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Showing posts from August, 2024

Work-Life Balance is NOT a Time Problem

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  The Work-life balance problem is NOT what you thought it was.  The First step to solving a problem is to correctly identify the actual problem. Often people take the symptom as the problem and solve it. The symptom gets resolved while the underlying problem persists. The same has happened to the ubiquitous Work-Life Balance.   The issue of Work-Life Balance is NOT an issue of Time spent at work. It's that of interest, satisfaction and passion.  Go back to the time when you were working on something you were passionate about. You spent days and sleepless nights on it. You probably slept less than 6 hours and worked more than 12 on that task/project. Every waking minute, you were entirely focused on that dream project/task.  Did you complain about Work-Life balance while you were in that zone?  We talk/complain about Work-Life Balance only when we are not enjoying our work and we are caught up in work or the workplace which we want to escape.  Org...

BITTER or BETTER - your Choice

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  We either come out BITTER or BETTER from every life challenge we face. The choice is ultimately our own.  And this choice defines our journey, in personal life as well as in the corporate world. Take for example, a professional who missed out on a promotion. The bitterness could easily take root—focusing on the injustice, blaming others, or dwelling on what was lost. But a better approach is to use this setback as a catalyst for growth. Reflect on what can be improved, seek feedback, and develop new skills. This mindset not only prepares you for the next opportunity but also sets a powerful example for your team. You come our BETTER.  Similarly, imagine navigating a difficult project that didn’t go as planned. Instead of harbouring resentment or pointing fingers, a professional who chooses to emerge better will analyze the lessons learned, share those insights, and drive positive changes in future projects. That's how the professional transforms into a Leader.  Lea...

If you are the smartest person in the room, Leave the Room.

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I don't agree with "If you are the smartest person in the room, Leave the Room." If everyone starts doing that,  you will have people constantly  leaving the rooms as they realize  they are the smartest in the room.  And yes, the room you joined where  you had people smarter than you,  they are leaving that room too.  If people took this too seriously,  they will restrict entry to the room  to the people who are smarter than them.  BUT, people don't want to enter rooms  where they are the smartest ..  so how will this work??   It's a dumb thing to say and think.  And somehow assumes that you can only be in one room.  Stay in the room where you are the smartest  and help others get smarter.  Find a room where people are smarter  and learn from them.  Impart the learnings from one room to the other.  Be in both rooms and help raise the overall smartness of both rooms.  #SmartP...

The Echo Chamber

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  Not just limiting beliefs, the #EchoChamber you create for yourself stifles your growth. An echo chamber is  "an environment where  a person only encounters  information or opinions that  reflect and reinforce their own." Limiting Beliefs are intrinsic.  Echo Chamber is extrinsic.  While the limiting belief is your  own thoughts and beliefs that  prevent you from taking action;  the Echo Chamber is the environment  you ended up creating around you that  limits any diverse thoughts or opinions  from coming to you.  With the Echo Chamber, you have  reduced and eliminated exposure  to thoughts that are not aligned  to your current way of thinking.  That is like imposing your own  limiting belief on others by design. 

First Time on Magazine Cover Page

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  My review of the Book 'The One Thing' was published in the Readers Club Monthly Magazine (Pg. 21) and I got a place on its #CoverPage :)  This is probably the first time I am on the Cover of a Magazine :)  Sharing the PDF of the entire magazine - there are other interesting articles and book reviews too. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AXHpd9FZj0Pm8IqdUg2CvnlwA4staPey/view?usp=drive_link  #CoachHemant #ReadersClub #TheOneThing #BookRecommendation

The Bronze Medal Effect

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  The 3rd place winner often looks happier than the 2nd place winner - a phenomenon known as the "Bronze Medal Effect."  The 2nd place winner tends to focus on "what could have been" and the missed opportunity of 1st place, while the 3rd place winner feels gratitude for at least making it to the podium. Consider the case of two colleagues at a company; one who secured a significant project and another who narrowly missed a major promotion. The first colleague celebrates the new project, recognizing the opportunity for growth and the new skills they'll develop. The second, however, remains fixated on the missed promotion, feeling unfulfilled despite their substantial achievements and contributions. This is the #BronzeMedalEffect in the Corporate world.  In our careers, we can fall into the same trap. Focusing solely on the next promotion or title can make us lose sight of the progress we've made and the skills we've gained. For example, imagine an employe...

20 Classic Myths about Life and Career Transformation

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  20 Classic Myths about Life and Career Transformation 1. It's Too Late to Change 2. Success Means No Need for Change 3. Change Equals Failure 4. One Size Fits All 5. It’s All About Skills 6. Change Must Be Radical 7. It Requires Too Much Time 8. I Need a Perfect Plan 9. Change Is a Solo Journey 10. Transformation Equals Constant Reinvention 11. Personal and Professional Lives Are Separate 12. You Must Leave Your Job to Transform 13. It's All About External Factors 14. Transformation Requires a Crisis 15. Networking Is Secondary 16. Coaching Is Only for Underperformers 17. Change Should Be Pain-Free 18. You Must Have All the Answers 19. Transformation Is Linear 20. I can do it all by myself With so many myths surrounding personal transformation, no wonder people get overwhelmed and give up on their own transformation in most instances. hashtag # GrowthMindset hashtag # CareerCoaching hashtag # LeadershipDevelopment

Har Ek Dost Zaruri Hota Hain

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  "You don't make friends in the corporate world' - someone told me at the start of my corporate career 2 decades back. My best friends are those I made during my school, college, Engineering and MBA. But the corporate world has been very kind to me … maybe because I allowed it to be and I made sure I did my part. From the very beginning, I nurtured my relationships. Took them beyond the give and take. I was genuinely interested in other people. I helped them when they needed it and they helped me when I needed help on various things. And I did that without a running-account in my head. I wasn't thinking about taking, while giving them my help. And the relationship went beyond the give and take. There were those genuine deep conversations. We had fun together, either as a team or even while we were in office together. Airtel did a great job in their ad, 'Har El Friend Zaruri Hota hain' (Every friend is necessary) Being in Consulting, I got a ...