“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” What most leaders forget is that culture eats leaders first. Peter Drucker articulated this decades ago. People look up before any strategy, process, or vision statement comes to life. They pay attention to how the leaders act. And at that time, culture isn’t what you see on the wall; it’s […]
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 […]
(Why the most important talk at work is also the one people try to avoid the most) Scene 1: Meeting Room 3B on a Monday morning Manager: “We need to talk about feedback.”Team Member: [Heart rate goes up three times] “Uh-oh.” “Am I getting fired?”Manager: “No, I’m just giving you some advice to help you […]
“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 […]
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 […]
We live in an interesting time when two worlds come together every day.On one side, we have Gen Z—the digital natives who were born into a world where Wi-Fi is oxygen, cellphones are like extra hands, and information moves quicker than dinner table talks. Their parents, employers, and leaders are on the other side. They […]
