Human nature inherently leads us to give greater prominence to the thoughts we focus on. Consequently, it is crucial to refrain from sowing negative thoughts in others’ minds. Ideas remain abstract until they are articulated, whether verbally or in writing. The more time and repetition an idea receives, the more tangible and realistic it becomes. […]
Freedom of Thought: The Rarest Skill No One Teaches
In one of my previous organizations, the annual appraisal/potential assessment form had an unusual section. It wanted to know if the person being assessed was an ‘independent thinker’. It was unusual because businesses don’t usually allow for much independent thinking! To my mind, an independent thinker is someone who has their own ideas about what […]
The Manager’s Dilemma: Balancing Autonomy and Collaboration
How does one manage a team? If you ask seasoned team managers about their most challenging task, you are most likely to hear about managing conflicts among team members as a significant contender for the top spot. Experienced team managers also recognise that conflicts primarily arise from the inherent human desire of each team member […]
True Independence Means Freedom from Validation
I have been pondering the concept of independence. While I see financial and intellectual independence as important I feel true independence means breaking free from the need to seek validation from others. Our society puts a lot of emphasis on getting approval from strangers through physical cues (like clothes, cars, and homes), attention-seeking (likes on […]
How to Recognize Integrity in Everyday Behavior
How can one discern character and integrity in an individual? If you have ever pondered this and attempted to identify significant flaws, such as dishonesty or immorality in someone, it is an incorrect lens to employ because people will always be ready to justify and defend the more obvious issues! Instead, I propose a simple […]
Influence Without Authority: The Real Power Behind Leadership
In my advisory work, I often encounter individuals trying to find the best way to influence their respective organisations. This challenge arises at various levels, from functional leaders attempting to sway their peers in the executive team to Chairmen and CEOs navigating boardroom dynamics. Many mistakenly believe that influence stems from being the loudest or […]
Trusting Your Gut: Why Intuition Can Be Smarter Than Logic
Most of us are not very adept at dealing with uncertainty. We prefer certainties and guarantees. You know those moments when you ignore your strong intuition or gut feeling, become fearful, and seek reassurance from others, asking, “What do you think?” “Should I do it?” Our craving for certainty undermines our intuition in those instances. […]
DISCOS – Is there a way out of the existential quagmire?
The current discussion on economic issues in government circles as well as business networks seems to be focused upon the host of energy issues being faced by the country. One of the major ones pertains to the distribution companies (DISCOS) and what to do with the constant losses burdening the public finances. For many years, […]
Why have MNCs left Pakistan? And what will it take for the Saudis, Chinese and the others to stay?
As I look at the business headlines these days, they are full of potential investors from countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE flocking to Pakistan. A few years earlier, it was the story of the Chinese finding business opportunities in the land of the pure. Perhaps we can also add a few Turkish and Korean […]
Managing Exits; How to Fire an Employee
This off-limits subject is critical and needs to be well-understood by leaders everywhere In a famous scene from the 2009 movie “Up in the air” the protagonist, corporate downsizer Ryan Bingham, played by George Clooney, counsels the person being fired with the famous line “How much did they pay you to give up your dreams?” I […]
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