The Right to Information Act 2005 (RTI) mandates timely response to citizen requests for government information and relevant data. It is an initiative taken by Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions to supply a– RTI Portal Gateway to the citizens for quick search of data on the intricate details of first Appellate Authorities, PIOs etc. amongst others, besides access to RTI related information / disclosures published on the net by various Public Authorities under the govt. of India as well as the State Governments.
Objective of the Right to Information Act
The basic object of the right to Information Act is to empower the citizens, promote transparency and accountability within the working of the government, contain corruption, and make our democracy work for the people in real sense. It goes without saying that an informed citizen is best equipped to stay necessary vigil on the instruments of governance and make the govt more accountable to the governed. The Act can be considered big step towards making the citizens informed about the activities of the government.
The Schema of RTI Act
The Parliament recognized that proper and efficient functioning of a democracy requires an informed citizenry and transparency of data and that such transparency is significant for checking corruption and to hold governance and their instrumentalities accountable to the citizen of the country. The Parliament was also conscious that random and uncontrolled revelation of information is probably going to conflict with other public interests including efficient operations of the governance, optimum use of limited fiscal resources and preservation of confidentiality of sensitive information.
In its undertaking to balance out and harmonize these conflicting interests while preserving the paramountcy of the democratic idea, the Parliament enacted the RTI Act. The object of the RTI Act is to lay out a practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities, so as to push transparency and accountability within the working of public authorities.
Sec. 4 of the Act imposes an obligation on public authorities to take care of its records duly catalogued and indexed in a manner and form which facilitates the right to information under the Act.
Sec. 6 of the Act entitles an individual desirous of obtaining any information under the Act, to form a request in writing to the Central or State Public Information Officer specifying the particulars of the data sought by him. The applicant is not required to give any reason as to why he is requesting for the information.
Sec. 7 of the Act requires the public Information Officer to either provide the knowledge or reject the request for any of the explanations laid out in Secs. 8 and 9 within 30 days of receipt of the request. If the Officer fails to offer a choice on the request within 30 days, he shall be deemed to have refused the request.
Under Sec. 19, if an individual doesn't receive a decision within 30 days or is aggrieved by the choice of the public Information Officer, he may prefer an appeal to an Officer who is senior in rank to the public Information Officer in this Public Authority.
Sec. 20 of the Act empowers the information Commission to impose penalty on the public Information Officer if the Commission is of the opinion that the Officer with none reasonable cause refused to receive an application for information or has not furnished the data probed for within the required time under Sec. 7(1) or mala finely denied the request for information or knowingly has given incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroyed information which was the topic of the request or obstructed in any manner in furnishing the information.
Sec. 22 of the Act is a non- obstante clause giving overriding effect to the provisions of the Act.
Under Sec. 25, the information Commission is required after the completion of every year to formulate a report on the implementation of the provisions of the Act during that year and forward a copy thereof to the appropriate Government.
- The basic object of the right to Information Act is to empower the citizens, promote transparency and accountability within the working of the government, contain corruption, and make our democracy work for the people in real sense.
- RTI is an initiative taken by Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions to supply a– RTI Portal Gateway to the citizens for quick search of data on the intricate details of first Appellate Authorities, PIOs etc. amongst others, besides access to RTI related information / disclosures published on the net by various Public Authorities under the govt. of India as well as the State Governments.
Conversion is the derivational process whereby an item changes its word class without the addition of either a prefix or suffix. In this process the same word is made to serve different grammatical functions. Many English words belong to more than one part of speech Ex: hope, love, work may be nouns as well as verbs. In addition to this, there is a deliberate transfer of a word from one part of speech to another.
- Noun - Verb conversion:
This is the most common and most productive kind of conversion. The list given below are nouns converted into verbs.
access – to access
- bottle – to bottle
- can – to can
- closet – to closet
- email – to email
- eye – to eye
- fiddle – to fiddle
- fool – to fool
- host – to host
- knife – to knife
- microwave – to microwave
- name – to name
- pocket – to pocket
- salt – to salt
- shape – to shape
- ship – to ship
- spear – to spear
- torch – to torch
- verb – to verb
Examples:
- My grandmother bottled (verb) the juice and canned (verb) the pickles.
- My grandmother put the juice in a bottle (noun) and the pickles in a can (noun).
- She microwaved (verb) her lunch.
- She heated her lunch in the microwave (noun).
- The doctor eyed (verb) my swollen eye (noun).
2. Verb to Noun Conversion
Another productive form of conversion in English is verb to noun conversion. The following list provides examples of nouns converted from verbs:
- to alert – alert
- to attack – attack
- to call – call
- to clone – clone
- to command – command
- to cover – cover
- to cry – cry
- to experience – experience
- to fear – fear
- to feel – feel
- to hope – hope
- to increase – increase
- to judge – judge
- to laugh – laugh
- to rise – rise
- to run – run
- to sleep – sleep
- to start – start
- to turn – turn
- to visit – visit
Examples:
- The guard alerted (verb) the general to the attack (noun).
- The enemy attacked (verb) before an alert (noun) could be sounded.
- Sometimes one just needs a good cry (noun).
