Values For Children

In this “happening” and fast world we live in, everyone is impatient and in a hurry to make money, excel in their careers and be ahead of others in practically everything. It is a mad race for recognition and materialistic success. I and others in my age group grew up under different conditions when the world was a much slower place and people had time for each other.

I am bringing up this subject because of my concern that in the present day world, full of distractions and full of competition, that we may not be doing justice as elders and parents towards the younger generation. Is the younger generation vulnerable and is it in deficit as far as possessing good values is concerned?

There are a few aspects, which my ‘wandering’ mind is debating. For example, are we teaching our children correctly with respect to sustainability and care for the environment? Are we teaching them to stand up against and fight against injustice and wrongdoing? Are we teaching them to be good citizens?

Other small things that we should teach our children are:

    Respect for tradition: Teach them to respect our culture and tradition. They may be anywhere in   the world, but they should always remember from where they came

     Respect for elders: This is a very important quality. They should not forget that elders built and toiled for whatever they have

        Respect for institutions: Their school, college and workplace are institutions that groomed them

        Honesty and Integrity: Teach them to value these qualities

        Compassionate attitude: Teach them to respect and help those who are not unfortunate as them

These are only some of the values we have to instill in our children. These are only the tip of the iceberg. And values are not generated overnight. These are to be instilled in young minds. We should lead and guide them by example. Probably many of us don’t have these values. However, if we have to leave this world a better place to live in it is absolutely necessary that we pay attention to our youth and teach them to be good and compassionate human beings

Book Review

Title Of Book: Marketing For Hospitality And Tourism

Author: Philip Kotler , John Bowen And James Makens

Publisher: Pearson Education

Edition : 3^rd ed.

Cost: Rs 499

Pages: 909

ISBN: 81-7758-203-8 

About the book

The name Kotler is synonymous with management study. I am fascinated by the fact that the entire management section in our library is stacked with books by Philips Kotler. This set me thinking and I decided to constructively review this book. 

Philips Kotler, one of the world’s foremost authorities on marketing, along with hospitality marketing experts John Bowen and James Makens, bring their knowledge of the hospitality industry to the pages of Marketing for Hospitality and Tourism.

This hospitality book is comprehensive and innovative, and gives an insight into the managerial aspects and provides a practical introduction to marketing, state-of –the – art and real-world. The information provided in the book is very well organized and offers examples and exercises from well-known companies and applications that illustrate the major decisions hospitality marketing managers face in their efforts to balance objectives and resources against needs and opportunities in today’s global marketplace.

Each chapter opens with a description of  a company situation. Each chapters ends with a review in outline form.

The topics reflect the authors’ rich experience in teaching and international consulting in the hospitality and travel industries.

Part 1: Introduces the concept of Hospitality Marketing and its importance.

Part 2: Developing Hospitality and Tourism Marketing Opportunities and strategies -   explain  the role of consumers’ behavior and how it affects the marketing environment.

Part 3: Developing the Hospitality and Tourism Mix – Identifies and explain strategies for promoting products and various distribution channels.

Part 4: Managing Hospitality and Tourism Marketing – Highlights the latest trends in Electronic Marketing, destination Marketing and planning for the future.

The book has international focus, which helps expose students to business and cultural examples from others parts of the world. Rather than have one chapter on international marketing, the authors have incorporated examples throughout the text.

Its style and extensive use of examples and illustrations make this simple, direct easy to read, and enjoyable.

Very few books I have read bring out so lucidly the subject addressed making the reader engrossed and interested. Believe me, this book is worth it !!!!!!!!!!!

EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION SKILLS

Introduction

In the business world today success is all about communication and how you “sell” yourself. Individuals and companies the world over are developing new methods of communicating and influencing customers with innovative methods. We see that the tone and content of advertising has changed from what it was a few years ago. Though advertising is not the subject of this paper, it is worthwhile to mention that advertising is meant to capture the consumer’s interest with a good audio or visual presentation. The print and electronic media offer a platform to companies to “present” and advertise their brands.

