Training : What to Read

In the last post, a long while ago I had written something about what should one read.... and I had said what one can, wants, and should. What I had exactyly meant to say was that I believe we should superficially glance at whatever material for treading is available.

However, this material may not be always something worth reading and memorizing. Some, of it might just be useless. As they commonly say.... books are like food.... some junk, some delicious and some nutritous, and we need to be careful about what we eat. Similarly, you can throw a perfunctory glance at any reading material that's available, but spend time on those that have some good content. Good content would mean something that either provides you with some factual knowledge or else, something that helps you shape yuor thoughts.

Next comes..... what You want....... This is the delicious kind of food as an analogy. This is what You like reading, or if You're working, whatever your work makes you read. For an example my work forces me to read language, my studies make me read about management and my personal chopice is philosophy and fiction. Similarly, there could be various situations like an engg would probably prefer reading about technology and a doctor about medicine, while a science student might want to read more about science. This however, may not always be true.

However, such a condition occurs basically because we tend to enjoy things we can understand which generally is one of our optionals or work related reading. However, the parallel aspect is that we understand those things better which we enjoy more. So, this becomes a kind of vicious circle, and we need to break the circle somewhere by our own desire.

Which is why I said perfuinctory glance at everything, and that will gradually help you extend your understanding to different areas of whats being written and read.

As far as the 'SHOULD ' aspect fo reading is concerned....... honestly..This is the time recommended list and the passage booklets we get. They are seriously a good excposure to variety.

Love,
Anu©2010 anu (Exploring Myself)

Training : Structured Personality Enhancement Program

n my opinion, personality includes a few aspects like:
1. Physical Appearance.
2. Body Language.
3. Communication Skills and,
4. The Intellectual or psychological personality (along with the thought process).

Today lets talk a little about it and I shall try to contribute more thoughts regularly.

When we talk about the physical impression, please remember that though the first impression might not be the last one, it still is an important impression. So, look professional, hygienic, with ironed formals and a proper dress code. The hair style should be neat, combed properly.No one likes it when they can't make a proper eye contact, just because your hair are falling repeatedly over the eyes. The shoes should be polished, socks non- stinking. Girls and women should avoid heavy jewelery. Please carry your documents arranged systematically in a file folder.

I have often observed that a major problem many people feel is that they don't know what to do with their weaknesses. Here's something that I've found useful as a technique.

It is one of my posts in Personal Introduction threads also, and am posting here only for the sake of convenience.


As far as the negative (rather, not so positive ) is concerned, first of all you need to face this. Most of the times what we are doing is avoiding the negatives, and hence, we hardly understand whay and how they exist and function.

1. Understand why did your negative point come into existence,
2. Know how it functions or acts on your mind,
3. Realize how it affects you personally and professionally,
4. Determine the possible remedies and solutions.

In an interview, you can just make the last two points brief and present them to the interviewer.

For eg. Let's say someone's weakness is ego. Let's perform the four steps:

People are egoistic because:
either they are exceptionally good at one or more things,
or its a disguise to their inferiority complex.

Ego plays with one's mind, when one is in a situation where one has to either face people who are more intelligent or better at the relevant fields. At such times, ego brings one in defensive mode and prevents one from being rationally open and accepting to the other person.

Disadvantages:
Ego hampers one's listening skills to the other person.
It doesn't let one think rationally, specially when one's opinion differs from that of the other individual.
Hence, it could affect the decisions of a manager.....

Remedies:
Understand the cause of your problem and accept it. Remember, Acceptance is the first step to a solution. Time and again I've told my students and trainees that unless you accept there's a problem, you wouldn't be working to its correction.
Also, self-control is a positive trait that could help you to be in control of your feelings. Now here the interviewer can play a trick. He can say that self control would mean you're suppressing your natural tendencies. You need to explain to him/her that self- control and suppression are different and how they are different.

An answer to an interviewer about a weakness like ego could be something like:

"My weakness is that I am slightly egoistic. This happens to me at times when I overestimate myself, or when I hold an excessively high opinion of myself. However, I try to keep this tendency in check because I know that it could make my thought procedure biased. I keep this in control by being keenly observant of myself and remembering that though I am good enough or even very good at certain things, there are many more people who might be better than me, and that I can learn from others only when I'm humble."

This was what I had given to an interviewer in an interview. There could be many other answers. To each weakness, the answer would differ, and it depends on the way you analyse yourself.

The key point is to think both with sensitivity and sensibility. You don't have to be an idealist, nor can you afford to be casual and laid back about things.

Regards,

Anu

©2010 anu (Exploring Myself)

Training : Communication Basics

By definition, communication is a process of conveying your thoughts (message) to the audience(reciever). Now what needs to be remembered here is that communication is not only about conveying, but its also about making the other person understand your point. However, please remember, that it does not essentially mean that the audience would AGREE to the point being communicated to them.

So, the first thing that we need to remember in communication is about being audience friendly. In the language that we use, the words used should be elegant as well as understandable. And most importantly, they need to be used in correct form.

Whilst vocab is important in the sense that it helps you find words to express your ideas better, grammar is equally important because grammar helps you to use the words in the correct form. Grammar wouldhere, make you sure of your usage and the right meaning in the right manner would be sent across.

©2010 anu (Exploring Myself)

Training : GD's Why How and Practice

I have time and again observed in sessions that people are ok with discussing concrete subjects and not so comfy with the abstract topics. This is perhaps because of the fact that whilst we read newspaper and GK related info for other purposes, we have the advantage of the knowledge, we aren't well acquainted with the abstract subjects.

Also, it is at times tough to draw out any sort of definite conclusion when it comes to abstract subjects since it is always subject to dialectic discussions. There is a counter opinion to almost every statement, and there seems to be no solution to any of these.

Here's a strategy that I find helpful for the same:

1. Try to get acquainted with as many abstract nouns as possible. This helps in identifying the fundamental meaning of the keyword in the topic.

2. Think around the lines of the keyword. What is it? Who practices it? Benefits, Disadvantages, Public Opinion, and then your personal opinion.

3. Link the above two areas to the remaining topic.

There is no denying the fact that one has to be a speedy thinker in order to process all this. But then, we need it anyhow in case of GD/PI.

I strongly believe that Non-Fiction gives you the concept or Idea, while Fiction gives it an expression......so as usual...Happy Reading!

©2010 anu (Exploring Myself)

Training Material : Introduction

I have finally decided that I will now collate and organise all the material that I've posted on various sites and my Orkut community here, so that it stays organised. Also, so that I do not lose on all that I've written.

©2010 anu (Exploring Myself)