HRD for the Family:

Human Resources Development means bringing the best in the people or making people to give their best to themselves and to the rest of the world. Each one of us is born with lots of talents. We fail to recognise these.

We have a lot of hidden heroes within us. Not one, not two, but many. These talents will be expressed only when they are nurtured. So a talent nurturing climate has to be created to bring out the best in people. Creating such a climate and helping people to bring out the best in them is HRD.

The first HRD Manager the world has ever known is the Mother. She nurtures and builds the child in so many ways and through so many stages. She first creates an atmosphere of fearlessness by showing warmth. She recognises your needs. She develops you through various stages. She teaches you to walk, talk, read, write and many things. There is no better HRD Manager than the Mother.

The father is also an HRD Manager but he is more a CEO than the HRD Manager. He plans and provides all resources required for the HRD Manager to function. He also comes to the rescue of the child whenever needed. He also acts like an expert HRD Manager at times and may share many qualities of the HRD Manager – the Mother.

The natural HRD Mangers also vary in their competencies of HR Managers. Some mothers become so possessive of their children, they do not allow them to make mistakes and as a result do everything for the child. Even when the child grows and becomes an adult continue to treat him/her like a child. As a result the grown up adult does not bring out the best in him. Some mothers are so protective that they put a lot of fear in their child’s mind. They do not permit the child to fail. This is another way they prevent recognition of potential. Some parents decide everything for the child and do not allow him/her to grow on his/her own.

Growth and learning is what HRD is all about. In a family it is HRD in the Family, in an organisation it is HRD in the Organisation, in school it is HRD in the School. The nature of HRD is varied from context to context, but the principles remain the same.

Wouldn't you like to know if your family is practising HRD at Home?

Answer the questions below to find out:

1. __Do you share your concerns, feelings views etc. with other members in the family?

2. __Do you communicate freely with each other in your family? 3. __Do you sit  together as a  family everyday once or at least once

a week and share a meal together? 4. __Do  you discuss  with  each  other  your  personal anxieties ,

problems and difficulties? 5. __Do  you  have  adequate  information  about  the  work being 

done by other members of the family in their work places(Kitchen, organisation etc.)?

6. __Do  the elders ( parents, grand parents etc.)  give  enough  freedom  for  the younger ones to do things on their own and undertake activities they enjoy?

7. __Do  elders  insist rigidly  that  everything  should be done according to their wishes and ways giving no scope for variation?

8. __Do members trust one another fully? 9. __Are mistakes tolerated, and used as learning experiences? 10. __Are problems talked about, confronted and discussed? 11. __Do  people  mean  what  they  say  rather than say things

to please others. 12. __Is there adequate flow of information between all

members? 13. __Do  family  members  take initiate and  help each other

when they find free time? 14. __Do you go  together as  a  total  visit  once  a  month or

so on  picnics and parties? 15. __Do you share with each other your experiences ,

difficulties  and  problems. 16. __Are members supportive of each other? 17. __Are the parents cautions  not  to  over  protect the 

children and youngster? 18. __Do you have  enough  freedom  to  do  things the way

you like to do in your family? 19. __Is there  enough  creativity  coming  out  of  some 

members  of  the family occasionally? 20. __Are You Learning from each others' experience?

Answer using the following scale3-Almost Always2- Sometimes1 - Rarely0 - Never

Add up your total score if

Your score is more than 40, you are a high learning family

Your score is less than 20 you are a weak learning family Your score is between 20 and 40 you are a moderate learning

family.