PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

I offer Independent Directorships to Boards; retained strategic advisory, executive coaching, strategic talent search and assessment, paid speakerships and workshops on strategic organisational issues.

Founder & CEO

Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Member Board of Trustees (India)

IRM India

Strategic Advisory Board Member

Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

To advise on strategic HR agenda of the RBI, India’s Central Bank

Member -HR Advisory Board, Reserve Bank of India

Cipla

Lead Human Resources, Corporate Communications , Administration, Legal  & Corporate Affairs globally for the firm.

President & Global Chief People Officer

Reliance

Led the HR, IR, Corporate Services & Medical functions for the conglomerate

President & Group Chief Human Resources Officer

Tata Motors Limited

Led  the HR, IR, Administration, CSR, Safety, Health and Environment portfolios for Tata Motors

Senior Vice President  & Chief Human Resources Officer

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories

Led the people function and corporate communications function for the company globally. Was tasked with devising  HR strategies to support the organization's transformation agenda with special focus on organization architecture, talent management, creating a high performance work ethic and a strong employer brand.

Senior Vice President & Global Head-Human Resources & Corporate Communications

Tech Mahindra

Was the Regional HR Head for Tech Mahindra (then Mahindra British Telecom) and also led the corporate verticals of Performance Management and Learning & Development across the company

Regional Head-HR

Thermax

Headed the entire gamut of HR, IR and Adminstration at the company. Grew to head the entire HR responsibility of the Boiler & Heater (B&H)  Group of Thermax.

Head-HR, Thermax Babcock & Wilcox

A #LinkedIn Power Profile, a TEDx speaker,  columnist and active Tweeter . A HumanResources strategist with diverse industry experience, from the civil service to engineering, Information Technology, pharmaceuticals, automotive and a conglomeration of Hydrocarbons, retail, media and telecom/ digital services. Been the CHRO of two New York Stock Exchange listed companies as also the  CHRO of two Fortune 500 companies. Helped all companies where I had been the CHRO to make it to the List of Top Ten Best Companies to Work For in India. Have had the opportunity of significant global exposure to all facets of HR and organizational effectiveness, especially large scale transformation.

My personal goal is to support each person I touch on his/ her journey to become a better professional and more importantly, a more complete person. hence, spending time on coaching, mentoring, career advice and even being a simple Agony Aunt is important to me because it touches lives of people so deeply.

Currently , I advise a range of companies - from start-ups to large corporations - across a range of domains on Strategic HR issues including Board Effectiveness, Talent & Leadership, Organizational Transformation, Culture Renewal, Executive Coaching, Employer Branding and the odd talent search. 

You could follow my tweets @prabirjha on Twitter

Five years since I began a new phase in my career with PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY . To  leave an assured and comfortable  life at just 52 and start from scratch was never expected to be an easy punt.  But time truly flies. What a journey it has been. I have learnt so much in these five years that I had not learnt in almost 50. A range of industries I had no idea about. Understood people better than ever before. Made some new friends for life. Realised that shelf life of others is not for life. Enjoyed my space and independence. And with all humility, made some difference to some more client companies and people. 

Thank you to all those of you who supported my dream and adventure. Cheers to those who continued to believe in me beyond corporate titles. And gratitude to those who taught me hard lessons of life. I believe it has been a tremendous last five years. 🙏🙏🙏

Prabir Jha

The #UPSC declared the #CivilServicesResults yesterday. As I was watching alone of the channels, I saw the same sense of jubilation and dejection,as  it always  been for years. It transported me back 35 years ago … the same tension, anxiety and nail biting. No doubt it is one of the toughest examinations in the world. In my times, 500 made it to final selection out of the 500K who started with process a year ago. This year, a thousand made it out of the million who initially wrote the preliminary exams. Phew!! 

I was fortunate. I made it to the list in the first attempt even while I was writing my university exams. But I know of so many, much better than me, who never cleared the Prelims even once. Did it mean they did not do well in their chosen walks of life? Many did remarkably well. Many got lost. Likewise, many who made it to the list did not all have stellar careers in the #civilservices. Some of us quit to join the corporate sector. Some left to become a teacher. Some to join the social sector. 

And yet, the craze and competition for the civil services is like it is for cricket in India. There is power. There like disproportionate head start in one’s career. The perks and facilities are beyond money. Yes, there is also an opportunity of impacting lives of the common man. 

