Monday, January 7, 2013

Not just hiring, retaining talent is crucial too

While on one hand the organizations are coping with the global economic uncertainties, the other side of the coin shows a dearth of good talent in the marketplace. Under such circumstances both hiring and retention of talent becomes vital for the survival of any firm.


 
As we all know an establishment is made by its people. When these individuals get together and collaborate as a team the organizational vehicle functions in a smooth manner. Any glitches or slowdown means that the vehicle either stops functioning or requires more push to function. In contrast, like a well-oiled vehicle when the team works in a better manner it ensures better output. The story remains similar of organizations of any size. For smaller organizations and start-ups, getting the right people and retaining them becomes even more crucial due to the scale of their operations. Any gap which is not filled in time can lead to immense lose in productivity and profits. Research shows that companies are losing top talent by not adopting some basic trade-tricks.
 
 
 
 
Communication
 
Communication tops the list due to obvious reasons. Many employees are unable to understand their role and responsibilities as they struggle to clearly understand their work expectation. A proper understanding can be achieved through two way communication between the employers and the employees. Two-way communication not only helps in clearing out doubtful situations, it also enables employees to freely share their views and opinions which can be beneficial for the growth of the firm.
 
 
 
Motivation
 
We all know that motivation is intrinsic to every activity and plays an extremely vital role in maximising employee productivity and efficiency. This in turn acts as a catalyst in the growth and development of the company or the enterprise. Therefore, It is imperative for any organization to constantly work towards keeping their employees motivated.
 
 
 
Reward & Recognition
 
Rewarding and applauding are perhaps the easiest yet the most forgotten means of employee motivation. Recognition brings with it a sense of ownership and encourages employees to work towards their set goals. It has been observed that team recognition enables groups to bond better and create a positive environment. It works as an esteem booster and makes employees liable for their work and subsequent growth.
 
 
 
It is important to note that contrary to popular belief, reward need not always be in terms of incentives or allowances. A simple pat on the back or a good job done mail can do wonders for an individual or a team.
 
 
 
Understanding employee aspirations & goals
 
For an establishment it is important to recognize the goals and aspirations of its employees. By recognizing employee ambitions, the firm can create a sense of loyalty and make individuals feel part of the bigger establishment. People need to know that their future matters to the firm and its management for them to stay back and put in their best in their work. In addition it helps if the goals and aspirations of the employees can be matched to those of the establishment.
 
 
 
Empowering Employee
 
A number of times firms give their employees the responsibility to do some work sans the authority. Empowering the employees to make certain decisions as well as take charge for getting the expected outcome is essential. Merely by delegating work and not ensuring optimum freedom can lead to management disaster. Empowering employees makes them feel like an integral part of the working family and encourages them to go that extra mile. Various surveys prove that employees that are able to have control over the work environment have a higher level of job satisfaction and tend to stay longer with a firm.
 
 
 
Conclusion
 
Employees are a company’s greatest asset and go a long way in making a firm successful. Building a good team can be a task but constant changes are required to ensure productivity and efficiency. Collective ideas, feedbacks and enthusiasm for work can help a business grow and succeed in today’s competitive environment. While many people naturally lead and give their best to their work in any circumstances, others require the guidance of skilled managers to lead them to growth. Employee satisfaction is related to how connected an employee feels to the firm and hence it becomes the responsibility of the management to keep employees engaged and encouraged.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

SMEs need to find a niche for themselves, says Genpact's Pramod Bhasin

In order to deliver excellent services to clients and edifying a influential position in the market, the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) should focus on building real expertise, said Pramod Bhasin, the non-executive vice chairman and former president and CEO of Genpact in an exclusive interview.


 
 
Where are you right now in your business process management (BPM) journey?
 
Pramod Bhasin: The BPM journey is still in its infancy. There are a few clear reasons for this. Clients are just beginning to realize the full potential offered by companies that deliver BPM services, which one day will be bought just as you might buy manufactured parts or courier or banking services. The penetration levels into these services is still very low both in terms of usage by individual customers as well as by geography. In addition as the service providers mature and build real expertise in their chosen areas, the value they can deliver to customers will continue to increase. BPM is a relatively new science and we will be able to pioneer a new way of managing business processes for the world.
 
 
 
What are key challenges that SMEs face in the BPM sector today? What should be done to overcome the same?
 
Pramod Bhasin: The key challenges that SMEs face in this area are go to market and finding the right niche to play in. SMEs need to find a niche for themselves - there is no point trying to imitate companies many times their size but they must use their own nimbleness and speed and ability to serve a unique set of customers really well, to carve a place for themselves. Going to market and reaching customers across the world is also expensive and hard to do for people without that experience - so partnering with businesses or individuals who are based where the customers are can really help accelerate the process of finding customers and working with them over the long term. This is not an area where SMEs, even though they are strapped for cash, should try and save expenses- this is compulsory and needs careful thought and attention.
 
 
 
What kind of opportunities exist for them?
 
Pramod Bhasin: The opportunity for SMEs in the area of BPM is enormous - there are so many niches and areas of expertise that can allow them to build a business and deliver excellent value and information to customers - such as Analytics, or Supply Chains, or Legal Support or SOX compliance. There are many more areas which provide really compelling opportunities. SMEs must really focus on building real expertise so that they can deliver value to clients which customers may not be able to do themselves.
 
 
 
What importance a specific marketing strategy holds in a business?
 
Pramod Bhasin: SMEs must have very focused marketing strategies built upon a clear set of expertise or niche services they plan to offer, given limited funds you have to optimize the strike rates with which you win clients and cannot afford to be broad and generic in their marketing efforts. However all marketing has to be built on a foundation of real value - if not it can't sustain any momentum. Building real expertise and then picking customers who can really use your services and then delivering excellent service to them can be extremely rewarding. Finding innovative ways to get to market can become a real differentiator as they compete for customers.
 
 
 
How do you observe the growth of Indian economy at the moment?
 
Pramod Bhasin: The overall lack of growth of the Indian economy has really hit the SME sector hard but the situation is now improving and will give rise to plenty of opportunity be it in the area of skills or energy or healthcare and many more. I do think the worst is behind us as the Governmentt seems to be getting its act together. All companies across the world will increasingly focus on the SME sector - in the past, it has been the cost of acquiring each new customer and the relative lack of profitability from the SME sector that has held businesses back - but now with the advent of 4G, social media and increased digitization this will change.