New life started on Monday

There is a common perception that if a person wants to start a new life, Monday is the best day to make it happen.

That’s what I did this week. It was 1am Monday morning when I arrived to Dubai in order to wait for a connecting flight to Karachi (Pakistan).

I didn’t even arrive to my final destination when things started to go crazy!

So what happened is that I missed an announcement in the airport. Yeah, these guys announced something, and I didn’t get what they’d said, and decided to ask a man sitting next to me. I asked, he answered, when asked where I come from, it happened he likes Russia very much, his name is Taly, and he is Pakistani by origin who lives in the US.

So we sat together in the plane, and talked about Pakistan till we landed in Karachi… Taly is a script writer and movie-maker, he is going back to Pakistan to present his new work which is a film about Qeta, a small Pakistani town near the border with Afganistan.

Taly told he’d be happy to meet me again in Karachi, and invited for a dinner with his family.

…

Pick up from Karachi airport was amazing!

6 or even more people came to meet me there!

Despite I didn’t sleep at all that night, we went to the office and worked the whole day long… :)

All in all, my flat is nice, 2 floors and a roof :) I am looking forward to having a separate room soon.

More news are coming…

My Colleagues :)

The world in 2020

Some months ago I received a study prepared by global PwC human services office. It’s called “Managing tomorrow people”. I enjoy reading forecasts for a future state of the world, especially if they are connected with human capital, so my attention was caught straight away! Today I’ve gone through it one more time and got anxious to share those ideas in the blog.

So the main idea is the following: there are several scenarios of how the world will be developing till 2020. According to scientists, all scenarios lie in 2 planes: collectivism vs individualism and fragmentation vs integration. Crossing those 2 lines gives us 3 worlds: Blue, Green and Orange.

What a research team does next is describe each of the scenarios in details: principles of living in such a world, major facts and figures in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2020 AND people strategy focus within these conditions.

Lets see scenarios closer:

The Blue World.

The globalisers take centre stage, consumer preference dominates, a corporate career separates the haves from the have nots.

I guess this is the state which early stages are quite noticeable nowadays in world’s business cities.

So what will be the role of people strategy if this scenario dominates in 2020?
Some of the points are:

• The Chief People Officer (CPO) is a powerful and influential figure, sometimes known as the ‘Head of People and Performance’ who sits on the leadership board.
• Metrics and data are used to drive business performance through complex staff segmentation strategies which identify thousands of skills sets – creating precision around sourcing the right candidates for the right tasks as well as on the job performance measurement and assessment.
• People are graded and profiled at the age of 16 and categorized for work suitability both in terms of capability and individual preference.

Under this scenario HR function becomes similar to finance as it requires sophisticated analytical approach to measuring people’s performance and connecting it to business results.

The Green World.

Companies develop a powerful social conscience and green sense of responsibility. Consumers demand ethics and environmental credentials as a top priority. Society and business see their agenda align.

This is the scenario that some authentic organizations currently strive for, trying to attract attention of the other side of the business world.
How does HR function evolve under this scenario?

• The CEO drives the people strategy for the organisation, believing that the people in the organisation and their behaviours and role in society have a direct link to the organisation’s success or failure. The CEO works closely with the Head of People and Society (HPS) who, with a team comprising a mix of HR, marketing, corporate social responsibility and data specialists, drives the social responsibility programme.
• The common belief is that employees choose employers who appear to match their beliefs and values. The reality is that the talent pool for the brightest and best remains competitive, and whilst CSR rankings are a factor, the overall incentive package remains all important. Incentives however are not just reward-related; for example, they include paid secondments to work for social projects and needy causes – a popular trend post-2010.
• Society fully focus on sustainability issues; talent management and realizing people’s potential for the good of the world drive corporate responsibility agenda of organizations.

The Orange world.

Global businesses fragment, localism prevails, technology empowers a low impact, high-tech business model. Networks prosper while large companies fall.

Communities and networks are being developed with a huge speed. Belonging to the one is one of the key success factors of being up-to-date and on top of global events. Yet I suppose that this tendency is not so much close to work related issues, that’s why its influence seems to be undervalued at present. So what can we expect HR function to become in case we get in 2020 Orange World?

• People strategy is replaced with sourcing strategy, as maintaining the optimum supply chain of people is key to this networked world. The People Sourcing Director liaises with expertise networks and guilds to attract what they need for the best price.
• People are more likely to see themselves as members of a particular skill or professional network than as an employee of a particular company. Specialization is highly prized and workers seek to develop the most sought after specialist skills to command the biggest reward package.
• In this world business is represented as small enterprises focusing on particular area in the supply chain. People function is divided into in-house HR who is responsible for sourcing specialists and outsourcing HR – guilds – that organize education and development of members of particular networks.

So these are the 3 scenarios shown in the study. On the last pages research team combines all of them in the table and gives a brief analysis of similarities and differences.

Most possible state of the world in 2020 is likely to be a mixture of 3 scenarios, though each of those can dominate in specific industry sectors and countries. But the main question is: “In which world do you want to live in 2020?"