- The baby cried (verb) all night.
- We need to increase (verb) our productivity to see an increase (noun) in profits.
Verb to noun conversion is also referred to as nominalization.
Other Conversions
Conversion also occurs, although less frequently, to and from other grammatical forms. For example:
- adjective to verb: green → to green (to make environmentally friendly)
- preposition to noun: up, down → the ups and downs of life
- conjunction to noun: if, and, but → no ifs, ands, or buts
- interjection to noun: ho ho ho → I love the ho ho hos of Christmastime.
3. Adjective - Noun conversion:
He seemed average (adjective)
The average was eighty (noun)
4. Adjective Verb conversion:
They were very humble (adjective)
They humbled him (Verb)
5. Adjective - Adverb Conversion:
The poem reads well (adjective)
He reads the poem well (adverb)
6. Stress shift:
con ‘duct (n) – ‘conduct (n)
Pro’duce (v) – ‘produce (n)
- Conversion refers to the derivational process whereby an item changes its word class without the addition of either a prefix or suffix.
- In the process of conversion, the same word is made to serve different grammatical functions. Many English words belong to more than one part of speech Ex: hope, love, work may be nouns as well as verbs.
- Types of conversions include: Noun-verb, verb-noun, adjective-noun, adjective-verb, adjective-adverb, stress shift.
Connectives, also known as transitional words and phrases, connect and relate sentences and paragraphs. Connectives connect and relate sentences and paragraphs. They assist in the logical flow of ideas as they signal the relationship between sentences and paragraphs. In prose, the material is supported and conditioned not only by the ordering of the material (its position) but by connectives which signal order, relationship and movement.
Connectives are linking words or phrases that connect ideas and concepts and add cohesion to writing. They signpost or illustrate to the reader the relationships between sentences and between paragraphs, making it easier for the reader to grasp your ideas. They are employed in sentences to fulfil a number of functions. Some of these functions include: to show the order or sequence of events; to point out that a brand-new idea or an example will follow; to indicate that a contrasting idea is going to be presented, or to signal a summary or a conclusion.
How are connectives and transition signals useful?
Connectives and Transition signals will:
- make it easy for the reader to follow the main themes and concepts.
- create powerful links between sentences and paragraphs to enhance the flow of data across the whole text. The result is that the writing is smoother.
- help to hold over a concept from one sentence to another, from one idea to a different one or from one paragraph to another.
Use of Connectives
- Connectives are usually placed at the beginning of sentences; however, they'll also appear in the middle or end of sentences.
- A connective, or the clause introduced by a transition signal, is typically separated from the rest of the sentence by commas.
- Transition signals are not needed in every sentence in a paragraph; however, good use of transition words will help to form the link between the ideas in your writing clear and logical.
Connectives perform a vital function in writing. They act as signals which allow the reader to understand the direction the writer is taking. They facilitate this by connecting or linking ideas or concepts within a paragraph and providing a bridge between passages. While reading, it is essential to remember to proofread the text in order to make sure transitions are used effectively.
Below are examples of commonly used Connectives and their functions:
To show addition:
- additionally
- again
- also
- and,
- another
- besides
- finally
- first, second, etc.
- further
- furthermore
- incidentally
- lastly
- likewise
- moreover
- next
- nor
- too
- along with
- as well
- equally important
- for example
- for instance
- in addition
- what’s more
To show temporality:
- about
- after
- afterward
- at
- before
- currently
- during
- eventually
- finally
- first, etc.
- following
- formerly
- immediately
- later
- meanwhile
- next
- next week
- previously
- soon
- subsequently
- then
- thereafter
- till
- today, etc.
- until
- when
- after a few hours
- as soon as
- in the future
- soon after
To show location:
- above
- across
- adjacent
- against
- along
- among
- along
- among
- around
- behind
- below
- beneath
- beside
- between
- beyond
- by
- down
- inside
- into
- here
- near
- nearby
- off
- onto
- outside
- over
- there
- throughout
- under
- away from
- at the side
- in the back
- in back of
- in the background,
- in the distance
- in the front
- in the foreground
- on top of
- to the right
To show comparison:
- also
- as
- like
- likewise
- meanwhile
- similarly
- simultaneously
- after all
- at the same time
- by and large
- in comparison
- in the same way
- in the same manner
- in the same way
To show contrast:
- although
- but
- conversely
- however
- nevertheless
- nonetheless
- notwithstanding
- otherwise
- still
- true
- yet
- although this is
- and yet
- even though
- for all that
- in contrast
- on the contrary
- on the other hand
- while this is true
To emphasize a point:
- again
- obviously
- truly
- undoubtedly
- as a matter of
- fact
- for this reason
- in fact
- to emphasize
- to repeat
To give examples:
- namely
- specifically
- as an illustration
- for example
- for instance
- to demonstrate
- to illustrate
To introduce as a result:
- accordingly
- consequently
- so
- therefore
- thus
- as a result
- due to this
To introduce conclusions:
- accordingly
- consequently
- finally
- hence
- so
- therefore
- thus
- as a result
- in brief
- in conclusion
- in short
- in summary
- on the whole
- to conclude
To summarize:
- finally, by and large
- in brief
- in conclusion
- in summary
- on the whole
- summing up
- to conclude
- Connectives, also known as transitional words and phrases, connect and relate sentences and paragraphs. Connectives connect and relate sentences and paragraphs.
