For many months we have been hearing one reassuring line: AI will not take jobs. It will only change jobs. That sounds comforting but it is only half the story. Artificial intelligence is increasing productivity in a dramatic way. One person with AI tools can already do the work of six to eight people in many roles. Writing, coding, customer support, research, design, even legal drafts. Faster. Cheaper. With fewer errors. When productivity rises like this, companies need fewer people for the same output. This is simple economics. Some jobs will go. Some teams will shrink. Some departments will be…
Author: Guest Writer
Every founder remembers the magic of the early days. You know everyone’s name. Decisions happen in hallway chats. The whole team feels like family. You’re agile, aligned, and unstoppable. That intimate, informal, hands-on style works beautifully for a team of twenty. But try to run a company of two hundred the same way, and you won’t scale—you’ll stall. I learned this firsthand as part of the leadership team at Spectramind, where we grew from zero to 2,000 employees in just 18 months, and later to more than 16,000 in five years. What worked at twenty would have broken us at…
Thirteen years in, one lesson will continue to hold in 2026: outcomes in hiring will change only when technology aligns with human motivation, governance and clarity of work. The industry will talk about “AI everywhere”, but the teams that win will make daily work simpler, decisions faster and accountability clearer. Lesson 1: Fix visibility before you fix volume In 2026, many teams will still try to “add more” — more sourcing, more tools, more alerts. The durable gains will come from shared visibility. A plain English scorecard—days to first shortlist, time to panel-ready, time from last interview to decision, offer…
The talent war has fundamentally changed. Salary increments and designation upgrades no longer guarantee attraction or retention. Today’s candidates and employees make decisions based on something far more intangible yet infinitely more powerful: reputation. They scrutinise what people say about organisations online, how leadership behaves publicly, and whether companies live up to their stated values. This shift has created both a challenge and an opportunity for CHROs. Whilst they remain accountable for talent acquisition and retention, they are not the custodians of corporate reputation. That responsibility increasingly falls to Chief Communication Officers (CCOs). This creates a paradox: CHROs are measured…
It was heartbreaking to hear that Inder Walia is no longer with us. This industry veteran and alumnus of TISS Mumbai, held senior leadership roles at Arcelor Mittal, Bharti Enterprises, and Mittal Steel, and went on to be advisor on boards such as Ummeed House Finance. Emmanuel David, one of the many whom Inder Walia inspired and touched with his warmth during his over three decade-long career, warmly remembers Inder: I first met him in 1994 when he interviewed me for a role at Shriram Honda. Inder was the group HR head for Honda Siel Cars India as it was…
Every few seconds, an Indian crosses onto the other side of their late 20s—a reminder of the country’s demographic edge. India’s youthful workforce and thriving digital economy have positioned it on the cusp of global leadership. However, as AI, automation and digital platforms rapidly transform industries, businesses are asking a tougher question: not whether we have talent, but whether we have the kind that can shape and sustain the future. For too long, businesses have relied on academic qualifications and linear career paths as proxies for capability. But that model no longer holds. Today, what truly matters is what people…
Two per cent doesn’t sound like much until you realise it means 12,000 people. That’s the estimated number of employees who may lose their jobs at TCS over the next year, according to recent reports. For a company with over 6.13 lakh employees and an annual profit of more than Rs 45,000 crore (approximately $5.6 billion) in FY24, this isn’t a move driven by financial distress. It’s a strategic decision. And it isn’t an isolated one. Intel is reportedly preparing to cut close to 15,000 jobs. In their case, it’s more understandable. They ended FY24 with a reported loss of…
Employee Experience (EX) is critical for employee engagement and for enhancing productivity and workplace culture. It is informed by six core relational attributes that employees interact with: the work they do, the places they work in, the diversity of people they work with, the technology they use, the organisation they work for, and their personal well-being and inclusion. According to Deloitte’s global ‘State of AI in the Enterprise’ report, 94 per cent of business leaders agree that artificial intelligence (AI) is critical for success. This same study also found that over 60 per cent of business owners believe AI will increase productivity…
It always seems to come out of nowhere. One day your top performer is leading client meetings, closing deals, rallying the team on. The next you’re staring at their resignation letter and wondering what went wrong. Spoiler alert: it didn’t happen overnight. The signs were all there. Simmering dissatisfaction, fading enthusiasm, and maybe even a few passive-aggressive comments. You just weren’t listening! In a world where employees are more vocal than ever and platforms such as Glassdoor have become digital confessionals, the question isn’t whether you’ll hear about your culture but when you will do so. In fact, the real…
