We are extremely privileged to be born in an era where the gender discrimination has reduced to a great extent. In fact even when people talk of equality it sounds odd. While men and women have equal opportunities, they will always remain different from each other. It’s more like being a part of something that becomes a whole when they come together.
The 2022 IWD theme Break the Bias, is more to reiterate what is mostly established in educated and emancipated workspaces, homes, and ecosystems. The strides that have been taken in yesteryears have won great leaps for our freedom of expression – existence -exposure!!
Recently when I was watching Dev DD2 a webseries on Zee5, ( sequal and a female version of Dev D) I realised that along with gender stereotypes we also need to break free from many other social constructs which are defined as success for both the genders!! New age parents are slowly graduating to play the role of a companion rather than a commander who fails to build an emotional bridge. Our society is transforming at a rapid speed and so is our value mechanism. Thus the better we understand our millennials the more we can leverage their talents for a better tomorrow.
Both professionally and personally breaking the bias can be a mutually enriching experience. We all are uniquely abled and there is no requirement for our gender to decide our passions – professions or even our performance!!!
As long as we conduct ourselves with this belief mechanism of acceptance towards others we have played the perfect role of doing our bit. Most often while engaging in the movement we forget that the first step starts with our own actions and beliefs…as long as we are willing to break the bias, and be the change we are seeking; we sure can be the best contributor!!!
What do you feel about this theme of break the bias? What is your role as a man or woman? How would you like to play your role? Do share with us your story of being the catalyst in this journey.
During my coaching certification with ICA and Coacharya, my mentors would often highlight that women have a natural flair for coaching. Initially, I would just discount the statement; however, on an analysis of my women colleagues, acquaintances, and observance of instances I found this to be true. Most often women have a natural ability to view the same situation in various contexts which augment their leadership abilities. A Gallup Survey, with almost 30million employees across the world, revealed that women are better at building strong relationships with their peers and subordinates. More than a supervisor, women leaders are revered as coaches and advisors who encourage work-life balance for better productivity and satisfaction.
Women are endowed with a natural ability to coach and mentor. A subtle stroke while coaching which they do with their wordplay and their natural ability to empathize, is what sets them apart. Women look at coaching and their work more holistically as a larger part of their life rather than a livelihood. Therefore, they’re more likely to approach their careers in a self-reflective way and value factors such as meaning, purpose, connection with clients, co-workers …which eventually yields better outcomes.
3 Traits that every Woman has that makes her a unique coach and an impactful leader are:
EMPATHY -Empathy is a powerful emotion, which if used correctly, can inspire people to become one and turn a dream into a reality. Women not only use this trait for effective coaching, they also use this effectively to bring people together to accomplish organizational goals. McKinsey’s research endorses that organizations with more women managers have better financial results.
TRANSFORMATIONAL APPROACH -Women also have a natural ability to go beyond the shell of ego-centrism and propel others to achieve their potential. They can nurture the talents of their teams and clients by encouraging them to grow. As opposed to adopting a self-centered approach that only values their opinion over others, inspiring women leaders and coaches encourage everyone, including juniors, to share their ideas freely. Women can transcend judgment and transactional interaction with more transformational & exploratory questions. Rather than focus on individualism, they are interested in forging better ties with their team by inspiring them to believe in themselves.
LISTENING -Every coach needs to be a great listener. Till the time I was a trainer -manager -leader my focus was on speaking. I often thought that speaking is more important, till I became a coach!! A coach’s role is defeated if 80% of the air time is not invested in listening. This trait needs to be nurtured to get better at it. The best questions in a coaching process are an outcome of good listening. The ability to listen well is also something that a woman often is naturally endowed with.
What is your experience with these traits? Do you think they can help you coach or lead better? How often have you come across your women colleagues practicing these traits? Do share your experience with us.
“Women are the real architects of society”- Harriet Beecher.
As a third female child in the family, I often asked my mother if she was happy with my birth!!! In our society even today, a girl child is often taken to be a disadvantage. Wonder how can humanity continue without the existence of both men and women. Then why this intense fear of bringing up a girl child. While we have come a long way from ‘SATI‘ and ‘female foeticide‘ its time we start celebrating not just a female child but BEING A WOMAN!