- Connectives assist in the logical flow of ideas as they signal the relationship between sentences and paragraphs.
- Connectives are linking words or phrases that connect ideas and concepts and add cohesion to writing.
- Connectives are usually placed at the beginning of sentences; however, they'll also appear in the middle or end of sentences.
- Connectives perform a vital function in writing as signals which allow the reader to understand the direction the writer is taking.
- A connective, or the clause introduced by a transition signal, is typically separated from the rest of the sentence by commas.
Thanx
Saying thank you to someone or writing a thank-you note/email message is a lovely gesture to express your appreciation and gratitude. There are many opportunities to send them, too. In the business world, a show of gratitude could make the difference between getting the job, the client, or the contract and being passed over. A thank-you note can reinforce the impression you left with the interviewer and make you stand out from the competition. If you take the time to say thanx to someone personally, it will always be appreciated, regardless of the circumstances. People like to be thanked for their efforts, and they remember those who take the time to send a note or email.
Given below are some general phrases for thanking someone that may be used for all personal and professional communications:
- Thank you so much.
- Thank you very much.
- I appreciate your consideration/guidance/help/time.
- I sincerely appreciate ….
- My sincere appreciation/gratitude/thanks.
- My thanks and appreciation.
- Please accept my deepest gratitude.
- Thank you for your assistance/consideration/encouragement/guidance/support/thoughtfulness/time.
Apologies
Apologizing sincerely is a way to help rebuild relationships with people you've hurt. That could be colleagues, clients, friends, or family. You open a dialog with the other person by owning up to your mistake. That way, you'll be able to reflect on and take responsibility for your actions. And they can process their feelings, restore their dignity, and avoid blaming themselves for what happened. Apologizing can assist you to act better in the future, maintain your self-respect, and restore your integrity in the eyes of others. Your apology might not be accepted at once, but you will probably feel relieved that you have done the right thing and tried to make amends for your mistake. According to relationship psychologist Nicole McCance, it is often better to apologize face-to-face than to say sorry in a letter or email. Apologizing in person lets reinforces the sense of sincerity with the help of non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language.
An apology is a statement that consists of two key elements. It:
- Shows you feel remorse over your actions.
- Acknowledges the hurt that your actions caused to the individual.
A four-step framework has been provided by psychologists Steven Scher and John Darley that may be used to present an apology:
- Express Remorse for a Mistake
- Admit Responsibility
- Make Amends
- Promise That It Won't Happen Again
Regrets
Regret refers to an individual having a feeling of sadness about something that they did or did not do in the past. Regrets are a part and parcel of life and are always concerned with events or actions that took place in the past. There are many instances when one wants to express their regret regarding a certain situation or action, for this purpose, given below are some useful expressions and structures to use when you want to express your regret about something that you did or did not do:
I wish/If only + Past perfect
- I wish I had come to your party!
- I wish I had worked harder.
- If only I hadn’t eaten so much.
- If only I had driven more carefully.
I should have (not) + Past Participle
- I should have come to your party.
- I should have worked harder.
- I shouldn’t have eaten so much.
- I should have driven more carefully.
I regret + Noun/Verb-ing
- I regret not coming to your party.
- I regret not working harder.
- I regret eating so much.
- I regret leaving you alone.
Good Wishes
There are a wide variety of 'good wishes' statements that can provide encouragement and add a special sentiment in speech, or a card, letter, or email. The following are examples of statements that can be used for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, and graduations. There are also sentences for sending someone "get well" wishes during an illness or surgery. Providing good wishes to someone can be heartfelt and memorable. You can tailor these statements to fit your particular need or situation. You can also create a quote of your own to say best wishes from your heart in your own original way. Either way, it’s a nice addition to whatever else you write in your message.
Expressing good wishes
- I wish you a safe/pleasant journey.
- I’m sure that you’ll have a great /wonderful / fantastic trip.
- I hope you have a great/super/fantastic time.
- Good luck in your new endeavours.
- Best wishes for the holidays.
- May all your dreams come true!
- Please remember me to your family.
- Please give my best wishes to everyone.
- Please say hi to everyone for me.
Congratulations
Congratulating an individual either orally or a card or with a warm handwritten message is an effective way to honour that person and recognize their hard work and achievement. It’s one of life’s greatest joys to see someone you know accomplish what they’ve been hoping for and working toward. No matter what the occasion is, congratulations are a must for events such as celebrating a new job, promotion at work, new baby, wedding announcement, the end of a difficult project at work, marathon after months of training etc. There is a 3-step formula that can be followed in order to express congratulations:
- Start by stating how happy you are for them. Be specific.
- Comment on their hard work and give a compliment on their hard-earned success.
- Focus on the future with an encouraging comment.
Examples of How to Congratulate Someone Using the 3-Step Formula
Congratulations on the Job Promotion (Formal)
- Congratulations, that’s wonderful news! I’m thrilled for you! This is a well-deserved promotion after your years of hard work and dedication. Here’s to many more promotions to come and all your future success.
