Same garden, same pot, same soil! Yet see the difference in the two hibiscus flowers blooming on the same morning! Not just in size, but in terms of texture of the petals as well. This demonstrates the power of an individual. Living, studying, or working in the same ecosystem, some flourish, some just about survive … Continue reading The Power of ‘I’
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!
What comes first: mindset or behavior?
Few weeks back, I ran a poll: “Can we shift behavior without shifting the underlying mindset?” 10% said YES 15% said DEPENDS 75% respondents said NO Here are my thoughts; quite aligned to these responses. Right incentives or punishment can indeed shift behavior. I am reminded of my early career years with Larsen & Toubro. … Continue reading What comes first: mindset or behavior?
Accountability in Teams: What holds us back?
I remember working on a critical project along with a good team. Our roles were clearly outlined, we supported each other and enjoyed working together. Yet, our manager struggled with some of the project deliverables. She would get frustrated having to be the one to always hold up the standards. As I reflect, I see … Continue reading Accountability in Teams: What holds us back?
Our comfort with discomfort
Few weeks back, our team met for an informal catch up. With the Mumbai rains lashing on the glass windows, our conversation drifted to comfort food. We all described what we loved and intuitively go for in such weather – varying from hot Maggi to vegetable khichdi…. The word ‘comfort’ stayed with me that evening. … Continue reading Our comfort with discomfort
Enjoyable Performance Conversations
Can you think of times when you enjoyed a performance conversation? As a manager or an employee? I am not kidding… performance conversations need not be laden with anxiety or fear. It is possible to have an enjoyable performance discussion, all that’s needed is authenticity from both sides. Three aspects that underpinned every time I … Continue reading Enjoyable Performance Conversations
Feeling Relevant?
Few weeks back, I called my uncle; it was his 75th birthday. After a bit of chit chat, he said, “All considering, I am OK. Anyways, how does it matter to anyone anymore.” His comment tugged at my heartstrings. He was asking “does my existence make a difference? To whom – Family? Friends? Community?” Simply … Continue reading Feeling Relevant?
The masks we wear
Few weeks back, I interviewed a candidate. I asked him to narrate a situation where he faced a major failure. He shared an experience, but in a way that only accentuated his strengths. His response reminded me of the interviewing skills training that I went through in my early career: “make sure your weaknesses also … Continue reading The masks we wear
Zoom-out or zoom-in?
As leaders climb up the ladder and take on higher responsibilities and start to deal with complex assignments, what is more critical: ability to zoom-out or zoom-in? Zooming out is about looking at something from 30,000 feet. When we look at things from such height, we see the whole picture easily see the connection between … Continue reading Zoom-out or zoom-in?
Framing Bias in Action
Many of us would remember the young girl-old woman illusion. The experiment was done with two groups. The first group was shared a story about a young girl, and the second group listened to the narrative of an old woman. When the same picture was projected on the screen, members in the first group saw … Continue reading Framing Bias in Action
Future-proof Capabilities
Couple of weeks back, I had a lunch date with my ex-colleague’s daughter. Post her masters, she was working with a mid-sized organization. She was enjoying her work and doing very well. Full of energy and ambition, she asked, “aunty, what skills should I pick up - ones that will help me through my career? … Continue reading Future-proof Capabilities
Perspectives 