Strategic HRM – How it helps in improved Business Performance  Don’t forget to take the HR QUIZ at the end of this article Definition: Strategic human resource management (strategic HRM or SHRM) is a tactic to managing human resources that supports long-term business goals and outcomes with a strategic framework. It means that all HR Activities will be linked to the Organization’s Strategic Objectives. Here I have to mention a little bit about strategy – A company has to plan its activities not only for short-term but for a long-term also. This futuristic activity has to be backed up by some solid policies and practices without which the firm will start limping after a particular point of time. These goals and objectives are called strategies which are formulated in lieu of internal and external business environment, and also take into account legal, political and economic considerations. “Strategic HRM is an approach that defines how the organization’s goals will be achieved through people by means of HR strategies and integrated HR policies and practices.” Basics of strategic hrm: Formulation of HR Programs to enhance overall organizational performance Strategic HR planning from start Pro-actively participate in big picture decision making Redesign organizations and the work processes Measure financial results of all HR activities  Human Resource managers need to go for: Focus on developing HR programs that improve organizational performance Pro-active decision making on mergers, acquisitions, and downsizing Restructure the work processes to enrich overall organizational performance Measure and document the financial results of all HR activities Strategic HRM is the key to improved business performance A good SHRM strategy In the majority of organizations people are now the biggest asset. Their knowledge, skills and abilities have to be employed and used to the maximum effect if the organization is to create any value. Benefits of strategic hr Enables development of high-quality workforce through focus on types of people and skills needed Helps in cost-effective utilization of labor, particularly in service industries where labor is generally expensive Facilitates planning and assessment of environmental uncertainty, and adaptation of organization to external forces  Strategic human resource management is important in both large and small companies. Small companies have an ease of managing HR because of the small number of people involved and training them for a strategic approach might be lot easier. Larger companies need to have a whole department in charge of human resources and development. Assessment 1. ————is the assessment of internal and external conditions that affect the organization Environmental scanning Environmental scrutiny 2. The elementary way of employee learning in which the employees of an organization copy the behaviors of someone else is classified as Behavioral modeling Spaced modeling 3. The completion time of training, cost of resources and number of trainees are variables that must be considered in Delivery of training Selection of employees 4. The step in recruitment process in which the candidates are shortlisted fulfilling the minimum requirements of the job is classified as Pre-employment screening Affirmative screening 5. In an organization, the research efforts that are made to evaluate current structure of human resource management are classified as HR audit HR rating Buy Handbook of Strategic HRM by Michael...

How To Make Stress Your Friend – A Ted Talk by Kelly McGonigal About this TED Speaker Name: Kelly McGonigal Profession: Health Psychologist Scientific research: Relates to achieving personal goals despite inner conflict. My take: She has beautifully brought out the fact that stress could actually be beneficial if perceived in the right way, as it creates resilience. Instead of viewing stress as a thing that affects life expectancy, if you view your stress response as a good entity, it creates courage in you. Another good thing about stress is that it makes you reach out to fellow human beings – either when you seek support or when you offer support. Yoga for Pain Relief: Simple Practices to Calm Your Mind and Heal Your Chronic Pain (The New Harbinger Whole-Body Healing Series) Visit her website @ kellymcgonigal.com/ Twitter Handle: @kellymcgonigal The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It Handling stress has become inevitable in work and personal life. Watching this video will definitely put you in a different yet positive perspective about stress. The Upside of Stress: Why stress is good for you (and how to get good at it) You might also want to know about these  5 Mobile Apps That Help Relieve Stress And Anxiety. Relax Melodies –  A sleep aid app that helps you to unwind and relax through musical sounds and melodies. Suits people who find sleep a luxury. Headspace – Headspace is made for people who find it hard to make time for relaxation. In about 10-minutes, Headspace teaches the basics of meditation. The app also tracks your progress and lets you keep tabs on your friends’ practice. Breathe2Relax: There are times when so much stress and anxiety builds up that we forget to simply breathe. Need to unwind? There’s an app for that. Breathe2Relax allows users to take a deep breathe to calm them down. The app guides you through breathing exercises to learn diaphragmatic breathing, and provides information on the effects stress has on the body. RestEasy: Sleep is one of the best ways to combat stress and anxiety. A good night’s sleep can make you feel more relaxed and allows you to start the day off on a fresh note. But whether its money, work, family life or just plain ole’ distraction keeping you up at night, sleeping seems easier said than done. Rest easy, because there are plenty of apps to help you track and better manage your realm cycle. Happify: The app uses a series of positive-thinking activities  such as posting about something you’re grateful for or imagining what it would be like in someone else’s shoes — based on what they call the “Science of...