For a long time I felt that I would prefer being born as a ‘man’ in my next life!! However with every experience at work -at home -in our social setting I realised that every woman has the ability to bring in CHANGE in our society and our perspectives. Of course the moment I had my daughter I had to become a role model who was PROUD OF BEING A WOMAN!!
Women are incredible contributors to talent, knowledge, and discoveries in almost every field and made history, apart from being the foundation of a happy home in every geography! In my book 9 SUCCESS MANTRA DEMYSTIFIED, I have spoken about 100 women who have contributed to success of their families, organizations, and for society at large. The biggest social proof of a woman’s success or disaster is when her name is called out every-time something goes wrong!! Though this is very annoying, as when things go right her presence is not felt or recognised… nonetheless, we need to acknowledge how important her role in society is that for anything gone wrong she is the one responsible!! Whether as a professional or mother-wife -daughter -sister or girl friend, she makes a great impact.
It’s time to give a pat at the back, and embrace yourself as flesh and blood person, who can make mistakes, emotional yet strong when situations demand and feel the wings which are always there to support your flight!! In fact its time to play the role of change maker to the core and BREAK ALL BIASES. (also the theme of 2022 International Women’s Day) As a nucleus of family and society its time to rise to the occasion and take the support of your better half to nurture a society without biases, gender discrimination, female foeticide, or any form of disrespect for the other.
There was a time when women had to fight for mere rights like the right to education, or just the right to speak up for the injustice even within their family. Well, all this can literally start a debate right now. But the wave of change has started, and women no longer remain the names of the household. Thus we celebrate WOMENS DAY, to celebrate all the women in remarkable ways. So, let us take this opportunity to echo the desire of every woman around us to be respected for her role, work, contribution, emotions or even her existence.
There are many famous women amongst us and not so well known names…however their phenomenal struggle everyday to balance humongous expectations out of them, is a less known phenomenon. Whether she is Mamta Banerjee (Chief Minister of Bengal), Mother Teresa (Nun & Saint, Social Worker ), Sania Mirza (Tennis Champion), Sindhu (Badminton Olympic Medalist), Tessy Thomas (Missile Woman of India), Bhawana Kanth (First Fighter Pilot) and countless professional names along side millions of home makers who support the dreams of their family from the background are all remarkable WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE, who SMILE through STRUGGLE everyday to develop their muscle for PERSISTENCE -PERFORMANCE -PRODUCTIVITY-PEACE, while silently enduring their pain. In fact she needs no PERMISSION to feel the halo that surrounds her, she has earned it with all her myriad of experiences of life.
Are you a woman of substance who has developed these muscles? Are you enjoying your role as woman? As a man do you think you are great team player with her, while ushering in a new era of celebration of being different and not equal? Are you allowing her still, or are you aware that it’s her choice and best you can do is to support her voice?
We have an upcoming program for women leaders –SHIFTING THE GLASS CEILING, a program that helps you create balance and experience the WINGS that is there in WOMAN 2.0 of 21st century. With this program you also get two books 9 Success Mantra and Wings Within Me. Register Today, to UNLESH your POTENTIAL! For more information write to us –support@success-studios.com
Steve Jobs truly is one of the greatest leadership icons of our times. His life and innovation journey is something that is an inspiration to all tech and non-tech world. Though an autocratic visionary, his leadership and entrepreneurial saga is worth learning from. He is often compared with the pantheon of America’s greatest innovators -Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Walt Disney. These personalities weren’t politicians or saints yet they applied imagination to technology, business and leadership to create history for others to look upto.
In Steve Jobs’s biography, Walter Isaacson, the author has shared facts and testimony of his ideologies and also perspectives of his friends, associates and adversaries. Sharing top 3 lessons from Isaacson’s book which can help you clear the clutter around you.
Simplicity -Steve said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Jobs believed that simplicity that comes from conquering, rather than ignoring complexity. A product (apple phones and lap tops etc) which people queue up to buy every year when a new model is launched is a true site to watch. A sleek looking, productive product that every artist or innovator wants to own is based on fundamental premise of simplicity of use. As a leader if we can emulate this lesson while working with team of subject matter experts, consultants or even hiring the best talents, we can experience more ease and success.
