Aparna Kaul

Enthusiast ; thinker ; executioner; practical and passionate about people .Currently managing talent development function at Sopra Steria India

[Aparna Kaul @apkaul]

@albinder @deepigoyal : I have tons of perfectly usable Blinkit paper bags . Can we have a reverse collection drive from
Blinkit to collect paper bags and reuse them or recycle them . This could be incentivised if possible 😊 and return can be done only when a delivery happens .

[Sopra Steria India @SopraSteria_IN]

In a vibrant gathering at our Noida @SopraBanking Software campus, HR leaders converged for a roundtable discussion on the very essence of a thriving workplace - Employee Wellbeing. Dive into the heart of our insightful discussions, where industry stalwarts explored key aspects of employee wellbeing and shared their best practices, paving the way for exceptional workplaces. Stay tuned for more glimpses into our journey of creating a workplace where each colleague's success story is written with wellness, collaboration, and growth.

#SopraSteriaIndia #TheWorldIsHowWeShapeIt #GreatPlaceToWork #Employees #WellBeing #HR #InsightfulSession #Roundtable #WellBeingJourney

[Aparna Kaul @apkaul]

@RNTata2000 Finally got it checked at Tata Motors Sector 19 Faridabad . The service station was full so the supervisor came out . Checked the car . Called the technician and told us the issue in 15-20 mins flat . How can the same company have such extreme difference in customer handling ?

[Aparna Kaul @apkaul]

Tata Motors Cars Service Centre - Treo, Okhla Industrial Area @TataMotors : pathetic service . Car AC broke down on the road and no one at the service station is even ready to listen . Receptionist asked our car number , checked it on the system and then picked up her lunch and

[Aparna Kaul @apkaul]

Said “main lunch karne ja rahi hoon “ . The advisor was talking on the phone while I was sitting across him ( personal call ) . Horrible customer sensitivity . Didn’t expect this from Tata @RNTata2000 . Never ever buying a Tata vehicle again

[Aparna Kaul @apkaul]

#iLearn@SopraSteria

Personal branding tip from @amantweetkaur26 at our 2023 learning Conclave

1) your social media presence should reflect who you are and not just what you do !!!

[Shreyas Doshi @shreyas]

Let me describe a common, but rarely discussed bias I’ve seen in promotion committees / perf calibration meetings:

- Highly talented, very effective PM is being discussed

- This PM has recently shown exceptional performance in a specific aspect of PM work (e.g. execution / strategy / analytics / design sense / etc.)

- Some committee members not intimately familiar with the PM’s work (but eager to chime in) state emphatically:

“Bob is clearly very good at execution. But I am not sure if he’s ready for the next level, because I have doubts about his strategic ability”

OR

“Alice has amazing design sense and that shows in her recent work. But I am not sure she has demonstrated the analytical ability that is required for a 'Greatly Exceeds Expectations' rating”

etc.

- As a result, the PM gets a lower rating than they deserve or does not get the promotion they applied for

The chief issues here:

1) People chiming in to create a perception of making a contribution in the calibration meeting (often because the “big boss” is present in these meetings)

2) Many middle managers and senior leaders assume that if someone is great at “Strategy” they must not be good at “Execution”.

Or that if someone is very “Creative” they must not be good with “Analytics”. Even *if* this is true in general, that does not have to be true when your sample size is one (and that specific sample is an otherwise highly effective PM).

3) This kind of decision-making often disincentivizes people from doing what’s right for the company.

Example: Several years ago, I was in a calibration meeting in which a very talented mid-level PM was being discussed. This PM had done an exceptional job with “Execution” over the past 6 months. Everyone agreed on that.

But then that PM got dinged because someone chimed in “I am not sure if there is enough here in terms of strategic thinking”.

A couple of other folks chimed in with a +1 or comment, until I and another manager had to point out:

“well, this PM has been focused on execution because the whole area was a disaster and needed someone to come in and align everyone and then execute on the most important things over the past 6 months - they did work that was absolutely right for the company, so it does not make sense to ding them for not demonstrating a certain ability”.

This one ended well (the PM got a very good rating), but it only happened because I and another manager had closely seen this PM’s performance (even though they were not on my team).

In too many such meetings, there is a consensus bias, everyone nods, and the committee ends up dinging an otherwise promising PM for doing the *very things* that were right for the company.

So, if you are a leader in such meetings, make sure to point out when the committee might be falling prey to this tendency.

And lastly, don’t automatically assume that someone who is great at Strategy is bad at Execution. Or that someone who is great at Design must be bad at Analytics.

Bring keen observation and proof to the discussion, not hunches and conjecture.

[Aparna Kaul @apkaul]

@tpratyush @TanishqJewelry Try Caratlane instead in the same mall @CaratLane . Had a really good experience shopping there !!!! And the manager attends personally 😊

[Aparna Kaul @apkaul]

@warikoo “ You cannot make someone love you “ - that should be the tweet !!!

[Aparna Kaul @apkaul]

@warikoo And then she is labelled selfish , arrogant and what not . Happiness comes at a price and this is probably the price to pay !!!

[David Morris @wdmorrisjr]

17 life skills every parent must teach their kids before they leave home:

[Aparna Kaul @apkaul]

@MSwani10 @Talib_Hussain_ Contrary to what you wrote ; I only wish you peace and fulfilment

[Aparna Kaul @apkaul]

@Pushkar1981 @rishibagree Fido dido 😃😃

[Aparna Kaul @apkaul]

@ZaharAlmas @exurbius @Talib_Hussain_ May god give you the same perks and attention .

[Aparna Kaul @apkaul]

@MSwani10 @Talib_Hussain_ This shows your morality . My faith is still undeterred !!!!

[Aparna Kaul @apkaul]

@MSwani10 @Talib_Hussain_ Yes I have condemned all atrocities. Do you have the courage to condemn the sufferings of all ? You are blinded by bias and hate . My dream of a peaceful Kashmir worth settling in will remain . Deal with it .

[Aparna Kaul @apkaul]

@MSwani10 @Talib_Hussain_ Instead of policing others ; look within your conscience . Don’t undermine someone’s oppression by highlighting another oppression . Have the morality to condemn all wrongs . I will speak of my oppression and experiences . Deal with it !!!

[Aparna Kaul @apkaul]

@Azarwun @exurbius @Talib_Hussain_ This is precisely your closed mindset , trying to negate our sufferings.Trying to portray that it’s all fake. How does 10000 pandits staying back justify horrors of lakhs of others ?Just try and acknowledge the sufferings of others.closing this thread from my side .Peace to you.

[Aparna Kaul @apkaul]

@Azarwun @exurbius @Talib_Hussain_ No one mocked your feeling . I just refuse to accept your narrative . It’s ok if you don’t agree to my point of view . But we all have freedom of expression and right to share our experiences. No one has the right to belittle my suffering .