My
Passion Story at HCL!
How many of us ever wonder what “PASSION” is to us? Yes, for
few it may be cricket, for few it may be music and for some it may be painting
but I would describe it an inner drive that will cause you to break a record, when
finishing the race will do, that will make you stay up all night long, when you
want to sleep, that will cause you to love, when you would rather hate....and
that will defy the odds when they shadow you…..
Not
a single day has passed without a bang of energy since 2009, the time when I started
my stint with HCL Technologies Ltd. (my second organization). I believe that HCL
has been the best thing that has happened to me in my life. Coming from a
manufacturing sector, I was aware that life would take a turn; I am going to
step into a big IT firm like HCL. And so did happen, I joined a team which was
being incubated at that time “Strategic Initiatives”. The team started to set a
foot in the organization with big initiatives and a bigger vision. Together we
experimented, explored, learnt and developed these initiatives, which is but an
experience of its own kind.
“The
Passion within me sparked again when I got involved in an initiative that was
“THE THING” to be. Actually the journey started with a precarious note and we
decided to build something for the individual at HCL. Recession was hitting bad
that time in 2009 and we as vibrant team wanted to convert the threats into
opportunities. With a number of brain
storming rounds and sleepless weekends, we came about an initiave that strives
to engage the whole person by identifying his/ her Passion Indicators…a topic
close to my heart.”
In this process, we were
revising the concepts of organization behavior, some team members who did not
have an HR background used to get bugged…and they used to go crazy with the
psychology and OB concepts… J and for me it was the revision of what I had studied for 7 years.
But, the whole environment incited us to come up with Employee Passion
Indicative CountTM, abbreviated as EPIC. EPIC
started as an assessment tool with very basic reports and portal in 2009 (first
year of its launch). It now stands as a yearlong intervention that strives to
address four business challenges of Employee Engagement, Employee Productivity,
Employee Development and Employee Retention. The vision is to “Create a
Passionate HCL” by Creating Passionate Individuals and
Passionate Teams.
EPIC
as HCL’s Differentiator: EPIC starts
with an assessment, which aims to identify the Passion Indicators i.e. all
those factors that drive an employee to excel at work. It goes beyond employee
engagement. Passion that gives a kick to employees to step out of their comfort
zones and perform innovatively. Moreover in order to engage your people you
need to know your people. So we help the management know them better in order to
engage them better.
We were happy to see a participation of 25,100
in EPIC 2009 launch i.e. the first year of launch. The concept picked up so
fast with the masses and there from it has been taken off well with a whopping
participation of 40,574 in EPIC 2010 and 51,656 in EPIC 2011. But the destination is not even close to what I want to achieve
in life. Sustaining through adverse situations at work, amidst of lot of
restructuring and dynamism in the organization; it was never a cake walk to
achieve a target with such a small team (a team of three). We could connect
with the masses (HCL, a company of approx 90,000 employees) through a neck
breaking speed and innovative solutions and created impact.
The last 3.3 years have passed
like a wind. It has been full of unique experiences for me – different flavors,
different people, different learning. Besides helping me grow professionally, I
think the exposure and learning while working here has contributed in my
personal growth immensely. From day one till date I have been completely
enjoying my work each and every moment. It was indeed a tremendous learning
working here. The diverse and creative work assignments helped me channelize my
potential to the fullest and have given me enough confidence to explore some
new territories. In the process I also got an opportunity to groom few of my
team members and I am confident enough that they would take EPIC to new
heights“.
I have worked with many people
in this firm and have undergone a tremendous phase of learning. Now that I grow
up on career ladder I wish to be a Leader in the field of HR and inspire many
others like me to rise up and be revolutionary leaders.
Like many, I have been through
topsy turvy times as well. When the only inspiration was my aspiration to be an
HR professional who stands out in the crowd through her impact and influence. A
vision to be a HR Head in the long run
pull me through. I have been through tough times in my race to be where I am, but
it only gives me more strength to be a determined person and focus on my goals.
As it’s said… Diamonds are made under
pressure.
Whenever the pressure used to
get too much I always used to keep this in mind that apart from being an
employee I am also a manager, so it was very important for me to motivate
myself and my team members. I don’t know
how many of you will agree with me but Managers do play a very vital role in
anyone’s career, I had to make sure that I consistently keep the flame of passion
of my team members burning. I have always made sure that even in the times of adversity
my team’s Passion, motivation and performance does not go down.
For me right decisions at the
right time and acting upon the same are very important and that’s the way I
have always worked. Personally I have always admired leaders who took along
their team members and maintain their integrity.
I feel that values are
foremost to me and they give me a differentiated power and confidence to shine.
Passion
is one thing that I am not only driving but living every moment. Passionate employees will pave their own
way but...but what about others? A real
leader is one who can make an " Iron SHINE like Diamond”, because a leader
grows only when his team members grow, when he grows alone then he is not a
true leader, he is just another Individual contributor. So, are you identifying
a successor at every level?
Thanks!
Ritu Singh- On the journey of being the MOST PASSIONATE HR
Practitioner!
Passionately Perfect
ReplyDeleteawesome...ur passion is distinctly visible to so many of us who have been in touch with u.....ur dedication is extraordinary.
ReplyDeleteAs a curious nerd I have always been looking for something beyond my work and workstation.That "something" which will help me
ReplyDeletemaintain and grow my other traits & hobbies.But for that I needed a means and thanks to EPIC I got a wonderful oppurtunity.
Believe me, EPIC has been a life changer for me and many people close to me, & the way people have been participating all through these years it proves it has been
affecting lives of people and making us PASSIONATE in whatever they do.
I was moved to know that you were only a team of 3 people who have been working on such an important and uphill task,and I fully understand that it is nothing but your PASSION which
has driven you to keep going and creating an impact in our lives.
All the best Ritu to you and your team for bringing a change in so many lives.
And Congrats for your first post !!! Expecting more in coming days.Enjoy !!!
There is so much more to passion and one thing that's sure is that it never needed a measurement. On a scale of 1 to 10 either you have it or you are a Zero.
ReplyDeletePassion is an inner desire to do ordinary things extraordinarily. Leaders drive passion to the required passion with their passion which is contagious and transcends all learning models.
I lead hence I am, and I am because of my passion.
Thanks for your comments friends...truly appreciate that!
ReplyDelete