Don’t be slaves to Focus Groups/Market Trends – Biggest trend introduced by Jobs is creating something that the customers didn’t dream of, in the tech creativity space… While a lot of effort is invested in finding what the customer wants, less time is spent on how something can be created that every one wants to own as a mark of their excellence. It is critical to be a dreamer to be a leader; if the desire to create a better vision of tomorrow doesn’t compel you, you need to step down from leadership honours.
Bend Reality -Steve Jobs would help his teams go from impossible to possible. The ability to distort for bending reality in attempt to create the best outcomes in products and solutions. Impossible was never an answer for Steve. Believing on what you can usher in, is as good as your imaginative capabilities. As a leader if you want innovation in your team, you need to break out of conventions. Do you inspire your team and yourself to dream big and break stereotypes to dare to build something that people want to be part of …almost like a movement.
Which of these 3 lessons would you like to try out in coming week and how! Do share with us your experience incase you have already experimented any of these practices.
While we all want to make pathbreaking changes in our life like start doing Yoga -meditation or even start a vegan diet, small weekend hacks can accomplish our productivity goals and sometimes even our health and wellbeing. The first step to performance starts with your physical and mental wellbeing which cannot be overlooked if you want to show up with your optimum energies!!
During the weekend we all indulge in guilty binges which most often result in heartburn and tiredness later. As per research, these quick hacks can help you utilize your weekend well.
6 Quick tweaks that can improve your work week are :
Catch up on YOUR SLEEP – As per brain science, the importance of sleep can’t be discounted. During the week if you have lost out on adequate sleep, weekend time is the perfect time to rejuvenate. 6-8 Hours of sleep is the general sleep time mandated. Lack of adequate sleep can be detrimental to your mood, leadership & cognitive function. Naps can also be a great way to recuperate your sleep quota. Catnaps are popular to give you perfect therapy.
Time with YOUR GARDEN, Nature Walk, or Pet Talk-Creating your heaven of flowers is a luxury that you sure can invest in. Spending time in nature benefits your brain and your general health in many ways. In case you have no time for making a garden, walk the in parks full of trees and plants…this can give you loads of oxygen and cleansing of your lungs! Spending time with pets and communicating with them is also a great connection with nature.
Spending time with YOUR FAVORITE PEOPLE-Research shows that social isolation can shorten your life as much as smoking does…it can also make you vulnerable to infection. When you’re working during the week, it may be hard to spend as much time socializing with friends and family as you might like. So make sure to spend some time during the weekend with people you care about most, whether that your spouse or partner, parents, children, or closest friends.
Organize YOUR FOOD FOR WEEK – Most people with busy lifestyles, end up eating junk foods. Thus unless you plan healthy and nutritious eating you may end up eating anything that comes in handy when in rush. Cooking can happen even without slaving over the stove, if you have planned in well in the weekend. This can also be a family bonding time!! Overeating cards and unhealthy fats can bring down your productivity and alertness at work. You can stock your fridge and grocery with things good for you like lean fats, vegetables, nuts and other stuff in accordance with your physicians and dieticians.
Prioritize YOUR FUN/CREATIVE ACTIVITY – Research Psychologists state that changing your routine activities have amazing brain benefits. Our brains crave for autopilot methods in life, thus visiting same neural pathways. It’s a good idea to jolt yourself out of those neural pathways now and then for keeping your brain enhancements. Thus enjoyable. and exciting weekend can give you new neural pathways to explore more in life.
Binge on YOUR LEARNING PROGRAMS -Very often we suffer big time after binging on the latest Netflix web series or amazon series, etc. However if you reframe this binge as your learning lesson, then the perspective changes and guilt disappears. Learning today is not just sitting in a session – or attending a webinar -or reading a book… everything happening around us has huge life lessons that can give us the immense experience of lives -scenarios or even ideas to create change in our lives. Every web series I watched in recent times have given me huge life lessons and also shift my perspective to doing things. So stop beating yourself for your binge time and use it for your life lessons time on the weekend; maybe with friends and family!!
