Say, you are working on a project and hit a new idea that will make the work smarter and better. You are excited and share it with your manager. He listens to you attentively and says “No, may be later.” You might feel frustrated or unseen, even doubt the culture of your organization. What if … Continue reading Why your idea may be rejected, how to get YES next time?
Tag: #inclusion
When everyone says YES
You share an idea in the meeting and people start nodding:“That’s a brilliant idea!”“Absolutely, let’s get started.”“This could really move the needle.”“Totally agree.”“Wow, love it!”It feels like a win! If you are the senior most person in the room, it's time to PAUSE.Ask yourself the reasons for YES. There are two possibilities here:1. Your idea … Continue reading When everyone says YES
Who says working with diverse people is easy?
I was presenting a couple of approaches to solve a difficult problem. After presenting the solutions, I said, “If you have a different point of view or suggestion, please share” A junior colleague raised her hand and said, “Padma, I don’t think this is going to work. And here’s why…” Immediately a thought crossed my … Continue reading Who says working with diverse people is easy?
Recognizing biases
As I was scrolling through Instagram; a graceful kathak dance caught my attention. As I paused to watch the reel, I realized that it was a male dancer. I loved everything about the dance… except a man dancing in a style typically associated with women.. My first reaction was that of disgust!! My initial reaction … Continue reading Recognizing biases
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
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
Judgemental – A Natural Wiring?
Being non-judgemental is the foundation of many organization culture elements: inclusion, collaboration and empathy to name a few. It’s about accepting people for who they are, understanding their perspective, respecting their views and opinions I have been on this learning path for some time now. I was proud of the progress I made; I thought … Continue reading Judgemental – A Natural Wiring?
Question with disclaimers
Few days back, a colleague walked over and said, “this might be a silly question, but I want to ask if……….?” Why do we tend to add a disclaimer before asking a question: a simple question or unnecessary or trivial question or even complex question. Contrast this with how children ask questions; uninhibited and straight … Continue reading Question with disclaimers
The HOW and WHEN of Psychological Safety
Psychological safety in organizations is an oft discussed subject today. A key element of psychological safety is the ability to freely share a contrarian thought or idea; disagree with our co-workers, manager, or seniors. To build a psychologically safe workplace, we expect our co-workers and seniors to be open, not wedded to their ideas and … Continue reading The HOW and WHEN of Psychological Safety
Perspectives 