Few centuries back, careers used to run in families. A famer’s child would mostly take up farming, an artisan’s children would take up the profession, so would an apothecary’s progeny. This changed with access to higher education, industrialisation, and faster, easier modes of travel. People started going into professions different from that of their parents. … Continue reading Reinventing our Careers
What are our strangler vines?
Learning from my recent visit to forest continues…. Here’s the picture of a tree enveloped by a strangler vine. A strangler vine, while starting as small plant in the beginning, quickly envelops large trees, sucks up the nutrients and eventually causes the death of the host tree. I have seen several strangler vines and trees … Continue reading What are our strangler vines?
Forest bathing – the elixir to wellbeing
Last week I was in Bandhavgarh National Forest Reserve.. seeking few days of tranquillity and indulging in forest bathing - the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku or taking in the forest atmosphere… the elixir for psychological and physiological well-being. Fortunately, my cellphone was useless without signal or internet connection…it gave space for nature to enter through … Continue reading Forest bathing – the elixir to wellbeing
Iceberg of Trust
Trust – be it for products, organizations, government, or people – is soft; yet it’s presence or absence can be distinctly felt…. When we trust an organization, we buy more product or services from it and recommend it to others. When we trust something or someone, we tend to engage and bond more with them. … Continue reading Iceberg of Trust
The Secret of Meaningful roles
There is a clamor for meaningful roles today. Meaning in work seems like the magic pill for all problems organizations are facing today. Employees are looking for meaning in their roles and Leaders want to offer meaningful roles to their employees Couple of days back I was writing speech for a leader, and lo behold… … Continue reading The Secret of Meaningful roles
Magic of kindness
On this mental wellbeing day, I would like to share an act of kindness I experienced few months back. I was traveling to Amsterdam for work via Dubai. While boarding the Emirates flight, I realized that the ramp wasn’t going to the upper deck of Airbus 380. We had to take the stairway from the … Continue reading Magic of kindness
Lopsided Expectations
Pick up any journal or business magazine or paper today; we will find at least few pieces on the expectations from managers. They clamour, “In times of quiet quitting, great resignations, a manager must Energize and inspire Continuously develop, show career options Assign roles that will motivate employees to contribute Be empathetic, care for … Continue reading Lopsided Expectations
What fuels us?
https://www.istockphoto.com/illustrations/intrinsic Think of a time you received a coveted recognition, or a promotion or a salary increase you were aspiring for? Close your eyes and recollect your emotions at that moment, on that day. Exhilarated? On cloud nine? What happens few days or weeks later? You still take pride in your achievement, but the joy … Continue reading What fuels us?
When work becomes boring
You take up a new area of work; you are excited about the challenges, opportunities, and the learning. You work on it and over time you learn the ropes. What happens after few weeks or months, depending on the nature of the work? Does the same work which excited you a short while back begins … Continue reading When work becomes boring
Micro hierarchy
An incident from yesteryears remains etched in my memory. It was late in the evening; I was on a call. My son, who was barely 7-8 years at that time, needed something urgently from me. But he patiently waited for the call to finish. He said, “I knew you were speaking to your boss, so … Continue reading Micro hierarchy