Sharmila Kar, Head of Human Resources, Disability Rights Commission
Sharmila Kar is Head of Human Resources at the Disability Rights Commission and was a participant on Common Purpose Navigator England 2002. Here she details how Common Purpose inspired her to get involved in her community.
I would recommend Common Purpose to anyone who is willing to challenge and at the same time be challenged.
"I was first introduced to Common Purpose by my previous line manager; prior to that I have to admit I had never heard of the programme. I read the literature, and the programme looked very different - it was not something I had experienced before. My initial thoughts were, "Can I afford to take a week out of the office?" I was not sure what I was going to get out of the programme and on arrival I had mixed feelings of apprehension and nervousness coupled with excitement about what was in store for the coming week
However the benefits of having attended the programme were enormous. The first thing that struck me was the diverse range of people attending the programme and they were not afraid to challenge your way of thinking. The visits organised as part of the week took me to places I would never have seen before; they ranged from an investment bank to a visit to Brixton prison. I came across speakers who were dynamic, challenging and stimulating. It really made me question my own thought processes and my views on many issues changed. Being with people from different backgrounds introduced me to new ways of thinking and ways of dealing with situations both in work and outside of work that I probably would not have considered before
The week was intense and at the end of it I came away feeling both inspired and motivated. I looked at the way I managed my team and thought about how I could improve upon it. I now work to involve my team in the business planning process, so that they understand how their roles fit into the overall DRC strategy.
On a personal level, I came back feeling I had to do more in the community and as a result, I am now involved with the Manchester Citizen's Advice Bureau.
I would recommend Common Purpose to anyone who is willing to challenge and at the same time be challenged. The programme allows you to do that."
