You had a lovely weekend that wrapped up with brunch with friends. It's Sunday evening; as you start preparing for the week ahead, a sense of dread begins to settle in. Bad days at work are inevitable. We all have those moments of frustration when the thought of going to work feels overwhelming. But if … Continue reading When you dread Mondays….
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!
Not my problem
Is your employee focusing on solving the problems that directly impact his or her workflow, and ignoring all others? Such a person is labeled as siloed or self-centered. However, it is worth considering the possible reasons from the employee’s perspective. What if the person is - Overwhelmed with sheer volume of challenges and hence forced … Continue reading Not my problem
Productivity Puzzle: Employees vs Leaders
“87% employees say they are productive, 12 % leaders are confident their teams are productive.” Microsoft 2023 Work Trend survey.What could be the source of this glaring productivity perception gap?Imagine this situation: Sonia, a marketing executive, spends her days meticulously crafting campaigns, attending meetings, and engaging with clients. To her, every task completed is a victory—a … Continue reading Productivity Puzzle: Employees vs Leaders
Flock with birds of different feathers
Research indicates that we naturally tend to move towards similarity. Thus, it's easy to build relationships with people just like as. They help create a social world where we get to work with people who understand us, trust us and cooperate to meet our goals.However, we grow only by doing diverse things and building on different … Continue reading Flock with birds of different feathers
Kill the hierarchy – flip the script
“I will check with my superior and let you know”, said Sid. By superior, he meant his manager.At times, team members are also referred to as ‘subordinates’Aren’t these words – superior and subordinate – undermining equality; laced with assumption that manager is inherently better than the employee.Does being higher up in hierarchy necessarily make someone … Continue reading Kill the hierarchy – flip the script
Demystifying Culture
Couple of weeks back, I interviewed a candidate. He spoke about his experience on developing a learning culture. I asked him, “What is culture?”He said, “it’s the behaviours and decisions made leaders and employees”What more?“It’s the physical layout, structure, even the system.”OK, anything else? He thought and finally said, “belief that learning is important.”He made … Continue reading Demystifying Culture
Are you aware of your field
Have you observed top performers who excel in one organization, but struggle when transitioned to another team or organization? Or vice versa?This can be attributed to a concept called the Field Theory, first proposed by Kurt Lewin. Understanding and applying this theory is pivotal in the realm of Organizational Development.Let's delve into the experiences of … Continue reading Are you aware of your field
Neuroscience of Connection: How to become a super communicator?
Last week I ran a poll on communication and who we generally tend to connect more with. The poll results were interesting: 50% felt that they would connect more with someone who takes charge to align thoughts / ideas 50% felt that they would connect more with someone who asks questions At the foundation of … Continue reading Neuroscience of Connection: How to become a super communicator?
Who is the puppeteer?
Who is the puppeteer? Ever wondered why we pour our hearts and souls into personal projects while work projects sometimes feel like a chore? Here are three likely reasons: Personal projects are like our babies. We choose them because love them. It's all about that "I want to" rather than the "I have to." They … Continue reading Who is the puppeteer?
Toxic high performers are charming
Picture this: Sonia, your star performer, the one you've pegged for a senior role, seemingly has it all. She tackles the toughest tasks with aplomb, consistently exceeding expectations. You are surprised go see her 360-degree feedback: her team members and peers have a vastly different perspective. The feedback paints a troubling picture - Sonia is … Continue reading Toxic high performers are charming
Perspectives 