Author’s Background: The Founder of Delhi-based Talent Search Management Consulting, Reema Nakra, is credited with a wealth of experience in serving various corporates, business houses and top professionals in the staffing industry. She is leading staffing expert with a rich history of connecting top skilled people with rewarding job opportunities and exclusive focus on supporting the talent development profession by helping top-notch companies in Learn and Development for Growth and Expansion.
Questionnaires:
Neel Preet: First of all, big Congratulations to you Reema Ma’am for your books, “Future of Work: The Complete Blueprint” and the upcoming one, “The Unstoppable Creative” you’ve achieved something remarkably huge! What kinds of responses are you receiving from the readers over your work?
Reema Nakra: Thank you so much. Well responses are amazingly awesome.
The Unstoppable creative is getting very good response even before release. Thank you to all the readers, its very encouraging, you motivate me to keep going .I am glad that people are actually learning from my books.
Neel Preet: Going through your bio, I found that you’re the founder of Talent Search Management Consulting firm, so how do you keep balance between your corporate life and author journey. Please share your experiences!
Reema Nakra: One of the crucial thing writer requires is ‘Time’.so most important thing is to come up with a writing schedule, you can either have a writing schedule set up for a week or a month and on regular basis and to stick to your schedule you should write every day, a page or a chapter .So I write at nights after completing day task with only focus on completing manuscript on time. Also, music plays an important role in writing, I do listen a lot of musical themes.
Neel Preet: I’ve read your book, “Future of Work: The Complete Blueprint” & I found that you’ve talked about what the leaders need to do in order to create high quality jobs & profitable businesses in your book! Well, this seems to be a great research so what was the impetus behind this work of yours?
Reema Nakra: We began 2020 with so much hope and by the end of March, all began to go away. The unexpected outbreak of the pandemic has given very short time to companies prepare future strategies. First weeks had been tremendously demanding with companies focus on mobilising people to work from home, most of them now settled into so called new-normal. So, one of the most affected group was of workers, millions have lost their jobs, when I was exploring idea for book on future of work, I realised some workers might never see that normal, almost overnight they were forced to change the way of work, this trend has overnight changed the whole scenario of corporates.
Seeing this scenario, I thought to write something on how the future of work look like, what changes could be in store for workplace and nature of work itself. So I come up with a book that is a blueprint in reshaping talent management strategies, redefining leadership styles, reskilling employees, embracing new technology an illustrating in practical detail how companies can operate in this new paradigm.
Neel Preet: Your book, “Future of Work: The Complete Blueprint” has the goal of lending support to HR professionals & organizations. So, my next question to you is that what inspired you to write something so visionary like this?
Reema Nakra:
I believe write what you know, I have spent majority of my career in consulting, dealing with corporates, handling multiple brands at same time, interacting with business leaders and employees on regular basis gives me so much visibility on current scenario at workplace.
So, as pandemic is wake-upcall for everyone, the future of work is accelerated, it has arrived faster than we ever imagined. Companies do need to reconsider their conventional framework, how they encourage workers and what they require to do to be successful in this constantly shifting environment. So to address all challenges and supporting people I have set out an voyage to widen my perspective, this book is a roadmap for what leaders requires to do for generating high quality jobs and develop profitable and competitive business. This is a book about how the workforce of future will engage them, how managers will lead.
I am hopeful my guiding principles will help companies embrace them to challenge outdated traditional ideology and practices, herby enabling them becoming more innovative, flexible and aware of the future.
Neel Preet: Well, your second book, “The Unstoppable Creative” is soon going to be released, so can you please give us a brief idea of the subject matter of your upcoming book!
Reema Nakra: While doing research on future of work,I found that creativity is going to be most crucial skill for all jobs where machines are replacing humans, in my first book I laid foundation for operating in new normal ,now we are carry forwarding to next step and that is only one skill creativity. Work that requires creative thinking is harder to automate. In this book you will get to know how we can think extraordinary to acquire more clients, how can we create culture on innovation, how we can attract diverse group of talent, this book is complete set up of how creativity will dominate future of you at work.
Neel Preet: You have given a very thought-provoking “Title” to your upcoming book; So, can you please explain the reason for choosing this particular title?
Reema Nakra: The title you choose for your non-fiction book plays a make or break role in its success. I wanted short and clear title, so this idea came in my mind to name my book as ‘The Unstoppable Creative’, the power of creativity will make you unstoppable, smash the goals in your life.
Neel Preet: As an entrepreneur as well as author, you’re required to keep yourself very much informed with the matters of concerns. So, can you please tell us something about your research process, which you apply in your work?
Reema Nakra: Writing non-fiction requires lot of research, it allows you to interact with more people, questions them and note their viewpoints, insights.
I interviewed lot of people during my writing journey, thanksful to various business leaders for giving their insights on important aspects. Also I took the help of many books/newspapers, online research on multiple topics helps me to gain more understanding of this subject. Virtually I attended lots of seminars related to my project, which actually helped a lot.
Neel Preet: By going through your books, I felt that both of them are very much apt with the current scenario, so can you please explain in your version that how your books are helpful in the current situation?
Reema Nakra: Both the books are very apt and well researched.
If we talk about Future of work: The complete blueprint-
In the last 5 years there has been significant rise in skill requirements of work due to swift technological changes and enhancing global competition. A lot of people who are apprehensive about the future of jobs don’t know what skills to learn or practice, to add woes, lockdown across the world necessitated due to covid-19 has cut down the preparation time for companies, business are compelled to find new approaches and new technology to survive.
This book gives a summary on the whole gamut of Future of work themes covering various aspects including The new future of work in the Post-Pandemic world, how technology will change the future of work, role of leaders in reskilling Era, preparing companies for new employment methods, virtual Trainings and learings, jobs that emerge over the next decade and much more. I tried to cover almost every aspect of our new-normal.
Upcoming Book – The Unstoppable Creative is again very much apt in current situation. This book that traverses the new job landscape, explores the radical changes, and offers the panacea for workplace problems caused by the avalanche of AI technologies. The best way to stop AI from becoming the overlords of workplaces is by harnessing creativity, the book sheds light on gig work, digital economy, the importance of collaboration and diversity, future leadership style, and explains why even salesmen, too, will have to tap into their creative skills. And, the book sends a loud and clear message to companies, “innovate or perish.” The book will resonate with leaders, the current job holders and job seekers, and potential job seekers.
Neel Preet: Is there any message that you would like to convey to your readers? Or any piece of advice, which you would like to give to the readers out there!
Reema Nakra:
These books will help you in knowing what are the skills required by everyone in the office today? How you can reskill/up skill, do everyone need to know coding designing, and have to stay updated with technology? How can the middle-aged and old workforce use their years of experience to convince new management that they are valuable? Where does today’s unskilled worker gain the skills to use machines that are replacing them? I am glad people are learning and gaining knowledge required to operate in post pandemic world through my books.
Neel Preet: Are there any other books being worked by you? Please let us know about your future projects.
Reema Nakra: Well as if now, I have just finished up with my second book, sure will continue writing, but have not finalized yet on subject.
One day I would love to write fiction as well.
Neel Preet: Well, thank you for answering all my questions about your wonderful book. All the very best to you for future and your book too!
Reema Nakra: Thank you so much Neel Preet, Good Luck!
Interviewed by NEEL PREET, CRITICSPACE LITERARY JOURNAL – Author of the Bestselling Books, Voice From The East (2016); Journey With Time Place And Circumstances (2018) & Indian Defence Files (2021).