Internet Relationships

Are internet relationships good or are they to be avoided? I wish I had an answer. Probably this question lurks in the minds of all people who indulge in them. I can safely say that the answer lies somewhere in between these extreme positions. Such relationships can be used effectively to one’s advantage if proper discretion is exercised. They can also result in unfavourable, unenviable and dangerous situations to unknowing users, who do not exercise proper care.

What is good?

Internet relationships, if properly used have many benefits like

-        One can make good friends with whom a close and lasting relationship can be developed. However, care should be taken not to reveal too much about oneself before checking whether the other person is genuine and is talking the truth about himself. The genuineness or otherwise of the person is revealed if the relationship is built up step by step. This means the user should converse or chat with the person over a period of time and look for suspicious statements or unnecessary haste on the other person’s part to know more about you before he shares information about himself

-        Chats on specific subjects like sports, entertainment and business are usually harmless

-        Sometimes one meets interesting people on the net who are very knowledgeable and are willing to share and teach. One should encourage such relationships

One common practice by people is to lie about their age. The only way out is to question them and try to trap them by asking them questions so that they falter at some point.

What is to be avoided?

-        Keep clear of people who are aggressive and ask you a lot of questions that they need not know

-        Avoid giving your telephone number and other details till you trust the person

-        If you are a lady you can immediately sense when the conversation is crossing its limits. In such cases tell the other person clearly and firmly to avoid contacting you. If he persists, IGNORE him

-        Choose your usernames and email address carefully . They should not include personal details like age, birthday , gender etc.

-         Be even more careful with your webcam. Only use it with people you know offline, and make sure you turn it off when you're done.

Finally, remember that your net community is a virtual world and not reality till you develop real friendships. With proper care, virtual friends can become real friends.

The Reading Habit

According to an international journal, “Reading habit is the art of personal investigation and self study. It should be followed by self thinking and analysis, and only this kind of study, on one’s own accord, can develop into good reading habit.”

So true. Reading has to be followed by thinking, introspection and analysis to assimilate what we have read. Otherwise reading is an exercise that has no value or use. Text book reading is generally done out of compulsion, as when we study for an examination or for other academic pursuits like research and so on. This type of reading cannot be classified under “reading habit.”

When we read something we should be able to think of what the writer or author is trying to convey in the written piece. Sometimes it is necessary to decipher the hidden meaning of what is written and conveyed.

Apart from all these theories, it is a fact that a good book can teach us a lot, can expand our horizons and, sometimes, the fictitious characters are large as life and teach us a few things. I recently read an article in a website whose author advises that if one has set times for reading every day.

If I were to advise a person who wants to develop the reading habit I would tell him that he had to reduce watching television and browsing the net. These “distractions” are responsible for the reading habit losing its appeal on youngsters. Having said this, it must be admitted that the proportion of youngsters in book shops is still high.

It is very important that we help youngsters inculcate this habit. Actually they can be introduced to reading at a very early age. Youngsters become more inquisitive and curious when they see written matter and graphical illustrations and pictures. Curiosity and inquisitiveness help develop young minds and makes them ready for more information.

A good source of reading material, apart from the good bookshops, is shops that sell used and old books. We sometimes get very good and rare books here, as some people are not aware of their value and sell them off.

As a librarian , I want  my all books to be issued with all shelves empty.... :)

Summarizing, it must be said that a determined effort is necessary to popularize the reading habit. The onus of this is on the present generation.

Business Etiquette – As seen by a layman

 Etiquette is “not about fork and knife” – it’s about consideration and respect toward the people around us.

Etiquette is a very important factor in our daily lives, as it defines our behaviour with people with whom we come across. Display of good etiquette makes a strong statement on our general manners, our upbringing and our concern for others. In business, etiquette is important, especially in international dealings as it gives others an idea of our country and our values. In this short note, I am listing some good practices concerning business etiquette as I see it

·         When a visitor comes to your office see that he is welcomed and taken to the person or persons he or she wants to meet. This is especially important in companies where knowledge is guarded. Apart from showing courtesy to the visitor it ensures that he does not move into restricted areas

·         In any meeting where guests are present, welcome them at the start and inform them on the location of the washrooms and evacuation procedures in the event of an emergency

·         When walking with others in a corridor, ensure that, if you are in the lead that you follow certain good practices. When you approach a door that opens outward go ahead, open the door and move aside with the door opened to let the others pass. If the door opens towards you, hold it open to allow the others to pass first

·         When in a meeting allow others to talk without interrupting them midway. They should be allowed to finish what they are saying after which you can respond

·         Be punctual. You cannot waste others’ time

·         Dress well. It gives a good impression

·       Do not pull up your subordinates in public. You can do it in private. If done in public it will hurt his pride

One thing I was in doubt till a few years back was whether there was any protocol or norm to be followed when introducing people. This is because introductions are practically the first thing we do before a meeting or official interaction starts. Let me share with you what I have learnt after studying some literature on the subject.

Introductions have to be done in the proper manner to make the all important "first impression.” Here are some tips that may make you wiser.

-     In social situations remember to introduce the man to the lady

-     In business situations the person with a higher rank is introduced to the rest first

-     In formal meetings it is always good to add a line on the person’s background or achievements when making introductions

-     Finally, if it is possible, try to space out the introductions so that people remember each other

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