He began with asking as to what comes to our minds when HR is mentioned with respect to organizations. He mentioned four points: process oriented, best practices, Organized and Innovating. Mr. Ravindran quoted “There is no road ahead” when he took the future of HR. at first, all of us were perplexed. We did not get his point. He then clarified himself by saying that there is no definite tomorrow as far as HR is concerned. He said that it is up to every one who enters the organization to make the road. With this he rephrased the earlier four points as “more of the same”, “copy the same”, “tied down”, “talking about it”.

He said change was the need of the hour. With higher speeds being achieved in the business world, the change in framework for business is inevitable. With more information being available, competition is going at an alarming rate. There are greater risks accompanied with biggest rewards. The customer is constantly changing and is thus said to be very choosy. Unless an HR professional has a bit of Adventure and a penchant for exploring the unknown, he is bound to repeat the four things mentioned earlier. Thus the organization will die. Mr. Ravindran stressed on the importance of value nowadays.Value that is driven by merit and worth and not by post and hierarchy, past or seniority.

He then asked as to whether HR should be different. With a rapidly changing environment, jobs and tasks are becoming increasingly difficult. Ideas are considered viable only if it is brought into application. Therefore, tomorrow’s organization is driven by value where there is no hierarchy or no structure. He added that tomorrow’s enterprise would one where the focus is less on controls and boundaries and more about exploration and creation.

Mr. Ravindran then made a comparison between two styles followed in organizations, the INSIDE-OUT and OUTSIDE-IN approach. He said that an HR professional should be an HR differentiator. He should be able to help a fellow employee understand him/her self better. It is all about understanding people differently and thus helping them deal with changes or change management. To become the best, one has to do only one thing and that is break through one’s inhibitions.

Mr. Ravindran finally concluded by saying that everyone in an enterprise should be considered equal and should be evaluated in terms of value. HR has become about thought leadership, helping teams and individuals, shattering inhibitions and breaking the shackles. With all this HR has definitely the making of an exciting future.