Congratulations on a New Job (Informal)
- That’s fantastic! Congrats on getting the job. I knew the right position would come along. Best wishes for future endeavours.
Congratulations on a Wedding Announcement (Informal)
- Congratulations on your wedding announcement! I’m excited for both of you and I know you’ll have many happy years together.
Congratulations on Buying a New Home (Informal)
- Oh, that’s awesome! Congrats to you both on the new home. I can’t wait to see how you remodel it and make it your own!
Some informal exclamations to congratulate someone in English include:
- Congrats! That’s fantastic. (That’s fantastic news!)
- You did it! I knew you could.
- That’s awesome! Congratulations on a job well done.
- Bravo!
- Woohoo!
- Yea!
- Cheers to you.
- Way to go!
- Good for you!
- That rocks!
- You nailed it!
- Phenomenal!
- Great work! / I knew you could do it!
- All your hard work has finally paid off.
Some formal exclamations to congratulate someone in English include:
- Congratulations! You deserve this success.
- Congratulations on your hard work.
- My sincere/heartfelt/warmest congratulations to you.
- I commend you on your accomplishments/success.
- Well done!
- That’s wonderful news.
- Offering Help and Food/Beverage,
Offering Help and Food/Beverage
In day-to-day conversations with people we find ourselves offering something to them or they offering something to us. In any language there are certain expressions that can be used to offer help or food and beverages effectively and it’s always useful to learn these set phrases so that we can use them in conversations. While offering help to someone or offering a food or beverage, the following phrases/sentences may be helpful:
Do you need......?
- This expression is useful when offering help with something.
"Do you need me to assist you cross the road?
Would you like…?
- This expression is the most typical way of offering help to someone, or inviting them to do something.
‘Would you like a hand with your shopping bag?’
Do you want…?
- You can also use this expression which is more informal to offer a food/beverage to someone:
‘Do you want another coffee?’
Would you care for…?
- This is quite a formal way of asking someone if they need something. You will often hear this expression in hotels and restaurants:
‘Would you care for dessert, madam?’
“Would you care for a glass of champagne, sir?”
(Do you) fancy…? (British English)
- This expression is very often used in the UK. It’s informal and is employed to ask someone if they might like something.
“Do you fancy chicken or beef for dinner?”
“Fancy a sandwich?”
Who wants…? Who would like……?
- This is used when offering something to a group of individuals.
Who wants an ice cream?
Who would like something to drink?
Can I get you…?
- This expression is employed especially when offering someone food or drink, although it may be utilized in other situations as well:
‘Can I get you anything?’
‘Can I get you a cushion’?
What will you have? and What can I get you?
- These two expressions are used when asking someone what they need like, especially in a restaurant, bar or café:
‘It’s my turn to get the drinks. What will you have?’
Good afternoon, madam. What can I get you?
Condolences
When someone you know has suffered the loss of an acquaintance, a close friend or loved one, it's important to allow them to know you're thinking of them. It is often quite difficult to understand how best to express your condolences to someone who is recently bereaved but bear in mind that simply making contact and showing they are in your thoughts may be of some comfort.
Sending your condolences means contacting someone who is recently bereaved and offering some words of comfort or sympathy for his or her loss. It is a way of acknowledging that they're grieving and showing that you genuinely care about them. There are an infinite number of ways to write a message of condolence or to express it orally. Condolences can be offered by means of sympathetic words or non-verbal gestures such as a comforting hug or sending flowers or a card etc.
The goal of expressing condolences is to be compassionate and show your concern for the bereaved. You can say how much you'll miss the individual died or you can share a cheerful memory. The most important thing to relay is that you care about the bereaved person and you're available as a source of support.
Below are some ways of expressing condolences:
- “I’m sorry for your loss.” is a cliché but is still a very powerful statement to let the person know that you care.
- “You are in my thoughts/I’m thinking of you.” Letting the grieving individual know that you are conscious of the emotional difficulty of things can help a bereaved person feel less isolated in his or her experience, and reminding the individual that you care enough to be thinking about them can help a bereaved person feel less isolated in the world.
- “He/she was a beautiful person.” or “I will miss him/her.”
- “This must be so hard for you.” Acknowledging the pain and grief that the bereaved is feeling is often very consoling.
- “I love you.” If you’re close enough, reminding a grieving individual that you love them may be powerful.
Meeting
Phrases utilized while meeting an individual or a group of people or while getting acquainted may be formal or informal and are pronounced with certain intonation.
Some Commonly used Greetings:
"Hello" is employed as a greeting in formal and informal situations.
"Hi" is a casual greeting with a similar meaning as "Hello".
"Hey" (an interjection for attracting attention) is typically used very informally in the meaning "Hello".
"Good morning" and "Good afternoon" are typically used when meeting someone with whom one is already acquainted with.
"Good day" and "Good evening" could also be used at meeting or parting.
"Good night" is employed for saying goodbye at night, especially before going to sleep.
"How are you?" could be a very common greeting and a question asking regarding a person's health and well-being; it's utilized in formal and informal situations. Typical responses: Fine, thank you. I'm fine, thank you. Fine, thanks. Very well, thank you.