Knowing the correct picture sizes is important when posting on Social Media. Use This Handy Chart to Size Your Social Media Images Perfectly For 2025. It’s no secret that images are an important part of your social media content. They attract attention and stand out – posts with visuals deliver 180 percent greater engagement. The tricky part is that each social network has its own dimension requirements to make your visuals look their best. That’s why we’ve made it easy for you with the 2025 social media image size guide. Bookmark this guide so you can quickly access the right size for the right network. Instagram Photo and Reel Dimensions Standard Image Sizes for Instagram Instagram is all about visuals, and 2025 has refined its requirements. Recommended dimensions are: Feed Posts (Square): 1080 x 1080 px Feed Posts (Portrait): 1080 x 1350 px Feed Posts (Landscape): 1080 x 566 px Reels: 1080 x 1920 px Stories: 1080 x 1920 px Facebook Post Image Size Guide Profile and Cover Photos Facebook still commands attention in India, especially for brands. Recommended sizes for 2025: Profile Picture: 170 x 170 px (desktop), 128 x 128 px (mobile) Cover Photo: 820 x 312 px (desktop), 640 x 360 px (mobile) Post and Ad Images Shared Image: 1200 x 630 px Event Cover: 1920 x 1080 px Ad Creative: 1080 x 1080 px (square), 1200 x 628 px (landscape) Twitter (X) Header and Profile Picture Size Profile Picture Recommended: 400 x 400 px Appears as a circle—center crucial elements. Header Image Recommended: 1500 x 500 px Avoid text or logos near edges to prevent accidental cropping. Tweets with Images Single image: 1200 x 675 px Multiple images: Twitter adjusts, but the first image should be 1200 x 675 px. LinkedIn Banner and Post Image Size Personal Profiles Profile Picture: 400 x 400 px Background Banner: 1584 x 396 px Company Pages Logo Image: 300 x 300 px Cover Image: 1128 x 191 px Post Image: 1200 x 627 px YouTube Image Sizes Channel Art Recommended: 2560 x 1440 px Safe area: 1546 x 423 px Max file size: 6MB Video Thumbnails Recommended: 1280 x 720 px Aspect ratio: 16:9 Pinterest and TikTok Image Sizes Pinterest Pin Image: 1000 x 1500 px Board Cover: 222 x 150 px TikTok Profile Picture: 200 x 200 px Video Resolution: 1080 x 1920 px Cover Image for Video: 1080 x 1080 px  ...

Employee recognition is an increasingly important management requirement in the workplace, with a number of research studies showing the importance of staff engagement and appreciating employees for their daily positive contributions to the team. “To win in the marketplace you must first win in the workplace.” – Doug Conant, CEO of Campbell’s Soup Appreciation and Recognition are the two major factors that bring about employee job satisfaction and happiness. According to the equity theory, based on the work of J. Stacy Adams, workers compare the reward potential to the effort they must expend. Equity exists when workers perceive that rewards equal efforts. “When people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute.” – Simon Sinek But employees just don’t look at their potential rewards, they look at the rewards of others as well. Inequities occur when people feel that their rewards are inferior to the rewards offered to other persons sharing the same workloads. “Employees who believe that management is concerned about them as a whole person – not just an employee – are more productive, more satisfied, more fulfilled. Satisfied employees mean satisfied customers, which leads to profitability.” –Anne M. Mulcahy Fine! Let’s see some amazing statistics that clearly shows “What are and what aren’t making employees happy?” Unhappy Employees’ Stats 88% of employees don’t have passion for their work. 75% of workers don’t quit their job, but quit their boss. 78% of people would work harder in their jobs if they were recognised. 60% of those who don’t feel they are appreciated are looking for a job. 65% of working Americans say they receive no praise or recognition on the job. Employee turnover was up by 46% in companies with ineffective employee recognition programs. Did you know the 1 reason most American employees quit their jobs is they don’t feel appreciated? Happy Employees’ Stats Organizations where recognition occurs have 14% better employee engagement, productivity and customer service than those without. 90% find a “fun” work environment extremely motivating. 76% said opportunities for growth were the top reason they stayed in an organization. 70% of workers are motivated by non-monetary rewards at work. 80% of those who feel they are being appreciated stay put. The equity theory makes a good point: What a manager thinks is irrelevant to an employee because the real issue is the way an employee perceives his or her situation. Rewards perceived as equitable should have positive results on job satisfaction and performance; those rewards perceived as inequitable may create job dissatisfaction and cause performance problems. Every manager needs to make sure that any undesirable consequences from equity comparisons are avoided, or at least minimized, when rewards are allocated. To motivate workers, managers must strengthen workers’ perceptions of their efforts as both possible and worthwhile, clarify expectations of performances, tie rewards to performances, and make sure that rewards are desirable. Some Hard-Hitting Facts Strategic recognition drives engagement Lack of recognition drives turnover High employee engagement leads to better business results or ROI Awards, recognition and praise might be the single most cost effective way to maintain a happy productive force. Respect employees, ask for their opinion and show genuine...

Here is list of 25 wonderful motivational quotes that will kick you right in the spot and make you move. When I happen to come across great quotes like these, they make me think and start over again with heightened enthusiasm and spirit. Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. Thomas A. Edison Wake up with determination. Go to bed with satisfaction. The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence. Confucius Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground. Theodore Roosevelt There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self. Aldous Huxley Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star. W. Clement Stone Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy. Norman Vincent Peale Stay positive. Work hard. Make it happen.” You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else. Albert Einstein Do what you have to do, until you can do what you want to do. The time will pass sooner than you think. Your goals will be achieved. Oprah Winfrey There is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs. Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th. Julie Andrews There is no passion to be found playing small -in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. Nelson Mandela Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire. Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn. Harriet Beecher Stowe Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. Samuel Beckett If you want something you never had, you have to do something you’ve never done. Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along. George Herbert Don’t look back. You’re not going that way. Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice. Wayne Dyer If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much. Jim Rohn Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. Charles R....