But it is not about unqualified success or failure. There is so much more in life than an examination. Decades later one looks back and wonders. Some would have had a happy life. Some just a successful one. Others neither. And yet life moves on. Enjoy the moment. But move beyond the moment. #PrabirInsights #Life #Career #Coaching PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

Had the opportunity to speak at the 26th Annual #NHRDN Conference in Kolkata organised by NHRDN KOLKATA CHAPTER . I shared  my perspectives on #PersonalBrand for HR professionals. Too many myths that need to be repudiated. And the challenges & opportunities for such a journey. Essentially, just a job title or one of the many awards going around do not necessarily make you a brand. Respect and influence goes beyond it. Tough to become one; still tougher to stay one. 

A great conference, one I attended after a long time. Met many old friends. Loved the warmth and affection of the HR fraternity. Thank you for everything. #PrabirInsights PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

Someone asked me some days ago about any regrets for any career #decision.  I said,” none at all”. Every decision was the right decision at that point in time. There is no point rueing, analysing and regretting. I always have believed that it is better to look ahead and make more forward-looking decisions than to stay stuck with past decisions. My belief there is almost no decision that is final or fatal.#PrabirInsights #Life #Career #Leadership #Careers #Coaching PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

When you get messages from people who have never worked with you say they are my #Eklavya ( disciples from afar) and have benefitted greatly from my musings, provocations and stories, it just seems so worth it. It has been a blessed life. And #payforward is the only #Payback. Do that today. Someone may just be waiting for that. #PrabirInsights #Coaching #Leadership PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

Once I was #coaching a very senior corporate leader. And I realised that her biggest was to make everything just so complex - her problems, her solutions, her communication and her style of dealing with her stakeholders. And all that I coached her on was to learn to #simplify. She is not the only leader or a #leadership team that is afflicted by this inability. Most companies make themselves far more obtuse than what is good for them. And they do not realise it! Break down into simple pieces. Communicate simple. Solve in simple ways. And you will surprise how much more gets accomplished. #PrabirInsights #TeamReinvigoration #Culture #Transformation PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

A CEO recently shared with me that he was basically an introvert. And that it may be impacting the quality of his leadership. As I took him ahead on his coaching journey , I reminded him it doesn’t really matter if you are an introvert. You cannot help that. Actually there are many strengths an introvert brings to complex leadership making. However, can you at least try and practise extraversion at times you need to - town halls, visits to sites and the markets. You don’t need to change yourself but you need to do these, not because it gives you energy, but it makes your employees down the line experience you that they feel charged. The person is trying hard and I can say it is succeeding. 

What myths hold you or your leadership team back? #PrabirInsights #Leadership #Coaching #Culture #Transform PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

You want to get better as a leader? You want to make sure your #career growth is robust? Then ask yourself if you are ready to accept you were wrong. That you made a mistake. The best leaders are ready to say they called it wrong. And that #authenticity and #integrity demonstrates a #growthmindset. It builds #psychologicalsafety. It shows you are human. All these set you up well on your leadership journey. #PrabirInsights #Leadership #Coaching PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

When you feel down and out, lost and secluded be your best company. In #careers and #life there will be phases that you will feel very alone. That is the time to remind that your best friend - YOU- is still there with you. Trust yourself. Believe in yourself. Love yourself. And you will feel better. It will help restore a sense of #resilience, even if slowly. And you will eventually pull yourself out. If you expect anyone else to pull you out, you will be misleading yourself. Only the odd lucky guy gets that magical saviour. The world typically moves on. So stay your best friend always. #PrabirInsights #Coaching PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

What heartbreaking news today. Aparajit Chatterjee ( Apu as we called him) was on my team at Tata Motors . I still remember hiring him from a bank to help me with the revamping of our performance systems. A perfect gentleman. Soft. Smiling. Even as our journeys took us in different directions, we stayed in touch. As recently as his birthday greetings to me on my birthday less than a month ago. And then this shocker. Apparently a massive heart attack out of nowhere. 

My prayers and condolences for his family. You will be missed and remembered, Apu. I feel quite broken today. The frailty of life yet again.

