The coach felt the undercurrent. There was a visible problem between the two teams who were trying to kill each other’s morale before the big game. One day, the coach gathered both teams in one room. He then drew two lines on the board; one longer than the other. When one of the captains was […]
Looking back at 2013 fills me with gratitude. It was a remarkable year – both personally and for this blog. I did a lot of writing here and elsewhere, participated in some enlightening conversations with folks in-person and virtually, signed a new book deal (details soon), contributed photograph clicked by me on a book cover […]
I have been hosting the annual management improvement carnival (organized by John Hunter) for last 3 years and I am glad to be continuing that streak. This year, I am reviewing three blogs and featuring their best 3 posts that I enjoyed reading. This is also my opportunity to thank them for all the lessons […]
In that leadership workshop, the trainer and the participants were discussing about the importance of humility in life and leadership. Some people defined humility as ‘modesty’ while others said it was about ‘seeing the self as a means to an end and not an end in itself.’ After listening carefully, the trainer said, “Humility is […]
The cricket coach had some wise words for his team. This team was reeling under pressure to perform and was marred by penalties imposed on key players due to their overly aggressive behavior on the field. Coach knew that some course correction was required. “Aggression” he said, “is a double edged sword. If used correctly, […]
It was the first day of his job as a consultant with this large consulting house. The consultant entered the office and walked across the corridor confidently, armed with his knowledge about methodologies, tools and best practices. In next few weeks of his induction, the challenge was to apply his knowledge on several simulated situations […]
Before language evolved, we used symbols and expressions. They evolved to form words and hence sentences. Language allowed us to create stories and human beings learned through stories shared in a social context. Learning was social in nature. Then, literature evolved and allowed many people to learn from the same sources. In this world, the […]
When it comes to playing table tennis (ping pong), I like hitting hard smacks. But in this particular game, the opponents were playing defensively. The first few times I tried smacking the ball, I lost the points. Just then, my doubles partner whispered something in my ears, “Reciprocate your game. Don’t just play your style, […]
Alfred Nobel once read his own obituary that described him as a “Merchant of Death”. When Nobel’s brother died, a newspaper reported Nobel’s death by mistake. Because Nobel had invented dynamite, the obituary described him as someone who found ways to kill more people faster. “Is this how I really want to be remembered?” he […]