In today’s job market, companies are facing a growing challenge— how to stop good employees from walking out the door. Rising attrition rates, especially among Gen Z and Millennial workers, are no longer just about salary or better titles. The real issue often lies deeper, in the culture of the workplace, and more specifically, in the absence of psychological safety. Psychological safety means feeling safe to speak up, make mistakes, ask questions, or share feedback without fear of being judged or punished. It’s about knowing that your voice matters and your presence is respected. For younger employees, this is no…
As a business leader, I have worked with a range of performance tools, dashboards and scorecards. Key Performance Indicators or KPIs have long been our go-to instruments to track progress, monitor efficiency, and align teams with organisational goals. They offer structure, comparability and a sense of measurable achievement. But over the years, I have also come to understand one critical truth; KPIs alone cannot capture the full value of an employee. I have seen high performers who exceed their KPIs quarter after quarter. And yet, I have also seen individuals whose real impact doesn’t show up in numbers. They are…
When Hyderabad-based startup Harvesting Robotics introduced their newest team member, a golden retriever named Denver, as their chief happiness officer (CHO), it was more than just a delightful quirk. It was a bold, heartfelt and ‘pawsome’ statement about rethinking workplace culture. Denver doesn’t write code, attend strategy meetings, or troubleshoot bugs. Instead, he offers something far more valuable: unconditional joy, warmth, and a sense of calm in the often chaotic world of startups. It’s time more organisations took a cue from this. Adopting pets, especially rescues or strays, not only makes for a happier workplace but also contributes meaningfully to…
A few months ago, I read about a young girl who had just started her first job at a prestigious consultancy. Four months in, she collapsed and died. Her mother said she had been working through the nights, skipping weekends, ignoring chest pains, and suffering from anxiety. She had asked for help but no one really listened. Just a few days ago, there was news of a 25-year-old machine learning engineer who was part of the AI division of a well-known electric vehicle company. He was found dead near a city lake. His colleagues said he was handling the workload…
Recently, I came across an article in Mint by Srinath Sridharan, titled ‘Gen Z has taught us the joy of silent communication.’ It stayed with me, not just because it was well-articulated but because it echoed something I’ve been noticing in workplaces for a while now. I find myself more and more in conversations with CEOs, CHROs, and senior leaders who are struggling to understand Gen Z. “They don’t have discipline,” some say. “They’re constantly distracted. They quit without notice, and they don’t communicate.” The exasperation is real. Perhaps the problem isn’t their silence but our inability to hear what…
People form the core of every organisation. In a world where expectations to perform, grow, change, and deliver continue to rise, it’s all too easy to forget what matters most. Here’s the reality: putting people first isn’t an option—it’s a requirement. Organisations which truly embrace a people-first approach don’t merely survive— they thrive. It’s not just a philosophy—it’s a way of life. A constructive work culture isn’t just good for employees—it does wonders for the entire organisation. When people feel valued, supported and encouraged, they apply themselves to their best at work. They don’t merely work—they contribute, develop, and care…
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” said Maya Angelou, American poet and civil rights activist. In today’s business world, this wisdom holds true as business outcomes are no longer defined solely by financial metrics. Instead, the ability to create an environment where employees can thrive is emerging as a critical factor in sustained growth. A great place to work is no longer just about job satisfaction—it’s about building a great place to succeed, where engaged employees and strong leadership drive organisational performance. At the…
The future of payroll is being reshaped by AI and automation. Businesses are shifting from manual, time-consuming payroll processes to smart, efficient, and error-free payroll management. AI-driven solutions ensure real-time accuracy, compliance, and security while reducing the administrative burden on HR teams. But how exactly are AI and automation transforming payroll processing? More importantly, how can businesses leverage these technologies for seamless payroll management? Let’s explore. How AI and automation are transforming payroll processing AI-driven payroll automation for accuracy- One of the biggest challenges in payroll processing is accuracy. Automation of salary calculations, tax deductions, and compliance checks is eliminating…
