Monday, July 30, 2007

The Birkman Method®

The Birkman Method® identifies ones everyday interpersonal style (usual behavior), and unlike most other popular assessments, gives unique insights into underlying motivations and needs. Stress behaviors are identified when these needs are not met. Knowing the underlying motivations and the consequences of unmet needs give the coach, consultant, counselor and organizational development professional an effective way to improve workplace performance and reduce conflict.

In brief, The Birkman Method® includes the five following major perspectives:
1. Usual Behavior - an individual's effective behavioral style of dealing with relationships and tasks.

2. Underlying Needs - an individual's expectations of how relationships and social situations should be governed in context of the relationship or situation.

3. Stress Behaviors - an individual's ineffective style of dealing with relationships or tasks; behavior observed when underlying needs are not met.

4. Interests - an individual's expressed preference for job titles based on the assumption of equal economic rewards.

5. Organizational Focus - the perspective in which an individual views problems and solutions relating to organizational goals.

For more info visit http://www.birkman.com/birkmanMethod/whatIsTheBirkmanMethod.php

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Indian Income Tax: Can you pay rent to your family?

Let's say you live with parents. If you want to pay rent to your parents -- who in this case are the landlords -- you should request the owner of the house (which will be one of your parents) to declare it in his/ her personal income tax return. This will prevent any litigation in the future.
Some individuals want to pay rent to their spouse.

When living with your spouse, you cannot claim HRA. The relationship between a husband and wife is not commercial in nature; a husband and wife are supposed to stay together.
So payment of rent to a spouse will not be accepted by the income tax authorities.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

... And miles to go before I sleep...

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

By Robert Frost

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Microsoft Outlook - Scan & Repair Utility

We never know, when our Microsoft Outlook PST file gets corrupt. We can come to know about the PST corruption only when it behaves funny.

There is a cool 'Scan & Repair' utility from Microsoft aresenal which ensures that Microsoft Outlook behaves as it was desitned to do. To locate this utility, search for SCANPST.EXE file. It usually resides in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12 folder.

This utility asks for the PST file on which scan and repair task is to be done. As usual, SCANPST is self explanatory utility. It does its 'scan & repair' trick in few seconds [465MB PST file] to few minutes depending on the PST file size.