Category: Iyengi’s observations

Accents- Funny or prejudice?

Accents- A microcosm

Why do different accents sound funny when you clearly know a non-native speaker of that language  is attempting something out of their comfort zone? Just on the subject of English accents, a myriad accents you come across just in the Continental United States.

Why do people feel the compulsive need to belittle a manner of speaking that sounds different? So much so that stand up comedians have made it into a fine art to evoke laughter by pandering to the illiterate desires of their audience, so much so that it totally reeks of prejudice. Humor to some extent is quite welcoming and especially so when it is delivered without a touch of prejudice. But the humor turns into incessant mockery, lines have to be drawn. And anecdotally, how about grammatical correctness that is conspicuous by absence in the colloquial “native” English speaking people? Do you feel the need to mock it or do you feel sorry for them?

A hard working immigrant is trying to make a new life and if this land is indeed a land of opportunities and while doing so, they are attempting to grasp a foreign language. Why is that funny?

Speaking to them  in a loud slow manner is not the solution you morons. Learn to respect other cultures and remember, their English is better than your Spanish, French, Hindi or Mandarin.

 

An interview- Heath Suddleson

LDRHeath Suddleson is a management leadership consultant and a published author as well. Heath comes off as a gregarious personality, gets along with people like a house on fire and seems to have a degree in people. He shares his thoughts with us today.

  • What is your profession and tell me about yourself, your background

I turn project managers into project leaders. I am a professional trainer for leadership development in the project management space.  For more than 25 years I have managed design and construction projects all over the world.  In addition to being in some leadership positions in the corporate space, I have held many leadership positions with Not For Profit organizations.  In one of these global Not For Profits, I served on their International Board of Directors.

 

  • What drove you to choose this career path? As my job required me to conduct more and more training, I realized how much I loved doing the training more than the project support. One benefit was that when I was conducting so much training there were fewer project demands I needed to meet, which lowered my stress level. Still, the biggest benefit was actually seeing those “ah ha” moments in the classroom as people began to connect the dots. There are few rewards greater than knowing you have helped someone improve themselves and their lives.

 

  • Have you moved a lot for your profession and do you like travelling?

I have changed companies more than a few times, in part because I didn’t want to move my home. In the construction industry, it is difficult to always stay in one area because you need to go where the work is located.  Wanting to stay home based, it did cause me to do a lot more travel.  In some aspects, the travel is great and you get to see exciting parts of the world and experience different cultures.  However, there is a dark and lonely side to travel that takes a toll on the body and the soul.  Spending so many countless nights eating dinner alone, not seeing your family, not being there for the plays and piano recitals of your kids all makes the road that much harder.  Now that I own my own company, I have more control over when I travel, how often, and how long each trip will be.  That makes the travel more fun again.

 

  • What in your opinion are the three major traits to be successful in your profession? To be successful as a trainer, there are three levels of mastery. The first is to be a subject matter expert. There are some out there who think that if you can present well you can speak about anything, but the truth is that your credibility is based on what you have accomplished and what you can teach others who have similar experiences. When teaching technical skills in the workplace you will not be the only expert in the room.  Lose the confidence in those other experts and you will quickly lose the class.  You have to know your stuff.  The second level of mastery is to be an engaging presenter.  Especially in the engineering fields, many presenters are lack luster and some are just plain boring.  If you are going to present for hours on end, you better be entertaining and engaging.  The third level of mastery is to be a trainer.  Again, there are misconceptions that if you have the first two levels licked then it’s easy to be a trainer, but it is a completely different set of goals to be able to gauge the knowledge gap and when you find one know how to fill it.  You need to be able to adjust material based on the class attendance and not just the slides.  Being a true trainer is to master all three levels.

 

  • What have been your biggest challenges over the course of your career?

The biggest challenge over my career has been learning to deal with difficult people and to not become one myself. The construction industry is filled with people who lack people skills.  On some projects and in some companies, those who are the harshest to deal with are sometimes celebrated, which only promotes less focus on human capital.  Of course, those people cost the company money in ways unseen through high turnover of staff, loss of continuity, and sometimes even lost clients.

 

  • Would you recommend this profession to young hopefuls?

