Scene 1:The Sharma & Sons Pvt. Ltd. boardroom on Monday morning Arjun, the son, said, “Dad, I think we should go digital and put money into e-commerce, modern branding, and automation.”Mr. Sharma, the father, said, “Beta, our customers love the personal touch.” We don’t need all this nice stuff. Arjun said, “But Dad, our competitors […]
“Hey, do you ever feel like you don’t have any energy?” That’s how a recent talk with a 42-year-old IT project manager started. He grinned a little and said, “Spark? I’m just trying not to become too tired. This is something that people in IT, banking, media, BPO, finance, and entertainment are saying in boardrooms, […]
“Papa, I think I need to see a therapist. I’ve been worried.The father glances up, confused and a little hurt. “Therapy? “ We never needed any of this in our time. We also got older, right? Almost every young person has heard this sentence.And practically every older person has said it with pride, conviction, and […]
There are two types of silence in every organisation.One comes from being focused.The other comes from emotional withdrawal. The second type is risky. Stonewalling at work, which is when employees stop talking about their worries, feelings, or feedback, has become a silent epidemic. And even though a lot of leaders think this, it’s not usually […]
The Monday Morning Conference Call is Scene 1. Client (USA): “We need clearer action points and responsibility for every deliverable!”Team (India/Philippines): “Yes, yes… got it.”Client: “So, who owns what, exactly?”Team: [Long, courteous silence] “We’ll talk about it internally and get back to you.”Client: “Hold on, what does that mean?”Team: “Yes.”Client: “What do you mean by […]
“Hey, do you ever feel like you don’t have any energy?” That’s how a recent talk with a 42-year-old IT project manager started. He grinned a little and said, “Spark? I’m just trying not to become too tired. This is something that people in IT, banking, media, BPO, finance, and entertainment are saying in boardrooms, […]
“People used to live through wars. Now we get anxious when an email is late.” I heard this snarky comment in a leadership workshop once, and it sums up a rising fact about our times: Our ability to handle stress and bounce back from setbacks is getting worse very quickly. Even while workplaces are getting […]
Scene 1: A modern office on a Monday morning Manager: “Hey, do you have time for a quick call?”Worker: “Of course.” Right after my wellness session, stand-up meeting, LinkedIn post, two team syncs, and coffee catch-up.“Next year?” asked the manager. Welcome to the age of distraction, where being “busy” is a brand, multitasking is a […]
The Stockdale Paradox: A Lesson in Hope and Survival The “Stockdale Paradox” is one of the most profound lessons about how to be strong that Admiral James Stockdale, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for more than seven years, taught us. It is simple but deep: Have the unwavering faith that you will […]
In his books “Mastering Emotional Intelligence” and “Navigating Through Emotions” Dr. Pratik P. Surana discusses the “Goldfish Syndrome” and how manipulative leaders use their followers’ emotions to their advantage. Our Collective Memory and Its Discontents Throughout my years of observation, I have noted how leaders who are adept at manipulating others can effortlessly influence their […]
