As members of the tech world, we all know the power of a click. Across the world, with the power of a click, businesses are being transformed, information is traversing continents, knowledge is being shared and even rockets launched into space.  Now think about the power of a million clicks, or hundreds of millions of clicks changing the destiny of nations.

I am referring to the click of the ballot.

We all recognize the fact that no man is an island, nor is any company. That there is this inherent power that each one of us has to bring about change; to add value.  A company cannot be known just by the quality of its work. It is also known by the culture it promotes amongst its people. There is a role for corporate citizens beyond the busy debates of a corporate boardroom, shop floors and offices and to our community, country and planet. A role that demands we move from being mere spectators to participants; from a voice of complaint on what doesn’t work to that of action.

So what does this entail? We need to ensure that we play our part in change by using the biggest power that a democratic republic gives its citizens – the freedom to choose.

As India exercises its right to the ballot, it is important that each one of us makes it our priority to get the indelible ink on our finger. We are living in a world today that is beset with political instability. A robust democracy is our best bet against this.

It is disheartening to see some people hide behind the ‘utility or futility’ argument and dismiss this much important day as just another holiday or a waste of time. We enjoy the freedom of choice that our constitution provides us, but it is also our responsibility to ensure that we perform our duties as responsible citizens.

Consider this fact: In Australia, voting is mandatory and any citizen who doesn’t vote receives a letter asking why. Those without an acceptable excuse, like illness or travel abroad, must pay a small fine. Although the number of people fined for not voting is estimated to be less than 1 percent of eligible voters, the point made here is big.

Voting may or may not be mandatory. But it’s a choice that you make because you believe in change, or at least, the choice of it.

At HCL, building an environment steeped in ethics, transparency and conscience has been at the heart of our philosophy. Pursuing excellence and value in an environment that promotes corporate governance has been our choice.

Our Community Service Council is one of the most active internally, and has helped inspire and improve the lives of the underprivileged across the country. Our Go Green initiative has seen a conscious effort being made by every employee towards building an eco friendly environment, be it through reducing paper usage or energy. Similarly, participation in the electoral process is another fundamental responsibility towards society.

By taking on this responsibility entrusted on us, each one of us is helping build the India we want to live in. ‘No more excuses’ is how we dub it at HCL. And to those still taking cover behind inertia, we ask simply: What’s your excuse?

They say a man is known by the company he keeps, a King by the army he leads and a parent often by the conduct of their child. In the post modern world, it would perhaps be pertinent to say that any great leader will come to be known by the team he leads.

Today, when I go around the world and listen to people talk about the difference we are making to the business of our clients, the value we deliver and the impact we make, there are three words that resonate every time. The HCL Team.

And I must admit that every time I hear our clients mention those words with a sense of pride, I feel the gleam of a parent who has just seen his young child win his first game or graduate from high school with flying colours or for that matter bought that first house. It’s a pride that is seldom matched, and I feel that pride every time the team pushes the envelope to new heights and place HCL a notch higher.

This week has given us all one more reason to rejoice. Being ranked as the No. 1 “Best Employer” in India and to be named among 25 Best Employers in Asia by Hewitt in its 2009 Study is a great recognition of our employee centric culture.

Seeded in the belief of transforming talent by maximizing personal potential as against monitoring professional performance, our Employee First philosophy believes in giving our employees the space to grow, time to think and right tools to use for achieving results. Over the years, every decision taken by us has been dictated by the need to provide our employees a unique and differentiated experience.

When the Employee First initiative was first started, it was aimed at shifting the needle of accountability to the management, so they become accountable to the true value creator of a company – the employee.

The ranking in the Hewitt Study reaffirms our philosophy and the focused and dedicated work put in by each of our 55,000 strong employee force. Pushing for an employee centric philosophy in a customer driven world was not an easy task.  It was a challenge that we took on because we sincerely believed in the power of our people, in the fact that leaders are born not at the top of pyramid but in the ranks. 

A good employer today needs to ensure that his people are delivering to their potential through continuous empowerment and improvement. This comes from strong systems and their diligent execution.

The best employer always shows resilience in choosing the unbeaten path and empowering his employees along with way by not just allocating roles and responsibilities with care but also equipping them with the right tools to achieve the most out of their role.

As we face the probability of an even more uncertain time, investment in people will act as the key differentiator in businesses. According to the Hewitt Study, the best companies globally still continued to focus on training and development. So clearly, the results, no matter where you are, will not come at the cost of talent but on account of them.

Pride and passion for what you do is what drives performances at the workplace, and I have always believed that result oriented performance is what separates real leaders from the rest. The current times have brought in a lot of instability and empowering employees will be pertinent to ensure they are able to deliver their best.

They say it is hard to get to the top, and even harder to stay there. So while, we pat ourselves on the back for the unbeaten path we took, staying there will require us to continue keeping employees at the heart of our decisions.

That is how I see us beating through the maze to emerge as a people driven company. And with over 55,000 sharp and dedicated minds nursing the HCL dream everyday, I know we will not just stay there, but conquer new peaks along the way too.