Choices in our lives

Every day I look through approximately 20-30 CVs of different people. This is my job – to find the most talented person for the challenging job description of our client.

Almost all of these people are highly successful individuals, who manage departments of multinational companies or lead educational institutions or consult others.

At first all CVs for me were just pieces of paper with a basic description of one’s professional experience. But after some time I started to look at each of them as at one’s life journey.

The whole life at one A4 paper! Of course, it covers just one aspect of life – professional, but nowadays it is a large aspect in our lives.

Some people have a steady career, i.e. from junior brand manager to a marketing director. Some experience working in completely different spheres and then combine all of them perfectly. Some others change their function so sharply, i.e. from successful career of legal director become HR managers or vice versa.

Going further, early choices of people sometimes influence the whole career, but on the other hand I saw many cases when first job role or first employer organization mentioned in just 1 line in the bottom of the page... and then life turned into a different direction... Suddenly my glance goes upper to first lines of a resume: now being in the present moment and looking back .. these 1,2 first years seems so short! Maybe there is no need to worry too much about them?

Observing those things I once again thought about such phenomenon as a choice. I personally was always afraid to choose, always you see: what food to buy, what dress to wear, a book to read, a TV channel to watch, let alone my future steps in life… But luckily, having read so many life stories which people send me every day, I am not afraid any more. Moreover I became interested in making a choice!

Indeed, isn’t it exciting to design my own journey?

Isn’t it miraculous to observe what will be an impact of every choice I make?

Isn’t it wonderful to be an author of the book called life?

Y E S, it is.

Спортивная ходьба

Позвонила Лена: «Давай встретимся!»

«Конечно! Предлагаю в Коломенском» (всегда рада случаю прогуляться с хорошим человеком по своему любимому московскому парку)

«Договорились, как насчет того, чтобы устроить пробежку?»

***

Раньше я очень любила бегать.

В школьные годы с легкостью преодолевала дистанции в 3 км на городских соревнованиях. Реакция у меня замедленная, а вот выносливость – хоть куда. Поэтому спринтер из меня не вышел, а наматывать круги на стадионе мне очень даже нравилось.

Когда я поступила в университет и стала ездить в Москву, то безумно полюбила этот энергичный, стремительный город. Здесь все всегда куда-нибудь бежали. А те, кто предпочитал ходить, либо уступали дорогу, либо учились бегать.

А мне и не нужно было учиться. Я любила в день побывать в 7 местах на разных концах города, с легкостью вписывалась в повороты и с точностью до секунды отмеряла расстояния в метро, чтобы успеть везде, где стояли разноцветные флажки моей беговой дорожки.

А еще мне было сложно с теми, кто не любил бегать. Я не могла (или не пыталась?) понять этих чуднЫх людей. Ну как можно быть такими медлительными? Да что вы успеете в жизни, если будете передвигаться как улитки? Что, даже не поедете кататься на коньках в крылатское после утреннего похода по магазинам? Какие же вы скучные…

Иногда мы с ними бегали вместе. Но они все чаще и чаще сходили с дистанции, не добегая до финиша. А однажды, сильно разогнавшись, я совсем про них забыла. Про этих, а также про тех, кто сидел и болел за меня на трибунах городского стадиона. И про тех, кто ждал у финиша с сиреневым махровым полотенцем. Забыла, потому что мои болельщики были другими людьми – они не любили бегать. Но мне было спокойно, ведь рядом бежали такие же, как я, а многие даже выносливей. Так мы и бежали.

Кстати, походы я тоже очень любила. Но после них всегда хотелось снова побежать.

… Уже и не помню, как это вышло, но очнулась я на снегу, с побитыми коленками. Все болит, и вокруг никого и ничего, только горы. Ноги болели так сильно, что больше я не могла бежать. И я пошла пешком.

***

«Лен, я бы с радостью, только, знаешь, я … совсем не люблю бегать»

***

По вечерам люблю смотреть на дерево за моим окном. Это самое обычное дерево. Но если погреть молока, пить его медленно-медленно и долго смотреть на дерево, то все вокруг вдруг обретает новый смысл.

Недавно заметила, что мне не нравятся люди, которые бегут по эскалатору. Так и хочется их спросить: «Ну куда вы торопитесь?? Так всю жизнь пробежите… Неужели не жалко? Неужели вы готовы променять красоту мира и теплые щеки близких людей на блестящий приз за победу на спортивной гонке?»

Я разучилась поддерживать разговоры о модных выставках, на которые нужно обязательно успеть в наступившем сезоне, и о том, кто куда продвинулся в компании. Родители купили мне спортивные сандалии, чтобы удобнее бежать до Европы. И рюкзак, чтобы увезти из Москвы десяток достижений. Нет уж, я лучше на плоту до Венесуэлы, с дорожной сумкой, а там пешком. В Москве скоро не ждите – это больше не мой любимый город. Мне стало сложно с людьми, которые любят бегать.

…А недавно я сидела на трибуне и заглянула в глаза бегущему по стадиону человеку. Потом встала и принесла ему махровое полотенце.

***

Лена: «Ууу, а что же делать?...»

