I develop these modules as a part of my job for MBA students and freshers.

1. FOUNDATION COURSEFOR FIRST YEAR STUDENTS A STEPPING STONE FOR PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS By Asmita Patwardhan

2. OBJECTIVES To help students get the skills and habits required to get into the corporate sector To help transform the overall personality, enhance communication and presentation skills of the students To allow students to get an insight into their aptitude and liking To enable students to explore their strengths and weaknesses and work upon them To enable clarity of thought and decision making skills which are very important in all aspects of life

3. INDEX General awareness and current trends Reading Habits Communication Skills Personality Development Solution Oriented Thinking Power of Positive Thinking Identifying One’s Interest Area

4. GENERAL AWARENESS AND CURRENT TRENDS A very important aspect which impacts the life of a management professional One needs to upgrade oneself and this is a continual process

5. AGENDA Read business magazines TV for Knowledge Gathering Selected internet surfing Attend seminars Watch Business and GK quiz Write your own conclusions, notes, reviews Make your own presentations and deliver them

6. Read Business Magazines Good source of concurrent business information Latest stock market updates Editorials Readers’ views Various Business Leaders Mergers & Acquisitions Link with politics

7. TV for Knowledge Gathering Watch television to gather knowledge, apart from entertainment Watch news channels like NDTV, Times Now Business news channels like CNBC, ET Now Informative channels like Discovery, National Geographic Lifestyle channels like NDTV Good Times, Travel and Living

8. Selected Internet Surfing Be selective about what you surf on the internet Wikipedia is good for theoretical information on any topic Solve various Aptitude, IQ & EQ tests Use Google for searching any particular information

9. Attend Seminars Seminars/Workshops on various topics keep happening in the city Join a group according to your specialisation Form a group outside college- buddies from various colleges and conduct discussions /paper presentations on weekends

10. Watch Business and GK quiz Watch quiz shows on television Download various quizzes from the internet Read on a topic and form your own questions Read books used for competitive exams Try and get some questions from Siddharth Basu’s & Derek O’Brien’s various programmes

11. Write your own conclusions, notes, reviews Make your own notes Get into the habit of writing Writings, notes serve as reference points later Improves clarity of thought You learn to express yourself, voice your opinions Writing reviews enhances your listening skills, observation & concentration

12. Make your own presentations and deliver them Learn to write papers on topics of your specialisation Learn all the technical aids and tools used Practice presenting the paper in front of close ones Be thorough with the topic Be self confident This will help you present in front of a large audience

13. Q&A

14. READING HABITS One of the important habits to be inculcated

15. AGENDA Getting into the habit How to read a newspaper How to read business magazines and books on current affairs How to write a book review or a blog

16. Getting into the Habit Start reading whatever you like- newspapers, comics.. Helps in generating interest Understand the book read Relate it to real life experiences Find out your inclination Start reading books on specialised subjects Once the habit is developed, one would never get rid of it

17. How to read a newspaper Read headlines Read based on one’s inclination- e.g.- if one is interested in sports, read the sports page first Read editorials & special features Spare time to read Sunday newspapers

18. How to read Business Magazines Categorise according to the sectors in business- like finance ,sales ,etc Read stock market updates Read the magazine index and editor’s letter Read various opinions shared by the readers

19. How to write a review or a blog Understand what you have read Make notes point wise Arrange all the points serially and elaborate on each point A book review should always have- the main crux of the story, what you liked, disliked, takeaways , why people should read that book Blogging-voicing your ideas and opinions Blogging is more interactive in nature

20. Q & A

21. Communication Skills A Pre requisite for any job and generally in life..

22. AGENDA Verbal & Non Verbal Business Writing Body Language Active Listening Common Tools of Business Communication Corporate Diplomacy Reading between the lines

23. Verbal & Non Verbal Communication Two entities- sender and receiver Communication could be verbal , written, symbolic, telephonic or any other mass media Silence speaks a lot Actions speak louder than words Hindrances in communication- Chinese whispers Conveying the correct message across

24. Business Writing In the form of Letters, templates, drafts, e mails, text messages or formal verbal communication Eliminate Grammatical errors Avoid negative or intimidating words or phrases Always proofread before sending across Use contemporary language Use non sexist alternatives Eliminate out of date jargon or words