How energetic do you feel on a scale of 1-5? How do you want to re-energize yourself? Do share your methods to use the weekend to boost your performance and productivity as a leader -professional and innovator!!
Often highlighting our sorrows and missing our bliss governs our life story. .. While we all have a darker side to life that we can focus on and feel let down; alternatively we can focus on the brilliance in bliss that surrounds us and in our past. Life events sometimes take us to peaks and sometimes to valleys, and our heart beats keep changing accordingly. Thus dealing with every low by prioritising our bliss is best way to rejoice our vacation on earth!!
As a leader it’s critical to priortize being blissful, and every time you have negative experiences to share, you need to have the bounce back action plan in place. One of the best lessons that I learnt from Marshal Goldsmith’s talk when he was in India, was how we need to let go of all the disempowering thoughts that keep invading our blissful state. This is specially true for any person who volunteers to impact lives of others… In any profession every time you fall from this blissful state, you need a time out. As a leader every time you fall from bliss, you need to recharge yourself to be back in action.
Are you a blissful leader? Take a self assessment to evaluate your BQ (Blissful Quotient) -Score yourself on a scale of 1-5, 1 being least and 5 being highest. The total score is a reflection of your BQ and to some extent your EQ! Assessment below can help:
Often you engage yourself in positive self talk.
All your stories of past is about how situations and people have been miraculous for your victory.
You feel life is constantly rewarding you with new opportunities.
The glass is always half full and there is a water fall that keeps you satisfied.
You come out of negative events with more resilient mindset.
When you look back in your life everything seems like a divine plan to reach you to your desired goals and vision.
Your life is full of rhythm and serendipities as per your desire.
Sooner or later you are able to see the silver lining to every cloud around you.
Every anecdote and story that you want to highlight empowers people around you.
You make it a priority to create more bliss for people around you.
What does bliss mean to you? How was your score? Do you think you will contribute better if you find bliss or complain with scepticism? Whats the BQ of your team? Do you want to work with your team or replace them? Which is easier to train Bliss or skill? We would love to hear your perspective!!
In today’s VUCA world(Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous ), leaders depend on colleagues and followers to get information and expertise. We have seen how the Pandemic hit the entire world by surprise and now the war cry in Ukraine is hitting the business stability and peaceful operations. This is evidence that we are all connected across the globe and what happens in some corner sure does affect the results of another.
There was a time when a single hero could salvage the team results; however today unified skills and mindset can be the only way out. The leadership of the 21st century is a contact sport where we are impacted due to the decision-making of another organization, market, political system, team members, or country.
Keeping professionally distant relationships with reportees was a norm of yesteryears, however, today dissolving hierarchical boundaries and keeping an agile team may be more suitable to times. Avoiding any form of nepotism and favoritism can be achieved with regular team engagements, one on ones, discussions. etc
Low trust and insufficient communication across hierarchical levels can result in low quality, serious accidents, and scandals. Leaders who can operate higher team bonding and trust sure created better results. Rather than an authoritative style if one opts for democratic measures of understanding, one can go a long way in dealing with VUCA. Building personal connections and safe operative methods can breed long-term trust; thereby keeping the team together in times of contingency.
A VUCA environment can be dangerously disruptive. 3 BEST Hacks to deal with VUCA:
Address Volatility with Vision: Creating a compelling vision for the organization is the first step to deal with regular volatility in the industry and the ecosystem.
Clarity Revisits in Uncertainty and Complexity: Making clarity a top priority with resources -challenges -roadblocks into a new opportunity is the way to thrive in VUCA situations.
Fight ambiguity with agility: Staying nimble and agile at all times allows you to flex in accordance with times. Make learning -creativity, and dialogue a way of your agile stance to come out of ambiguous instances.
The Covid Pandemic has given us the biggest flavor of VUCA times and the Ukraine disaster is preparing us for more to come. Operating in the flat world would sure necessitate us to be more adaptive to the VUCA realities. Also keeping the teams together with personal touch and adaptability to all adversities will be the new order of the professional and political arena of leadership.
Are you a leadership athlete to deal with the VUCA world? Are you an autocrat or democrat leveraging your team’s intellectual quotient? What’s your game plan for VUCA times?
