How to Build Your Presence on Social Media

 These are learnings over about 10-12 years, because I am no social media guru.

Be yourself most of the time. Intellectual, argumentative, funny, sarcastic, innocent, curious, engaging, or some combination.

Use visuals wherever the medium lets you. 

Be original, and don't rely on forwards alone. Though forwards also help you establish an identity. Caption forwards too..

Comment on your friends' posts, rather than only liking them.

Use the medium regularly, so people can track you and know you better. 

Explain more. Where you were, what you were up to, or what the occasion was.. memories are shorter than you think.

Edit photos to make them more attractive, without losing their essence.

Teaching Tips

 My experience tells me that some of these work. Of course, you need to discover what works for your students, based on many factors. I have tried some of these (successfully, I think) in my classes over the years, mostly in higher education in management.

Instead of making a statement, ask a question. Wait for an answer. You can ask someone specific what he or she thinks about it, if there's no answer in a few seconds. Or, make a joke about why everyone is asleep, was the food good (if after lunch), or are they hungry (if before).

A joke always works, because if students have an overdose of dull classes one after the other in a day, they are looking for release. It gets their attention, almost always.

An activity promotes discussion, better than a moderated discussion or a general case discussion. You can always close with a moderated presentation or discussion after the activity, or a written submission and a discussion of a few of those. 

Feedback also helps. Immediate feedback for a presentation, or written comments in the class immediately after an assignment is the most useful.

My Two Cents on Personal Branding

 For what it's worth, I will share my thoughts on the subject. 

1. Being an expert counts, so be good, very good, at at least one thing. Could be photography. I know lots of brilliant photographers, and I remember them because of it, whoever they may be otherwise.
2. Develop a human quality that's memorable-courteous behaviour in these rude times can be one. Kindness towards animals (all, not some) could be another. Maneka Gandhi first became a brand through animal activism.
3. Be active on whichever forum you choose to be on. Could be a real or social medium. A blog, Twitter, facebook, instagram, LinkedIn,..choose any one, but be regular on the chosen one. 
4. Multiple dimensions of a personality will help, not hinder. Be an expert at one, but also have multiple interests-that will develop you as a person, and a brand. (Brand Reinforcement). Some people write well ( I have a ghost-writer friend), some sing, and some dance (I have a student who teaches modern dance now). I listen to music-golden oldies in Hindi. Some have an interest in art-drawing, painting etc. and others in cooking! A prof. friend is into Chess-playing.
5. Meet people when possible. I have benefited from every person I have met, almost. They always have a fresh perspective that you never thought about. Which brings me to the next point. Brand Rejuvenation.
6. Keep evolving, and learning. Some people change wardrobes. Learning goes deeper, and you can do it through reading, watching good films, TV or OTT shows too.
7. Keep away from trash, time-wasters (fixed Sports, hateful or propagandist media) and instead DO things-relax, even, or meet a new person. If nothing, go for a walk, or travel solo.
8. Get a good photographer as a friend, to help you create memories to stand by (I have appointed Kanika Mhendiratta, my former student-she's on her way to click some pics!). Take a lot of pics yourself, and share them.
9. Last tip. Keep records, or archives of your journey. (Brands with a long memory of their history are valued more). A diary, if possible. 

A shorter video version of this is available at the link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR03jSS4JVs78nDFqLEtUb5Vs9P1WHxmzRBHH-FyhbPoP-PPN-Z00rwQv-o&v=FdBOh4JntM4&feature=youtu.be

Book Review- TED Talks

This is a book about what TED talks are, and How to be a TED talker if you want to be one- straight from the horse's mouth. Chris Anderson runs the TED franchise now, after the original founder.

There are a lot of pointers on how everyone has a unique story to tell, and is a possible TED speaker. But also on how to prepare for a talk, within the 18 minute limit.

Many Dos and some Don'ts are a part of this, but what makes it unique and useful are the examples from various TED talks, on subjects ranging from laughter to the nature of DNA and their impact on various things that matter. Or, How More Choice Makes us Unhappier! The talk must have a structure that is easy for the audience to follow, but you can also have suspense, humour, visuals or dreams about a better future to enthuse them. Being yourself, and connecting with the audience as a human are the most important. Most people in any audience want you to do well, and will respond, unless you are perceived as arrogant, or as selling something.

He has an engaging way of explaining things. And illustrating a thought process that could go into a TED talk, though he insists there is no single right way to do it.

Anyone with an iota of interest in speaking well would do well to read this book-whether you want to be one of the TEDs or not.

How to Tackle Bosses

I am now into consulting for The Greater Good. I am kicking this off with a simple manual on How to Tackle Bosses- one of the most vexing issues for inexperienced young people taking their baby steps into corporate life. No, you don't owe me. This is purely for society's greater good.

1. Flatter him/her. This can take a frontline worker in any department and make him/her a unit head faster than a Porsche can go from 0-100 kms.

2. Arrive at work just before he does, and leave just after. Works wonders, and results in quick promotions.

3. Ask him for advice on inconsequential matters. Everyone likes to be seen as a wise guy (in the positive sense), and this will create a good impression. The complicated stuff, you can decide for yourself-you don't want him to screw that up!

4. Report regularly to him on what you have been doing. This can be a mix of 40% reality and 60% fiction, but realistic fiction. This helps to create an impression that you believe in hierarchy and discipline-virtues for an infant in corporate-dom.

5. Volunteer for any committee, task force or project team for which he calls for volunteers. Chances are, you won't have to do anything. You can think of excuses at leisure, because he will have moved on to his next pet theme by the time you were expected to deliver something.

You may contact me for some more tips. And it will help if you say that these worked!

What a Workplace Should Strive For

We all know what makes you successful, and what you as an employee should bring to the table (the job-you may have a table or not). This is about what the workplace should think about. And do, hopefully.

Dignity of labour is in my view, number one for a human in any job. He or she must be treated with dignity, and not as a robotic or mechanical cog in the wheel. The latter is beautifully demonstrated by Charlie Chaplin in Modern Times.

Show him a reasonable future in terms of what he can do to progress to a level above his current one. This need not be in terms of just salary, but a good mix of work where he gets to use his skills best.

Anything that fosters an element of camaraderie among his team-mates will create an atmosphere where he wants to come back every day.

Autonomy to the extent possible, is crucial for many. In my view, this is what brings people into teaching, particularly to autonomous institutions which also provide autonomy to its faculty and staff. An empowered employee usually does far better work than a hyper-controlled one.

This is apart from practical solutions to his/her problems, such as transport, or a creche for young mothers to be able to work.