( Originally dated : 23rd Jan, 2008 )
Some times, we stop and think about the real meaning about the words which we have taken for granted. 'Professional' is one word which is in my mind for last few days. Today I decided to understand the real meaning of it and spend some time for the same.
The word meaning of 'Professional' as per dictionary is as follows :
(adj) following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain
(noun) a person who is expert at his or her work
So, I should be an 'expert at my work' to be called as a professional.
Now, I googled to get what the world think about professional. Here are two articles which I found interesting.
1. http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/jul/24prof.htm
The essence of this article is as follows :
1. Professionals are responsive
2. Professionals are knowledgeable
3. Professionals care about what they do
4. Professionals teach you something
2. http://www.systemsguild.com/GuildSite/TDM/Professionalism.html
This is a big article about 'software professionalism' - take your time ( or print it out ) and read it. But, the essence of the article summarizes in the last paragraph. Let me quote here for your easy reading.
"If the work is noble, the catalytic function that is management of that work is even more noble. We need to assert and re-assert the essential respectability of what managers do. It is not a far-fetched contention that management is a noble calling. What could be more admirable, more professional, than the manager's most essential tasks: guiding, forming, coaching, and inspiring people, building healthy corporate culture and safe and productive teams? We will never succeed in building professional awareness among programmers and analysts and designers and testers and integrators, unless we also succeed in fostering a professional awareness among their managers."
So, my confusion is over.
I am an expert, I am responsive, I am knowledgeable, I care about what I do, I teach my team & my customer something. I guide, form, coach and inspire people and help building healthy corporate culture and safe and productive team.
So, I happily realised that I am a professional - that too an extremely good one!!!
Enjoy!!!
Sunday 24 February, 2008
Friday 15 February, 2008
"Doctor's Deadline" - A professional Story by me
Originally dated Wednesday, 16 Jan, 2008
Note : This story is created by me to explain the professional experiences and lessons I learnt from my professional life - first one of its kind. Stories are good to explain complex ideas. Great Gurus have used it, extensively. Jesus Chirst has used similies in plenty to explain the complex ideas of theology and practical philosophy. You can find numeours similies and stories in all great civilizations - ofcource, Upanishads, puranas, panchathantra and the great epics of Indian subcontinent have used this mode of communication extensively.. And me, a humble human being in this earth, also finds stories and similies are the best way to express a complex idea which I learnt painfully in my life - personal or professional.
Another motto in my life "Anyone can make things complex. But, making it simple is very complex - there lies the difference in professional talent".
Originally written to communicate a message to my team of software professionals - reproducing here for the benefit of everyone - in any profession. Enjoy!!
Doctor's Deadline! - A story by James Varkey
---------------------------------------------------------------
A rich and powerful man had a chest pain. He decided to find a solution for it. He searched and selected a reputed heart surgeon for consultation. The man is very busy. So while booking the appointment, he informed the patient that the consultation should finish within one hour. Doctor agreed, because he wanted the man as his client and one hour is a fair estimate for a typical consultation based on his experience.
The diagnosis started. After half way through the consultation, the doctor realized that the patient has to go through few more tests to find out the root cause of his decease. But, this might take couple of more hours. The deadline ends within 30 minutes.
He has two options.
1. The doctor can admit to his patient that he cannot complete in time, thus not fulfilling his commitment. To do a good job - either the patient has to stay back for another 2 - 4 hours or has to come back another day. Probably the doctor might loose the patient to another doctor.
2. The doctor can assume (best guess) some analysis results and give the man the medicines by end of one hour. He will be able to keep the deadline. But the stakes are high.
What option you want your doctor to select if you are the patient? In fact, for a good doctor, there is no second option. A good doctor decides his own deadline. And that's what expected.
For us in technical services, deadlines are tight always. Do Work hard and try different options to meet the deadlines.
BUT, Never, never, never ever assume too many things and never do a work or make a delivery for the sake of meeting a deadline. The stakes are high.
NEVER COMPROMISE ON THE RIGHT WORK FOR DEADLINES.
When confused, think like a doctor and remember that your client's business health is in your hands - you are responsible on the decisions you make. Few days delay in requirement phase, estimation or design delivery might save thousands of hours of wasted effort, tens of sleepless nights of lot of people or even the entire project later. Think long term, never loose the focus on the final goal - successful delivery that works!
Keep your professional integrity higher than anything, when it comes to technical consulting or advice.
Your clients will appreciate this. Your manager will appreciate it. Tens or hundreds of hapless programmers will appreciate this while they burn the midnight oil to meet the delivery deadlines.
It will serve the organization better in long term. End of the day, it will make more money and its brand name will be valued more.
Remember the Doctor's Deadline!!!