Today’s corporate leaders need to up their ante with Intrapreneurship skills. No matter what your title or designation the ability to bring in entrepreneurial skills has become the need of the day. If you look at the competencies needed for going the extra mile it’s all about rising above your job description and finding synergies across teams to drive home the solution and delight the client. The options to the client are in plenty today, and with every second we have more free-spirited freelancers who have the entrepreneurial mindset and great appetite for risk adding to the options…thus hiring and skilling people to be more intrapreneurial within the system has become a priority for leadership development.
Intrapreneurial competence is not starting a new business line or vertical, it’s leveraging and harnessing innovation at the workplace, by practicing simple Lean Six Sigma methods, addressing client need for the upgrade, or even proactively diving into market realities to create add ons to your current service or product. Very often in large organizations projects get shelved due to a lack of intrapreneurial attributes; which turns those ideas into actual innovations. Entrepreneurship ability in a corporate canvas is better known as intrapreneurship or corporate innovation.
Research highlights the benefits of intrapreneurial methods and their practice within the organization for productivity and employee loyalty. This is more true for people who are growth-sensitive and self-starters in creating a pathway to add value to the system.
Take a quick self-assessment to check your INTRAPRENEURIAL Score -(Answer the following with a YES/NO. More the number of Yeses the better Intrapreneur you are!)
Do you try to learn new things at work?
Do you ask your boss to coach or mentor you?
Do you often take on more tasks than your role formally requires?
Do you like picking up brilliant dormant ideas into action?
Do you like the selling value proposition of a great idea?
Do you like working on budgeting for projects and making them happen?
Do you have a flair for selecting talent and forming a team?
Do you like identifying why a project could collapse?
Do you like matching capabilities with opportunities?
Do you have an appetite for optimal risk?
Do you like making strategic decisions and working with diverse personality types and also following others as a leader when needed?
Do you like surveying marketing demands?
Do you like communicating to explore new ideas and build castles in the air as a dreamer!?
Do you like influencing others and creating communities for impact?
Do like grooming talent and scouting for new
How’s your score? Do you think it’s worth cultivating Intrapreneurship as competence with all its traits?
Ultimately, all entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs are in it to improve the world and drive progress, and you can do the same through your everyday work! However, all companies may not have conducive culture or framework for Intrapreneurship. Thus one needs to analyze before implementing the same. If you have a product or service that you want incremental improvement on, rather than disruptive innovation — then you may want to watch out on how you want to encourage or leverage intrapreneurship.
Look forward to knowing more about your experience with Intrapreneurship!!
Every person in this world has something to say and contribute to the world at large. However often we fall into a trap of feeling that all has already been said or done. The biggest reason for our existence is to exchange our thoughts and build a community of free-thinking beings. To find your voice it’s crucial operating from a place of alignment and authenticity in our personal and professional lives, and the truth is… only you are the expert of your voice and thoughts!
We all have the inner whisper which gets quietened because of fear of perceptions, rejection, and judgment around us. Sometime back when I had asked one of my relatives to be a panelist in our leadership discussions, she said, ”I have nothing new to say”! On the other hand, I have friends and family who love to share their perspectives on every national policy that is being worked out! I just love the dichotomy in our world.
Our education system prides itself on reproducing what was done thousands of years ago…while that may be the foundation, a human need to voice and create new aspects of the same needs to be encouraged and practiced.
FIND AND DESIGN YOUR VOICE
Voice is found in the intersection of 4 circles, your Talent -Passion -Needs -Conscience. The more you dive into each of the circles the better you can carve a niche for yourself. As a leader your voice is critical for your Vision -Inner Alignment & Authenticity -Nudging your team members and navigating organizational objectives.
Often in meetings -discussions -conversations, your voice (also referred to as POV-point of view) is critical for best outcomes. Thus coming out of complacency can sure open the pathway to your legacy.
3 quick hacks to practice voicing yourself are :
Celebrate Milestones -Every time you feel satisfied after sharing your thoughts rejoice at the occasion and make it your motivation for the next one. Most of us tend to hold off treating ourselves until we’ve accomplished something truly remarkable. Taking the time to honor your efforts will accrue valuable emotional deposits , as well as establish great reflection points to track your progress. We’re evidence-based beings. If you adjust your focus to what you’re proud of, or what you did “right,” you’ll start to see two beautiful side–effects: First, you will begin to cue into similar experiences, and then, build confidence by reiterating your ability.
