion translates to all our stakeholders. We monitor our performance consistently, and when there is a problem, face it and resolve it right away.

Today MapleCode has developed a strong Talent Search team and we ensure we go from strength to strength tightening our existing process and creating new methodologies for "Hiring the Best".

MapleCode believes Managers have to focus on building tomorrow's successors today and are expected to be a good coach looking at the future while working on the present - "Good leaders produce more leaders, not more followers."

Challenging objectives are weapons to avoid complacency and arrogance. Each of us at MapleCode create intensity even when things are going smoothly and think of new challenges or levels to reach for. We are aggressive and achieve stretch targets. We continue to build on strength and our motivation is to work harder and smarter.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Survival of the Aspiring Manager in today’s global economy

Survival of the Aspiring Manager in today’s economy

By Vinod Thomas (IBMR, Bangalore, July 29,2009)

Good Morning to the Dean, Faculty & Staff at IBMR and Parents. Congratulations and a warm welcome to the aspiring managers and entrepreneurs on the Inaugural Function of the Class of 2009.

My thoughts today revolve on the Survival of the fittest, or should we say Survival of the aspiring manager, in today’s global economy.

"Life's not about waiting for the storms to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain." ~Vivian Greene.

The meltdown of the Global economy has affected us all. Thanks largely to the parents, the students of today are well insulated from the pressures.

But Industry expectations have gone up and there continues to be a gross mismatch between the needs of an Employer and an Employee. We all have become global in our thinking, but we want a lifestyle that is 9 to 5. Unfortunately, today there is no 9 to 5 job. Every employer wants every second of your time.

Strong Performers need not fear the bad economy. There is always reward for good work.

Take for example the IT industry in India. Over the last 25 years a lot of sweat and blood has gone into making what it is today. People toiled hard and made it a colossus. But today’s youth have to see beyond the glamour of the IT industry. We have to continue to be focussed, work hard, stretch and be persistent. We have to endure the pain that all successful entrepreneurs have undergone to build organizations. For that the sacrifices are huge and we can make an impact by focusing on the following areas - goals, character, time management, personal health, money, courage and responsibility.

I would leave you all with the following thoughts to action. They are all time tested

1. Strengthen your basics

2. Make learning your first priority. Be a Fast learner and be adept in Re-skilling & De-skilling yourself

3. Set Stretch Targets / Goals - Set high goals for yourself. If you set low goals you’ll finally meet them all and eventually get bored.

4. The power of Discipline is a must

5. Perseverance in all that you do

6. Flexibility in approach

7. Ability to stand on your own feet through sheer determination and grit.

8. Think Long term – all your solutions need to be long term focussed

9. Patience – Work your way up the career ladder

10. Stretch - Ability to work under pressure

11. Be responsible, deliver, and then demand

12. Just remember...people are like sticks of dynamite; the power's on the inside but nothing happens until the fuse gets lit.

As tomorrow’s leaders

  • Can you embody the statesmanship and ethical entrepreneurship abilities of Ratan Tata?
  • Can you create wealth for share holders like Mukesh Ambani?
  • Can you think Big like Anil Ambani?
  • Can you be engaged in the transformation of telecom into a lifestyle business like Sunil Mittal?
  • Can you be the Bollywood outsider who made it to the top through sheer grit like Shah Rukh Khan?

If yes, then see you on the Top 5 Powerful People list, 10-20 years from now.

The difference between greatness and mediocrity is "To get what you've never had, you must do what you've never done."

Wishing you all the very best and hoping that all our initiatives at IBMR will help you to be successful in your endeavours.

Continue to dream and act on them.

Thank you.