Я: «А давай ты побегаешь, а я почитаю на травке и посмотрю на тебя!»

***

Моей радости нет предела, если я слышу слова о том, как кто-то что-то ЛЮБИТ.

И неважно, любит ли он бегать или ходить. Теперь мне одинаково хорошо с теми и другими. Главное, чтобы за руку крепко держаться.

Я вот люблю ходить. И дышать. И слушать. Но если у человека есть свое «что-то», что приносит ему счастье, и пусть это не ходьба, мы все равно найдем, о чем поговорить.

***

Лена: «Отлично! Я только схожу переодеться. Встречаемся в центре зала в 19.30!»

Benches

You know, I love exhibitions in the open air!

There is the one opened a month ago in Moscow, Lavrushinsky side street (near Tret’yakov gallery). Young artists paint … benches! There are a lot of them put together one by one on the street! Now I have my favorite ones :)


First time when I came there, some artists were still painting and I was just excited by the beauty of the pictures.

(my friend took pictures:)

Second time the pictures weren’t new for me, so I was thinking about the whole idea and how it can positively influence people’s lives, and suddenly a question popped up in my head:

If I have my own bench on this street, what would I draw on it?

This question became soo interesting and worth thinking about, so I spent my trip home carrying it in my head. So, I came up with some ideas =)

If I have my own bench, I would likely to draw … happiness=)

However, happiness may be different for each of us, thus my bench wouldn’t show exactly what it is (who am I to give answers?). While looking at the picture, everyone would find his/her own answer.

Moreover, I would like that people that are coming to see the bench, find a new idea/thought for themselves every time they see it.

Another point, I would like my bench to be extremely beautiful that no one would ever want to draw something else on it. At the same time, I would like it to be so shiny and nice-looking that everyone would want to sit on it for hours.

It's should not be beautiful for everyone. But a few people would love it and come to see it from time to time.

Finally, it would be a little bit magic. Being near it you would want to join hands. To call your parents. To help your grandfather. To show this bench to your best friend.

It's a luck to have your own bench, isn't it? How much could we say, thus make a little change in people's souls.

Will Russia compete on a global market?

Since school years we have been listening to the standard ‘facts’ about Russia. Living conditions are not that high. Political system is too bureaucratic. There is too less care about people.

We have been consuming all this information with a great pleasure, and now every student of economical faculty starts his/her diploma with something like: “Relevance of this topic is proven by the fact that there is a big problem in Russian … sector…” More than half of the news end like in the saying: “They wanted to do it better, but did as usual”. Everywhere on the streets, in cafes, on TV screen people are blaming their country. Is it a flash mob? =)

My parents dream to see me living in Europe, at least working in Moscow for an international company. “We will see how long you are going to stay excited developing Russian economy”, - smile they. Some of my friends would move to another country straight away if they get a lucky chance.

Once I got fed up with such an opinion and applied to the Summer School for young economists.
If you want to make a change, you should have a clear idea about the current state and possible needs of the country. That’s what I was eager to find out leaving for this seminar which has the theme - “Competitiveness of Russian business on a global market”.

I have been to a lot of seminars, but from this one I expected to gain theoretical knowledge and define my own opinion about the situation in my country.

***

Summer School exceeded my expectations!

26 participants is not a big number, but these are the people who want to know reality and challenge perceptions. I have never seen so many questions during the lecture! It must be exciting to be a professor for such auditorium =)

I learned about emerging markets, WTO regulations, modern production systems (e.g. Toyota Production System), global competitive industries and scenarios for Russian economy development till 2020. Besides, we had a project of making a national industry competitive on the market (we took automotive industry), in the end each group presented their solutions for professors.

The most impressive was to find out about 3 scenarios for Russia till 2020 which are being prepared by the Ministry of Economical Development and Trade (Director of the assigned Committee came to us to make a lecture).

Second thing is tourism that is truly the industry of the future: the most competitive will become countries that will create an infrastructure which attracts tourists from the globe (by professor of London School of Economics).

The third one – about successful business by O.S. Vikhansky (very famous Russian professor of management): why do some businesses succeed and some fail?
I had a lot of learning points after his seminar, but was impressed when realized that you are likely to fail if you are using strategies that were successful some time ago! Really, things change so fast nowadays, that you must always create new strategies, new methods, and new ways if you want to succeed.

All these people who facilitated our learning – I am sure – had a strong belief in the future Russian economy, and they transmitted it to us! That’s amazing: good to have knowledge, great to have skills, but that’s an attitude that makes a difference!

***

I remember the moment during one of the nights when we talked about what each of us would change in Russia if he/she has a chance. I do remember the feeling of harmony inside me when I was talking about my passion – life and business coaching to help people find what they really want to do in their lives.

I am not afraid to listen to the news and talk about Russia with my parents any more. I know what is a fact and what is an opinion. I believe in the third scenario =) and my abilities to make an impact.

***

On the third day we had excursion around Moscow. It seems I was mentally repeating again and again: “Such a beautiful city we live in!” And this is me - almost Moscow citizen for 10 years!! =)

***

Read more in Russian (with pictures:) http://www.icss.ac.ru/summerschool2007/