The year of change

I got a message from Linkedin last week that "250 of my contacts changed jobs within the last one year". That's a whopping 25% of my contacts.

I am well aware that the year of 2010 is definitely not representative. The two years preceding 2010 were literally wash-out years, especially for finance professional who form bulk of my contacts at Linkedin. Many people were waiting by the sidelines, patiently biding their times, and waiting for the tide to turn favourable.

Even if we take these factors into consideration and discount the above figure by say 30%, the attrition rate still is at around 18%, which is definitely not something which is normal. I don't need to explain here that "Attrition" is a very costly affair for the employers. With increasing employment choices for the people and the fight amongst the employers for the right talent, the problem is only getting worser for the employers.

Isn't it time to redesign our strategies towards talent management?

The joy of giving..

Of late, I have been taking along a few old clothes in my car. The intention is to give it to someone who is in dire need of it. I come across these people at signals, roadside pavements and many other public places. I have so far been able to give away 2 shirts (over 3 encounters) during the past 10 days or so.

The first one was to a person who was lying on a pedestrian pavement on a busy flyover. I parked my car a few paces ahead, walked back and then handed over a shirt to this guy. This person looked at me, accepted the shirt and then swiftly went back to his world. No words were exchanged..

The second encounter happened when I was at a petrol bunk. There was this poor man, along with his wife. Tattered clothes, hungry eyes and a weak frame. A few people who were walking past, took notice of the couple. A small proportion of this crowd shed their pocket change.. I went to the couple and gave a shirt to the old man. The wife looked more pleased than the husband and folded her hands in gratitude. The husband's eyes acknowledged the act with thanks. No words were exchanged..

The last one was on a hot sunny day. This man was walking on a corner of a road. All he had was a really tattered cloth clad around his waist. His last bath must have been at least a few months ago. He was taking out rice from a dirty plastic cover he had in his hand and was eating. I dreaded to think where must he have picked it up. I ventured out and gave him a shirt, pretty confident that he must be pleased to receive it. But alas, he saw me eye to eye, shook his head and move away. No words were exchanged..

All the three experiences were unique. The first man took the shirt, because someone gave it to him. The woman in the second encounter was in as much need as her husband and did not get anything from me, yet was overjoyed because her husband got something. And finally a man, who had nothing with him, but yet walked away from accepting something which was a basic need.

One thing was common though.. The joy with which you walk away.....