About this episode Top Insights
“The willingness to adapt and change is probably the most important skill.”- Vishwanathan Anand

In this Signature Talk at HROne PROPEL-Bangalore Chapter, Vishwanathan Anand, 5 times World Chess Champion and the serving Deputy President of the International Chess Federation unlocked his journey from a child who loved playing chess to the first Grandmaster in India. In this episode, he shares insights on what truly helped him with perseverance and staying calm during thick and thin in his career journey of 30+ years in the chess field.

Watch Anand’s Signature Talk if you are curious to know:

  • How to build patience and stay calm in pressing HR situations?
  • How to think ahead and be proactive rather than being reactive in HR crises?
  • When to take breaks during the HR planning for a fresher perspective?
  • Why build bigger teams and learn from different POVs in your team?

Ready to learn from the grandmaster and apply his insights to tailor your next unfailing HR strategic plan? Here you go!

 

Bold Questions. Unfiltered Answers. 

  • In what ways could pausing the over-planning help you test small, hopeful pilots that move you forward?
  • What would taking a short, intentional break from a stuck HR task do for your clarity and momentum?
  • What steps could turn a vague HR priority into a clear, measurable goal you can build on patiently?
  • Where could a small, positive shift in your patterns create more consistent growth as an HR leader?
  • Which habits would help you build a team that keeps you optimistic and open to opposing viewpoints?
  • What long-held beliefs about HR can you gently update to stay aligned with an evolving workforce?
  • What kind of preparation and support would help you walk into tough meetings with steady confidence?

What are the four principles to continuously win in HR? Read this latest blog, embodying Vishwanathan’s wisdom and learning and being unstoppable forever.

 

Mic Drop Moment 

“As long as you don’t give up or get frustrated, the improvement will come at some point.” – Vishwanathan Anand

Vishwanathan’s message to HR professionals is simple and straightforward. Stay consistent, trust the process, and keep a growth mindset even when progress feels slow. The mindset to want immediate results usually impacts HR planning in a negative way because HR investment isn’t something that shows results overnight.

According to him, every initiative in HR needs time to show results whether it’s culture-building, performance improvement, or organizational change. It takes time to make people feel the real change every day, like culture change, or employee loyalty, employee engagement, or ROI on HR initiatives. Because these are all slow processes that show as gradual shifts, not immediate successes.

 

No Prep. Just Perspectives. 

  • “Sometimes you just have to take a break. You cannot improve in just a very linear fashion.”
  • “You have to go back and look at yourself like other people look at you and fix these problems.”
  • “You have to develop to that stage… where the moves come naturally.
  • “Every once in a while, you might find something totally different, unexpected that you didn’t want to use and end up in it.”

 

Food for Thought: Patience,Perseverance, and Adaptabilit 

 

1. What is my role as HR in strategic management of business? 

You play a crucial role in strategic management by handling multiple domains such as:

  • Converting business directions into workforce needs
  • Focusing on talent and skills that contribute to business results
  • Applying analytics to understand attrition trends and other pattern

 

2.What is the need for HR planning?

HR planning helps the company stay ready for growth, change, or new challenges. Where CXOs plan their respective departments, HR connects every department to another, playing a crucial role in bringing all business functions on one page.

Here are the reasons why you need that?

  • It helps bring the elements of culture and workforce into business planning.
  • It represents employees’ concerns and their welfare.
  • It shows a clear picture of what is really going on in other divisions.
  • It helps in legal, ethical, and cultural conflicts related to the workforce into the picture

 

3.What are some factors that affect HR planning?

Many things inside and outside the company shape how HR plans for talent. These factors decide who you hire, train, or promote. For a better HR planning,

These are the factors you should consider always

  • Company goals like growth, cost-cutting, or new markets.
  • Job markets like talent availability, salaries, and competition.
  • Internal data like attrition, performance, skills, and retirement.
  • Technology changes like new tools that change job roles

 

4.What are the four stages of the HR planning process?

Similar to any planning, HR planning also has stages to follow. The four stages of the HR planning are:

  • Workforce auditing: Who you have and what skills they bring.
  • Forecasting future needs: How many people and skills you’ll need later.
  • Finding gaps: What’s missing between today’s and tomorrow’s workforce
  • Creating a plan: Hiring, training, promotions, or role changes

Meet the Guest

Vishwanathan Anand is India’s first Grandmaster who has won World Chess Championship 5 times. Currently serving as the Deputy President of the FIDE (International Chess Federation) where he is mentoring a new generation of chess aspirants. He is known for his excellent adaptability for various formats like Classical, Rapid, and Blitz, winning numerous awards and titles

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Vishwanathan Anand

Deputy President, International Chess Federation