Conviction on Your Thoughts -You do not have to compromise to voice your thoughts. Your voice is important and worthy of being heard. If you are aligned to your heart and speak your mind, there is no need to panic about criticism. Take every criticism in your stride.
Making a Note -Very often we get flashes or ideas about things that we want to express, and then it quickly disappears. Keep a small diary where you can keep all your thoughts as it comes and then build on the same. I generally get my flashes at midnight, out of nowhere!!
How does your voice feel? Have you ever felt that your voice has no need? How do you keep yourself motivated to share your voice where it is needed?
Lord Shiva is also known as Maheshwara(The ultimate God) as he is the symbol of both Destruction and Creation. A leader can imbibe valuable lessons from Lord Shiva as He is the leader of His team and has to deal with many challenging situations.
The book ‘Shiva Trilogy’ which is the set of three books: The Immortals of Meluha, The Secret of the Nagas, and The Oath of the Vayuputras have many such golden lessons of leadership. In these mythological fictions, the protagonist who was initially portrayed as a young tribal leader in due course of time emerges as the greatest leader of the time by his sheer virtues of being a great team player, vision, empathy, honesty, decision-making skills, thinking for every single person’s benefit and welfare of society.
Here are a few lessons that a leader can learn from Lord Shiva and Shiva Trilogy, apart from always chanting ‘Om Nama Shivai, Nama Shivai for wellbeing and wisdom. Let’s garner some beautiful leadership lessons from Lord Shiva and His ambiance.
6 Critical lessons from Lord Shiva that can support us to be a better leader are:
Living in Austerity – Various historical and mythical researches prove that Lord Shiva lived in the dark cold mountains, thereby depriving himself of the materialistic world. Emulating this value from Lord Shiva can help every leader or entrepreneur to rise above the attachment for the position -laurels -perks of the role. Very often as a leader one needs to rise above the needs and incentives to take fair decisions; this attribute keeps every leader grounded at all times…irrespective of the highs and lows in life.
Fearless Decision Maker -Lord Shiva often considered to be the God of Gods also has a very fearsome form which is known as ‘The Rudra’. Every leader needs to have this trait of being fearless like Rudra, in the face of difficulties and chaos. A leader like the captain of the ship also needs to be bold and quick in decision-making and inspire the people.
Balance & Self Restraint -Indulging in extremities of any kind can be detrimental to a leadership journey. With his life balance and self restraint, Lord Shiva exemplifies how balance brings peace and joy. Every leader needs to balance between business – family, spirituality, health, and enjoyment. Though Lord Shiva is known to be a ‘Maha Yogi’ and prays for the wellbeing of the entire universe, and though he secludes himself from the materialistic world; Shiva, also is an advocate of strong family values with his wife and children.
Grand Creator -A leader must be an artist in ideations, creations, innovation and inventions. This creation and destruction is based on the larger need of our society. Thus leader needs to be observant of people and their needs, to be able to create solutions in sync with times. And also destroy or de-clutter what may be obstructing the creative process.
Respect For Diversity & Partnership -A leader needs to have equal respect for all. A leader’s biggest reliance is on the team, and only by unbiased treatment one can win the trust and ownership of team members, irrespective of gender. Gender stereotypes are a global phenomenon, however in India where many deities are women… we should lead this space of respect and equality. ‘Ardhanarishvar’, a composite androgynous form of Lord Shiva and his better half Parvati is a testimony of this equality.
Third Eye Instinct -Lord Shiva is also known as “Trinetradhari” (tri: three; netradhari: the owner of eyes). The third eye of Lord Shiva exemplifies knowledge, intuition and wisdom. We all can develop the third eye with practice and prayers. In challenging times it’s the third eye that can support us to navigate our journey. This third eye also helps us gain awareness of our ecosystem and ourselves.
Wish you a very Happy Maha Shivratri! Do share with us how you would like to emulate Lord Shiva in your leadership practice.
drsonaliduttabaanerjee 