"How are you doing?" is a comparatively less formal greeting than "How are you?" and is used in the same way. "How are you doing?" is very common.
Stress shift:
If identical or similar greeting is employed within the first greeting and in the reply, the stress shifts in the following way: (1) Hello! How \are you? – Fine, thanks. How are \you? (2) Nice to \see you. – It's nice to see \you. (3) Nice to \meet you. – Nice to meet \you.
"How do you do?" is a formal greeting that is typically used by people who are already acquainted with each other, mostly in formal introductions. This is a rhetorical question and does not generally require an answer. The stress falls on "do": How do you \do? – How do you \do?
Examples:
- Hello! How \are you? – Fine, thank you. How are \you?
- Hi! How are you \doing? – Fine, thanks. And /you?
- Hello, Maria! Nice to \see you. – Hi, Rita! Nice to see \you.
- Hi, Tom! Good to \see you again. – Hello, Jim! It's good to see \you.
- Hey, Mike! How's it going? (informal)
- Good morning, Anna. Good afternoon, Mike.
- Good morning, madam. Good evening, sir.
- Morning, Jim. Evening, Betty. (informal)
- How do you do? (formal)
Leave Taking
Bidding farewell to a friend or colleague can be difficult but must be done in a proper manner be it a social/casual goodbye or a formal gesture. Given below are some words and phrases along with their uses which may help take leave in different situations:
- Bye – this is the simple, short, and sweet version of saying goodbye to someone without being too informal.
- Goodbye -The basic farewell greeting, suitable for all occasions.
- Bye-bye– This version is a bit more informal and is best to be used around friends and family.
- Farewell – This is a formal way to tell someone to be safe while they are away from you.
- See you – This is a more formal way of saying ‘see you later’. Used more in a formal sense or workplace.
- Take care – this is more so used with family and friends showing care for those who are leaving.
- I’m off – Used in almost any situation, but mostly informal
- Gotta go! – This is mostly used in the informal sense, which grew in popularity in chat rooms when the short cut ‘g2g’ became popular
- Good night – Good night is used when well, you want to wish the person a good night. The more informal form of this is just ‘night’ or ‘nighty-night’
- See you later– This phrase is more often used in an informal setting, like with friends and family.
- Keep in touch– this is more so used with friends and family who don’t see each other often and wish to keep in contact with them
- Catch you later– Catch you later means the same thing as ‘see you later’, but it is even more informal.
- See you soon– this is a more formal way of saying ‘see you later’ or ‘See you’. This is mostly used when you know you will see the other person or group within the next few hours.
- I gotta take off– a shortened form of ‘I have got to take off’, this phrase is used for informal situations, implying a sense of urgency in their exit.
- Talk to you later– talk to you later is mostly used in the same way as the phrase ‘see you later’. The shortcut ‘ttyl’ is also a way of saying ‘talk to you later’
- See you next time– this phrase is used when you know you that you will see the other person or party again, but you are not sure when that next time will be.
- Have a good one – this is a time-neutral way to tell someone goodbye. This is a formal way to say goodbye as well.
- Have a good (nice) day– This is a formal way to tell someone goodbye. This is used when you say goodbye to someone when a majority of the day has yet to pass.
- I’ve got to get going/ I must be going– This is an informal way of telling someone goodbye while also providing a sense of urgency. This is a longer form of ‘gotta go’ and generally means the same thing.
Key Takeaways
- An effective self-introduction can make your conversation more engaging, whether your goal is to achieve employment, make a sale, acquire a mentor or simply make a brand-new professional connection.
- Many people introduce themselves by stating their name and current job title, but you must also attempt to add information your new contact can't find on your business or identity card.
- Having command over body language is essential to staying poised and professional in a new introduction. For example, when you approach a new coworker in your department, start with a strong handshake, and maintain eye contact during the conversation.
- Saying thank you to someone or writing a thank-you note/email message is a lovely gesture to express your appreciation and gratitude. A thank-you note can reinforce the impression you left with the interviewer and make you stand out from the competition.
- Apologizing sincerely is a way to help rebuild relationships with people you've hurt including colleagues, clients, friends, or family.
- According to relationship psychologist Nicole McCance, it is often better to apologize face-to-face than to say sorry in a letter or email.
- Regret refers to an individual having a feeling of sadness about something that they did or did not do in the past.
- Providing good wishes to someone can be heartfelt and memorable. You can tailor these statements to fit your particular need or situation.
- Congratulating an individual either orally or a card or with a warm handwritten message is an effective way to honour that person and recognize their hard work and achievement.
- Commonly used phrases while meeting someone include: Hello, hi, hey, good morning/afternoon, good day, how are you? /how are you doing? Etc.
- It is often quite difficult to understand how best to express your condolences to someone who is recently bereaved but bear in mind that simply making contact and showing they are in your thoughts may be of some comfort.
- The goal of expressing condolences is to be compassionate and show your concern for the bereaved.
