DISCIPLINEplus

Kosoko's chances during the interview started dwindling when he began walking the interview panel through his work experience.

"My first job after NYSC was with KLM Foods, in the role of inventory officer....it was a very small place."

That last sentence indicated a lack of gratitude for small beginnings. KLM gave him the first break, and in appreciation, it's a now a very small place. Even when one of the panelists said in defence, 'KLM is a known name in this city.' Kosoko doubled down giving reasons why it's a very small place.

Kosoko continued, "Next was Sisten Group...well they appear to outsiders like a big organisation, but their pay is small."

Most HR recruiters have an idea of the pay structure of well known companies. That last sentence from Kosoko in regards to Sisten Group wasn't necessary, it only showed his level of keeping things confidential.

Kosoko went on, "My current organisation...the owners are Lebanese, very good in overworking staff, without adequate compensation."

Whoa! What a thing to say for an employer that currently has him on his payroll.

And Kosoko wasn't done, when asked about his earliest resumption time if..., he replied.

"I have a two months notice period with my current employer, but if you want me earlier, you can pay the two months in lieu of notice."

After which he sat back, very relaxed, smiling like someone that won a jackpot.

Do have a Productive Week.

Victor Nwaoseh

Today's external biggest distraction to productivity is social media.

The easiest way to be 100% free from this distraction is to take it off your device. Alas, most won't, for its benefits, when used appropriately.

Social media is external.

There is a bigger issue, something internal - an anxious mind.

The more anxious one becomes, the more he gives his attention to anything which will provide relief. Social media is just one of those tools.

Reduce aimlessness on social media, by reducing the noise in your mind.

Displus.

Feeling it doesn't mean it should be expressed.

Feeling it does mean it should be accessed.

Habitually access your emotions before you express.

This is a better way which leads to excellence.

Victor Nwaoseh

When you build your life around people and situations, you have sold your peace.

You will swing here and there, in accord with people's moods and actions.

You will swing here and there, in accord with circumstances in your life.

When you build your life around noble values, your peace is in your hands.

It doesn't mean you will not swing sometimes. You will, but this time around, to a significant extent, you determine how, and when you swing.

The swings, especially the major ones are calculated and controlled by you, not spontaneous, and controlling you.

- Victor Nwaoseh

In a conversation with herself, Hilda said, “I hope this coach can help me. He came highly recommended. Gush! I’m in a mess again. Didn’t see this coming. Why has it always been this way with me?

In any area in my life, at a point I will be on the mountain, after some period I descend to the valley. And just rot in the valley.

During my 1st degree, up until my third year I was among the very few who had a first class. Then those two missing score in my fourth year affected my grades such that I slipped into a 2.1.

And I never recovered from that fall. In fact, looking back, I gave up on the first class quest after those missing scores.

Three months into my first job, it was established I was the best among the new entrants.

Until, my negligence cost the company a lucrative contract. I never recovered from that fall.

The HR department did their best to encourage me. I couldn’t forgive myself. I won’t blame them for letting me go after 14 months.

Meanwhile marriage found me after that. Dayo was a great guy. During the first few years, our marriage seemed to have been made in heaven.

The twins, our bundle of joy arrived. After a while, we started having issues. Quarrels nearly every day. Till the day Dayo slapped me.

That was it, I picked my things and the twins and left the marriage.

Dayo apologized. I refused to return. For me the marriage was beyond repairs. The divorce was finalized last year. He has moved on. And here I am regretting why I acted hastily.

Allowing those online persons to put ideas into my head. Allowing others to interfere unnecessarily in my marriage, most times I even invited them into my marriage.

Then I got this great job offer. As usual the company was proud of their pick, yet inside of me, I had this premonition that this too won’t last. That another mistake is on its way.

Then it happened. I slipped during a presentation which gave our competitor the advantage.

Hmm, the Directors, said I should get over it. That next time I should be careful. Yet I can’t forgive myself.

The HR Manager did her best. Two months down the line, I told her: 'I haven’t really gotten over the issue.'

Then she set up an appointment with this coach. I hope he has a solution. Why do I find it difficult to bounce back after a set back?"

Do have a Productive Week!

Victor Nwaoseh.

Within three weeks Bassey the project manager of the Seplat contract, received three public commendations from the Chief Operating Officer (COO).

This was unusual, the COO rarely commended, how much so - thrice publicly.

The operations manager - Bayo, reached out to Bassey a day after the third commendation. He wanted to know how Bassey was able to make such good impression on the COO.

”It is my team. They do most of the operational daily lifting, so I owe it all to them.” Bassey replied.

Bayo wasn’t satisfied, so he asked, “One on one, the individuals in your team aren’t smarter compared to those in mine.

"In fact, I remember you had to take on two individuals from other team, who were a pain in the neck of their team leads. And for the transformation of these two persons, after just five months working with you, the COO commended you.

"In the COO's own words, ‘Two employees penned down by HR to exit five months ago, have made significant contributions within four months. Bassey, I don’t know how you did it but whatever it is, continue bringing out the best from your team.’

