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?
Author: Padma Rajeswari
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?
When you dread Mondays….
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….
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