- Bidding farewell to a friend or colleague can be difficult but must be done in a proper manner be it a social/casual goodbye or a formal gesture. Phrases helpful for bidding farewell include: bye, goodbye, farewell, see you, see you later, see you soon, keep in touch, catch you later, talk to you later etc.
Hangman is a simple word guessing game. Players attempt to find out an unknown word by guessing letters. If too many letters which don't appear within the word are guessed, the player is hanged (and loses).
Setup the game by drawing gallows and underline for every letter within the unknown word. As letters within the word are guessed, write them above the corresponding underline. If a letter not in the word is guess, draw an image of a person on the gallows – one part for every incorrect letter guess. Most frequently, the person is drawn in 6 parts (for 6 letter guesses) in the order: head, body, left leg, right leg, left arm, right arm.
Below are some words that may be useful to play hangman:
- abruptly
- absurd
- abyss
- affix
- askew
- avenue
- awkward
- axiom
- azure
- bagpipes
- bandwagon
- banjo
- bayou
- beekeeper
- bikini
- blitz
- blizzard
- boggle
- bookworm
- boxcar
- boxful
- buckaroo
- buffalo
- buffoon
- buxom
- buzzard
- buzzing
- buzzwords
- caliph
- cobweb
- cockiness
- croquet
- crypt
- curacao
- cycle
- daiquiri
- dirndl
- disavow
- dizzying
- duplex
- dwarves
- embezzle
- equip
- espionage
- euouae
- exodus
- faking
- fishhook
- fixable
- fjord
- flapjack
- flopping
- fluffiness
- flyby
- foxglove
- frazzled
- frizzled
- fuchsia
- funny
- gabby
- galaxy
- galvanize
- gazebo
- giaour
- gizmo
- glowworm
- glyph
- gnarly
- gnostic
- gossip
- grogginess
- haiku
- haphazard
- hyphen
- iatrogenic
- icebox
- injury
- ivory
- ivy
- jackpot
- jaundice
- jawbreaker
- jaywalk
- jazziest
- jazzy
- jelly
- jigsaw
- jinx
- jiujitsu
- jockey
- jogging
- joking
- jovial
- joyful
- juicy
- jukebox
- jumbo
- kayak
- kazoo
- keyhole
- khaki
- kilobyte
- kiosk
- kitsch
- kiwifruit
- klutz
- knapsack
- larynx
- lengths
- lucky
- luxury
- lymph
- marquis
- matrix
- megahertz
- microwave
- mnemonic
- mystify
- naphtha
- nightclub
- nowadays
- numbskull
- nymph
- onyx
- ovary
- oxidize
- oxygen
- pajama
- peekaboo
- phlegm
- pixel
- pizazz
- pneumonia
- polka
- pshaw
- psyche
- puppy
- puzzling
- quartz
- queue
- quips
- quixotic
- quiz
- quizzes
- quorum
- razzmatazz
- rhubarb
- rhythm
- rickshaw
- schnapps
- scratch
- shiv
- snazzy
- sphinx
- spritz
- squawk
- staff
- strength
- strengths
- stretch
- stronghold
- stymied
- subway
- swivel
- syndrome
- thriftless
- thumbscrew
- topaz
- transcript
- transgress
- transplant
- triphthong
- twelfth
- twelfths
- unknown
- unworthy
- unzip
- uptown
- vaporize
- vixen
- vodka
- voodoo
- vortex
- voyeurism
- walkway
- waltz
- wave
- wavy
- waxy
- wellspring
- wheezy
- whiskey
- whizzing
- whomever
- wimpy
- witchcraft
- wizard
- woozy
- wristwatch
- wyvern
- xylophone
- yachtsman
- yippee
- yoked
- youthful
- yummy
- zephyr
- zigzag
- zigzagging
- zilch
- zipper
- zodiac
- zombie
- Hangman is a word guessing game in which players attempt to find out an unknown word by guessing letters.
- If too many letters which don't appear within the word are guessed, the player is hanged (and loses).
Leadership can be defined as the art of motivating a group of people to act toward achieving a common goal. In a professional setting, this can mean directing workers and colleagues with a strategy to meet the company's needs.
Leadership encapsulates the essential elements of being able and prepared to inspire others. Effective leadership is based upon ideas—both original and borrowed—that are effectively communicated to others in a way that engages them enough to act as the leader wants them to act.
A leader inspires others to act while simultaneously directing the way that they act. They must be personable enough for others to follow their orders, and they must have the critical thinking skills to know the best way to use the resources at an organization's disposal.
In a business organisation or a professional setting, leadership refers to performance, and any leadership definition has to take that into account. Therefore, while leadership isn't intrinsically linked to profit, those who are viewed as effective leaders in corporate contexts are the ones who increase their company's bottom line.
While there are individuals who seem to be naturally blessed with more leadership abilities than others, anyone can learn to become a leader by improving particular skills. History is full of people who, while having no previous leadership experience, have stepped to the fore in crises and persuaded others to follow their suggested course of action. They were equipped with traits and qualities that helped them to step into roles of leadership.
Characteristics of Leadership
Below are the fundamental leadership characteristics:
- It is an inter-personal process which involves a leader who influences and guides workers and employees towards attainment of goals.