Just as advertising is important for brand building, it is also important that the company’s business and operations are showcased in a manner that will capture the customer’s imagination. Presentations are an excellent method to do exactly this. I will attempt, in this brief paper, to put forth some tips on how to make a presentation effective

Tips for an Effective Presentation

First of all let us be clear on the purpose of a presentation. Why should we make presentations? Are reports not good enough? Presentations have an advantage over reports in communicating ideas and information to a group and allow “live” interaction between the presenter and the audience. So to make a presentation successful there should be a “connect” between them.

The advantage of using presentations depends on how they are packaged and put forward to the audience. This makes the content and structure of utmost importance apart from the fact that the presenter has to come across to the audience as a person with whom they share rapport

Here are some tips on how to make a presentation effective:-

1. Posture and Body Language

It is very important to engage well with the audience. Smiling when talking is very important as is eye contact with the audience. If these are absent the presentation becomes a monotonous affair. Life is injected into the interaction when the presenter connects well. Posture is also very important. A good presenter stands erect and leans forward while talking. He should not look at the floor and talk with his back turned.

It is necessary to maintain the right space from the audience. Getting too close to them can make them restless. If it a big room it may be necessary to move and walk while talking to maintain the right distance

2. Listening

A good presenter is also a good listener.  Listening consists of hearing the other person and understanding what he or she has to say. A good listener will not complete the other person’s sentence, will not interrupt him midway and will empathise with him. It is also necessary that answers to the person’s questions relate to what he asks

3. Disagreements with the audience

It is necessary to keep your cool when a member of the audience disagrees with you there may be different points of view that have to be respected. In such situations it is advisable to discuss the point with the person and try to explain your point of view and letting him or her know that they are entitled to their own opinion. Never lose your temper or raise your voice

4. Prepare well for your presentation

Presentations need preparation. You should be clear about the topic and possible areas where discussions can occur. Always do a “dry run” before the actual event

5. Time Management

It is necessary to know the time limit allowed for your presentation. Even if there is no time limit, don’t make it too long as audience interest cannot be sustained for long. Prepare the number of slides accordingly. Normally a slide with content takes about a minute.

6. Format

The slide should not only 4 or 5 bullet points. Never make the mistake of crowding your slides with a lot of written matter.

Conclusion

These small tips can go a long way in making your presentation enjoyable and lively. It should always be remembered that, apart from conveying an idea, a thought or a narration of events, the presentation projects yourself and your organisation. 

Thought for the week

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.


     --Edith Wharton

Book Review

Title Of Book: Who Will Cry When You Die ?

Author: Robin Sharma

Publisher: Hay House

Cost: Rs 135

Pages: 224

ISBN: 978-1401900120 

About the book

"WHEN YOU WERE BORN, YOU CRIED WHILE THE WORLD REJOICED. LIVE YOUR LIFE IN SUCH A WAY THAT WHEN YOU DIE, THE WORLD CRIES WHILE YOU REJOICE." Ancient Sanskrit Saying 

After “The monk who sold his Ferrari,” this is another wonderful book from Robin Sharma. “Who will cry when you die” offers 101 inspirational lessons on how to live a more focused and prosperous life, in a simple, direct and easy-to-read way. Lessons from the book can be called ‘wisdom’

This book is easy to handle, as each thought and idea is independent of the rest and is contained in only 2 or 3 pages, at the most. On the contents page, you can choose from the suggestions based on the short description, and highlight those that resonate with you to come back to. Starting from number 1 - Discover Your Calling, to number 14 - Remember, Genius Is 99 Percent Inspiration, number 34 is Enjoy the Path, Not Just the Reward, and Number 81 - Don't Pick Up the Phone Every Time It Rings. With the trouble and disturbance a call phone can cause, that should be a rule everyone has to agree to before they are allowed a cell phone.  

