This document provides advice for transitioning from classroom to the corporate world. It discusses some harsh realities of office life, such as increased workload, office politics, and unrealistic expectations. It also provides tips for coping with stress, navigating office politics successfully, and developing survival instincts. Key points include maintaining integrity, focusing on your work, avoiding gossip, prioritizing important tasks, and understanding both formal and informal power structures within an organization. Case studies and problem-based learning are presented as effective training methods.

1. Classroom to Real World -
--The Harsh Realities
Dr.Nidhi Pandey
Ph.D., NET,MBA-HR, CTE(IGNOU)

2. Topics to be dealt
 Bitter Truths of Corporate world
 Teaching mechanism of corporate
 Office Politics
 Mapping the organization chart
 Coping with Stress
 Survival Instincts for Success

3. Bitter Truths
 The more efficient you are at your work, the more you will be burdened with
it.
 Nobody cares about your individual progress in the corporate world. All that
matters is what you contribute to the company.
 There will come a time when you will take up a job just for the money and
nothing else.
 Desk jobs kill creativity.
 Very often you will be held accountable for tasks that weren't even your
responsibility in the first place.
 You will be dealing with a dozen tasks other than what you were initially hired
for. Your scope of work will only keep increasing.

4. Bitter Truths
 You will be constantly made to believe you need the company more than it needs you,
and that is not always true.
 Meetings are a waste of time. Nothing good has ever come out of them. Most people
aren't listening, and the ones talking are far away from reality.
 If you're sluggish, you'll be ridiculed by your boss. If you're proactive, you'll be hated by
your colleagues.
 You will be made to work with uninspired people and it will be the most difficult task
ever. Your team-mates would neither be of any help, nor would they make it possible
for you take everything in your own hands, and it will kill your passion.
 People around will constantly pull you down with their cynicism solely because they
hate your guts.

5. Bitter Truths
 Nobody is going to appreciate you staying in extra hours every single day but the one
time you leave a little early, hell will break lose.
 Whichever new initiatives you volunteer for, becomes your responsibility.
 Office politics is definitely not a myth.
 There will be times when undeserving people will get credit for the work you do,
simply because they are higher up on the corporate ladder.
 Half of your time will be spent in sending out unnecessary mails that will never ever
be read to countless people, who want to feel important, before you can actually
start working.

6. Real Life Scenarios for Effective
Corporate Learning-PBL
 Problem Based Learning (PBL), is widely used by the corporate world, to enhance the
level of training imparted in organizations. Real life scenarios are an integral part of
Problem Based Learning (PBL) strategies. .
 Ignite the spark of inquiry– have the inquisitiveness to know the details of the learning
module
 Importance Of Attention—Be attentive physically and mentally
 Chalk and talk – where a trainer interacts with the audience in one direction with a
frightening array of slides, the content of which is the same as the words spoken, is
useless.

7. Real Life Scenarios for Effective
Corporate Learning-PBL
Case study method vs books—
Corporates give Case studies to develop skills such as:
 Problem solving
 Analytical tools, quantitative and/or qualitative, depending on the case
 Decision making in complex situations
 Coping with ambiguities
 Public Speaking Skills
 Leadership potential

8. Office politics—A reality
 Positive or negative – politics happens.
 Term often has a negative connotation---it refers to strategies people use to seek
advantage at the expense of others or the greater good.
 Plato said, "One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you
end up being governed by your inferiors."
And this hold true today in the workplace: If you don't participate in the political game,
you risk not having a say in what happens and allowing people with less experience, skill or
knowledge to influence the decisions being made around you.

9. Re-Map the Organization Chart
 Who are the real influencers?
 Who has authority but doesn't exercise it?
 Who is respected?
 Who champions or mentors others?
 Who are "the brains behind the organization"?

10. Understand the Informal Network
Once you know who's who in the organization, you have a good idea of where the
power and influence lay. Now you have to understand the social networks.
 Who gets along with whom?
 Are there groups or cliques that have formed?
 Who is involved in interpersonal conflict?
 Who has the most trouble getting along with others?
 How does the influence flow between the parties?

11. Office politics—A reality
 Do not be afraid of politically powerful people in the organization. Get to know them.
 Ensure you have relationships that cross the formal hierarchy in all directions (peers,
bosses, executives).
 Start to build relationships with those who have the informal power.
 Build your relationships on trust and respect – avoid empty flattery.
 Be friendly with everyone but don't align yourself with one group or another.
 Be a part of multiple networks – this way you can keep your finger on the pulse of the
organization.

12. Office politics-Neutralize Negative Play
 Get to know these people better and be courteous to them, but always be very careful
what you say to them.
 Understand what motivates these people and what their goals are, and so learn how to
avoid or counter the impact of their negative politicking.
 Be aware that these people typically don't think much of their talents (that's why they
rely on aggressive politicking to get ahead).

13. Office politics----DON’T TAKE SIDES
 In office politics, it is possible to find yourself stuck in between two power
figures who are at odds with each other.
DON’T GET PERSONAL
 In office politics, you’ll get angry with people. There will be times when you
feel the urge to give that person a piece of your mind and teach him a lesson.
Don’t.
 People tend to remember moments when they were humiliated or insulted.
Even if you win this argument and get to feel really good about it for now,
you’ll pay the price later when you need help from this person.