The construction industry, yes. It is a great industry if you want a lot of great opportunities to work on projects that have real meaning to people.  There is a sense of satisfaction when you go see a completed project and know that you were part of the team that made that happen.  The pay is good and the chance to travel is great.  Just know that it will be long hours and high stress at times.

 

  • What is your advice to young graduates and professionals?

My advice to graduates and young professionals is to do something you truly enjoy. If you love what you do, and you are doing what you love, you will do it with passion and inspiration.   Because you are putting so much of yourself into your work, it will be recognized and you will be rewarded.  Millennials seem to understand the concept of work-life balance more than previous generations.  There may be some changes in the workplace coming as a result of this that will be seen in another decade.  Why this is important is because those people who succeed the most are those who can see where the market is going more than where the market is now.  See where it is going and put yourself on the leading edge.

Snap poll- Your opinions matter

What, in your opinion, is the most significant issue facing mankind today?

  1. ViolenceIMG_0608

  2. Hunger/Starvation

  3. Climate change

  4. Commodity prices (Oil, minerals)

  5. Economic disparity

  6. Disease

The Indian professional stereotype

I have seen a huge diaspora of Indian professionals across the globe in various capacities. Sterotypical Indians are not a myth but quite a stark reality.  Having grown up and studied my undergrad school in India, I have allowed myself the liberty of sharing my observations and some subtle tips. When someone like me has grown up in India in the 70’s and 80’s, it is truly eye opening to see several myths busted almost on a daily basis.

For those of you that work with junior level professionals from India (most of you probably do), you possibly think of them in a group rather than individuals. You think these kids tend to stick together protecting themselves from some awkward fears? You think these people assume no identity and go on busting their chops like the proverbial oompa-loompas? You think they get a discount at the local 7-11’s?

The first two are fairly closer to the truth. And a lot of it comes with the “safety in numbers” mentality that comes in intrinsically from just being in a “foreign land”. Takes a while to break them, months, years may be. Some of you probably sound like Hollywood stereotypes too and may come off as too brash. So this is where the inter-cultural compromise comes in. And remember talking to them louder and real s-l-o-w ain’t the solution.

Then the age old Indian myth on superiority of race is ingrained, surprisingly still prevalent in many parts of India outside the metro centers. The erroneous notion that fairer.whiter the person the more intelligent he/she is. Indian have their own brand of racism where stores still sell products that will turn you “fair and lovely” or “fair and handsome” , which is an insinuation of the Indian brand of racism. With this rather naive notion in mind, you may see young Indian professionals intimidated by your approach. Its cool, no one means anything malevolent. Again inter-culture boundaries need breaching to reach across and make them feel belonged.

Trust me, the level of intelligence and diligence seen in several of these entrants (FOB kids) is some kind of a rare commodity. Nurture it well without sense of exploitation or looking down upon them. I have seen the “looking down upon” approach especially to young engineers that just do not dress or appear to be savvy looking.

For you Indian kids, I’ll say this- Work speaks for itself. Do not be intimidated by other people and just because they speak better English does not make them superior. In fact your English is way better than their Hindi, that I can safely say. Assimilate well when you travel overseas and do not be a wildebeest, be a stand out person and performer. Trust me, this will go a long way.

The ethos of Multi National teams

The concept of travel and time and travel in time have been fascinating forays for most of us; travel enhances the outlook no doubt. Wheeling and dealing and working in teams that afford complete engagement with multiple cultures and nationalities is the pinnacle of diversity. As the world started to shrink in the late 90’s and global village came into existence, goal oriented teams became the norm, irrespective of who the team members are or how diverse they may be or what corner of the earth they may be based in. And speaking as someone who grew up in a socialistic Indian public sector, the limited exposure of dealing with someone outside of India was the Soviet influence in setting up steel and heavy industrial plants. Then the 90’s happened.

The IT sector may be what is perceived as a classic case of the culture mixer, but EPC industries have possibly made this step way before the rest. Imagine this- A team working towards constructing and commissioning an industrial plant located remotely at a fast trace pace with just over 200 people thrown in. This is where a team will thrive like a bunch of seamen thrown together in a submarine for a few months. During these times, boundaries cease to exist and focus of the individuals becomes the common goal, the goal to deliver.

