Last week at a meeting, I observed two people sharing the same idea but one was rejected while the other was accepted. Interestingly both people were at the same level in the organization’s hierarchy. The first person raised a point about how we should approach a particular problem. The reasoning was clear and the suggestion was […]
When Professional History Becomes Personal Identity
Spend a little time on platforms like LinkedIn and you will notice a curious pattern. People introducing themselves as Former CEO, Ex ABC company, Retired director XYZ etc. Experience matters, of course. Individuals who have risen to senior positions and/or have been part of prestigious firms are extremely competent individuals. They need to take pride […]
When Confidence Is Mistaken for Capability
Why do fools so often rise to the top? Watching the war in the Middle East, one question keeps coming back to me. How do people like Donald Trump and the band of simplistic voices around him manage to reach the very top of power? At first glance it feels baffling. But then you realise […]
Bigger Isn’t Better
Not all growth is progress. In my leadership roles and advisory work with C-level executives, one word appears in almost every strategic conversation, Growth. Boards want it. Investors expect it. Leadership teams feel pressured to deliver it. Many times, it is the bloated cost base which forces businesses to find growth anyway they can! But […]
Cities Built for Cars, Not People
I like to jog. Every alternate day I put on my joggers and go out on the streets around my house for a slow 30-minute run. It’s a simple routine, but it gives me time to get some fresh air and observe my neighborhood. Recently many of these streets have been under repair, so my […]
How Much Space Does “Me” Occupy?
Looking in the mirror is a natural human habit. We don’t usually think about it much until it becomes an obsession. But many times, how we look physically, intellectually or as a leader or manager can dictate our daily lives. In my opinion, it can also become the biggest obstacle to a fulfilling life. So, […]
The Risk of Assumed Safety
The Gul Plaza tragedy is first and foremost a human loss, one that cannot be reduced to analysis, frameworks, or commentary. Our hearts go out to the victims of this tragedy. At the same time, such incidents force reflection. Not the official or judicial inquiry type reflection – those are required and must happen to […]
When Authenticity Becomes a Career Risk
I had an interesting conversation with someone who has recently left their full-time job for an entrepreneurial venture. This person shared something profound. That he left his job, not because of workload or pay, but because he was tired of pretending! Many workplaces are highly political and filled with people wearing masks. These carefully crafted personas […]
Why So Many People Feel Stuck at Work
Most people do not dislike work. But many dislike the role they drifted into without ever really understanding what they were choosing. I meet a lot of people who don’t like their jobs. When I ask them what they would rather do instead, most give the same answer. “Something creative. Something of my own. Maybe […]
In Defence of Having No New Year Resolutions
I do not have a new year resolution to share. In fact, I have no resolutions at all! If we are alive and reasonably healthy, the years coming and going do not really matter. We tend to treat life like a sealed exam; time is up, answers written, no revisions allowed. But life behaves far […]
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