14. Make the Most of Your Network
 Gain access to information.
 Build visibility of your achievements.
 Improve difficult relationships.
 Attract opportunities where you can to shine.

15. Govern Your Own Behaviour
 Don't pass on gossip, questionable judgments, spread rumours – when you hear something,
take a day to consider how much credibility it has.
 Maintain your integrity at all times – always remain professional, and always remember the
organization's interests.
 Be positive – avoid whining and complaining.
 Be confident and assertive but not aggressive.
 When voicing objections or criticism, make sure you take an organizational perspective not a
personal one.
 Don't rely on confidentiality – assume things will be disclosed and so decide what you should
reveal accordingly.

16. SEEK TO UNDERSTAND, BEFORE BEING
UNDERSTOOD
 The reason people feel unjustified is because they felt misunderstood.
Instinctively, we are more interested in getting the others to understand us
than to understand them first.

17. FOCUS ON YOUR CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE
 Instead of feeling victimized and angry about the situation, focus on the
things that you can do to influence the situation – your circle of influence.
This is a very empowering technique to overcome the feeling of helplessness.

18. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE
 Know thy self
 What you want to achieve

19. Stress
 “A condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands
exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize.“
 Reactions to Stress---Fight or Flight
Coping with stress---
 Keep a stress diary Add to My Personal Learning Plan to identify the causes
of short-term or frequent stress in your life. As you write down events,
think about why this situation stresses you out
 Use Job Analysis to think about what's most important in your role, so that
you can prioritize your work more effectively.

20. Stress—Coping
 Be Assertive not aggressive
 Managing Your Boundaries
 Dealing With Unreasonable Requests
 Saying "Yes" to the Person, but "No" to the Task will help you ensure that your
needs are respected.
 Take advantage of your support network -this could include your friends and
family, as well as people at work and professional providers

21. Survival Instincts
 Leave your ego at home--Never make anyone feel bad for not picking things
up or getting things done as efficiently as you do.
 Learn to Say No—don’t not offend your boss, manager and colleagues, but you
should sound your disagreement and opinion wisely
 Ask for what you want because there are always exceptions to be made.
 Negotiate for what you are worth, the hardest lesson of all.
 Don’t hesitate to walk out on a new boss if he (or she) does not come through
on a promise.
 Get heard in meeting .

22. Survival Instincts
 Avoid Office Politics--stay 1000 feet away from office politics though it is very
compelling to be a part of office politics but it will not take u anywhere
 Email Management: Despite all hard work, many employees loose because of
poor email management skills.
 Always look Busy: Fact of the matter is that organizations don’t like relaxed
and happy employees though on records almost all organizations mention that
they want their employees to be happy. If you are happy and relaxed that
means you don’t have any work & Indian organizations hate such employees.
 Be who you are: Though you will have to adjust and adapt, do not try to ape
anyone. Maintain your individuality. Learn from people but do not try to be
like them.

23. Survival Instincts
 Use your social media profiles more responsibly--it is important that your social media profiles
too reflect your new position.
 Do not take leave frequently: remaining absent too frequently does not send a positive image
of yourself.
 Take risks: The early days in the corporate world is the best time to take risks. Explore new
paths, take up new responsibilities and do not be afraid to take risks in job.
 Accept criticism and praise in your stride--learn to accept criticism and praise and move on.
Let harsh comments help you learn a thing or two and let compliments encourage you to work
better.
 Look into details: Learn to pay attention to details. Be it reading and replying to all e-mails,
going through each and every point for the meeting, reading about dates and timings carefully,
proof checking your report

24. Survival Instincts
 Don't step on any one’s toes--There will always be one or two people in the work place
who will do everything in their power to get promoted, or worse, take over your job. Don't
stoop to their level. Just get your job done and focus on doing it right.
 Maintain the boundaries between personal and professional relationships--don't drag your
professional frustrations into your personal relationships and vice versa.
 Think about ways to solve persistent problems your organization has long been wrestling
with
 Do not over expect-By limiting your expectations as a fresher regarding the job you are
applying to, and not focusing much on remuneration you can be more accepting towards
the roles and responsibilities.
 Learn to follow---In your initial days, the best thing you can do is to be a good follower of
your seniors and learn from them
 Explore: Every company has its own unique culture, exclusive to itself. Understanding the
culture and people associated with the company will come in aid

25. Survival Instincts
 Do not over spend: The amount can make you swoon and tempt you to spend recklessly.
Create a personal budget and try to stick to it.
 Show respect: Even if your office has employees close to your age, it isn’t the place to be
all friendly. Show respect to all, young or seniors and maintain a respectable
communication with all of them.
 Learn to be punctual: It was ok to be late at college where your teachers were lenient to
you most of the time because they considered you as kids and let you be. But in a
workplace, you are counted as an adult and hence you need to learn to be on your own.
 Get ready for a hard schedule: Gear yourself for a change in your life schedule and be
ready to face a life all upside down. You will be now expected to work eight hours or more

26. “Attain Success with Peace”
Wish ‘You ‘ Good Luck