25. Body Language This sums up facial expression + gestures + hand movement + eye contact + posture + words used All these should convey the same message In some cases rest of the body language is different than the words used- these are generally people who lie/are scared/ lack self confidence/want to hide something/are anxious, etc Understand body language to identify the real person Socially acceptable body language- some norms

26. Active Listening Difference between hearing and listening Be Attentive- Avoid distraction and straying in thought Understand ,interpret & evaluate whatever is heard Improves inter personal relationships Empathize with others Barriers to active listening- noise, visual distraction , psychological disturbance, language issue Overcoming barriers- use suitable aids, repeat whatever said, appropriate body language and eye contact help in active listening

27. Common Tools of Business Communication Telephone Internet Text messages Presentations Graphical representations Audio and Video Conferencing

28. Corporate Diplomacy Like social culture, country culture we have corporate culture There are certain accepted norms of behaviour and language in the corporate sector Mannerisms and Etiquette Organisational Behaviour Talk less, observe more Don’t reveal everything to everyone Be truthful yet diplomatic Keep certain things to yourself

29. Reading Between the Lines A must in the corporate environment A message could be conveyed in various ways You must understand an indirect statement or a comment passed You must understand indications Learn the jargon used in the corporate environment Observe keenly and understand Have an eye for detail

30. Q & A

31. Personality Development Overall development & Self Grooming essential in life

32. AGENDA Mannerism and Etiquette Self Confidence Attire Behaviour Composure How to carry yourself Leadership and team dynamics (exploring these attributes in an individual)

33. Mannerism and Etiquette Etiquette is a protocol for socially acceptable behaviour and Manners are more about caring and being considerate about others Manners go beyond the socially acceptable norms and relate more to how you treat others, their self esteem and feelings Manners come from the heart and form a basis for good human relationships Etiquette differs from society to society, country to country and needs to be learned You should be aware of and open to other cultures to learn their etiquette

35. Have a good posture

36. Walk fast

37. Speak up- be frank and honest

38. Compliment others

39. Always sit in the front row

40. Look in the mirror and speak with yourself

41. Contribute to the society and our country- don’t get caught up in your own desires

43. It is also important to be comfortable with your attire

44. In the corporate sector formal wear is preferred during the week

45. Neat, clean, ironed, light coloured and plain clothes are preferred

46. There should be a certain amount of simplicity in your attire-no flashy attire

47. It should reflect your attitude

48. Males and females can wear formal trousers and shirts, salwar kameez is also allowed for females

49. Your hair, nails, fingers should be absolutely clean and tidy- basic cleanliness is important

50. Don’t wear too much of make up, although basic light coloured lipstick and a liner is fine

51. Don’t were noisy jewelry

52. Minimal jewelry like small earrings are alright, however it should be aligned with the dress

54. Composure You should be absolutely level headed Don’t react to any statements instantly Don’t make impulsive decisions Be practical, never take any decisions based only on your emotions Be calm when working under pressure, avoid any kind of panic

55. How to Carry Yourself Be presentable w.r.t. your attire and general cleanliness Have a good posture whether sitting, standing or walking Be pleasant when exchanging greetings with anyone Wear a smile on your face Feel positive & confident about yourself-this helps sending positive vibes to others as well

56. Leadership & Team Dynamics (exploring these attributes in an individual) Efficient team building and recognising team dynamics is one of the most important requirement of good leadership Team dynamics can strongly influence how a team behaves, performs or reacts- they are the unseen forces that operate in a team or different groups of people Team dynamics can be recognised by personality styles, office layout, team roles, organisation culture and procedures One needs to understand his/her liking and inclination Whether one would enjoy being a leader or a team player The essentials required for each role And that a leader should also be an effective team player

57. Q & A

58. Solution Oriented Thinking Stuck in an issue? How to overcome that? Think about the solution and not the problem Stop blaming yourself or others for the problem

59. Agenda Methodical Approach Overcome mingling over a problem Quadrants of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

60. Methodical Approach The next time you are faced with a problem, don't fall into the trap of thinking about the problem. Instead, project yourself forward and ask, "What is the solution?" Focus your thinking on the solution instead of focusing on the problem. It gets easier and easier with practice & is called “solution oriented thinking”

61. Overcome mingling over a problem You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand that concentrating on the solution is a much more positive activity than concentrating on the problem Turning one's attention to potential answers is more fun and gratifying than getting sucked into the downward spiral of pity that always goes with concentrating on the problem Even if a solution isn't readily apparent, this very activity of searching for one will always get your mind away from the problem itself. No finding fault; no playing the victim; just being accountable to come up with a solution to the immediate difficulty

63. Power of Positive Thinking Positive thinking is a mental attitude that admits into the mind thoughts, words and images that are conductive to growth, expansion and success It is a mental attitude that expects good and favorable results. A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and a successful outcome of every situation and action. Whatever the mind expects, it finds. How many people do you know, who stop to think what the power of positive thinking means?

