Empathetic Leadership

With the world gone topsy- turvy 

on arrival of Covid 19, this is the time

more than any other, when we need

to exhibit empathetic leadership! 

Empathize with employees, help them learn, unlearn

and cope with the new scenario & current challenges 

understand their context, provide required support 

exhibit your humane side- as they 

struggle with the pressure to deliver!  

Spending time with individual team members 

 understanding problems, issues individual to each one 

and addressing them is the key...

Like, when an employee moved in with parents 

had less space, and appropriate ambiance 

was reluctant to come on video, working on line 

decision taken to appreciate his position 

permitted to speak, without  coming on video  

The connect becomes real and meaningful

when you display vulnerability, share with team 

your concerns and difficulties, trusting them

to pitch in and respond... 

Resort to and rely on "Active listening", 

the fuel of empathetic leadership! 

proactive discussions, joint target setting 

being a bridge between your boss, and team 

will all go a long way in achieving success! 

Empathetic leadership happens 

not from empty slogans, declarations 

but when a paradigm shift in approach 

has happened right at the top

and frittered down effectively

touching everyone, till last employee... 

Yes, covid time is an opportunity 

for introspection and change in approach 

this is the time when empathetic leadership

is most essential, more than at any other time!  

NB: The source material for this poem is a webinar organized by Bija Training on 21st July 2021   featuring Mr Vikrant Vinayak, MD Accenture.

Secret of Happiness at Work

An unhappy person doesn't, 

cannot create happy teams

remember, the person who matters most 

for your happiness, is yourself! 

Reasons for happiness at work

vary from person to person

but one thing that is common

which everyone wants is 'Growth'!  

a Buddhist definition for 'happiness' is

the joy of reaching your potential !

Fun can be of two types- 'Challenging fun'

and 'Adulterated fun' 

while running a kilometre or two 

writing a blog is challenging fun 

adulterated fun is like 

 "watched Netflix back to back"  

adulterated fun makes you feel guilty

while challenging fun- Happy!  

You can be assured you have 

"Delight conditions" at work   

when you feel good about co-workers

you complete 70% of "To do list" 

manager provides achievable challenging work

and the support for achieving them!

It's a company with a purpose that fires passion

passion is what you would do 

if money was not an issue 

what you would continue to do, even when

you have a choice to do nothing!

Happy people  are successful people 

unhappy people, even if not leaving you

do not contribute to company

after all, they are not happy! 

Look up the "Daniel Pink Study" 

it reiterates what we discussed so far 

for happiness and motivation

autonomy, mastery and purpose 

score over all other incentives!  

NB: The source material for this poem is a webinar organized by NHRD Hyderabad Chapter in February 2021   featuring Ms Namrata Gill VP(HR), Dr Reddys Laboratories, Hyderabad. 

Fresh Look at Targets

 

No point setting impossible targets

when you know that they aren't achievable

instead spend time, engage with people

let them understand the nuts and bolts  

for achieving realistic targets! 

Realistic targets take away need to

window dress, hide real facts 

learn to acknowledge failures

not only to celebrate success!  

How transparent are you about failures?

have once a week reruns, ruminating on

what worked, what did not 

zeroing in on reasons of failure 

and deciding on what support to be extended 

for converting failure to success!  

Stop taking failures personally 

view it as organizational deficiency 

People with different abilities required

at different life cycle of organization 

raring to go mindset at "Start up time" changes to more 

of process orientation, with organizational maturity

Clarity is the key-  Ask, why did I set these targets ? 

now analyze, why couldn't I achieve it? 

failure isn't failure really 

it's information for the way forward! 

As tactical retreats are done by armies 

you strategize, when goals missed in business 

not by setting unrealistic targets

but by realigning for the way forward!  

NB: The source material for this poem is a webinar on 17th April 2021  featuring Mr Gerald Jaideep, CEO Medvarsity and Founder Creative Sprout as the speaker.

Breaking Through the Comfort Zone

Steady  performance, using limited skills

without taking any risks, is a good definition

for the state of  comfort zone! 

It is easy to get trapped in the thought

of  working okay, no complaint 

in a routine manner....

This means, the appreciation from others 

become less and less frequent 

until it may disappear altogether...

It takes a Dhoni or Dhirubai Ambani 

to bid goodbye to a routine

that no longer excites, and embrace 

risks/opportunities, away from the comfort zone 

But why do this at all? 

"I am happy in the comfort zone!" think many

To achieve a goal, life's mission 

there is no choice but to

break through the comfort zone!  

Whatever be the goal 

CEO by 2030 or Manager by 2025

modify routines in line with your goal 

see small goal posts as leading to the ultimate goal 

and your outlook horizon changes for good! 

