Catching up with colleagues at work is important. It goes without saying that small talk helps in building rapport and relationships. Light-hearted conversation can also uplift morale and reduce stress. It may also lead to picking up ideas or becoming more org savvy…. Here’s what happens when small chit chats don’t remain small anymore!! And … Continue reading Friendship or Productivity
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!
BUT Vs AND
Words are powerful; tiny shifts in our language can lead to big impact. Before reading on, pause for a moment and reflect – which word do you use more often: BUT or AND? Say you are in a meeting, and you share a new idea. Your manager responds, "that's a great idea, but we don't … Continue reading BUT Vs AND
Handling disrespect @workplace
Last week I posted the six micro behaviors of disrespect at workplace. I received several inquiries about the best ways to deal with it. Here are my thoughts, inviting my LinkedIn friends to build on these thoughts. I believe that actions can be taken by multiple parties: managers, bystanders and the employees facing disrespect. Here’s … Continue reading Handling disrespect @workplace
Do you paraphrase?
Imagine your colleague comes to you for guidance. She is extremely upset about the obstacles she is facing with another team, how frustrating it is to work with them. You listen to her carefully; before offering any solution, you say, “I understand you are upset; three things are bugging you….……., am I correct?” You are … Continue reading Do you paraphrase?
6 Micro behaviors of disrespect
Things that make you feel disrespected… I was interviewing a Gen Z. This young engineering graduate said, “Respect is non-negotiable; if I feel disrespected, I will quit, even if I have no other offers in hand.” This sentiment is not exclusive to any generation; the need to feel respected is fundamental. While life circumstances or … Continue reading 6 Micro behaviors of disrespect
What do you spread – doom or cheer?
I remember my early days as customer support engineer. A product that we had launched with a lot of fanfare, positioned as one of the best in the market, had some inherent technical problems. We sold it in large numbers; all the new products were failing in the customer sites. No one could identify the … Continue reading What do you spread – doom or cheer?
How MEMEs can help achieve big goals?
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy spans over 1200 pages. While I loved other works of Tolstoy, and wanted to read this masterpiece, the sheer size of the novel seemed daunting. That’s when a friend suggested, “why not read 10 pages every day, you will finish it in 4 months.” Embracing this approach, I began … Continue reading How MEMEs can help achieve big goals?
Courage to stand up for what’s right
~ 50% respondents said that they least experience this form of courage. (Recent LinkedIn Poll conducted by me) I was not surprised by the results…. We lack the courage to stand up for what we believe in. Couple of examples: #1: I knew that a colleague (senior to me in hierarchy) was ill-treating her team … Continue reading Courage to stand up for what’s right
The Six Faces of Micromanagement
I once worked with a manager who expected me to report progress thrice a day. And send a detailed report end of the day. I wasn’t a rookie; I had 15 + years’ experience and was managing a team. Here’s are the 6 faces of micromanagement: Seek frequent updates: either you send the updates or … Continue reading The Six Faces of Micromanagement
Overwhelmed at work?
Ever found yourself buried under a mountain of tasks with deadlines looming ominously? Times like this lead to confusion and frustration where you don't know where to begin or end. I have been in such situations many a times. Here’s a simple method that has helped me whenever I felt overwhelmed with work. Step 1: … Continue reading Overwhelmed at work?
Perspectives 