Imagine God appears before you and says, “I am happy with you my child, I want to bless you. I can bless you either with ‘confidence’ or ‘competence’, you can choose one.”What would you choose? competence or confidence ?Confidence is the belief in own abilities and judgement. It’s all about positive self-perception and self-assurance.Competence is … Continue reading Confidence or Competence
Celebrating Failures – Really?
We often hear this phrase… when we are trying to build a culture of experimentation in organizations.It’s time to question this phrase, especially given how much and how often it is used.Let me challenge you before going ahead.What’s your association with the word CELEBRATION?- Popping a bottle of champagne- Coming together with dance, music, good food and … Continue reading Celebrating Failures – Really?
Ladder of Inference
How do our beliefs influence what we see? Ladder of Inference by Chris Argyris brings out this concept exceptionally well.Let’s take a common example from our lives, especially if we have teenage children at home. Say, you teenage son goes out for a party on Friday night. The curfew time is 10 pm.The clock turns … Continue reading Ladder of Inference
What is authenticity
Authentic people stand out for who they are. It’s a joy to connect with them, be at work or in personal life. “Be authentic” is an advice oft given to leaders to help enhance their effectiveness.What exactly is authenticity? Is it something that can be only felt or experienced?Or are there elements of concreteness to … Continue reading What is authenticity
Rethinking Performance Appraisal
Let’s look at the experience of two friends – Sam and Sonia – management graduates working in the same organization, but in different functions.Being the first performance appraisal, both are anxious. They exchange notes, boost each other’s morale and decide to catch up later.Here’s a glimpse of Sam’s conversation with his manager.They first discuss each … Continue reading Rethinking Performance Appraisal
Pond paradox – big or small
The Pond Paradox - Big or Small?Few days back, I ran a poll, featuring two idiomatic expressions:a) Would you rather be a small fish in a big pond?b) Or a big fish in a small pond?But before we dive into the responses, let's unpack the depth of these phrases:Small fish in a big pond describes … Continue reading Pond paradox – big or small
Rooted in Purpose – Baobab Tree
Baobab tree, also known as the ‘tree of life’, is iconic to Africa. Recently, I had the privilege of seeing the magnificent Baobab closer to home, nestled within the confines of Mumbai zoo. Despite being thousands of miles away from its native land, the Baobab tree's presence ignited a reflection on the essence of Purpose.Purpose, … Continue reading Rooted in Purpose – Baobab Tree
Associative memory – a pathway to empathy
One night, I had a rough sleep and woke up feeling grumpy. As I stepped into my balcony, I noticed a single shiuli flower blooming on the plant. Its fragrance instantly took me back to my childhood memories of Durga Puja - the drum beats, new clothes, delicious sweets, and fun with friends.In just a … Continue reading Associative memory – a pathway to empathy
Homemakers – Unsung Sheroes
On International Women’s Day, we celebrate women leaders and achievers from across sectors, showcase the impact they have created.Yet, one segment quietly recedes into the background…..HOMEMAKERS! Women who have made a personal choice not to pursue active careers.Their photos do not flash on the cover page of magazines or fill the social media feeds.Yet, they … Continue reading Homemakers – Unsung Sheroes
Truth and Dare – Employee Dilemma
At the end of the performance feedback discussion, your manager asks, "What feedback do you have for me?" Will you give honest feedback?I ran this poll last week, 69% said they will give candid feedback to the manager.Accepting constructive feedback from a team member is not easy. Once a team member told me, “Padma when … Continue reading Truth and Dare – Employee Dilemma
Perspectives 