Nita walks into her first job. She is capable, and eager to prove herself. The organization speaks of collaboration and teamwork. But inside her, another language is far more fluent. The language of competition. She didn’t choose it. She was raised in it. It began when she was a child, barely able to tie her … Continue reading We are wired to compete…
Dealing with negative feedback
This is your first job after college. After weeks (or months) of training, you are given an assignment that feels real.You are putting in your best efforts. Long hours. Careful planning.And somewhere inside, you want your manager to notice - to feel that you are doing well.One day, your manager gives feedback: points out what’s not … Continue reading Dealing with negative feedback
Stop the chatter
You’re new to the organisation. Still learning the culture. Still figuring out people. One day, you join a Zoom meeting 10 minutes late.Your earlier meeting ran over. You were hungry, so you grabbed a sandwich before logging in. As you join, a senior colleague smiles and says: “Welcome, welcome… glad you could join our meeting. … Continue reading Stop the chatter
Fall like a baby
Guess how many times a toddler falls in an hour while learning to walk? Studies indicate an average of 17 times per hour. Over time, this might add up to 1000’s of falls before the toddler’s walk becomes stable. When a toddler falls, she gets up, takes a few more steps and falls again… Yet, … Continue reading Fall like a baby
If you want to know more about pine, ask the pine!
Yesterday, I was engrossed in a task when my phone rang. The call was from a colleague who tends to follow-up a lot. Even before taking the call, I started thinking: She must be calling to follow up such and such thing. I began preparing my response. When I took her call, what she shared … Continue reading If you want to know more about pine, ask the pine!
When you know the impact of your work …
A couple of decades back, researchers studied 84 chambermaids in 7 hotels in the US. Despite working on jobs that involved hours of physical work every day: lifting mattresses, pushing carts, bending, stretching, walking long corridors, the chambermaids believed most of them did not get enough exercise. Participants were divided into two groups. The first … Continue reading When you know the impact of your work …
When you resent…
Alia joined her organization as a trainee six months ago. She puts her best into her work. But lately, she is frustrated. Her manager seems partial — constantly appreciating others while barely acknowledging her work. Sid recently began working as a fashion designer. He was presenting few design options to the team when his manager … Continue reading When you resent…
How work gets done
One person works. Five people review. Everyone’s busy — but nothing really moves. I have seen this play out several times in organizations. One person — let’s call him Akarsh — is deep in the work. Focused. Careful. Trying to connect all the pieces. Above him are three people: each with “inputs,” “thoughts,” and “guidance.” … Continue reading How work gets done
Where did the hour go?
It’s Thursday evening. You finally have one free hour. No meetings, no looming deadlines, no chores to close or planned catchups. You tell yourself — I will just sit quietly and relax. But an hour later, you don’t feel refreshed. Not even close. You feel oddly restless — as if your mind never really took … Continue reading Where did the hour go?
Stages of Learning
I still remember my first few months of making formal presentations. I cluttered my sentences with hmms, cleared my throat every few minutes, and stood with my arms locked across my chest. I had no idea I was doing any of it. That’s the first stage of learning: unconscious incompetence. You don’t know what you … Continue reading Stages of Learning
Perspectives 