I was presenting a couple of approaches to solve a difficult problem. After presenting the solutions, I said, “If you have a different point of view or suggestion, please share”
A junior colleague raised her hand and said, “Padma, I don’t think this is going to work. And here’s why…”
Immediately a thought crossed my mind, “Oh the naysayer! Will she ever change?”
I caught myself and asked her to share her suggestions…. I must admit, they were good!
While we want people to bring their true self to work, share their thoughts openly, we struggle because:
It feels like criticism
It disrupts the flow of the conversation
We fear it will cause delays or disruptions
Question to reflect: are we ready hold back our fears… and accept others as they are!
What’s your experience of working with people who are very different from you?
At the outset, I would like to thank you for stopping by my Blog.
I believe that there is nothing right or wrong in this world. What’s right in this moment and context may be wrong in another moment and context. This belief has inspired me to name my blog ‘Perspectives’.
Perspectives is a platform for me to share my experiences, thoughts and perspectives on various subjects. You may have a different point of view. I look forward to hearing them, these are the triggers for rich and deep conversations.
On personal front, I live in Mumbai, India. I love to read; Somerset Maugham and Nevil Shute are my favorite authors. My favorite books are The Razor’s Edge, Mrs. Craddock, Chequer Board and Gone with the Wind. I am thankful to my father who inculcated the habit of reading in me early on.
I am also passionate about traveling, I have been to most parts of India and to several countries across the globe.
On professional front, I work in Human Resources function. Over two and half decades, I have worked across multiple industries and cultures. I focus on Leadership Development, Talent Management, Visioning and Culture, Large-scale change, Employee Listening & Engagement, Employee Well-being, Inclusive work culture, HR effectiveness, Behavior and Mind-set shifts through sustained interventions
I currently lead Organization Effectiveness Function for Aditya Birla Group, a $44.3 billion conglomerate with 120000 employees across 35 countries.
I sincerely hope that you will enjoy reading my blog. I look forward to your thoughts and suggestions.
Thank you!
View all posts by Padma Rajeswari