A high-performance workplace culture is the cornerstone of organisational success. It fosters innovation, meritocracy, and loyalty, leading to improved business outcomes. To build such a culture, organisations must prioritise employee engagement and retention. The impact of high employee attrition While there are external factors that influence attrition, such as sudden demand in certain industries and market fluctuations, internal workplace culture plays a big role. The employee experience at the workplace is influenced by policies, expectations, supervisory effectiveness, safety, career support, etc. Organisations with poor employee experience tend to have higher employee attrition. They also suffer higher recruitment costs, training costs,…
In some ways, mentorship has not received the level of attention it deserves vis-à-vis training as well as L&D (learning and development) programmes. Mentorship enhances employee growth by helping people tap into a reservoir of knowledge and experience of managers or leaders higher up the order. Consequently, mentorship is one of the best ways to accelerate employee development. However, L&D professionals know the importance of mentorship, ranking it above other programmes. To be precise, mentoring programmes benefit both mentors and mentees. Many organisations use mentorship to develop leaders who prioritise organisational goals, including gender equality and inclusivity. It can be…
In the past few weeks, there’s been a lot of talk about long working hours. Narayana Murthy said people should work 70 hours a week, and now the L&T chairman has gone even further, suggesting 90 hours. Honestly, this way of thinking feels outdated and ignores everything we’ve learned about what actually makes people—and businesses—successful. Let’s start with some facts. Research shows that after putting in 50 hours of work in a week, people’s productivity starts dropping fast. By the time they get to 55 hours, they’re barely getting anything done. A study by Stanford University confirms this. So, instead…
The role of Human Resources (HR) has evolved significantly in recent years. HR has transformed organisations as a strategic business partner owing to access to data analytics through automation. To keep pace with this evolution, adoption of AI-based HR software has helped leaders to develop the workforce, streamline processes, empower teams, enhance decision-making, and drive business growth. The power of AI in HR Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising HR management by automating routine tasks and enabling data-driven actions. With HR management software infused with machine learning and generative AI, HR professionals now focus on more strategic initiatives such as employee…
The concept of servant leadership, which highlights serving others before oneself, has gained traction over the years for its focus on empathy, stewardship and the development of team members. While it offers a compassionate approach to leadership, it is time to recognise its limitations in the modern workplace. In an era where employees are increasingly driven by purpose, emotional well-being, and a desire for validation, the concept of servant leadership needs to evolve. Leaders today must move beyond serving and focus on creating happiness within their teams. This shift to happiness leadership isn’t just an upgrade; it’s crucial for shaping…
Language shapes the way we see the world. In organisations, the words we use often define how we treat people. Take the term ‘human capital’, for instance. On the surface, it seems harmless—a way to refer to employees as contributors to growth and productivity. But dig a little deeper, and the term feels uncomfortably mechanical, as if reducing people to assets or resources. Think about it: when we talk about financial capital or physical capital, we’re discussing tools, machinery and investments—things used to achieve an outcome. The moment we attach ‘capital’ to ‘human’, it sends a subtle but strong message:…
You’re in a meeting, struggling to focus. The presenter kicks things off with an engaging story, and you’re hooked. As they wrap up, their final slide makes a big impression. But what about the middle of the presentation? It’s a blur—a jumble of facts and figures that didn’t quite stick. Sounds familiar, isn’t it? This isn’t just a fluke. It’s your brain following a well-documented pattern called the serial position effect. It shapes how we remember beginnings and endings far better than anything in between. While this quirk of memory may seem like a limitation, understanding it can actually give you a…
Ambition is often celebrated as the driving force behind success, a motivating energy that pushes people to achieve their goals. While it’s good to have, ambition alone is not enough to ensure a truly happy or fulfilling life. The truth is, ambition can only take you so far. It may fulfill certain desires, check off milestones, and even bring a sense of accomplishment, but it doesn’t necessarily make you happy. Purpose, on the other hand, is what truly sustains you. It’s the force that drives you to do great things and fills your life with meaning. It becomes one of…
When Michelle Obama said, “We would never tell someone with a broken leg that they should stop wallowing and get it together. We don’t consider taking medication for ear infection as something to be ashamed of. We shouldn’t treat mental health conditions any differently,” the world took notice. Even as individuals have begun paying greater attention to personal mental health and wellbeing, given the varied awareness initiatives at play, addressing mental health issues at workplaces remains imperative to a healthy corporate culture. Indeed, despite being the second largest ‘thriving’ working population in South Asia, 86 per cent of Indians felt they were struggling or…