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The science of becoming good citizens


Rosa Kamaladasa, teaching science with morals. Picture by Saman Sri Wedage

Geetha Rathnamalee Rosa Kamaladasa who holds a special B.Sc Degree in Zoology has written a series of children's books to develop scientific thinking while improving their morals.

Kamaladasa, an old Visakian entered the Colombo University to graduate in Zoology. After graduation she served in the same University as an Assistant lecturer in Zoology for two years before she joined her husband in the United States.

Scientific strategy

Speaking of her eagerness to write a series of children's books she says. "After my return from the States, I joined an International School as a general science teacher. Subsequently I was made the Head of the Biology Department of that school, an appointment which led me to give up my eight years teaching profession. There, I realised that most of our young students grow up without moral values.

As a new technique, I used my scientific knowledge to promote scientific thinking while improving their adherence to moral values. I thought that our children should familiarize themselves with modern technology and at the same time should inculcate good moral values in them.

Theory of balancing

The two aspects should go hand in hand. Advancement in one and the absence of the other will lead to frustration. That is not a condition conducive to a good society. This conviction stimulated me to write children's books with both the essences.

Every question has an answer

Three books titled "Punchi Vidyaggnainta Adarsha Lama Katha" (Exemplary Children's stories for little scientists) launched recently include several interesting children stories for primary and secondary sections.

At the end of each story, the author poses a questionnaire to the reader to double check his or her knowledge gained by reading the story. The correct answers are also presented. Kamaladasa has written another book on "Smoke and Alcoholism" and will be launched shortly.

I have a dream

Being a Diploma Holder in Psychology I want to be a student councillor one day, she said.

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Are you a job loser?

Entering the work force unaware of potential career killers can keep you from even getting a foothold on the bottom rung. What is important, therefore, is to recognise these self-made stumbling blocks and begin side-stepping them before they start sinking you.

Inappropriate office appearance

Aside from coming in late, wearing clothing too tight or baggy enough to cover two co-workers is corporately counter-productive.

Employers are most likely to notice your executive potential if you have an executive look: Stylish yet conservative. This doest not mean dowdy gray flannel, but does mean no T-shirts emblazoned with political slogans, photos of rock stars or personal statements of affection.

Avoid wearing more than an earring per ear or any single piece of jewellery that is larger than your watch. There is a time and place for outrageous clothing, and 9.30 to 5.30 and your office are not them. It is true that appearances can be deceptive, but if your hair is maniacally moussed, highlighted in various colours, unconventionally shaved, unkempt or unclean; and your make-up looks as though it's been applied with a towel, most employers are going to take you at face value! Extremes raise eyebrows, not salaries.

Corporations depend on personnel to reflect their images and if your image is not theirs, you are not likely to show up in the big picture.

Unbecoming executive behaviour

In the work place, actions speak louder than words. Having well-manicured nails, for instance is a definite plus, but manicuring them at your desk can polish you off and keep you filed, indefinitely.

Chewing gum can also decay career advancement. Aside from being un-business-like, it gives an impression of nervousness or indifference - both of which tend to leave gum chewers stuck in low level jobs.

The habitual phoning of baby-sitters, boyfriends or kids during work hours is uncalled for behaviour that puts employers off and your corporate ambitions on hold.

Gossip, juicy as it may be, is non-nutritive to success. Attempting to move up by putting someone down is one of the quickest ways to remain stationary. If you are part of a team, loyalty (sincere or insincere) is expected and respected. Not playing by the rules can send you out-of-office-bounds and leave you on the unemployment sidelines.

Assertiveness deficiency

Prefacing your ideas with 'I could be wrong, but ....' or 'This might not be the best way to handle it, but.... are negative approaches that can be deadly to your career. If you do not have confidence in your proposals, why should anyone else be expected to?

Similarly, deflecting deserved compliments and not taking credit when it is due are as foolish as not accepting your pay cheque. By repeatedly demurring that anyone can do what you do, you will make sure that the company will find someone else who will.

Procrastination

Employers take a dim view of employees who shelve work to suit themselves. Patience is not a virtue bosses are known for. When they ask for something NOW they do not mean tomorrow. It does not matter that you are certain a day's delay will not make any difference. If an employer says it will, it will. Rationality is an optional executive prerogative - so, until you are in a position to exercise it, do not bother.

Poor communication

Telling an employer that, "There was like a phone call, you know? While you were like out, you know, to lunch?" is saying goodbye to any sort of supervisory position you are thinking of. Sloppy, unprofessional or quirky oral and writing skills are major barriers to advancement.

Leadership requires being able to communicate effectively. Using unnecessary qualifiers (such as 'like', you know', 'I mean') when presenting ideas, diminishes their credibility as well as yours.

Lack of organisation

A business is an organisation and organisation is essential for succeeding in business. Misplacing letters, attempting to locate files telepathically, confusing names of persons and affiliations (which can cause client as well as profit loss), frequently having to search for the notes you made at the last meeting are pretty clear stop signs for success.

Poor timing and bad business etiquette

Poor timing is bad business etiquette. It can kill careers fast, which is why you should always think twice about:

Asking for a raise, vacation or assistant when your boss is busy, hung over, upset or threatening to fire you.

Becoming overly familiar with a co-worker at meetings, in the presence of clients, on the public address system or when his wife is around.

Coming to the office carrying personal problems, communicable disease, odorous brown-bagged lunches or addictive substances.

Correcting an employer's grammar smugly, incorrectly, in public and during your job interview.

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