B51 Silence: It’s not optional for me anymore

I have been investing a good portion of my time the last few months trying to be in silence amidst my multiple priorities and time pressures. I shut my eyes and stay silent irrespective of the time and place .It could be while I travel, in between meetings, before I start my work day or while thinking through a solution. It can just be for 2 minutes or for 60.

In this short span of 5 months I can feel a real change. The more I stay silent the more I develop my ability to stay balanced and equanimous in varied circumstances.

Think about this
1. If you want to be a better listener, you need to be silent.
2. If you want to ideate new thoughts, staying silent helps immensely. You start seeing connections that you otherwise miss
3. The best way to handle a crisis is by staying calm.  A few moments of silence helps your mind becomes calmer and sharper.
4 To handle negative emotions that swell up within, staying silent is the way.

Silence is something that most of us intuitively know to be a great investment, but are unable to diligently commit to.

I for one am glad that I am making the effort and investment . I hope more people become disciplined in its practise.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mpsriram_silence-balanced-crisis-activity-6641290020214931457-Uq-3

B50 Arvind Kejriwal - Poster boy of Inner Change

Arvind Kejriwal could well be the poster boy for those who believe the key to effectiveness and sustained success lies in inner change.

From an angry common man fighting everyone and protesting against everything he found disagreeable , to one who seems to be in visible control of himself , his emotions , eschewing all negativity , focussing on his goals and most importantly collaborating with others to achieve his goals even if they are his political adversaries. The personal change seems to be substantive and visible. The results, not merely electoral, has followed.

Cynics might argue that this is part of a deliberate political strategy. I for one believe the inner change is more profound and impacts at a far deeper level .

B49 Stress levels among employees

 It is important to address both, the organisational causes that induce stress as well as help employees deal with stress.

This was my response to an entrepreneur who runs a 200 member technology services firm ,who asked me “I find that employees in my company are much stressed. Am thinking of conducting a stress management program for them. Will it be useful? Will Yoga be useful?"

“Yes. Yoga, meditation, stress management programs conducted by skilled instructors would all certainly help employees who are experiencing stress be aware of methods to manage perceived as well as actual stressful situations.

However as an employer/manager i would sincerely urge you to dispassionately look at the factors that are leading to these stressful situations. Examine the frequency of these situations in your organisations life, look at the causes and “fix those that are within your control “

For e.g. are we overcommitting while agreeing to all that our clients ask for. Are you hiring more than required and struggling to keep the bench occupied. May be it's some individual manager and his style.

Do also examine your own actions. Maybe a lot of stress in the system is caused by your actions and behaviours “

B48 Who is ".........".

Who is ".........".

How your family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances introduce and describe you says a lot.

Pause ...Is this the way you would like to be known / valued.

If yes wonderful!! If not what can you do to correct the same?


https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mpsriram_aventuspartners-people-change-activity-6641546502424629248-17Z6

B47 "To be Empathetic and truly listen we need to aware of our own reality "

 Every word from the Preface to the book "You will meet a tall , dark stranger- Executive coaching challenges "by Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries is profound .

A sample below

Every time i demonstrate a willingness to listen with a minimum of defensiveness, criticism or impatience i am giving my clients a gift of understanding and also earning the right to have it reciprocated .

My emotions can damage my ability to understand the mental state of others , to listen to them, to feel their pain or joy.

To be empathetic I need to recognise my own blind spots , the selective filters I use to look at the world. I need to be aware of my own reality as well as others .

B46 I don't have a comfort zone

 You realise the value of these words when they come from Mike Horn the extreme adventurer. For the sport lovers he was with the 2011 world cup winning indian cricket team during the tournament helping them on the mental aspects.

"I don't have a comfort zone."

"The moment you start liking what you Don't Like doing, that's when life becomes broader. "

"To break boundaries in the mind you have to love everything, even failure. Embrace failure. Use it as a learning process"

Fear is essential to make the right decesions.

Source: Davos2020 liveblog

Watching his short video clips, reading about his exploits and impact am inspired to read his book " Conquering the Impossible " which is an account of Horn's gruelling 27-month expedition travel 12,000 miles around the globe at the Arctic Circle - alone, without motorized transportation.

Am sure it will be worth your time too !