Last week I had taken a short break for Christmas in a lovely resort in Kolkata. One morning, sitting in a comfy lounge chair under warm morning sun, I was reading Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah (a gripping tale set in the background of 900-days siege of Leningrad during World War II). Suddenly out of … Continue reading Carpe Diem!
Tag: personal effectiveness
Learning or Performing Mode
“Are you in learning mode or performing mode?” I recollect our master facilitator call out every time we began a practice session. We had to say aloud, “I am in learning mode” Initially, I wondered about the difference it would make. Gradually, it became obvious; while in learning mode, we were willing to experiment and … Continue reading Learning or Performing Mode
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
Three questions to leverage the most from an experience
An experience – be it professional or personal – is a strong conduit to individual growth. We all go through experiences like assignments, new projects, leading or being part of a cross-functional team, or even a difficult conversation or negotiation. Irrespective of its outcome, every experience adds to our capability. An honest reflection on three … Continue reading Three questions to leverage the most from an experience
Life is akin to a road….
Learning 1 Irrespective of how fast we drive, there will be people ahead of us. Irrespective of how slow we drive, there will be people behind us. It's pointless competing with others on a road! Compete we must, but with self, not others! Learning 2 There are stretches of road that are smooth, like carpeted … Continue reading Life is akin to a road….
Incessant Stories We Tell
Every waking moment of our lives, we involuntarily weave stories; stories about people around us, about our context, problems / challenges and even stories about ourselves. Stories are powerful, they influence our behaviors, actions and decisions. This in turn impacts our reality. When we tell ourselves a positive story, our actions are affirmative and energizing, … Continue reading Incessant Stories We Tell
Culture shift – lessons from nature
Last few weeks, I have been intrigued by the hibiscus flowers in our terrace garden. In the first sun rays, I would see the buds hanging low, slightly bent under their weight. As I returned from my morning walk, the bright red hibiscus smiled cheerfully at the world. I wondered how long does it … Continue reading Culture shift – lessons from nature
How we approach our work: Task or Impact
How we think of our work influences how we approach it. Do we think of it as a ‘task’ or as ‘impact’? Any task will create an impact. So, does it really matter as to how we view it? It does, let’s see how…. Task is specific, its finite and neatly fits into our weekly … Continue reading How we approach our work: Task or Impact
‘Not to Judge’ – a difficult leadership lesson
We come across several situations in our lives – both personal and professional – when we tend to judge others’ actions as ‘right or wrong’, ‘acceptable or unacceptable’, ‘wise or not so wise’……. Let’s take an example: Say, a good assignment providing strong exposure and bright prospects for accelerated career growth has come up. Employees … Continue reading ‘Not to Judge’ – a difficult leadership lesson
Perspectives 