Postcard: Bangalore

Indian IT workers want to become part of the global economy. For them, it means brushing up on their interpersonal skills for online, phone and face to face communication. I read this article in the may 5th, 2008 issue of time magazine. In Bangalore, India, techies are taking classes at the new Dale Carnegie Training Center. There they are being taught concepts ranging from English skills to confidence. Where does the curriculum come from you ask? Why what place other than Carnegie himself's landmark 1936 book How to Win Friends and Influence People.

In four months people can gain a certificate in Executive Excellence. "I was overwhelmed when i moved to Bangalore last year. I saw all these people who looked so smart and spoke perfect English" says Pallavi Deshpande. Four months later she was more skilled in English and knew the intricacies of interviewing for jobs. "I learned that at an interview, you must talk in terms of the other person's interest and show respect for the other person's opinions" she remarked.

This school plays a big role in the global market because so many firms use indian workers to staff their tech and call centers. In India there are huge numbers of young people with cutting edge tech skills. However, many of these workers lack the soft skill to be able to communicate properly with the customers they have to deal with making them inelligable for employment. when tailoring their curriculum, the founders of the school spoke to companies, educational institutes and students acroos three states to determine the skill most needed for new workers in various fields.

As the global marketplace grows, it is evident that people who enter it will need the proper social skills to navigate the waters. For better or worse it seems the current language and customs are western. Look for more of these schools to pop up around the world...