64. Power of Positive Thinking Positive and negative thinking are both contagiousAll of us affect, in one way or another, the people we meet. This happens instinctively and on a subconscious level, through thoughts and feelings transference, and through body language. People are more disposed to help us if we are positive, and they dislike and avoid anyone broadcasting negativity. Negative thoughts, words and attitude bring up negative and unhappy moods and actions. When the mind is negative, poisons are released into the blood, which cause more unhappiness and negativity. This is the way to failure, frustration and disappointment.

65. Power of Positive Thinking Practical Instructions In order to turn the mind toward the positive, inner work and training are required. Attitude and thoughts do not change overnight. Read about this subject, think about its benefits and persuade yourself to try it. The power of thoughts is a mighty power that is always shaping our life. This shaping is usually done subconsciously, but it is possible to make the process a conscious one. Ignore what others might say or think about you, if they discover that you are changing the way you think. Always visualize only favorable and beneficial situations. Use positive words in your inner dialogues or when talking with others. Smile a little more, as this helps to think positively. Disregard any feelings of laziness or a desire to quit. If you persevere, you will transform the way your mind thinks.

66. Power of Positive Thinking Once a negative thought enters your mind, you have to be aware of it and try to replace it with a constructive one The negative thought will try again to enter your mind, and then you have to replace it again with a positive one It is as if there are two pictures in front of you, and you choose to look at one of them and disregard the other Persistence will eventually teach your mind to think positively and ignore negative thoughts. It does not matter what your circumstances are at the present moment. Think positively, expect only favorable results and situations, and circumstances will change accordingly

67. Power of Positive Thinking Some excerpts from “The Monk who sold his Ferrari”- An internationally bestselling fable about a spiritual journey, littered with powerful life lessons that teach us how to abandon consumerism in order to embrace destiny, live life to the full and discover joy. This inspiring tale is based on the author ‘s own search for true purpose, providing a step-by-step approach to living with greater courage, balance, abundance and joy. It tells the story of Julian Mantle, a lawyer forced to confront the spiritual crisis of his out-of-balance life following a heart attack, he decides to sell all his beloved possessions and trek to India. On a life-changing odyssey to an ancient culture, he meets Himalayan gurus who offer powerful, wise and practical lessons that teach us to:- Develop joyful thoughts - Follow our life’s mission - Cultivate self-discipline and act courageously - Value time as our most important commodity - Nourish our relationships - Live fully, one day at a time.

68. Power of Positive Thinking Some excerpts from “The Monk who sold his Ferrari”- Garden- Garden, lighthouse, sumo wrestler, pink wire cable, stopwatch, roses and a winding path of diamonds are symbols of timeless principles and virtues by which to live your life. Garden is our mind, looking outwards is dreaming and looking inward is awakening. Mind management is the essence of life management Your mind is the only thing you have control over Self awareness is the stepping stone to mind mastery

69. Power of Positive Thinking Some excerpts from “The Monk who sold his Ferrari”- Fatigue is the creation of the mind There is nothing noble about being superior to someone else. Be superior to your former self All things are created twice Mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master Start thinking about the dreams you had as a child There is a mind and body connection Quick fixes do not work Concentration is at the root of mental mastery

70. Power of Positive Thinking Some excerpts from “The Monk who sold his Ferrari”- Lighthouse He who serves the most reaps the most in every way It is wise to study others but enlightening to study oneself Goals make all your thoughts and actions move in that direction Have fun while advancing along the path of goals and purpose There is no chaos in the universe-purpose for everything Life favours the prepared mind Never measure your self worth against other people’s net worth

71. Power of Positive Thinking Some excerpts from “The Monk who sold his Ferrari”- Sumo Wrestler Kaizen- constant and never ending improvement Change is a powerful force Get out of your circle of comfort The only limits on you are the ones you set yourself Put off short term pleasure for long term fulfillment Change yourself before you change your life

