Be Proactive; Be Proactive; Collaborate!!!Collaborate!!!

M K Prasanna,M K Prasanna,mkprasanna@yahoo.commkprasanna@yahoo.com

Maturity continuum

BE PROACTIVEProactive people recognize that they are

"response-able."

Being proactive - taking conscious control over life. Insteadof reacting to events and waiting for opportunities, you go out and create your own events and opportunities.

Being proactive means -instead of merely reacting to events as they happen, you consciously engineer your own events.

Lets use these tools that God has given each of us

• Conscience - You can make decisions based on unchanging principles

• Creative Imagination - the ability to visualize alternatives. By using your imagination, you can mentally generate and evaluate different options.

• Independent Will - You aren’t forced to conform to what others expect from you.

Reactive people: when things are pretty good, life is mostly on autopilot.

Set goals

Don’t give up your GOALS!If you can't fly, run!

If you can't walk, crawl!

But whatever you do, keep moving towards your Goal........

Some examples of reactive [proactive] language:

• Where is the industry going? [Where shall I go next, and how will I get there?]

• I don’t have time to exercise. [How shall I make time to exercise?]

• How much money can I expect to make if I do X? [How much money do I want to make, and what will I do to earn it?]

• I’ll try it and see what happens. [I'll do it.] • I’m too tired. [What can I do to increase my energy?] • I’ve never been very good at math. [How can I improve my math

skills and enjoy the process?] • Nothing really inspires me. [What would I tackle if I knew I

couldn't fail?]

What is the meaning of life? [What is the meaning I wish to give to my life?]

Pursuit of Happyness

BE ASSERTIVEAssertiveness is about respect - for self and others.

Assertive communication is “grownup” communication.

Assertive people have the following characteristics: • You feel free to express facts, thoughts,

feelings. • Openness - clear and specific lack of openness

often leads to misunderstanding.

• “I feel irritated … unlikely to be misinterpreted.

Aggressive• I know what I want and usually get it • Its kill or be killed • Other people know what I'm like and have to put up with

me • I don't suffer fools gladly - I like to win Passive • I prefer to keep quiet and not be outspoken • If I don't rock the boat I'll be OK • I don't always know what I want, so I usually let others

decide • I'd rather not cause a fuss but I feel that people ignore

me Assertive • I like being involved in whats going on • I work to live, not live to work • I work out what I want, listen to others, then discuss

plans • I like people to know how I feel

Assertiveness is about respect - for self and others. Assertive communication is “grownup” communication.

Openness implies being clear and specific about what you want, think and feel. A lack of openness often leads to misunderstanding. “I feel irritated …I am not motivated…are statements that are clear and unlikely to be misinterpreted.

• Directness means addressing the person / situation directly. For example, if you are in a group and want to say something to someone, communicate directly with that person instead of addressing the whole group or using sarcasm and hoping that the person gets the message

• Appropriateness implies taking the social and cultural context into consideration before communicating. In other words, don't forget your manners!

– Assertive people have control over their anger. It does not mean that they repress this feeling. It means that they control it for a moment and then talk about it later in a logical way.

Sorry for sermonizing…• Compete with yourself, not others -

People with healthy self-esteem compete only with themselves. The less self-assured person feels compelled to equal or surpass his colleagues' success because they equate their self-esteem with success, and hence feel threatened with someone more successful. They endlessly seek approval and applause, feel happy when they get it or devastated when they fail or are criticized.

A tool- 'DESC' • The acronym 'DESC' stands for

'Describe, Express, Specify, Consequences'.

• 'Describe' of the DESC script- you say what seems to you to be happening.

• In the 'Express' part, you say how it's making you feel. In the 'Specify' part, you say what you'd like to happen.

– Finally, in the 'Consequences' part, you say what will happen if you don't get what you want.

COLLABORATE, COLLABORATE, COLLABORATE!

• This will make you a transformational figure. From Goodness to Greatness!

• Professional experience is not just a series of transactions, but rather as an opportunity to touch and connect lives.

Begin with…• Requirements gathering- the entire

context- to include all the stakeholders

• Know your customers’ demographics • Is there a gap to be filled? • Be on a constant lookout for

opportunities

Principles Governing Life 2.0

• Life is everywhere • Life has no barriers • Life invites participation • Keep ourselves engaged with quality

service• We use flexible, best-of-breed

systems

More Roles … Educator• Trainer • Innovator• Collaborator – Expanded area of

collaboration, not just with the IT community

• Policy maker – Develops or participates in the development of an information policy

• And more… Business Manager • Image Maker – Adds value to the

management and project a positive image to the outside world

Positive Steps1. Communicate … listen to your team2. Involve team in planning 3. Tell stories … promote the co. values4. Report positively 5. Do your research … you must be in the know6. Manage projects well 7. TRY TRY TRY again! 8. let everyone play & experience 9. Celebrate successes 10.Nobody is an island. A strong support system

and a beautiful partnership in the workplace is an important ingredient in our success.

• Don’t insult or demean anyone. Fraternal correction and criticism on job performance should be done in private. Settle any misunderstanding immediately.

Encourage excellence

•Encourage all to attain higher levels of achievement thru’ study, reading & professional writing.

•Fear and suspicion stifle progress. Avoid jealousy .

• Membership in professional organizations offer us opportunities to GROW.

• This is what Ralph Waldo Emerson declares: “The key to every man is his thought... He can only be reformed by showing a new idea which commends his own." New

ideas spur progress.

• Stretch your abilities and skills on such as artistic interests, communication, writing, and so on.

• Talk about your goals to those who can help you achieve them. Regular staff meetings open the chance to discuss such matters.

• Set goals and establish pragmatic accountable measure to actually finish what you start. Because no task is useful unless completed.

These are the most exciting times!!!