Thanks,
James
Note : This story is created by me to explain the professional experiences and lessons I learnt from my professional life - first one of its kind. Stories are good to explain complex ideas. Great Gurus have used it, extensively. Jesus Chirst has used similies in plenty to explain the complex ideas of theology and practical philosophy. You can find numeours similies and stories in all great civilizations - ofcource, Upanishads, puranas, panchathantra and the great epics of Indian subcontinent have used this mode of communication extensively.. And me, a humble human being in this earth, also finds stories and similies are the best way to express a complex idea which I learnt painfully in my life - personal or professional.
Another motto in my life "Anyone can make things complex. But, making it simple is very complex - there lies the difference in professional talent".
Originally written to communicate a message to my team of software professionals - reproducing here for the benefit of everyone - in any profession. Enjoy!!
Doctor's Deadline! - A story by James Varkey
---------------------------------------------------------------
A rich and powerful man had a chest pain. He decided to find a solution for it. He searched and selected a reputed heart surgeon for consultation. The man is very busy. So while booking the appointment, he informed the patient that the consultation should finish within one hour. Doctor agreed, because he wanted the man as his client and one hour is a fair estimate for a typical consultation based on his experience.
The diagnosis started. After half way through the consultation, the doctor realized that the patient has to go through few more tests to find out the root cause of his decease. But, this might take couple of more hours. The deadline ends within 30 minutes.
He has two options.
1. The doctor can admit to his patient that he cannot complete in time, thus not fulfilling his commitment. To do a good job - either the patient has to stay back for another 2 - 4 hours or has to come back another day. Probably the doctor might loose the patient to another doctor.
2. The doctor can assume (best guess) some analysis results and give the man the medicines by end of one hour. He will be able to keep the deadline. But the stakes are high.
What option you want your doctor to select if you are the patient? In fact, for a good doctor, there is no second option. A good doctor decides his own deadline. And that's what expected.
For us in technical services, deadlines are tight always. Do Work hard and try different options to meet the deadlines.
BUT, Never, never, never ever assume too many things and never do a work or make a delivery for the sake of meeting a deadline. The stakes are high.
NEVER COMPROMISE ON THE RIGHT WORK FOR DEADLINES.
When confused, think like a doctor and remember that your client's business health is in your hands - you are responsible on the decisions you make. Few days delay in requirement phase, estimation or design delivery might save thousands of hours of wasted effort, tens of sleepless nights of lot of people or even the entire project later. Think long term, never loose the focus on the final goal - successful delivery that works!
Keep your professional integrity higher than anything, when it comes to technical consulting or advice.
Your clients will appreciate this. Your manager will appreciate it. Tens or hundreds of hapless programmers will appreciate this while they burn the midnight oil to meet the delivery deadlines.
It will serve the organization better in long term. End of the day, it will make more money and its brand name will be valued more.
Remember the Doctor's Deadline!!!
Thanks,
James
Thursday 14 February, 2008
Amazing Book : 'FIRST, BREAK ALL THE RULES -What the world's greatest managers do differently'
Originally dated : Friday, Feb 1, 2008.
I can not describe how good this book is. It’s simply amazing. It's Superb. I lost my words for praise - I have already recommended this book for most of my friends.
The usually dull driving to office is very productive now-a-days - thanks for Wipro library for its Audio book collections. This Audio book (abridged version) is appox. 3 hours - a hard copy is also available in library. It’s definitely worth for three hours from your busy schedule.
If you are a thinking manager and who is handling the conflicting forces of Excellence and Caring for individuals in your team - This is the book which is kind of a revelation. I am so moved by the book that I listened to it twice to memorize and grasp the ideas into my mind.
- It tells you the difference between knowledge, skill and talent.
- It’s about how to handle poor performance and how to nurture talent.
- It’s about focusing on your strengths than your weakness.
- It’s about the fact that people can not change much.
- It’s about Tough Love.
- It’s about finding the right fit.
- It’s about becoming a great manager and moreover a great individual.
First, Break all the rules - what the world's greatest managers do differently by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman
http://www.amazon.com/First-Break-All-Rules-Differently/dp/0684852861
Overview about the book by the publishers: "In today's tight labor markets, companies compete to find and keep the best employees, using pay, benefits, promotions and training. But no matter how generous its pay, or how renowned it’s training, the company that lacks great front-line managers will suffer. Buckingham and Coffman explain how the best managers select an employee for talent rather than for skills or experience; how they set expectations; how they motivate people by building on each person’s unique strengths; and, finally, how great managers find the right fit for each person, not the next rung on the ladder.First, Break All the Rules provides vital performance and career lessons for managers at every level."
Enjoy The book!!!
I can not describe how good this book is. It’s simply amazing. It's Superb. I lost my words for praise - I have already recommended this book for most of my friends.
