A backdrop of flashing lights, roaring fans, and unforgettable melodies — Taylor Swift’s latest tour was a magnificent showcase of artistry. Yet, amidst all this grandeur, a nuanced, often unnoticed narrative         played out: her profound respect and care for her crew and team.

In a bustling conference room of a prominent tech firm, I recently had the privilege to oversee a brainstorming session between seasoned senior executives and a passionate team of Gen Z and Millennial professionals.

Organisational transformation is indispensable for businesses aiming to stay ahead in today’s dynamic world. However, embarking upon the transformation journey is not devoid of challenges.

In the renowned TV series ‘Mad Men,’ the protagonist Don Draper, a master of communication, says, “If you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation.”

The digital revolution, propelled by the pandemic, has redefined how we work, collaborate, and connect. An increasing shift towards remote and hybrid work models and digital communication has disrupted traditional dynamics of employee connection.

As the saying goes, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” This is especially true for businesses as they enter a new financial year. The coming months will be a time of setting goals, establishing strategies, and making plans to achieve success.

The corporate world is an intricate tapestry of diverse identities and perspectives. Yet, beneath the surface of this rich diversity operates a subtle, often unnoticed force—unconscious bias.

Imagine your year-end review as the season finale of your favourite TV series. There's anticipation, a look back at key moments, and setting the stage for what's next.

In the hustle of the corporate sphere, where many are racing towards professional milestones, one wonders what fuels the journey from aspiration to achievement.

The halftime huddle is not just an effective strategy for football teams. It holds equal importance in the game of professional development. As we cross the midpoint of the year, it's time to reflect, reassess, and recalibrate our professional growth trajectories.

Are you a successful individual who constantly doubts your achievements? Do you often feel like a fraud, waiting for others to expose you? If so, you may be grappling with Imposter Syndrome.

The beginning of the financial year is a critical time for organizations, as leaders and teams set their goals and strategies for the year ahead.

When it comes to leadership, women have played a crucial role throughout history. From politicians to business executives, these women have demonstrated remarkable leadership skills and qualities that can inspire us all.

Mark Mitchell, a dynamic tech entrepreneur and our client, found himself facing an all-too-common paradox. Despite his startup experiencing rapid success, he felt constrained, a sense of untapped potential.

There are a whole lot of ways people advise us to handle stress -from mediation and exercise to making time for hobbies. However, some of the mental tension that we usually face can be tackled with some simple techniques.

With the roar of the crowd and the sound of fans screaming still ringing in my ears, I turned the TV off. Whew! What an epic face-off between two exceptional country teams to mark the closing of the Qatar world cup finals, and the year too! And what a rollercoaster of a year it has been.

When I think back to last year, it seems like one that was, in equal parts, fraught with unanticipated leadership challenges and one that tested the mettle of good leaders, burnishing them to a shine.

It’s been a month in the new year and it still feels like we’re having a second go-around at 2021. We all have our own hopes and dreams for the future and this is a time when we are all looking forward to how we will improve.

Early on Monday morning, Swati woke up in cold sweat. It was her first day as Team Lead in a top-tier IT firm with a global footprint. When she had been called into a cabin by her manager and was offered the position, she was thrilled beyond belief. Everything she had worked for through her career was coming to fruition. However, the high did not last long and was soon replaced by anxiety.

On a bleak Sunday morning, on August 15th, as India awoke to celebrate 75 years of Independence, another country was reeling from an invasion unlike any other; Afghanistan jolted awake to a rapid and decisive collapse of their government and a complete takeover by the Taliban.

Yes, we all have, in a traditional office setting, helped lead our co-workers to better outcomes. Be it over coffee breaks or lunch-room discussions, most of us have been approached by our co-workers with their woes and challenges. But that’s not exactly the kind of mentorship this article is talking about today.

Have you ever walked into a meeting to find yourself the only woman in the room? How did that make you feel? Intimidated? Or apprehensive?
Unfortunately, this remains a common experience for women in the workforce everywhere, especially in leadership positions. Only about 17% of leadership positions in corporate India are held by women.

With places in Bangalore slowly opening up again, I thought I’d step out for grocery shopping as a welcome refresher from my stay-home-order-home routine.

One coach does not fit all! Your colleague’s coach may not work as well for you as well as (s)he did for him or her. Just like how your mentor may not necessarily be able to work wonders for your friend’s morale as she does for yours.

Coaching has emerged as a crucial tool for organizations looking to support their in professional development. With the increasing demand for effective leadership skills, coaching offers a more personalized and actionable approach to professional development.

Have you ever faced a daunting challenge at work that seems impossible to overcome? Maybe you’re dealing with a difficult boss, navigating office politics, or struggling to make your voice heard. It’s times like these when having a mentor can make all the difference.

Have you ever watched a sports team achieve incredible success under a new coach? It’s a story that’s played out time and time again in movies, from the Mighty Ducks to the Karate Kid.

Coaching is one of the best tools for developing and retaining talent within an organization. Even more so for executives and leaders who are often less likely to participate in training programs.

Let me start by highlighting the leadership lessons learnt from one of my favourite sitcom characters, Leslie Knope, a fictional character, and the main protagonist of the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. For most of the show’s run, she serves as Deputy Director of the Parks and Recreation Department of the fictional city of Pawnee, Indiana.

During the tumultuous years of recession and transformation, the demands placed on leaders have increased. Competent executives must be able to predict future trends, take immediate action when appropriate and lead with purposeful vision amidst major transformations.

Traditionally, Leadership Develoment Programs put a lot of emphasis on Training. The bulk of corporate learning budgets are spent on training courses, seminars and workshops.This is of course important, as classroom/computer based learning is a fairly efficient means of acquiring knowledge. But acquisition of knowledge is not the same as learning!

There was a manager of mine who loved conversations. Our conversations could range from his weekend hobby classes, to my kids’ school and even waste management in our campus. All these conversations needed to happen before he could get into the nitty-gritties of work and we would brain-storm ways to deal with our clients. But alas, that was not to last.

Now that you understand the role of coaching in your leadership development journey, you go out and engage the best executive coach you can find and that should help you achieve your goals faster. Right? As much as I would like to say yes, the honest answer is a qualified “Maybe!”

Asking and providing feedback is, without doubt, one of the qualities we look for and admire in leaders. We also admire people around us - colleagues, friends, family, who care enough to give us feedback.

Meena was returning to work after a maternity break of 5 months. She was overwhelmed with different emotions. She felt extremely guilty about leaving her child behind in the day-care centre while also feeling very insecure that the child seemed to be getting closer to the care-giver.

If there were only one book you could recommend to someone just starting on their journey as a leader, what would that be? For me, it has to be Peter Drucker's The Effective Executive.

There's a lot of hype around increasing Gender diversity and most companies have joined the band wagon to show that they are doing their part. There are two aspects that most companies are focusing on - Hiring and Retention. Most companies have programs around increased hiring from Colleges and many are going to women only colleges for hiring.