The year 2020 has emphasized one certainty: In times of crisis, entrepreneurs innovate, adapt and continue to give back. One example—among many—of philanthropy during the worldwide COVID-19 crisis comes from our EO Gujarat chapter. Through their organization, Karma Foundation, members Chiranjiv Patel and Priyanshi Patel led a group of volunteers to feed the homeless and needy during the lockdown in India. This is just the latest example from many years the Karma Foundation has been making a difference in the community. We recently spoke with Chiranjiv Patel (pictured at left) to learn more. Patel is the managing director and vice chairman of P.C. Snehal Group, a construction company based in Ahmedabad, India. He is known for his leadership in business and charitable pursuits. Tell us more about Karma Foundation.Karma Foundation is primarily focused on community development across the entire socio-economic spectrum. Our focus includes education, health, livelihood, women development, youth development, literature and culture, and we aim to reach every sector of the society in order to make our efforts more transformational and impactful. We make food at Sai temple satadhar one day a month and at Anjani Mata temple every day. We distribute food to street people and kids, and also to municipal school students. Every week we encounter some of those tear-bringing moments, when Karma feeds 250 people who eat until the last bite of their plate. Some of us go to restaurants every week or maybe twice a week and waste food excessively. But here, they respect the food given on their plates and would not waste even a bite. Since October 2015, we’ve fed approximately 50,000 people. Other Karma initiatives include: • Sahara is a program that expresses our core value—support. Through Sahara, Karma extends resources to senior citizens, orphans and abandoned children and other NGOs of the state. I strongly believe that collaboration is the way to drive large scale community transformation. • Another program is a true example of women empowerment. We believe in the right to cleanliness, or hygiene. Women inmates of Sabarmati Jail manufacture biodegradable and low-cost sanitary pads for underprivileged women and girls. • The Ahmedabad Book Club is dedicated to literary appreciation and reading, and was formed by EO member Priyanshi Patel. The club has 45,000-plus online members. It provides a platform for online literary discussions and conversations with authors. • The Science Club encourages adults and children to experience science in new and engaging ways. There are so many other initiatives we’re working on. I would like to thank the whole Karma team, including volunteers and interns, who support and encourage the soul of the foundation. May we reach our future goals successfully. How has your work changed since COVID-19 appeared?COVID-19 closed the entire nation. Even in this hazardous situation, we tried to make 35,000 food packets every day for children and needy. What challenges did you face in delivering meals during the coronavirus shutdown?We believe that if the spirit inside is bigger than anything else across you, you can win. So we did not consider these big challenges. We were determined to put our mark on the city, trying to reach every individual who is suffering, despite the very high expenditure. It costs almost $2,000 to deliver 12,000 food packets every day. How has EO supported your efforts?The most important thing EO has taught us is the value of sharing experiences with your peers. EO also teaches us to lead by example. I made sure that I was present at the camp every day during the 45 days we worked through COVID-19 restrictions—not only managing operations but also packaging food. In spite of having broken leg and plaster on my leg, my spirit did not subside. I was motivated not to miss a single day. Also, EO chapter members and most of my forum members visited the camp regularly. In this way, EO has also played a prominent role to make this camp successful. Read more ways the members of EO are making a difference during the COVID-19 global crisis.The post Feeding the Hungry, Despite National Crisis appeared first on Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. via Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization https://ift.tt/2XU5QHm
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As a business leader, you’ve probably mastered the art of hosting a meeting in person. But how are your video conference skills? With much of today’s professional workforce going remote, it’s a good idea to get up to speed on best practices for video conferencing. While many smart policies carry over from in-office to online meetings, there are distinct tips that apply only to the virtual realm. Here are the top do’s and don’ts of video meetings.DO research your tech options. Zoom, Google Meet, GoToMeeting, join.me, Webex, Microsoft Teams or Skype—oh my! The choices seem endless. To find the right one for you, focus on the functions you need. Expecting a high number of attendees? Check how many participants the application allows. Depending on your subscription, apps allow a varying number of participants—with one option going all the way up to 500 people. Hoping to encourage attendee interaction? Compare screen sharing, annotation, captioning and user interface. DO practice. You’ve probably seen video conferences gone wrong--child interrupts dad’s BBC interview, roommate walks by wearing no pants or meeting participant fails to turn off the camera while using the restroom. Why risk it? Get comfortable with your video conference application by first using it with friends and family members. Practice turning off and on the video and mute functions. Check out the lighting, background and noise levels. DON’T forget the record option. Presenting on a hot topic or new training? Be sure your platform offers recording. For example, on Zoom, recorded files can be uploaded to a file storage service such as Google Drive or Dropbox, or a video streaming service such as YouTube or Vimeo. DO make use of the tech features that support your meeting’s mission. Put another way, don’t sacrifice your meeting’s quality by skimping on digital features. Breakout sessions are a great function for boosting productivity and brainstorming in large meetings. If you’re trying to promote group involvement, get up-to-speed on your platform’s annotation tools. DO take advantage of shortcut commands. Familiarize yourself with the keyboard cues on your conference platform to help your meetings run a little more smoothly. Here are hotkeys in three popular video conference apps: • Zoom DO lay ground rules. If your team hasn’t spent much time on video conferences until now, it’s a good idea to set expectations. (Even better, show what you expect of your team by practicing what you preach.) Nonverbal cues make up a large part of communication, which is a good reason to ask that attendees keep their cameras on. Make the organizational preference clear by always leaving your camera on and consider creating a short list of video conference best practices that you share via email or on a corporate chat platform. Other items of etiquette you might consider adding to your organization’s video conference must-do list include:
DON’T forget the basics of facilitating successful meetings. Just as with in-person, in-office gatherings, video conferences must have a clear purpose and goal. Begin with an agenda, introducing attendees and clarifying why each person was asked to attend. Be sure every participant has reference documents—by attaching them to your invitation, emailing them before the meeting or being prepared to share your desktop. As the host of the meeting, look out for introverts who are trying to speak up. Be aware of staff who are uncomfortable in front of the camera. End the meeting with a summary of key takeaways and next steps as needed. DO build a sense of security. Whether you’re a meeting host or participant, you can contribute to a feeling of encouragement and well-being. Allow space for attendees to share concerns, questions and learning. Reply with curiosity and open-ended questions. DO make time for casual interactions. Camaraderie and connection is particularly important in these unprecedented times. Just a few minutes of personal interaction before kicking off the agenda can make all the difference in team building and engagement. Another way to strengthen culture among your team members is by scheduling a recurring, open meeting on Monday mornings or Friday afternoons. Some leaders find daily huddles work well. Simply set up the meeting and encourage colleagues to drop in if they can to catch up on non-work topics. With video conferencing quickly becoming a critical part of our work day, be sure to make the most of the technology available and explore new ways to promote teamwork and culture in the virtual realm. For the latest resources and training related to supporting your business through crisis, visit the #EOTogether platform.The post Tips for Leading Your Best Video Conference appeared first on Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. via Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization https://ift.tt/2XMhFz6 |
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November 2020
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