24x7 Learning & AVAGMAH Online School organized a Panel Discussion on the 24th of July to discuss the pressing issues and challenges faced by companies around developing leaders for tomorrow. The evening attended by members of the HR and L&D fraternity witnessed an engaging discussion, where both, the panelists and the audience brought to light the various issues they are facing and deliberated on possible solutions. Here are a few highlights.

1. PANEL DISCUSSION
24th July, 2013 at The Innovation Center (TERI), Bangalore.

2. 24x7 Learning & AVAGMAH Online School organized a Panel
Discussion on the 24th of July to discuss the pressing issues and
challenges faced by companies around developing leaders for
tomorrow.
The evening attended by members of the HR and L&D fraternity
witnessed an engaging discussion, where both, the panelists and
the audience brought to light the various issues they are facing
and deliberated on possible solutions. Here are a few highlights.

3. Panelists
Pankaj Gursahani
Head – Sales Training
AstraZeneca Pharma
Girinarayanan G
Director HR
GE Energy
Birjendu Gupta
Head – Talent Development
PwC
N Raghunandan
CEO
Disha Strategic
Foundation
Moderator
Karthik K S
CEO
24x7 Learning

4. Companies represented

5. Some points raised
 Leaders today need to spend quality time with their subordinates, but they are
unable to do so because they are busy worrying about customers, competition,
shareholders and so on.
 Leaders leave the job of motivating and retaining employees to HR.
 Today, HR is more transactional. It should rather be transformational.
 HR is being pulled into business as 'Business Partners' but they should stick to
doing what the HR role demands.
 While there are many sound HR processes in place, the execution is lacking.
 There is a need for emotional engagement, personal mentoring and financial
incentives.
 At the grassroots level, knowledge gap in the workforce has lead to a large
demand-supply problem.
 Fast-tracking growth and progress means leaders today are not in a position to
mentor. They lack the experience and many a time view their subordinates as a
threat and would rather not help them grow.
 The need to sensitize Gen Y to work environment.
 How do you sensitize Gen X on leading the Gen Y?

6. A few takeaways
 Utilize strengths of your team and convert it to positive energy.
 Practice 'feed forward' not feedback.
 There is a need for a work environment which creates a feeling of boundary-less workforce.
 Leadership is about leveraging an individual's strength and making his weakness irrelevant.
 Leaders today don’t have to be subject matter experts, they just need to understand the
strengths and capabilities of their workforce to get the job done.
 Coach the grassroots level and not just the seniors in the system.
 Remain focused on fundamental HR Principles, systems and processes.
 Have quality individualized conversation with the Generation Y.
 Leaders of today need to have the ability to capture the requirements of the eco system and deliver.
 As parents individuals are able to groom their kids. In a similar way, leaders need to spend quality
conversation time and give individual attention to employees to groom them. There is a need for
emotional engagement, personal mentoring and financial incentives.
 At a basic level, appreciation for a job well done goes a long way in motivating employees.

7. 24x7 Learning is India’s premier eLearning solutions company,
with offerings that align with the talent development needs of
large and fast growth organizations.
AVAGMAH Online School, a continuous education initiative from
24x7 Learning offers Online graduate, post graduate and Senior
Leadership Programs in association with world renowned partners
such as the Jack Welch Management Institute.
www.avagmah.com www.24x7learning.com