Robin refers to his father's words that a tree that has most fruits is that which bends to the ground. And he says that, though there are some exceptions, he has found, in his own experience, that it is true-the people who know the most, who have achieved the most, and have lived the most, are also the people closest to the ground. In a word, they are humble. There is something special about being in the presence of a person who is humble. Robin Sharma thinks that practicing humility shows that you respect others and reminds us that there is something for us to learn from everyone, however small or big h or she is.

The book is basically a compilation of lessons for the reader. They are simple, lucid and real life situations and possibilities. One can say they are ”great little pick-me-ups!” “Cry when u die" reminds you of what you are losing in life.  Each lesson is a lesson for life. You will start enjoying the small things in life. The language is simple and easy to understand. A must for everyone!! .

The book is an eye opener in a way. It tells us what we are missing in life and encourages us to make full use of what it offers so that we remain happy. It also tells us how we can cope with changing situations, trials, challenges, frustrations and so on.

Also in  one of his speeches, Robin Sharma  that, in his travels around the world, he found that human beings struggle with same challenges and the same desires. All of humanity is one great family with invisible ties. Thus, peace is at your own doorstep and Robin Sharma's books are real 'Gem Picks' - Yeah, sure you can surf his website and hear him too !!!!!

Book Review

Title Of Book: How I Taught My Grandmother To Read and other stories

Author: Sudha Murty

Publisher: Puffin Books (2004)

Cost: Rs 150/-

Pages: 133

ISBN: 0-44-333598-7

Format: Paperback

About the book

I am an ardent fan of Sudha Murthy’s books. I have read many of them. In “How I Taught My Grandmother To Read,” Sudha Murthy has shared her real life experiences as a teacher, a social worker, a mother and a wife. The small but real, touching , enjoyable and inspirational 25 stories in this masterpiece teach us so much about life. They also tell you so much about qualities we seem to have forgotten - like honesty - and also people that were great, not for the money they had, but their strength of character - like JRD Tata.

Most of the stories personally involve her or her work with Infosys Foundation, but there is also one inspiring one of Narayan Murthy, a touching tale of how his father didn’t have money to fund his engineering from an IIT, because of which he had to join some nearby college. The title story of how she taught her grandmother to read, and how her grandmother touched her feet saying she was actually touching her teacher’s feet – is very moving and emotional.  There is one on APJ Abdul Kalam and his humility, and there is one where Sudha Murthy’s daughter teaches her a lesson. One of the gems in the book is a story titled ‘Appro JRD’. As the name suggests, the story details the author’s interaction with JRD Tata, when she was an employee at TELCO. Her unique style is moving and very expressive, touching the reader’s heart. Her simple language and style leaves the reader salute this lady and her simplicity.

After reading this book I realized that it pays to be firm in my beliefs.

Many a time I recall her stories when faced with similar situations in life.  This is perhaps a greatest a tribute a writer can get. Also, her stories give a hope for a better tomorrow for our country. I highly recommend this book to all, especially children, students and youth.

Thought for the week

Knowledge has to be improved, challenged, and increased constantly, or it vanishes. 

