Growth

The Leadership Paradox: Why Empty Space Matters More Than Full Schedules

I was trying to set up a meeting with a business owner recently. Every attempt ran into the same wall, a calendar packed for weeks. And when he tried to bring in his senior team, it became an even bigger challenge. Eventually he pulled rank to make it happen, not because everyone genuinely had space, […]

Patience, Empathy, and the Unseen Choices We Make

On a recent flight, after landing, as we waited to disembark, the line came to a halt. A young mother was struggling with her child’s stroller, and within seconds, people began urging her to hurry. That moment stayed with me. For most of us, it was a couple of minutes delay. For her, it was […]

Good Hearts, Heavy Minds: Understanding Mental Health in the Workplace

Today is world mental health day! I have been reading about the growing importance of this subject in our daily lives, particularly in the workplace and have recently discovered a critical aspect, that mental health issues like depression are not signs of weakness, but rather proof of conscience! Good, caring individuals often carry a heavy […]

Time as a Gift: How Age Brings Perspective

In my family, this is the season for birthdays. A lot us are somehow born in these couple of months! And birthdays for older people like myself often carry a different kind of meaning compared to when we were younger. They are more moments of gratitude for health, family, friends and the simple gift of […]

Why Investing in Your Mind Pays Forever

I have a friend who isn’t much of a reader. In fact, he believes reading is a waste of time and tries to convince me of this whenever we meet 🙄 I imagine many younger people these days would agree with him. A zen master once said, “The shortest distance between a human being and […]

How Environment Shapes Success—More Than Talent

It is challenging to achieve success in an environment dominated by failure. Whenever there is an overall negative sentiment in a business or for that matter in an industry or even a country, it is difficult to overcome. Unfortunately, there is so much of this negativity in all aspects of life in the land of […]

Breaking the Full-Time Myth: Understanding the Power of Fractional Roles

I was recently introduced to someone with the title “Fractional CHRO” This individual worked in that organization two days a week and was involved in similar roles for a few other companies. This person is not alone. I have seen similar situations in other organizations, and I am amazed that many of our organizations have […]

The Voice Within: How Self-Talk Shapes Our Reality

The other day, during a game of tennis I observed that I was frequently cursing myself for playing terribly. Each bad shot prompted me to use four-letter words in my mind, though I admit occasionally they would come out loud! Of course it didn’t cross my mind that perhaps my opponent was a much better […]

Rethinking Talent: Are We Hiring for the Wrong Skills?

I have been trying to help some clients identify talent for middle and senior management roles recently. But I keep coming up with gaps between what they require and what is available. On the other hand there are some exceptional people who are available but it is difficult for them to be a good fit […]

The Hidden Wisdom of Those Who Refuse Power

In one of my previous organisations, a senior leader surprised us all by quitting his job and retiring the day he turned 50. We couldn’t imagine why anyone would make such a drastic decision. He was one of the most respected people in the organisation, and we were sure he was on his way to […]