Gratitude Journal 6 - Value time, be it others or yours, use it well!

My next set of learning from and my immense gratitude is to one of the best ever HR Leaders, a complete business leader, an absolute charmer, and a people’s person. One person who can talk at any length with anyone who approaches her with a query, seeking guidance, a debate, or a good casual chat, with the same interest and attention, space for the person and one who does the conversations with no judgement whatsoever – the people’s favourite Carol McCarthy FCIPD ! The words one may like her or hate he, but can never ignore her (here in work context, keep her away from our work) suits her perfectly in my view.

The experience that one can gain by interacting with her, observing her, hear her speak, look at how she works through the mazes and the unknown paths that had to be taken at work, would be invaluable to anyone who wants to take their work serious and carve a successful career for oneself. What did I learn from the most – the need to value Time; one’s own time and more importantly other’s time and how to evaluate time required to do one’s work or project or every single discussion.

Each time any one of us in the team in Europe has to seek time with her for a short chat, informal conversation, or an unplanned meeting with her, she used to be quite particular on how what was going to discussed, how critical or urgent was it, and what time was required to discuss. Of all the meetings, the ones where one used to sneak through a short chat with her were the ones which taught me a lot – she would be particular of the time she has agreed for scheduled meetings and at the same time not wanting to shun those who come for such short meetings, would balance it well but insist the short chat ones stuck to the time sought.

It was so casual and an annoying habit that I and many of my colleagues had – seek or say “Carol can we have two minutes” and end up taking 10 or more minutes from her. She never refused such asks but made sure that all of us learnt it well and practiced our conversations well before we sought such short chats from the next time. She used to ask if we were sure it will need only two minutes or did we need a few minutes? Then continue hearing to us and at the end remind us to ask for correct time required from her and manage time better from next time.? I practiced it quite the tough way and wherever and whenever possible used to insist to my friends at work that we indeed need to evaluate the time we need from her well and keep our conversations crisp enough. Having said that, she had given me more than an hour during my leaving drinks from the UK and was absolutely such a helpful talk when I was returning home to a larger role and to a completely new team and management.

What and how did the insistence of honouring and managing time, do to me?

-????????? Practice well on what I wanted to discuss about, what I wanted to convey, and what I wanted out of that meeting, and from her at the end of the discussion. In the longer run it just became a habit for any discussion I would get into or want to get into,

• Come prepared with artefacts where required and have data driven conversations,
• Give confidence that if I could do data-based conversations, it gave me more chances and confidence to get a positive outcome from the discussion,
• One must be ready to review one’s decision and unlearn, when presented with data and acceptable logic. An irrefutable logic and approach, and a will to learn, a Never say Never attitude is an add-on and compulsive for one on the other side of the table to change their initial thoughts,
• Respect others time well and that will be returned as good favour
• Pay complete attention when someone comes to you seeking your guidance/thoughts. Respect the trust and the respect one has on you and give them the best you have and genuinely can,
• And do all of that with a smile and a big heart!

The list can bs stretched more and I will leave that for other ex-colleagues and colleagues of mine to add from their working experience with Carol. I am sure none of will forget some of these from our time with Carol.

1. the Infectious laughter
2. the perfume ?? which indicated that she is set to leave work place
3. the postcards from her vacations
4. that is already two minutes, hmm go on, go on..
5. I am listening, I am listening

Did I miss anything more folks :)

Thank you, Carol for all that you have taught, the impact you have made in my personal and professional life! May the learnings continue..

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