Frontier India » Smita Mukherjee

How HR Can Add Value To Achieve Goals

Smita Mukherjee — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 04:00:50 +0000

Today, hiring the right kind of associates is the biggest challenge for all Human Resource professionals since they are the edifice of any company. The challenge for organizations is not only to make potential employees aware of their company as a good place to work, and bring the best applicants successfully through the recruitment and hiring process, but to retain them, ensure their understanding of
the company’s goals and commitment to them, and provide the environment and structures to motivate them to give of their best.

It is a give and take relationship where “What’s in it for me “is the essence of any employee employer relationship. HR plays the pivotal role for building this marriage.

HR Professionals add value when their work helps someone reach their goals. It is not the design of a program or policy that matters most, but what recipients gain from these actions. In this competitive world we must have a positive buy in for all actions that need to be implemented.

HR is the catalyst which infuses these values, procedures by taking the first step of practicing what they preach.

Image: Courtyard by Marriott Gurgaon

In Marriott, the good old days of HR just hiring has taken a back seat, now we hire, train to retain, look at employee satisfaction and engagement. We are also responsible for developing talent and living up to our motto” We give carriers not jobs” Human Resources is under increasing pressure to move from transaction management and oversight responsibilities to a strategic function that positively impacts organizational results. Implementing innovations to your organization isn’t just about doing HR better, but also about delivering business value.. There’s a growing consensus among HR Professionals that the modern HRMS has already squeezed all the inefficiencies possible from transactions and reduced HR staff as much as it can. Now, as HR moves processes to the web, the measures of success will be increased productivity and added business value. Traditionally, HR has been tasked with much of the responsibility for these critical tasks. Low morale in the company? Though organizations widely recognize the need to attract, manage and develop people, today HR Professionals must strive to do much more. They must enable their organization to build global HR networks in order to expand and prosper in the international arena.

They must also develop human resources that continually build competitive advantage in an ever-changing environment. And, they must add value to their organization’s distinctive competencies.

Most companies today face declining revenues, increasing costs, shrinking market share and depleting shareholder value. What does HR do in this situation? How will HR play its role to truly bringing value to the company? HR can add value to the organization in the aspect of achieving effective employee relations by sharing correct and apt information to all employees in a structured and timely manner so that they can understand what their organization is trying to do, and what are needs to do in order to achieve its objectives. In today’s new business order, HR leads initiatives that improve workforce performance, productivity, and satisfaction. HR can intervene and add value throughout the enterprise it serves by helping it achieve these goals Development: aggressive goals, improving innovation productivity, creating more new products and services, more new applications, better ideas. Understand your customers’ ‘business’ Link HR plans/goals to customer needs Be proactive Find solutions, not barriers Understand broader environment (labor, politics, legislation, technology). Allow time for strategic thinking thus creating a solid infrastructure in people management and have great deliverables..

HR embodies the soul of a hotel and adds value to the overall development and shaping up of a great career for one and all. They are the mirror of an organization to the outer world and they are carving a niche in enabling each organization with great people to work with.

The Balancing Act

Smita Mukherjee — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:39:58 +0000

Work, family, friends, stress, colleagues, food, personal space – very familiar words in our lives today. As I sit and pen down thoughts for this subject, I am excited just trying to unearth certain facets of life about me and you. Yes, we are talking about “Work- Life Balance”, and what better way than HR talks about it.

What is work life balance?? In a layman’s term it is equilibrium of work, life, family and personal space. The question that haunts us all the time is how to strike a balance? Let’s start unrevealing the truth.

Work, the professional word is a crazy jigsaw puzzle to solve. My almost ten years of work experience has given me a total of seven friends for life. I personally feel that when we go to work with an open mind, with no pre-conceived notions – it works wonders. I am a born rebel but more so I am complete natural. My only work life ethics is; no gossip (even a part of it) amicable pleasant acquaintances (work colleagues) and no judgments. It’s easy…. Trust me!! Go to work, give your 100%, be nice to talk to and leave. In this whole process I have realized that all these seven friends have automatically become a part of my life.

Image: Courtyard by Marriott Gurgaon

Once I was watching Oprah Winfrey Show (I am a die hard fan of her) and she actually discussed a huge work and personal life problem, when people try to please, called the pleasing act, even out of your bounds and character. To maintain a sanctity and work place just be yourself (most of it), permutations and combinations need to be made as per your work life and place. I just recollect I and my boss are like chalk and cheese; we have our own set of friends, work ethics, and thoughts. We are not Siamese twins, hardly eat together, rarely talk, like lost friends but amazingly over a period of two years, we know only one thing “ We are there for each other”. This has only happened because I have never tried to please her and she has never tried to be someone else. We share mutual respect and are great critics of each other and believe me, we are a lethal team (I love it). So no pretences, just be yourself.

Moving on Super Mom, Super Dad, Super Boss, and Super Friend…..that’s the word “Super” the world is running after not having an aorta of idea that supernatural is not the word. So what’s the word??? For me it’s being basic, humble and no way super. I am a mother of a six year old, and citing a befitting example are days when my daughter wants to be herself and communicate minimum, do I panic? No, its okay, I let it be! She loves Karate, so she is doing Karate. I have always made an effort to just do as much as I can, never go overboard as parents unconsciously overburden and live their dreams through their children, that’s where it goes Kaput. Dance classes, tuitions, swimming, we want our kids to be super kids. It’s never a given that a kid who comes first in a class is a winner in life. So tell your children to give 100%, but don’t set such stressful benchmarks. That’s the reason why today’s children grow up so fast. Its okay if you have magi and coffee on Sundays, its okay if you brunch, not have five meals. God its okay!!!