- It defines a few qualities to be present in an individual which includes intelligence, maturity and personality.
- It is a group process. It involves two or more people interacting with each other.
- A leader is engaged in shaping and moulding the behaviour of the group towards accomplishment of organizational goals.
- Leadership is situation bound. There is no best style of leadership. It all depends upon tackling with the situations.
Roles and Responsibilities of a Leader
Below are the primary roles and responsibilities of a leader in an organization:
Required at all levels - Leadership is a function which is significant at all levels of administration. At the highest level, it is important for getting co-operation in formulation of plans and policies. At the middle and lower level, it is required for interpretation and execution of plans and programmes framed by the top management.
Representative of the organization - A leader is said to be the representative of the enterprise. He has to represent the organisation at seminars, conferences, general meetings, etc. His role is to communicate the rationale of the enterprise to external parties. He is also the sole representative of the his own department which he leads.
Integrates personal goals and organizational goals - A leader through his various leadership skills and qualities helps in integrating the personal goals of the employees with the organizational goals. He tries to co-ordinate the efforts of people towards a common purpose and thereby achieves objectives. This can only occur if he can influence and get willing co-operation and urge to achieve the objectives.
Solicits support - A leader is a person who entertains and invites support and co-operation of subordinates. This is accomplished by his personality, intelligence, maturity and experience. In this regard, a leader is always open to suggestions and tries to implement them into plans and programmes of enterprise. This way, he can solicit full support of employees which results in willingness to work and thereby effectiveness in running of a concern.
As a friend, philosopher and guide - A leader can be a friend by sharing the feelings, opinions and desires with his employees. He can also be a philosopher by sharing his intelligence and experience and thereby guiding the employees as and when time requires. And finally, a leader can be a guide by supervising and communicating with the employees regarding the plans and policies of top management and secure their co-operation to achieve the goals of a concern. He must also play the role of a counsellor by counselling and a problem-solving approach. He can listen to the problems of the employees and try to solve them.
Characteristics and Qualities of a Good Leader
Below are some common characteristics and qualities all good leaders possess:
- Integrity: The importance of integrity should be obvious. Although it may not necessarily be a measure in employee evaluations, integrity is essential for the individual and the organization. It is particularly significant for top-level executives who are charting the organization’s course and making countless other significant decisions. Integrity often turns out to be a potential blind spot for organizations. Making sure the organization reinforces the importance of integrity is an important responsibility of a leader.
2. Ability to Delegate: Delegating a task can be hefty but it is one of the core responsibilities of a leader. The goal isn’t just to free yourself up — it’s also to enable your direct reports, facilitate teamwork, provide autonomy, lead to better decision-making, and help your direct reports grow. In order to delegate well, you also need to build trust with your team.
3. Communication: Effective leadership and effective communication are intertwined. You need to be able to communicate in a variety of ways, from transmitting information to coaching your people. And you must be able to communicate with a range of people across roles, social identities, and more. Follow these 5 tips to be a more effective communicator, and learn how better conversations can improve your workplace culture.
4. Self-Awareness: While this is a more inwardly focused skill, self-awareness is paramount for leadership. The better you understand yourself, the more effective you can be. Do you know how other people view you, or how you show up at work? Take the time to learn about the 4 aspects of self-awareness, and how you can dig into each component.
5. Gratitude: Giving thanks will actually make you a better leader. Gratitude can lead to higher self-esteem, reduced depression and anxiety, and even better sleep. Few people regularly say “thank you” at work, even though most people say they’d be willing to work harder for an appreciative boss. Follow these tips for giving thanks and practicing more gratitude.
6. Learning Agility: Agility in learning is the ability to know what to do when you don’t know what to do. If you’re a “quick study” or are able to excel in unfamiliar circumstances, you might already be learning agile. But anybody can foster learning agility through practice, experience, and effort. All good leaders are great learners, with strong learning agility.
7. Influence: Being able to influence and convince people through logical, emotional, or cooperative appeals is a core component of being an inspiring, effective leader. Influence is not the same as manipulation, and it should be done authentically and transparently. It requires emotional intelligence and trust-building.
8. Empathy: Empathy is correlated with job performance and a critical part of emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness. If you show more empathy towards your direct reports, our research shows you’re more likely to be viewed as a better performer by your boss. Empathy can be learned, and in addition to making you more effective, it will also improve work for you and those around you.
9. Courage: It can be hard to speak up at work, whether you want to voice a new idea, provide feedback to a direct report, or flag a concern for someone above you. That’s part of the reason courage is a key skill for good leaders. Conflicts to fester, courage enables leaders to step up and move things in the right direction rather than avoiding problems or allowing conflicts to fester.
10. Respect: One of the most important skill a good leader has is his ability to treat people with respect on a daily basis. A respectful environment will ease tensions and conflict, create trust, and improve effectiveness. Respect is more than the absence of disrespect, and it can be shown in many different ways.
- Leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act toward achieving a common goal.
- Effective leadership is based upon ideas—both original and borrowed—that are effectively communicated to others in a way that engages them enough to act as the leader wants them to act.
- A leader inspires others to act while simultaneously directing the way that they act.