"So what’s it that you do, I want to know, I need some help in bringing out the best from my own team"

Bassey printed out a one-page document, and placed it before Bayo. “ These are nine key competencies I rate myself with at the end of a work day, to enable me become a better manager the next day. You can see that three of these directly deal with how I manage team members.

"One of which is: Developing others - Ability to acknowledge and reward people’s achievements. Offer constructive feedback, mentor, coach, and offer tasks that improve key skillsets.

"I will suggest you go through these nine competencies, after which we can have a conversation on how you can comeup with competencies that you need most at this stage of your managerial role. Also, how to measure yourself on each of them each work day, till these competencies become automatic, like the air you breathe."

Do have a Productive Week.

Victor Nwaoseh

ROI ON TRAININGS

The new MD requested for all the training carried out in the company within three years.

The total training costs during the last three years amounted to =N= 172,000,000.

Next he requested to see the monetary return on investment for these trainings.

The Human Resource Director replied, “No one had ever requested for such in this industry. We don’t even know how to go about it.”

The MD replied, “Find a way. I need the monetary return on investment from these trainings.”

And they did find a way.

By hiring a consulting firm. Within three months the report was ready.

The company realized that most training did not justify its investment, especially training that were on soft skills.

There was a training retreat on the company’s line managers. It gulped =N= 35,000,000. And the estimated return on investment was =N= 7,000,000.

Before the training the line manager’s contribution was estimated at =N= 7,200,000. If anything the training had a negative impact on their output.

Whereas an in-house training that cost just =N= 520,000 had a returns on investment of =N= 1,530,000. Before the training it was =N=850,000/annum.

On getting these findings, the HR department digged further. As most training that had negative returns were those on soft skills.

They discovered that training for soft skills is different from training for technical or cognitive skills.

It may involve a class room or workshop. And for best results it doesn’t end there.

Other steps have to be taken after the classroom/workshop session.

Do have a Productive Week

Victor Nwaoseh

$1, 440 investment fund to a five years old means nothing. Left alone he won't invest.

$1,440 investment fund to a thirty years old means something, he will invest it. How well he invests, depends on his investment expertise.

Same way with 1,440 minutes to a five years old. He needs a guardian to dictate nearly every minute.

As an adult, how well are you investing your 1,440 minutes 'unrollable', time cheque, offered to you 12:00am every day?

Like a child?

Like an average adult?

Or like a Productivity Expert?

Do have a Productive Week.

Victor Nwaoseh

She approached the ladies in the front desk. They were deep in conversation. They did not notice that someone stepped into the room.

She cleared her throat, and got their attention. Their faces registered their displeasure. Vexed at her for interrupting their gist.

They managed a greeting, then said, "What do you want?"

The customer was shocked. Yet, she retainted her cool, and brought out her shoes which needed some repairs. She showed them where needed amendment.

She asked, "Can I have it back today?"

One of the receptionist replied, "Ah! Today?. No o. All the cobblers are very very busy."

She said, "This is a new business, less than one year old. You have not even gone to check. Is that how you retain customers?"

They replied, "We can't do anything. You can either go with it or come back two days time for it."

And that was the last straw that broke the Camel's back. She picked up the shoes, stepped out and drove off.

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Service. A competence under the Social awareness radar of Emotional Intelligence.

Those who have internalized this competence will regularly seek for ways to increase customer's satisfaction and loyalty.

They will gladly offer appropriate assistance.

Annually, businesses, especially service businesses, spend millions on courses related to customer service.

And rightly so. Because customers perceive a business from those they interact with. Those who represent the business.

Yet, how effective are such courses?

It takes more than a few hours/days seminar to unlearn unhealthy habits, and relearn healthy ones.

A good place to start with, is during recruitment process: test for service competencies, through behavioural tests. At least, employ those who are naturally courteous.

People don't give what they don't have.

Do have a Productive Week.

Victor Nwaoseh

"Please, leave me alone... that's how we are in our family, my father, mother, siblings, even my grandfather, grandmother, uncles, aunties, we are all like that." Segun replied his colleague.

Perhaps you have heard something along the lines of the above from others, or you may have used it yourself.

In essence such persons, have given up that they can change that behaviour. Even when the behaviour isn't to their general benefit or those around them, they will go on stating: "That's how I am." Even saying it with pride.

Examples of those who have changed from a behavior that wasn't beneficial to one that's beneficial are all around us.

These ones are the ultimate proof that how he is, isn't equal to how he will remain.

Let's look at any behaviour, and we will see that it isn't as automatic as we think. It's made up of smaller units adding unto each other, till that behaviour is formed.

Repetition of same smaller parts regularly must produce the same behaviour.

Nature may instill in us what she wants, yet it was through habits, doing same thing over, and over again, that what nature instilled, became part of us.

On the other hand, if we consciously practice repeatedly what we desire, same will be part of us.

The behaviour we display today is a manifestation of what we habitually practiced yesterday.

Segun's behaviour isn't helping him?

Segun can select a set of habits that will add up to his desired behaviour.

Then, Segun's behaviour tomorrow will become a manifestation of what Segun practiced today.

Nature instills in us what she wants. Habits instill in us what we desire.

Do have a Productive Week!
Victor Nwaoseh.