Pursue a hobby of your choice for 15 minute in a day; it’s a great stress buster. Go out with your girlfriend and boyfriend for dinner, wear jeans and let your hair loose, its okay! You are not a great couple if you know minute by minute details of each other’s life. You are good couple only when you let be and give them the space to be whom and what they are (not too much okay). You must share one meal with your family a day or in a two, days that help build a bond.

Take some time out to just thank God for a beautiful day. Spirituality is not about pilgrimages, it’s about belief and gratitude for the almighty. To sum it up people, the perfect life balance as per me is sheer imperfection and authentic you.

There may never be another now, make the most of today.
There may never be another you, make the most of yourself.

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Training is a personality development tools for associates

Smita Mukherjee — Tue, 31 May 2011 11:09:21 +0000

Unwinding the chapters of life….

Years ago, I had an English teacher Mrs. Mediratta who I was in awe off more than my mother (both being teachers in my school). Somewhere I was always like a wild butterfly and a brat in school, but she would invariably get the better of me and I would come around. I was a good orator and writer in school but impatience was an innate quality attached to it. One faithful day, life changed when my English teacher spoke to me, and said “Smita, the world is at your feet, conquer the world girl”. That was an indispensable moment of truth in my life, which turned me into a new leaf. Ever since, the thought of making a difference in my own way have always mirrored my mind. It’s been 10 years and I am having those dreams after that rendezvous.

Training is perceived by many as a fulfillment of company needs and filling training hours and tick marking all those points. I am doubly blessed to have a mentor in my General Manager and Marriott as a company where trainings are full learning’s and somewhere ice-breakers to the unknown you. Our Endeavour to hold a session as trainers with Marriott means somewhere to touch a chord and bring about a change.

Courtyard by Marriott Gurgaon

Today’s competitive world completely believes “what you see is what sells”. So my only take away for my group as a facilitator is, package yourself well and strive to do commendable work at all times, and develop great attitude and ROCK ON!!!! We have various trainings in the hotel like telephone etiquette’s, dining table manners, and teamwork, customer service which just enhances the softer skills and is a curtain raiser to the hidden you….We must always strive through our learning, that training needs o be discussions in exchange of thoughts rather than a tutor lead assignment. It is always better to build a story that captivates your heart and mind rather than a soliloquy. The vision is an uphill task but the moment changes our perception about trainings, they will be ironic in our lives and great fun.

To do so, our trainer’s fraternity should also strive to acquire knowledge, be abreast with the latest in the training world and develop our own selves to develop others. Its great Karma, when my students and associates thank me for helping them turn their dreams into reality.

Bidding adieu I would only say that trainers are a God sent to just leave an essence of self development in the lives of others and let their journey begin.

Until next time Adios!!!!!

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HR Best Practices

Smita Mukherjee — Tue, 24 May 2011 10:23:02 +0000

The greatest achievement of the human spirit is to live up to one’s opportunities and make the most of one’s resources. HR in every organization is the edifice of such practices. Times have seen a radical change in the mindset of an employee and an employer, it’s a tough competitive world and each one of us has expectations to be looked after well by the company we work for. It’s a great sharing to see and understand what all HR bodies are doing to keep best employee practices. Just a couple of days back read an article pertaining to the same. Today, work life and personal life balance is an indispensable part of every one of us, many companies have held that nerve of emotions and more and more working parents have the privilege of day cares, special schools and education facilities for their children and immediate families.

The trend of a flat Hierarchy and approachable upper management with 6offs/8 offs a month are also great add on to work satisfaction. Marriott International has as a company great learning’s through trainings. The mantra to being one of the best is “Train to retain” Rewards and recognition, focused training for first time mangers in various departments, cross exposure are also great motivators. Being a cut above the rest can only be possible if we empower and listen to our employees. Today’s stress levels are very high with work pressure at

Image: Courtyard by Marriott Gurgaon

its best. Great unwinding sessions, yoga classes, gymnasium, just bring in the feel good factor. Special amenities stores, grocery and vegetable takeaways, medical insurance, lateral movement, international exposures has tremendously helped in retention and positive work culture.

Skip meetings also are a great way to bring in fair and authentic approach to a work place. Being an HR person myself it’s heartening to see the length of efforts HR puts in trying to make everyone happy and content. Autocratic style of functioning is no more an option, when one feels that everyone is a “BOSS” invariably encourages team members to take a call on their targets and goals. Citing an example from one of the greatest employers I work for is the AAW week for all our associates. It’s an HR driven one week long celebration to thank everyone single person for what they do. Full week witnesses euphoria of amazing sorts, where everyone is just happy content and ready for another year of hard work. Have never witnessed so much at the same time and this is definitely the essence of Marriott International. Profit linked incentive programs and bonus also help HR stimulate great work culture. The jump from good to great is in terms of employee relationship is definitely an uphill task, but none the less HR in every company is doing a commendable job for the bigger picture in the lives of one and all

If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.

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