If always focused on the ultimate goal 

the small squabbles and everyday irritants

do not matter anymore....

engage with your partners, take initiative

spend more time working for the holistic target  

The experience of work, from a  holistic mindset

stands in you in good stead 

as you climb up the ladder

as does building trust of your people

through frequent interaction with team!  

For those breaking out of comfort zone 

taking initiative, building teams,

not sweating the small stuff 

not gossiping, speaking behind backs of people

the sky is the limit! 

NB: The source material for this poem is a webinar organized by Bija Training on 12th May 2021   featuring Mr V.R. Mahadevan, Advisor & EX Jt MD BGR Energy Systems Ltd. 

 The speaker chose to take on the project manager role even as he  joined as a management trainee overcoming fear of failure and negating an option to work within the comfort zone. 

Tips for Overcoming Fear

As fear moves in to places

where there is poor clarity 

the best way to handle fear 

 is to be clear -  know what you want,

clear on what you see as your purpose of life!

Clarity destroys fear to a great extent

after all, there is no longer fear of the unknown 

since  you know  what you want

you can prepare for it 

be ready to take risks, if needed

you are not taken by surprise! 

Preparation, preparation, preparation in cricket

helped  Dhoni to reach for, and attain success 

The equivalent of preparation in corporates

for managers and leaders is planning! 

yes, it 's planning that is an antidote

to the malady of "Fear of the unknown"   

Unique requirement in the future

would be the ability to deal with the unknown

be it a world wide pandemic, an economic meltdown

political disruption or hostile takeovers...

Time to say goodbye to 

this culture of " taking permissions" 

instead  encourage "taking initiatives" 

Fear promotes silo working

discourages communication 

fear it is, that prevents collaboration 

Banish fear through clarity

planning and flexibility, 

you will then be able to

Connect, Communicate and Collaborate, for success!   

NB: The source material for this poem is a webinar organized by Bija Training on 21st April 2021   featuring Mr Koushik Sarkar Managing Director, West Asia OMYA AG 

Professionally surviving a pandemic

Uncertainties all around 

will there be a pay cut? 

will I retain my job? for how long? 

when will I get the promotion I missed?

will I survive the pandemic itself?  

Insecurities connected with 

going physically for work 

Insecurities connected with

working from home  

many anxieties are getting converted to fear!  

Staying motivated first 

to be able to motivate others

focusing on being grounded, maintaining equilibrium  

the need of the hour- To reassure oneself

that this too shall pass... 

This is the time to equip oneself 

update with skills, knowledge, certifications

enroll for courses,  be fit and ready

to encash it, when the time comes

when we have beaten the pandemic!

It is only a matter of time 

that the inevitable happens

it is the very law of nature 

that occurs without fail 

Light invariably emerges after darkness...

Consistency in Results

 

"What habits lead to consistency in results?"

asked a listener after listening to a talk on Zoom

on top of the pile, in today's times it would be 

emotional intelligence! (EI/EQ) said speaker 

followed by developing sufficient people for succession

buttress that with self motivation & self discipline

and you are well on your way, to consistent results!  

Getting feedback from your people

every 6 months important too!

enables  corrections based on feedback

sometimes you learn things, you didn't even know! 

like "I learnt from feedback that I  

am low on transparency- wasn't sharing enough "

made amends, set goals to raise it over a period of time 

today, it's up from 5 to 9! 

Be aware always that today you are working with 4 generations 

need to respond to varying motivational needs 

A young team of 24-25 year olds wants to be taken out 

though this may seem unimportant to the 45 year old boss 

"Learning agility" would be another one

so important these days, with  obsolescence happening so fast 

consistent learning-reskilling, upskilling, networking

if you want your team to look up to you

be always open to learning, being  updated 

make sure you know each member of team well

individual likes, dislikes, motivation

what makes each one tick? 

Resilience is a quality you will  need 

to develop as a habit

speaker shared her own experience

when resilience came to her aid 

while moving from village schooling, to city college

with no knowledge of  English 

or when she wanted to  return to work 

after maternity break -  faced rejection 23 times 

but with gumption & resilience attained her goal!

A voice from the audience shared how "Brainstorming"

collaborating, eliciting solutions from team 

helped to not only meet, but exceed targets 

Starting a project is only the beginning

seeing it through with the required discipline 

is the key to achievement and success!

Be prepared for surprises galore,

in these times of uncertainty 

your team tomorrow, could be a mix 

of humans and robots- your ability

to handle psychological aspects 

could be the differentiator between 

results and consistency in results!  

NB: The source material for this poem is a webinar organized by Bija Training on March 24, 2021 featuring Ms Gauri Das Head (HR) Indian Factoring and Finance Solutions