Individual Report
Varun Menon
My report below will help me leverage my wisdom, knowledge and skills to maximize my potential in society and in the workplace.
Exploring my generational identity values is a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. It will help me understand my unique place in the world, develop a strong sense of identity, and guide me towards a more fulfilling life.
My Generational Identity
Silent Generation
I identify as belonging to the Millennials Generation - 1981 to 2000
Millennials - Characterized by tech-savviness, social consciousness, and a desire for work-life balance, influenced by the rise of the internet and globalization.
The September 11th attacks: This defining event shaped Millennials' views on safety, security, and global conflict. They grew up in a world marked by heightened awareness of terrorism and national security. The Great Recession: This economic downturn impacted Millennials' entry into the workforce, shaping their views on financial stability, career prospects, and economic inequality.
Key Attributes and Thrive Quotient
Collaborative - Millennials are more likely to value collaboration than previous generations. They are good at working with others, and they are able to build strong relationships.
Tech-Savvy - Millennials grew up with technology, and they are often more comfortable with technology than older generations. They are also more likely to be early adopters of new technologies.
Purpose driven - Millennials are more likely to be motivated by a sense of purpose than by money or status. They want to work for companies that they believe in, and they want to make a difference in the world.
Work life balance - Millennials value work-life balance. They are more likely to leave a job if they are not happy with the work-life balance.
Learning oriented - Millennials are always looking for new ways to learn and grow. They are more likely to take online courses or attend conferences, and they are more likely to seek out mentors.
Thrive Quotient
Diversity, equity, and inclusion: Growing up in a diverse world, they value inclusivity, social justice, and creating a society that respects individuals from all backgrounds.
Collaboration and community: Influenced by technology and social media, they value teamwork, building strong online and offline communities, and leveraging collective action.
Purpose and authenticity: Seeking meaning beyond just work, they value aligning their work with personal values, seeking authentic experiences, and contributing to a greater good.
1
2
3
Managing in the workplace
01
Offer opportunities for professional development and learning. They may be eager to learn new skills and advance their careers.
02
Create a collaborative and inclusive work environment. They may value teamwork, open communication, and feeling valued for their unique perspectives.
03
Provide regular feedback and feedback channels. They may appreciate consistent feedback and opportunities for growth.
04
Offer opportunities for meaningful work and social impact. They may be motivated by work that aligns with their values and contributes to a positive impact.
My Top Personal Values
1
Work Life Balance
My Proficiency Level
Proficient
Family is the most important pillar in my life. Being raised by the 2 most amazing and loving parents has taught me a lot about the importance of expressing selfless love, devotion and dedication to the ones that mean the most to you. Similarly, its also important to bring a level of dedication and commitment to the workplace environment. An organisation that functions as a big family has a much higher chance of succeeding than one with fractured relationships.
Value Description
Work-life balance - The equilibrium between personal life and career work. The amount of time you spend doing your job compared with the amount of time you spend with your family and doing things you enjoy
2
Collaboration
My Proficiency Level
Very Proficient
Collaboration is another cornerstone of workplace excellence. Cross collaboration and communication between teams allows for the flow of new ideas and methodologies, often providing multiple different perspectives and solutions to a single problem. It is very important in promoting efficiency within the organization.
Value Description
Collaboration - The action of working with someone to produce or create something. To work with another person or group in order to achieve or do something.
3
Action
My Proficiency Level
Proficient
Action as in "to do". There are two main types of people in this world - the talkers and the doers. As they say - there's no point talking the talk unless you can walk the walk, and this is especially true in today's high paced competitive work environment. Organizations need leaders who are willing to take on new responsibilities and deliver results by "walking the walk" and leading by example.
Value Description
Action - Speed matters in business. Many decisions and actions are reversible and do not need extensive study. We value calculated risk taking.
Managing in the workplace
1
Work Life Balance
Navigating Best Practices
Work-life balance - "Here are eight ways to create a better work-life balance, as well as how to be a supportive manager.
1. Accept that there is no ‘perfect’ work-life balance. When you hear “work-life balance,” you probably imagine having an extremely productive day at work, and leaving early to spend the other half of the day with friends and family. While this may seem ideal, it is not always possible. Don’t strive for the perfect schedule; strive for a realistic one. Some days, you might focus more on work, while other days you might have more time and energy to pursue your hobbies or spend time with your loved ones. Balance is achieved over time, not each day.
2. Find a job that you love. Although work is an expected societal norm, your career shouldn’t be restraining. If you hate what you do, you aren’t going to be happy, plain and simple. You don’t need to love every aspect of your job, but it needs to be exciting enough that you don’t dread getting out of bed every morning.
3. Prioritize your health. Your overall physical, emotional and mental health should be your main concern. If you struggle with anxiety or depression and think therapy would benefit you, fit those sessions into your schedule, even if you have to leave work early or ditch your evening spin class. If you are battling a chronic illness, don’t be afraid to call in sick on rough days. Overworking yourself prevents you from getting better, possibly causing you to take more days off in the future. Prioritizing your health doesn’t have to consist of radical or extreme activities. It can be as simple as daily meditation or exercise.
4. Don’t be afraid to unplug. Cutting ties with the outside world from time to time allows us to recover from weekly stress and gives us space for other thoughts and ideas to emerge. Unplugging can mean something simple like practicing transit meditation on your daily commute, instead of checking work emails.
5. Take a vacation. Sometimes, truly unplugging means taking vacation time and shutting work completely off for a while. Whether your vacation consists of a one-day staycation or a two-week trip to Bali, it’s important to take time off to physically and mentally recharge. According to the State of American Vacation 2018 study conducted by the U.S. Travel Association, 52% of employees reported having unused vacation days left over at the end of the year. Employees are often worried that taking time off will disrupt the workflow, and they will be met with a backlog of work when they return. This fear should not restrict you from taking a much-needed break.
