HOW COOL ART THOU?

which has got a well-defined space in our vocabulary, “Cool” would be it. As I started writing this column, I tried to list the different expressions which this four-lettered word encompasses for me. And would you believe me, the list is already 50 plus (and counting)? Well, while the ubiquitousness of this slang wasn’t the reason the new avatar of this survey was christened ‘India's Coolest Workplaces,’ it does explain the myriad of factors that come to a young employee’s mind before he or she rates a company as the Coolest in the country. And that is precisely what we have tried to cover in this edition, which for years has tried to understand the psyche, perceptions and aspirations of India’s working population. However, if you were to wear a CHRO’s or a Chief People Officer’s hat momentarily, how would you know whether you were meeting those said and unsaid expectations that your employees, existing as well as potential, have? The starting point would be introspection, and here are a few questions to begin with.