- In a business organisation or a professional setting, leadership refers to performance, and any leadership definition has to take that into account.
- Leadership is an inter-personal process which involves a leader who influences and guides workers and employees towards attainment of goals.
- A leader is engaged in shaping and moulding the behaviour of the group towards accomplishment of organizational goals. It is a group process.
- Integrity is essential for the individual and the organization, although it may not necessarily be a measure in employee evaluations.
- Being a good leader enables you to direct reports, facilitate teamwork, provide autonomy, lead to better decision-making, and help your direct reports grow.
- Being able to influence and convince people through logical, emotional, or cooperative appeals is a core component of being an inspiring, effective leader.
- Empathy is correlated with job performance and a critical part of emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness. If you show more empathy towards your direct reports, our research shows you’re more likely to be viewed as a better performer by your boss.
- One of the most important skill a good leader has is his ability to treat people with respect on a daily basis.
4.1. Soft Skills: Creativity/ Thinking Out of the Box
Creativity in general, refers to the ability to think about a task or a problem in a new or different way, or the flexibility to use the imagination to come up with new ideas. Creativity enables you to resolve complex problems or find interesting ways to approach tasks. If you're creative, you can examine things from a novel perspective. You can find patterns and make connections to look for opportunities. There is some risk associated with being creative, but you'll show you are self-motivated to attempt things that haven't been done before.
Thinking out of the box involves developing new and original ideas. When thinking out of the box, you can develop new solutions or new ways of overcoming a problem that others have not yet thought of. It requires a compilation of analytical, problem-solving, organizational and communication skills to evaluate and solve a problem.
People who have expanded their creative-thinking skills can review an item or product from a distinct perspective. Even if you don’t usually consider yourself a creative person, you may still develop certain skills that allow you to approach goals and obstacles with an innovative mindset.
Being Creative
You can begin to think creatively using the following steps:
- Gather what information you already have: One of the most important steps in the creative-thinking process is preparation. You can create a more thorough solution after you gather all of the available information. Consider the various aspects of the challenge you're attempting to resolve. If a colleague has already compiled information on the problem, you may ask them to share their data and findings with you.
2. Consider the obvious solution or process: You may be addressing a challenge that contains a simple solution. While it's important to grasp the most obvious solution or process available, you only want to use this information as a foundation for locating a more successful answer. Use this approach to develop additional ideas that need a more creative perspective. Considering the easy solution, you can begin to create other resolutions that might be less time consuming or more financially viable.
3. Brainstorm additional solutions: Allow time for brainstorming as many solutions or processes as you can. When you brainstorm, consider every possibility, even if you don’t initially think it might work. Considering every process may create a foundation for the correct answer. Compile a list of your strongest ideas.
Once you have an entire list, try approaching the subject from a brand-new perspective. Changing your perspective might include considering the challenge from someone else’s viewpoint. For example, if you're more analytical in your problem-solving approach, consider thinking from the angle of somebody who thinks more intuitively.
You could also consider a team brainstorming session. Brainstorming with a group of individuals allows for multiple perspectives at the same time. Team members could form new ideas based on one another’s suggestions.
4. Consider how the topics connect: Think about how two or more topics that relate to one another. This will help you form connections between different ideas that may function as a guide when developing your solution. Create a separate list of combined ideas. Use similar ideas across the unique perspectives, and discard ones that don’t relate to others.
5. Apply the solutions: Review your combined list and apply the method you think will be the best. You may consider additional ideas as you test your solutions. Testing the results will support you to determine what aspects of your thought process you may improve and which parts you can apply differently to reach a successful solution. Use this kind of testing to further your thought processes. Find unique ways to both analytically and test your solutions, then measure the results.
- Creativity is the ability to think about a task or a problem in a new or different way, or the flexibility to use the imagination to come up with new ideas.
- Creativity enables one to resolve complex problems or find interesting ways to approach tasks.
- When thinking out of the box, you can develop new solutions or new ways of overcoming a problem that others have not yet thought of.
- One of the most important steps in the creative-thinking process is preparation. You can create a more thorough solution after you gather all of the available information.
- While it's important to grasp the most obvious solution or process available, you only want to use this information as a foundation for locating a more successful answer.
- When you brainstorm, consider every possibility, even if you don’t initially think it might work. Considering every process may create a foundation for the correct answer. Compile a list of your strongest ideas.
- Think about how two or more topics that relate to one another. This will help you form connections between different ideas that may function as a guide when developing your solution.
References
- Oxford Guide to writing and speaking, John Seely, O.U.P
- A Communicative Grammar of English, Leech, G.N. and Jan Svartvik
- Better English Pronunciation, J.O O’ Corner, Cambridge.
- Effective Technical Communication, M.Asraf Rizvi, Tata McGraw Hill
- Technical Communication Today, Bovea et al. Pearson.
- Practical English Usage. Michael Swan. OUP. 1995.
- Remedial English Grammar. F.T. Wood. Macmillan.2007
- Communication Skills. Sanjay Kumar and Pushp Lata. Oxford University Press. 2011.
- Exercises in Spoken English. Parts. I-III. CIEFL, Hyderabad. Oxford University Press