ISRA Training programs for corporate workers

Today, I had the most exciting, grueling but rewarding experience of my life. I attended a Soft Skills seminar on Managing People & Building Successful Relationships. The institute that conducted the program was ISRA, a soft skills training institute and the speakers and moderators of the program were Sneha Shah and Shashank Gupta.

And it was the most enlightening experience since a very long time. So, all you who think that seminars and workshops are a waste of time, think again. The session began with an introduction to needs and wants and their definitions. It was an interactive session with a lot of the participants, some 23 of us, participating and engaging in fruitful dialog. So, after the definitions we were told that there are 3 types of essential needs that a person holds. The same three being Control needs, Inclusion Needs and Affection Needs. After that we were given a test to perform that characterized our individual needs, how we are supposed to rate ourselves, and improve and build on relationships. Sneha stressed the need to have interpersonal needs between 2 individuals, the basis on which much of our corporate success depends.

After we did the test, we were given a rate card and our inputs were then compared with what we project or appear to the public in general. Many of us came up with the conclusion that although we desired or projected strong Control, Inclusion and Affection needs, we were actually quite far from our own projected ideals. There were great slides and exchange of data on the various types of expected and wanted needs, viz, Control, Inclusion and Affection needs. As the names suggest, control needs are those that appeal to the organized person, someone who wants to succeed in the corporate setup, who wants to work in a structured and result oriented environment. Inclusion needs are those needs that keep us valuable to society and affection needs are those that keep us loved, wanted, respected and desired.

So, based on the findings, based on studies by psychologist William Schutz, these psychometric tests gave us an insight into what our weak areas are and where we need to focus to improve ourselves and our relationships. After a delectable lunch, where we all intermingled and shared our views, we were given video clips, which we had to classify as Inclusion Needs, Control Needs and Affection Needs. That was our test one. Most of us were able to identify the needs from the clips and Sneha and Shashank gave us invaluable inputs in anlaysing complex needs and situations.

After that, we were given a Psycho Drama to perform, in which groups of members were to analyze their personal problems and enact one such problem. We were then told to discuss what causes hurt and rejection and the cycle that these negative thoughts perpetrate. Sneha added that the Hurt Cycle begins with a need not being fulfilled, which results in hurt and the labeling of the person who, in all probability, has no capacity to fulfill the individual’s needs and requirements. From the labeling comes judgement and that in turn leads to a ceasing of communication. Sneha added that in order to break this hurt cycle, we would have to think creatively and look at the problem from an objective perspective. We were then taught to self analyze a situation in which we indulge in ego games when we have been in a Hurt situation. These include domination, resistance to domination, refusal to be dominated, wearing a mask and projecting the attitude that ‘I am right and ‘You are wrong.’

After the Psycho Drama, we were given another test to perform, which determined whether the given situations, some 10-11 of them, were Control, Inclusion or Affection classified.

The session came to a close after much debate and discussion on how problems and difficult situations need to be handled. The session was a rewarding one, with both Sneha and Shashank, offering us invaluable insights into the psychology of relationships and how to maintain and keep a positive attitude going, especially at work and in relationships at home and with friends and family.

The revelation of the day for me was that I was classified as an introvert with my scores and the fact that the Inclusion principle was the mainstay of all my behavior and actions. So, my reading that I am a highly control oriented person and my perception regarding the Control and Power needs, had to be corrected. I was also moderate on the Affection needs and really low on the Control Needs sides. The session was a highly motivating and learning experience from ISRA and I am hoping to attend some more of their Training Programs.