Since I have come here in Ipswich, and the summer has begun, we have been playing good amount of cricket on the weekends. When people like Prafulla, Prasad, Nilay are around, it feels really good to bat well and to hit a nice drive going through the covers or to take a good catch!!
But so far, I have been playing mainly as a batsman and a fielder. Since I have been playing (even gully cricket), I have never been really looking towards bowling as an option. But with some games really becoming one sided or me getting out early sometimes, has made me think about this. I mean, I dont think as of now, I have the stamina or accuracy to be a fast bowler but why not a gentle slow medium with good line and length?
Past couple of days I have been bowling some timepass overs and it feels good to really be involved in this aspect of the game also.. I was never aware that bowling can be so fun too..
I have decided now... from now on, whenever I have the chance, I am going to bowl and try to bowl well!!! Lets see, how much chance I get... may be against weaker batters, but still, before I go back, I want to be at least a good part timer from a nobody in the bowling department!!
Monday, June 04, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Appraisals again!!
I was reading some blogs from a friend of mine.. and came across the topic of appraisals... Suddenly realised that its April... and the madness (?!?) will soon begin again...
Appraisals at Infosys is an integral part of the work that we all do... All these appraisals link into your career and ultimately into the oportunities and the money!! Though, with the maddening speed at which Infy is growing, like all processes, this one is also going to fall apart some day, the current one is amongst the good ones I have seen/heard about, if used correctly.
After 3.5 years and 7 appraisals, when I look back, there have been lots of changes and a huge transformation in me also, as a part of this system... I can still remember my first appraisal, when I had a telephonic appraisal presentation and it took me two days to create the presentation. With all my cubicle mates winking and making faces, it was difficult to give the presentation on call... I was all nervous then, even though that one was not going to matter at all.. I have been lucky in one aspect, I had the best first manager one can ever have, Vinay. He so nicely imbibed the good points of the system in us, which still helps me in keeping the faith in the system. Self appraisals and data... its like in the exams, you know before the results are out, what you deserve, so you dont get disappointed when the results out.. and I used to collect data points like mad... some times used to get carried away a touch too much.. I remember when I had around 5 hours of appraisal discussion last to last year... But things change and change rapidly... the last discussion I had was for 30 mins, and I had no presentation at all...
When I became a PA last year, I found myself suddenly on the other side of the table... I was making appraisals for 9 odd people.. man!! that was huge and pressure cooker... full of people management and trying to be nice and tough at the same time... No matter how others take it, I felt like I have a tremendous responsibility in shaping part of the future of my appraisees... It took some time adjusting to that fact. But by the time I did my second appraisals, I was pretty clear about things. Biggest factor was to give the negative feedback... This experience has definitely helped me in my people mgmt part... its seriously difficult convincing people...
All said and done... the important point comes now... Why do I need the appraisal? Is it the appraisal for which I work? Is that make me go the Extra Mile??? Is it always just for the money?? Well, the appraisals definitely bring in some competition and that definitely helps me in going... some measure to measure where you are. But I think thats all... I mean, I dont think that whenever I take up some thing challenging, I do it for my appraisal's sake... that will not make me sit in office for 12 hours and work weekends... It can not be just an A in the appraisal that makes me do that... Its the passion for the work I am doing... the passion to do more and more things, thats my driver... On a lighter note, not having a girl friend is also a cause (or may be a reason ;)). I do all these things because I WANT TO and not because I will get an A because of it.. But one thing is for sure, if I have done something good, I will make sure that I will get the dues for it... I dont think Neki kar Daryaa me daal works any more... I will not work keeping in mind the appraisals and grades but if thats being used as a criteria to evaluate me, I will make it damn sure to get what I rightly deserve...Its a necessary evil... Some will say that I have been always seeing the good side of it, but what the heck, if I have worked hard enough, I might well get paid for it!!
Appraisals at Infosys is an integral part of the work that we all do... All these appraisals link into your career and ultimately into the oportunities and the money!! Though, with the maddening speed at which Infy is growing, like all processes, this one is also going to fall apart some day, the current one is amongst the good ones I have seen/heard about, if used correctly.
After 3.5 years and 7 appraisals, when I look back, there have been lots of changes and a huge transformation in me also, as a part of this system... I can still remember my first appraisal, when I had a telephonic appraisal presentation and it took me two days to create the presentation. With all my cubicle mates winking and making faces, it was difficult to give the presentation on call... I was all nervous then, even though that one was not going to matter at all.. I have been lucky in one aspect, I had the best first manager one can ever have, Vinay. He so nicely imbibed the good points of the system in us, which still helps me in keeping the faith in the system. Self appraisals and data... its like in the exams, you know before the results are out, what you deserve, so you dont get disappointed when the results out.. and I used to collect data points like mad... some times used to get carried away a touch too much.. I remember when I had around 5 hours of appraisal discussion last to last year... But things change and change rapidly... the last discussion I had was for 30 mins, and I had no presentation at all...
When I became a PA last year, I found myself suddenly on the other side of the table... I was making appraisals for 9 odd people.. man!! that was huge and pressure cooker... full of people management and trying to be nice and tough at the same time... No matter how others take it, I felt like I have a tremendous responsibility in shaping part of the future of my appraisees... It took some time adjusting to that fact. But by the time I did my second appraisals, I was pretty clear about things. Biggest factor was to give the negative feedback... This experience has definitely helped me in my people mgmt part... its seriously difficult convincing people...
All said and done... the important point comes now... Why do I need the appraisal? Is it the appraisal for which I work? Is that make me go the Extra Mile??? Is it always just for the money?? Well, the appraisals definitely bring in some competition and that definitely helps me in going... some measure to measure where you are. But I think thats all... I mean, I dont think that whenever I take up some thing challenging, I do it for my appraisal's sake... that will not make me sit in office for 12 hours and work weekends... It can not be just an A in the appraisal that makes me do that... Its the passion for the work I am doing... the passion to do more and more things, thats my driver... On a lighter note, not having a girl friend is also a cause (or may be a reason ;)). I do all these things because I WANT TO and not because I will get an A because of it.. But one thing is for sure, if I have done something good, I will make sure that I will get the dues for it... I dont think Neki kar Daryaa me daal works any more... I will not work keeping in mind the appraisals and grades but if thats being used as a criteria to evaluate me, I will make it damn sure to get what I rightly deserve...Its a necessary evil... Some will say that I have been always seeing the good side of it, but what the heck, if I have worked hard enough, I might well get paid for it!!
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