Letter to Mr Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO – Microsoft

Dear Sir,

A thought has been increasingly making a home in my head which I would like to share with you.

The Indian family structure is familiar to you. We work as a unit, till the end. In the best of times we celebrate together, in the worst of situations we are there to support each other. Thats why probably God made a “family” unit. We as a family have a bigger responsibility towards our selves and our unit. We do not take the role lightly.

Now lets apply a similar model to the Corporate structure. I will mention the name of one such Corporate, in India, which has applied most of the family structure responsibilities to its Corporate culture, at the end of the letter, not now, to maintain the continuity of the matter. What happens when there is an unfortunate stop to a source of income in a family? Every family member downsizes their needs and contributes as much as possible to keep the show running. THEY DO NOT THROW THE PERSON OUT OF THE FAMILY UNIT because there is an unforeseen circumstance.

I think by now you must have got the gist of the matter. Yes I am addressing the issue of job cuts in Microsoft which is making headlines today. ‘Hard choices’ you say. The moment you mention ‘choice’, ‘cutting jobs’ has got precedence over something else.

Consider this,

1. Can the employees, all employees, take a pay cut to sustain the current strength? Can the rest of the employees contribute towards this unforeseen circumstance?
2. Can you take no salary till the time the Company tides over this circumstance? I think your sustaining power is much more than the ones who have been laid off.
3. Can the Management take no salary till the time the Company tides over this circumstance? They too have a sustaining power.

If there are “10,000” employees who are not going to take any salary home till God knows how long, the above mentioned options could surely be adapted to ensure you live out your responsibility as a family unit. Unless you do not consider it your responsibility to ensure every employee is taken care of even if there are hardships.

It would be a paradigm shift in the Corporate world. It would certainly set an example of how a Company looks after, not just its margins (and does everything possible to ensure the margins are inline with the budgeted figure) but also the monetary health of an employee, consequently the family health as well.

You may wonder why have I picked you and not the others for sending this thought. The answer is they would not understand the Indian family structure hence not appreciate its value, as you would being an Indian.

It is expected that the employee works as if it is her/ his Company, then the Company too needs to deliver accordingly not just monetarily!

The Company which follows the family culture is HDFC Ltd. (Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited), an Indian Company spearheaded by Mr Deepak Parekh.

I urge you to explore the possibility of bringing about a change which would set an example and a precedent. Its time to bring about change which considers employees as its responsibility, not just a resource!

Thank you for your time!

New Year Resolutions!

I know I know it is more of a myth…however I found merit in even just jotting the resolutions. Just making a list put things into perspective hence would say it does have its merits, even though one doesn’t take it till its fag end or worse still that it is forgotten the next day!

I chose two topics, Riyaz and Reading Books (hard copy). This is something that I started midway last year…to explore whether the basics has merit or the technological advanced option of the same. To explain, whether a hard copy or a Kindle version? So have concluded that I would like to go ahead with reading books, the hard copy version and do riyaz the old way ie. supported by a tanpura and not a droid (the online version).

Both, the riyaz and books, had taken a back seat…it is now time to give it its rightful space in my life. It has started off well so far and already can see huge benefits. Discipline and purpose sets in leading to a constructive day. You do not have to think much of what next, it is there to happen. Things happen organically rather than made to happen. Thats the thing, you have to “do” to actually experience. There is huge material on what to do, how to do, when to do…the point remains, unless you do it one doesn’t know what fits best for oneself.

Raag Yaman it is for the last couple of months. Everyday riyaz brings a freshness into ones voice. Identifying the place of swars in your vocals improves. One starts befriending the swars. They intimidate you lesser. So far so good…

Books were always for me a window to the world…I had stopped looking out through that window. Now have started again. Having an outside view is like having a one sided conversation with the outside. New thoughts, fresh perspectives, new cultures, new words, new expressions…keeps you engaged with the plot.

I follow @storytellersavi on instagram and she is responsible for my picking up books again. Have aimed at three books in a month and lets see how it goes.

These are a few of my thoughts on resolutions, riyaz and reading again. What are yours?