At Tata there is an interplay of leadership, talent and skills
With $3.2 billion in annual revenue and over 8500 employees globally, a lot of conscious effort, hard-work and experimentation has gone into nurturing Tata Communications as a great place to work. Today, the company focuses on ensuring that skill availability matches up to the rapid transformation in the business, for the present as well as the future.
The ‘Internal Job Program’ portal at Tata Communications ensures better synergy, and alignment of expectations, and also provides a platform for employees to actually work in fields of their interest. Presently, nearly 30 percent of lateral hiring takes place through the portal. Tata’s ‘Project Marketplace’ that lists out specific projects put out by managers for employees who can take up multiple projects, gain public recognition, build capability, develop personal networks and also open themselves to future opportunities in the domain, has been the most promising initiative at the company.
The basic tenet that is followed at Tata is about transforming everyone’s capability and not just train or learn skills and knowledge, but actually practice and develop them. ‘Moonwalk’, another unique initiative at the organization invites employees to pitch ideas and puts them under the guidance of a senior leader. And ‘Shape the Future’, a similar program focuses exclusively on the strategy and changes in the future and how to best leverage changes proactively.
The basic tenet that is followed at Tata is about transforming everyone’s capability and not just train or learn skills and knowledge, but actually practice and develop them
For Tata Communications, giving employees ample space to grow and freedom to do things their way, without letting individuals overshadow the outcome itself is the most crucial thing. The company focuses on cultivating a healthy and encouraging culture that supports and enables employees to be at their best. The core belief is that every employee has a leadership role to play, and assuming personal responsibility for work means one can do unique work even while doing common things. The ‘Leadership Signature’ at Tata Communications is ‘DRIVE’ – Daring, Responsive, Inclusive, Venturing, Ethical — values that helps in collaboration, innovation, and effectiveness, which provide employees quasi-entrepreneurial freedom that facilitates better cooperation, innovation that it also supports the business strategy.
For Tata, the interplay of leadership, talent and skills are central to the organization and fosters a culture of continual development to create a pipeline for future talent facilitating business imperatives and increased shareholder value.