72. Power of Positive Thinking Some excerpts from “The Monk who sold his Ferrari”- Pink Wire Cable Strong wire cable is made up of many weak wires Lack of will power is a mental disease Will is the king of mental power Will power is not being stubborn Do what you say when you say Positive always overcomes negative Build it up bit by bit

73. Power of Positive Thinking Some excerpts from “The Monk who sold his Ferrari”- Stopwatch Time mastery leads to life mastery Enlightened people are priority driven Plan your day the previous night and your week on Sunday Procrastination kills time Holistic-covers all areas of life The best of time to plant a tree was 40 years ago; the second best time is today

74. Power of Positive Thinking Some excerpts from “The Monk who sold his Ferrari”- Roses Fragrance sticks to the hand that gives roses You come with nothing and leave with nothing See yourself as a collective and not as an individual

75. Power of Positive Thinking Some excerpts from “The Monk who sold his Ferrari”- Path of Diamonds Do it all now-every step on your path is a right one Slow things down & enjoy what is all around you There is a difference between making a lot of money and making a lot of life Life may not give what you ask for but it will give you what you need We are spiritual beings having a human experience and not vice versa

76. Q & A

77. Identifying ones’ interest area It is important to explore yourself It is also important to know the difference between aptitude, liking , passion and interest This will help build your career and in turn your life

78. Agenda Difference between attitude and aptitude Disliking a subject in spite of having aptitude Exploring your hobbies SWOT Analysis

79. Difference between attitude and aptitude Attitude is a feeling, aptitude is an ability. Therefore, the comparisons boil down to feelings vs. ability! It has been said that if you control your feelings, you can control your world. The same cannot be said of Aptitude. Your attitude or feelings can influence and/or control your aptitude. You can be the best technical person in your place of employment, but, if your feelings or attitude are in the "dumpster," your aptitude or abilities will suffer. Aptitude is not something that you can readily pass on to others. I've seen some very intelligent coworkers, who just cannot get their "head knowledge" to their hands. On the other hand attitude (whether good or bad) is contagious and spread very quickly through a department! One secret of success is to develop the ability to not allow others to control your feelings or attitude.

80. Disliking a subject in spite of having aptitude This is the difference between inclination or interest and aptitude While you may be good in Science or a performing art you may not want to have a career in it for various reasons One needs to explore-this may happen because you don’t know enough about the subject or you don’t have a good teacher for that At times it also happens that you develop liking for a subject later in life-e.g. if you hate physics in school you may like it in college simply because you understand it better At times you may get to learn things or subjects you have never imagined you would like or would get to learn

81. Exploring your hobbies If you have any hobby like reading, gardening, birds and animals research, painting, dance, music or any other- practice it regularly Explore and learn new things about it Try and see if you can convert it into a full time career Find out various career avenues available in your hobby or find out if you can create one on your own This requires a lot of passion, patience, hard work and will power You must be ready to face all the hardships that come along your way till you settle down in this

82. SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture. It involves specifying the objective of the business venture or project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favourable and unfavourable to achieve that objective. The technique is credited to Albert Humphrey A SWOT analysis must first start with defining a desired objective Strengths: attributes of the person or company that are helpful to achieving the objective Weaknesses: attributes of the person or company that are harmful to achieving the objective

83. SWOT Analysis Opportunities: external conditions that are helpful to achieving the objective Threats: external conditions which could do damage to the objective Strengths A firm's strengths are its resources and capabilities that can be used as a basis for developing a competitive advantage. Examples of such strengths include: Patents Strong brand names Good reputation among customers Cost advantages Exclusive access to high grade natural resources favorable Access to distribution networks Weaknesses The absence of certain strengths may be viewed as a weakness. For example, each of the following may be considered weaknesses:

84. SWOT Analysis Lack of patent protection A weak brand name Poor reputation among customers High cost structure Lack of access to the best natural resources Lack of access to key distribution channels Opportunities The external environmental analysis may reveal certain new opportunities for profit and growth. Some examples of such opportunities include: an unfulfilled customer ‘s needs Arrival of new technologies Loosening of regulations Removal of international trade barriers Threats Changes in the external environmental also may present threats to the firm. E.g. Shifts in consumer tastes away from the firm's products Emergence of substitute products New regulations Increased trade barriers

85. Q & A

86. Thank You