Your memory may be lying to you

In an experiment, psychologists gathered 3 real incidents about each participant’s past. During the experiment, participants were narrated these 3 incidents. And then a 4th one entirely fabricated. For example: Getting lost in a shopping mall as a child, being reunited by a kind elderly gentleman or a police officer. Or the horrors they experienced … Continue reading Your memory may be lying to you →

The uncomfortable truth

As a manager, sometimes my days felt never-ending: “Can I check something?”“Do you have 2 minutes?”“Can you approve this?”“I need your guidance.”“Can you step in?”“Can we discuss?”“Can you escalate this?”“Who should handle this?” I felt drained, overwhelmed and even irritated. Then I asked myself a hard question — why does this keep happening? The answer … Continue reading The uncomfortable truth →

Stuck in your head? Move ahead anyway. . .

Early in my career, I got an opportunity to present to an important stakeholder. But I didn’t grab it… I was worried.: “What if I forget the entire pitch” “What if I make a fool of myself” “After this blunder, my manager might not give me another opportunity” I was stuck in my head. Instead … Continue reading Stuck in your head? Move ahead anyway. . . →

Grit

gritDownload

Practice Loop

Do you carry a quiet pressure at work: To get it right, deliver something near perfection every time? This experiment mentioned by David Bayles & Ted Orland in their book Art and Fear might hold the key for you. A pottery teacher divided the students into 2 group: ▶️ Group A: Was told that they … Continue reading Practice Loop →

Are you knocking on wrong door?

I graduated from a good engineering college… and then sat at home for 6 months without a job. While my friends were: • joining their first job • flying abroad for higher studies I was stuck. Not because I didn’t have options. But because I had decided — there was only one “right” option. A … Continue reading Are you knocking on wrong door? →

What will people say or think?

Early in my career, this question held me back. It impacted my learning and growth in those years. Here’s a simple analogy. Imagine you step into an elevator with mirrors. There are a few people inside. How many are looking at? It’s obvious right? Most people are busy looking at themselves – fixing their hair, … Continue reading What will people say or think? →

We are wired to compete…

Nita walks into her first job. She is capable, and eager to prove herself. The organization speaks of collaboration and teamwork. But inside her, another language is far more fluent. The language of competition. She didn’t choose it. She was raised in it. It began when she was a child, barely able to tie her … Continue reading We are wired to compete… →

Dealing with negative feedback

This is your first job after college. After weeks (or months) of training, you are given an assignment that feels real.You are putting in your best efforts. Long hours. Careful planning.And somewhere inside, you want your manager to notice - to feel that you are doing well.One day, your manager gives feedback: points out what’s not … Continue reading Dealing with negative feedback →

Stop the chatter

You’re new to the organisation. Still learning the culture. Still figuring out people. One day, you join a Zoom meeting 10 minutes late.Your earlier meeting ran over. You were hungry, so you grabbed a sandwich before logging in. As you join, a senior colleague smiles and says: “Welcome, welcome… glad you could join our meeting. … Continue reading Stop the chatter →