I replenished my plant collection at home yesterday. The new ones add colour, energy and bring out the existing plants to shine better. Almost, the way we hand pick fresh talent and should onboard and assimilate them. Then you continually make the collective impact stronger. #PrabirInsights #Team #Leadership #Culture #Coaching PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

We use “hard” and “soft” skills to differentiate between core functional skills and the behavioural skills. But after almost 35 years observing people at work across a range of contexts, I think we should drop the prefix. The so-called softer skills -#leadership, #integrity, #communication, #trust, #collaboration, #empathy, #creativity, #inspiration - have harder and deeper impact than base functional skills. If we look at people, cultures, organisations we know what really builds successful and sustainable companies. Don’t push the “ soft” skills aside. They hurt your business today. Will hurt you even more tomorrow. These are not costs. These are investments. #PrabirInsights #Transformation #Coaching PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

You don’t really add value to any organisation or  agenda by just the virtue of a title. You can do it, inspite of it. Actually, many with big titles do not actually add value of the type people expect them to. They do not inspire as they should. They do not leave a legacy behind as they could. And yet many without titles make an impact, even if with little celebration. My salute to that #UnknownCorporateCitizen. #PrabirInsights #Leadership #Talent #Coaching PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

#Emails were meant to enable better results, not create preposterous alibis. In both my executive life and now in my advisory experience I see it as a great metaphor of workplace cultures. In one large company, plagued with this disease , I had got bcc disabled, as an option : either let everyone know you are copying someone or don’t. Also, I spent a lot of time educating people not to spam so many by copying them. It does not really create an alibi. What shocks me is that many senior leaders also are happy being copied on issues that should not consume them. And worse, cultures in some firms encourage #mailwarfare rather than simple walk across or pick up the phone!!! And we wonder why #collaboration is low, eh? #PrabirInsights #CultureRenovation #Leadership #Transformation PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

Today I help #leaders get better. Or I help hire the right leaders. And a lot of what helps me at these is nothing academic or jargonstic. It is a lot of what I experienced in my own executive life. My own successes and mistakes. I know the hot seat because I have sat in them. There is nothing better than experience. It destroys every myth and theory. The reason I push leaders to experience a range of situations, people, companies and industries. That is when you truly have acquired the experience to be a master of the #leadership business. #PrabirInsights #Coaching PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

Speaking to a group of leaders recently, I shared that #PurposeAndPassion will be key to leadership effectiveness in today’s times. Yes, there will be a laundry list of other things. But without a deep and well internalised purpose and short of palpable passion, it will be tough navigating the pulls and pressures of the emergent operating context. #PrabirInsights #Leadership #Careers #Life #Coaching PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

I often hear this : we can’t choose our boss! Absolutely not true. Except your parents, siblings and your children you can choose anyone. We believe we cannot choose our boss because we become so dependant on that role holder. End that dependence. Build yourself beyond. And you will realise that you don’t need your boss, the boss needs you! And you always make that choice. #Prabionsights #Careers #Leadership #Culture #Coaching #ThinkDifferent PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

Had the opportunity to share my perspectives in a conversation on ZEE Business  around the need and challenge of #SuccessionPlanning in the #SME world. It is such an underserved agenda even in marquee and mature late organisations that you cannot hold the small and micro enterprises guilty alone. And yet, the risks are even more severe for them. 

For those interested in the bilingual conversation here is a link : 
https://lnkd.in/dXDC7d9k

#PrabirInsights PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

I tell this to everyone. Respect the power of the #moment. They build you. Or destroy you. They make you feel alive. Or they make you feel like sinking. They make you want to treasure it. They make you want to repudiate it. But it is that moment. Make that moment count . Today.And forever. #PrabirInsights #Life #Career #ThinkDifferent #Coaching PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

I underwent a dental extraction yesterday. But the surgeon not only did a brilliant job, I loved the way I experienced what otherwise is always a scary visit. Many leaders and companies could learn a lot from this. 

I reached on time. And I was met up in time. All papers for signature, pre-checks were waiting for me, the patient. Then to the surgeon’s room. Warmth and reassuring greeting. Showed me my x rays  and told me what exactly he planned to do. And to just relax. Even as he went about numbing my nerves, he was so patient and encouraging! You almost wanted to stay there. And once all done, he thanked me for being an amazing patient. Reminders of some instructions to follow the next few days. And that he was always just a call away. While I couldn’t speak, even his assistants said I could pay up when I came for my review next week! 

Why can’t companies and leaders treat their stakeholders with similar empathy, efficiency and care? Is it really all that difficult? Where do we drop the ball? Everyone is supposed to be serving someone. But do they? Lots to think about even as I nurse my unavoidable pain. 
#PrabirInsights #Experience #Coaching PRABIR JHA PEOPLE ADVISORY

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