What to Assess While Hiring

Two economists will never agree on what will yank the world out of recession. Two psychologists will also give you a simple answer on how to measure personality. What is personality? How you describe yourself is the inside view of personality (also called identity).  It is all about your dreams, hopes and fears and how you wish to achieve your dreams and avoid the fear factor.

When someone does a reference check about say a potential employee or team member, they are seeking to learn about the personality elements. What is this person going to be like as a team member? What kind of reputation does the person have?  Reputation is based on past behavior trends. Successful hiring is based on getting information about three areas:

1. The Role: Is the employee going to have clear boundaries and structure or will the employee be expected to deal with ambiguity.  Does it require someone to interact with customers (especially when they are unhappy). Does it need someone with attention to details or a person who is a strategic thinker who relies on others to look into the nitty gritties. Does this role need someone who should has to handle stress. Is this primarily a sales job or is a managerial role? Read more

Meet Cartoonist Ajit Ninan

The morning newspaper and a cuppa chai is a ritual that is common to a large part of the human race. But people read it in their own manner. Some glance at the headlines and head straight for the sports page. So open the editorial page and shake their head disapprovingly at the affairs of the world. I head for the cartoons. I grab the newspaper and head straight for Ajit Ninan’s cartoon. I look for two elements of wit in a cartoon – the visual and verbal. Ninan excels in both. With most cartoonists one lands up choosing between the two. Ajit started his career with FD Stewarts – an ad agency in Chennai before they transferred him to Delhi. While in Delhi Ajit started contributing cartoons to  Target – a magazine for children run by the India Today group. That led to an offer to join the media group as cartoonist and illustrator. Ajit’s cartoons in India Today, Business Today and Target got him noticed. He joined Indian Express newspaper in 1992 before drawing for the news magazine Outlook. He is now with The Times of India as their Chief Graphics Consultant. Ajit used to run a cartoon strip called Detective Moochhwala (and his tail-less dog called Poochh, which means tail in Hindi) for Target. That comic strip had cult status amongst readers and it was amazing to see Ajit pack in a tight storyline and brilliant graphics in about 35-40 frames.

Read more

The Curious Case of 221 B

The quizmaster’s question to you is, “Which fictional character lived at 221 B, Baker Street?” The answer is  Sherlock Holmes. You know that. Of course you do. Created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the first public appearance of Holmes was in 1887. Sherlock Holmes birthday is generally deduced to be January 6, 1854. Holmes lived with his good friend and chronicler Watson, before his (Watson’s) marriage in 1887, and again after his wife’s  death.  Traditionally, the canon of Sherlock Holmes consists of the fifty-six short stories and four novels written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In this context, the term “canon” is an attempt to distinguish between Doyle’s original works and subsequent works by other authors using the same characters.
Read more

Kiran Bedi

It is hard not to get energized by supercop, mother, social worker and TV anchor Kiran Bedi (born 9 June, 1949). She is a bundle of energy and is always in a hurry. Her diminutive frame is deceptive. She is a woman of conviction and resilience to do what she has set out to. She has always attracted admirers and critics in equal measure.
Read more