            --Peter F. Drucker 

New Arrivals List : 2011: July

Following books are recently added to the Library Collection

 Food Production

1.       Travels With Thai Food: a journey with spirit house: Brierty, Helen & Fear, Annette

2.       The Indian Cuisine: Dubey, Krishna

3.       Quantity Food Production Operations & Indian Cusine  : Bali , Parvinder S.

Bakery

1.       The Cookie Book : Atkinson,Catherine

2.       Savoring Desserts : Williams,Chuck,ed.

Food and Beverage Service

1.       The Learning Annex Presents The Pleasure of wine : Blackburn, Jan & Levine, Allison

2.      Cooking with Wine :  Anne,Willam

3.      Extreme Hotels

4.      Extreme Restaurants

5.      The Ultimate Bar Book : Domnis,Andre

General Books

1.       Stay Hungry Stay Foolish : Bansal,Rashmi

2.       Screw It,Let's Do It Lessons in Life : Branson,Richard

3.       Dare to Dream a life of M.S.Oberoi : Karkaria,Bachi

4.       McDonald's Behind The Arches : Love,John F.

5.       How To Be Like Walt : Williams,Pat

6.       Ripley's Belive It or Not : Ripley

7.       Super Power : Bahl,Raghav

Hotel Engineering

1.       Hotel Engineering : Ghosal,Sujit

2.       Hotel Facility Planning : Bansal,Tarun

Thought for the week

Time = Life. Therefore, waste your time and waste your life, or master your time and master your life.
                            --Alan Lakein 

Library Orientation Programme

Library Orientation for new batch of first year on 21/07/2011, from 10am to 11am. Details were given regarding rules and regulations of library. It was a very interactive session . All instructions were received with great enthusiasm.
                                                         

                                                            library tour !!!!!!!!!

                                                          Surfing net...

Hope u guys loved library tour !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thought for the week

"If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes"
----St. Clement of Alexandr

Building Teams for Success

Harmonious and dedicated teams are the key to the success of any joint effort. Just as the football team is made up of eleven players with defined roles and just as each of these players have to perform their role for the team to succeed it should be remembered that every member of any team is important.

Team Building is the first step in attaining what is called good teamwork. And teamwork generates happiness, encouragement, success and enthusiasm.

I will describe below the factors that help build good teams

Have a vision for the team

It is extremely important to let the team know what they will achieve when the mission is accomplished. Make the goal large and challenging, let the team know how much their personal pride will be boosted when they reach the goal and try to project and imagine with the team what it would mean when they get there.

Commitment

It should be clear what commitment means. It does not necessarily mean long hours or productivity. Commitment means ownership of the task ahead. Every member should own their job. This is what team leaders have to instill in their teams. The rest will automatically follow

Some team members may take time to understand what is expected out of them. It doesn’t mean they are not committed. It only means that they are in a state of doubt and need help to clarify those doubts. These doubts can relate to roles, norms of the organisation and so on.

Leaders have a big role to play in eliciting commitment from their team members. They cannot expect accountability and results without providing support. Just as the five fingers of our hand are different from each other, each team member is an entity by himself and has to respected

  

Trust

Trust in each other and in the team leader is necessary and has to be built up. Trust means confidence in team leadership and vision. When trust prevails, team members are more willing to go through a difficult process, supported through ups and downs. When trust prevails the team members are willing to go “the extra mile.” How is trust built up? There is only one way. The leadership has to commit to the vision and have no doubts on the same. This gives a clear message to the team that the intentions are genuine. Commitment is demonstrated by leaders by the following actions:

·         List the unknowns, fears and the risks

·         Assess consequences of worst case scenarios

·         Try to build up fall back plans to face eventualities

When the leaders present their assessment of their task and the scenarios listed above the team is convinced about their genuineness and their intention. This builds up mutual trust. This trust can be further strengthened if the leader demonstrates that he will support the team members in difficult situations and take the responsibility for the team’s mistakes and lapses.

Including Team members

Leaders have to understand that without their team they have no chance of success. Hence they need the team more that the team needs them. Inclusion of team members can be successful if leaders practice the following

·         Not offending their team members by asking questions that offend their ego. By inviting their suggestions like a simple “What do you think?” leaders will gain a lot. If a report is late a question like “Do you need any help to complete the report?” is much better that saying “You are already late. When will you complete it?”

·         Being a good listener and “hearing him out” and then explaining his point of view

  

Communication and exchange of Ideas

There should be a cordial atmosphere in the team and ideas should be freely exchanged. Here again, the role of the team leader is very important. He should realise that just by giving orders he cannot achieve much. He should allow discussions, consensus and give an opportunity for people to state their views. Of course there may be situations when he has to take the final call. In such cases he should explain the rationale behind his decision.

These are some vital factors that influence teamwork. Try them and see what a difference it makes!!

“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes  care of itself."