6. Make time for yourself and your loved ones. While your job is important, it shouldn’t be your entire life. You were an individual before taking this position, and you should prioritize the activities or hobbies that make you happy. When planning time with your loved ones, create a calendar for romantic and family dates. It may seem weird to plan one-on-one time with someone you live with, but it will ensure that you spend quality time with them without work-life conflict. Just because work keeps you busy doesn’t mean you should neglect personal relationships.
7. Set boundaries and work hours. Set boundaries for yourself and your colleagues, to avoid burnout. When you leave the office, avoid thinking about upcoming projects or answering company emails. Consider having a separate computer or phone for work, so you can shut it off when you clock out. If that isn’t possible, use separate browsers, emails or filters for your work and personal platforms.
8. Set goals and priorities (and stick to them). Set achievable goals by implementing time-management strategies, analyzing your to-do list, and cutting out tasks that have little to no value. Pay attention to when you are most productive at work and block that time off for your most important work-related activities. Avoid checking your emails and phone every few minutes, as those are major time-wasting tasks that derail your attention and productivity. Structuring your day can increase productivity at work, which can result in more free time to relax outside of work."
2
Collaboration
Navigating Best Practices
Collaboration - "Collaboration is a worthy goal, but just getting everyone in the same room won’t make it happen. The company culture has to reinforce and reward team collaboration. Here are 5 guidelines for effective collaboration:
Accountability is critical to a collaborative workplace. Although no one wants to feel like they’re doing all the work alone (remember group projects in school?), people also don’t want to feel like their good work has gone unnoticed. Accountability helps provide clarity and sets the stage for recognition.
The biggest upsides of collaboration are creativity and innovation — but those don’t come without trust. Creating an environment where people feel psychologically safe is a prerequisite for successful collaboration. Without trust, people won’t share their ideas or feel comfortable taking risks.
There are two approaches to problem-solving. Some people treat it as an inconvenience and work as if their backs are against the wall. Some teams, however, treat problems as opportunities for growth. Going into any project with a positive, optimistic outlook will make a huge difference in the types of ideas you brainstorm and the experience of getting there.
Collaboration thrives in a fast-paced environment. People rapidly lose enthusiasm for projects that stretch on and on without any end date in sight. Completing projects quickly pushes people to come up with new ideas and better ways of executing them by immersing them in the work at hand.
Finally (or maybe firstly?), make sure the problem is significant or complex enough to benefit from collaboration. Designing a product launch campaign? Collaboration-worthy. Writing an email? Probably not. Nothing kills the passion for working together faster than making every task a group task. If there are side reasons — such as onboarding a new team member or freshening up the approach on a big account — make those goals clear to everyone involved."
3
Action
Navigating Best Practices
Action - "Here are some simple steps to foster an ""Action"" oriented culture.
1) Be Confident. “Being proactive and inspiring others to follow your lead requires high confidence levels.” This can be done in several ways, from speaking with authority to completing small tasks throughout the day to boost your confidence. Even if all your ideas aren’t entirely correct, being confident enough to take that chance and try something different is something that people notice. When it comes time to make a decision or speak on a subject, do so with confidence – even if it’s just bravado at first.
2) Ask Questions. Asking questions provides a ton of benefits to you that position you as a leader, chief among them being a willingness to learn, something everybody wants in an employee. It also gets you more involved and makes you appear more curious and interested in what’s happening. You can also learn things from the answers, which in turns means you can help on more projects. Asking questions is a win-win.
3) Speak Up. This sort of goes without saying when it comes to taking the initiative at work, but if you aren’t talking, you aren’t getting noticed or being a leader. Inject your voice into the conversation without being rude or speaking up to raise problems, including requesting a meeting to address certain issues or topics. Don’t immediately confront your bosses or team about a question or issue out of nowhere; instead, carefully state your opinion so you aren’t attacking or putting anyone down. Another thing you can do to make it easier if you do have to offer criticism is to start the conversation on a positive note.
4) Think Ahead. Yes, the task at hand is the most important thing, but always be thinking about what comes next. Because once you complete that task, you don’t want everyone sitting around wondering what the plan is. By thinking ahead, it gives you time to make the plans for whatever your next task or project is and allows you to take the lead because you can answer question people may have about it when the time comes.
5) Ask to Help Co-Workers. If you are done with your tasks or have some extra time to spare, ask your co-workers if they need help or if they have any things that you can learn to do for them. Your co-workers will remember this and on future tasks be more likely to come to you for help. Plus, it’s something your bosses will notice because you weren’t sitting by passively and waiting for someone to tell you what to do."
Synergies with Corporate Values
Corporate Values
Very Synergistic
My corporate core values are action and collaboration, and these align with my most important personal value which is family. My parents have always led by example and excelled at everything they've done by virtue of their unrelenting hard work and sacrifice. They are the greatest real life examples of "doers" and "collaborators" as they have successfully navigated and risen through the ranks at multiple world renowned MNCs, all with the utmost grace and dignity. They have always pushed me and supported me to fulfil my full potential and I too try to emulate their work ethic and never-say-die attitude in my personal career.
Please note that theboardiQ Compass is an unbiased instrument and the results are based on voluntary disclosure to help assist in forming the right team culture and managing a winning team. It showcases the "thrive quotient" of every generation in the workforce to provide effective styles of management and is not to be construed to be discriminatory in nature. We acknowledge that Corporate America welcomes and leverages the skills, knowledge and experience of all generations in society and in the workplace