The usually dull driving to office is very productive now-a-days - thanks for Wipro library for its Audio book collections. This Audio book (abridged version) is appox. 3 hours - a hard copy is also available in library. It’s definitely worth for three hours from your busy schedule.
If you are a thinking manager and who is handling the conflicting forces of Excellence and Caring for individuals in your team - This is the book which is kind of a revelation. I am so moved by the book that I listened to it twice to memorize and grasp the ideas into my mind.
- It tells you the difference between knowledge, skill and talent.
- It’s about how to handle poor performance and how to nurture talent.
- It’s about focusing on your strengths than your weakness.
- It’s about the fact that people can not change much.
- It’s about Tough Love.
- It’s about finding the right fit.
- It’s about becoming a great manager and moreover a great individual.
First, Break all the rules - what the world's greatest managers do differently by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman
http://www.amazon.com/First-Break-All-Rules-Differently/dp/0684852861
Overview about the book by the publishers: "In today's tight labor markets, companies compete to find and keep the best employees, using pay, benefits, promotions and training. But no matter how generous its pay, or how renowned it’s training, the company that lacks great front-line managers will suffer. Buckingham and Coffman explain how the best managers select an employee for talent rather than for skills or experience; how they set expectations; how they motivate people by building on each person’s unique strengths; and, finally, how great managers find the right fit for each person, not the next rung on the ladder.First, Break All the Rules provides vital performance and career lessons for managers at every level."
Enjoy The book!!!
Tuesday 12 February, 2008
About me - my perspective about myself!! notes 1
So, atlast after so many years of thinking I have decided to start storing few bytes of crap by me to the terabytes freely available in this crazy world called internet!!
Me - I !!!
I love me, I like my life - infact, the first thing you notice me that the way I love to describte myself. I am aware of it. :(
But, I can not help :)
Because the more people I know, the more experiences I get, the more I know how the people behave in crisises or critical situations in their life - where they have to make a decision between integrity / ideology and short term pain ...... I look back to me and proudly say - "Man, you are far better"!! ;)
Its not boasting. Its the fact of life.( In mahabharatha, Arjuna wants to die because he did something wrong against his elder brother Yudhistira. Then Krishna advices him to boast about himself - the rationale : One who boasts about himself is equivalant to committing suicide ! I jotted down this story here just to show you that I know my mistakes, but I do it knowingly - so no Sorry ;) . You should know one of my interesting mottos of life - 'Learn the Rules and break some', meaning - Never break a rule whithout knowing it and its consequences!! )
I can easily walk away from any temptations - except while I confuse between hurting a person and my ideologies. But, that too I have matured. Now a days - I am almost ( yes, almost) beyond the pain it causes to others when I make decisions. Bad that I might sound cruel. Good that I am getting prepared for the responsibilities which comes with the power as a leader.
Now, I am getting tired about telling myself - So stopping it here. Will continue later when I feel like telling about me:)
Note : I have my low times, when I think the just opposite about me - sorry, I will NOT write anything about me that low to you :) Another golden motto : "When I laugh I want to make everyone laugh, but when I cry I will hide - because, I dont want anyone to enjoy my crying - angane arum sukhikkanda( malayalam )".
Catch you later!!!!
Me - I !!!
I love me, I like my life - infact, the first thing you notice me that the way I love to describte myself. I am aware of it. :(
But, I can not help :)
Because the more people I know, the more experiences I get, the more I know how the people behave in crisises or critical situations in their life - where they have to make a decision between integrity / ideology and short term pain ...... I look back to me and proudly say - "Man, you are far better"!! ;)
Its not boasting. Its the fact of life.( In mahabharatha, Arjuna wants to die because he did something wrong against his elder brother Yudhistira. Then Krishna advices him to boast about himself - the rationale : One who boasts about himself is equivalant to committing suicide ! I jotted down this story here just to show you that I know my mistakes, but I do it knowingly - so no Sorry ;) . You should know one of my interesting mottos of life - 'Learn the Rules and break some', meaning - Never break a rule whithout knowing it and its consequences!! )
I can easily walk away from any temptations - except while I confuse between hurting a person and my ideologies. But, that too I have matured. Now a days - I am almost ( yes, almost) beyond the pain it causes to others when I make decisions. Bad that I might sound cruel. Good that I am getting prepared for the responsibilities which comes with the power as a leader.
Now, I am getting tired about telling myself - So stopping it here. Will continue later when I feel like telling about me:)
Note : I have my low times, when I think the just opposite about me - sorry, I will NOT write anything about me that low to you :) Another golden motto : "When I laugh I want to make everyone laugh, but when I cry I will hide - because, I dont want anyone to enjoy my crying - angane arum sukhikkanda( malayalam )".
Catch you later!!!!
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