Author: Padma Rajeswari

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!

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 →

Slip of a thumb

I remember this project from years ago. One task on the critical path was delayed. I got anxious and kept following up with the team member responsible. My phone buzzed, a WhatsApp message from this team member popped. It said, “I am so bugged with Padma. She is just driving me nuts with her follow-ups. … Continue reading Slip of a thumb →

The art of war

Your manager gives feedback “You need to be more assertive in meetings,” You know you spoke up plenty. The feedback feels unfair and you want to defend yourself. You have two options: Option 1: Dig your heels in.You argue your case, explain why the feedback doesn’t make sense, and walk out feeling like you “won.” … Continue reading The art of war →

Verfreude

I feel really happy as I plan my vacation: the searching, making bookings, or even just marking the dates on calendar. At times, the build-up feels even better than the trip itself. For a while I wondered if I was the only one… turns out, I am not. The Germans even have a word for … Continue reading Verfreude →