Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Work-Life Balance: A Practitioner Viewpoint

Please read my point of view on work-life balance posted on the People Matters site.  It brings out current issues and discusses potential solutions for organizations and individuals. 

Read by clicking the LINK HERE or below the image




Link to article:  https://www.peoplematters.in/author/rajiv-noronha

You are welcome to check out my OD Axis Site, too.


Saturday, January 11, 2025

Book Perspective: FOCUS The Hidden Driver of Excellence by Daniel Goleman

 Daniel Goleman’s Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence explores the critical role of attention in achieving professional and personal success. For HR practicing managers, this book offers valuable insights into how focus impacts leadership, decision-making, and employee engagement.  

I wrote a blog on Focus many years ago and have been using the concept of focus in my training programs and interactions with leaders and managers since 2003. Read the blog HERE

Coming to Daniel Golemans Book,.....  when one reads a book, the perspective varies depending on the point of view from which one sees it. Here is a perspective from the point of view of HR professionals.

Key Takeaways for HR Managers:

  1. Three Levels of Focus: Goleman categorizes attention into three domains—inner focus (self-awareness), other focus (empathy and social awareness), and outer focus (understanding the larger organizational and market environment). HR leaders must balance all three to drive high performance and foster a people-centric culture.

  2. The Role of Attention in Leadership: Effective HR managers need strong focus to make strategic decisions, manage conflicts, and drive talent development. Leaders who can direct their attention appropriately tend to be more emotionally intelligent and effective in handling workplace dynamics.

  3. Empathy and Relationship Building: Goleman emphasizes that leaders who cultivate social awareness and empathy build stronger teams. HR professionals must harness this ability to understand employee motivations, provide meaningful feedback, and enhance workplace relationships.

  4. Cognitive Control and Resilience: A well-developed focus allows HR managers to remain calm under pressure, navigate change, and drive a culture of resilience. In today’s fast-paced work environment, this skill is crucial for handling workplace challenges and fostering innovation.

  5. Managing Distractions in the Workplace: The modern workplace is filled with distractions that hinder productivity. HR leaders can use insights from the book to design environments that minimize interruptions, promote deep work, and improve employee well-being.

  6. Developing a Culture of Focus: Organizations thrive when employees can sustain attention on meaningful work. HR can play a key role in embedding focus-enhancing practices, such as mindfulness training, strategic goal setting, and structured feedback mechanisms.

Conclusion:

For HR managers, Focus is a compelling guide to enhancing leadership effectiveness, employee engagement, and organizational performance. By mastering attention management, HR professionals can create a work environment where people are productive, deeply engaged, and fulfilled.

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