Being part of a multi cultural team and even better leading a multi cultural team is seen as a person’s forte. An effective leader is thus born; any leader that can get a project delivered through a multi national, multi cultured team can inevitably motivate and bring a diverse group of individuals together .These are the people you want in your organization for these are the people who will deliver when it matters.

Speaking from personal experience I can lucidly express what it means to be part of such a team and lead such a team. Its the unbridled joy in formation and motivation of such teams that leads to the feeling of a job well done. I can see how its effectively facilitated project delivery.

 

1-Team members do not see themselves as “from somewhere”, they see themselves as part of a focus group that is in this together to deliver. Nothing less

2- Keeping the group motivated by means of an engaging blend outside of work; i.e. highly informal team building sessions. This makes it easier for people to look forward to come back to work on “Monday”

3- Freely share cultural experiences between team members. If I know more about the South American culture or the Chinese culture now, its not because I “googled” but I had a few team members who shared this freely with me. And its incredible how much further this goes in fostering a better working relationship.

4- People are people, so the usual tenets of recognition, attaboys/attagals, celebrating success and lending helping hands to the weaker links will always work.

Nothing gives me a better sense of satisfaction than delivering a project while working in a team of people from all over the globe. Its my “United Nations” and its where you not only build projects but you build values, professionalism, networking and life long memories.

 

Head Hunters- Please read

We love the way you fish and your perseverance. In fact it almost makes one feel good about oneself when someone sends you an “in-mail”, extolling your skillsets and talent and how badly they want you in their organization.

I know of several folks that have gotten some fairly good deals professionally and financially through linkedin executive search consultants and good on them. Most exec head hunters I have dealt with are specialists who understand the thick fiber of aptitudes and can see through “embellished” resumes. So all you gentlemen and ladies, please carry on doing what you’re good at.

I have message for those not-so-skilled head hunters and I have had a fair share of them as well. I would hesitate to christen them as ignoramuses, rather I’d call them amateurs.

  • Do not send random mass emails. It puts people off and we will never want to deal with you again
  • Do not just send generic one line in-mails asking for contact number so “we could have a chat”. This doesn’t go well
  • Understand the nuances of professional backgrounds. “Project Controls engineer” is not the same as “Control systems engineer”. A sure way to get ignored or even worse, subject to ridicule and you all know how word spreads.
  • Please read bios thoroughly and be more personable. You are selling dreams not used cars

I would also make a quiet appeal to all you head hunters and work with people to better customize their needs and not always “sell” what your organization is offering.

thank you all.

Insanity- Paris & San Bernardino

This is getting insane. Paris happens, San Bernardino happens and then come news clips about these few sub-humans who have performed these depraved acts sending most of us into a frenzy. While slamming your doors to people from a particular community is shameful, how about a strong regulation on the refugees coming in? Don’t let just about everyone in. Even when people come here on a somewhat dubious visa, problems still happen. Thought the visa process was a lot more stringent.
And the left screaming for gun control? Pray tell what do you mean? If only it means taking assault rifles out of the equation, I can buy that. Others, no, it just doesn’t cut it. Visa application and gun application whetting if implemented effectively may be just what we need. Saying “No” to guns and saying “no” to refugees does not appear to be a viable solution
I grew up in a small town (Bhopal) and I have not seen better harmony between people of different classes or religious beliefs.

Cold War -II?

Is this where we’re headed or are we already there?  I grew up during the Cold War, an “on-the-brink” war climate and did not fully realize how scary it was in the 70’s and 80’s. The Wall coming down in 1989 woke me up now I feel l am going back in time; well now its not the two super powers or communism that is the threat but a phantom.A phantom that strikes mankind is many ways, some in the name of religion and some on a complete randomness.

This is not a doomsday scenario but just what we regular folks feel. Ever thought of actually looking for the nearest exit when watching a movie? I do so now. This is a different world we live in.

Taking the bad guys down and if its not a cold war we are possibly living in a war zone that is not just restricted to some war theaters but it could be just anywhere we live our lives in.

Lets be humans again. Lets learn to love each other all over.’