B98 "Be open to inspiration but for sure create your own path step by step"

 A couple of days back i was at my desk deep in thought on how best to guide a client improve customer experience in his single store retail organisation, and the book " Fish Sticks " stared at me from my book shelf inviting me to relook at it. .

Though its predecessor "Fish !" is more well rated by many readers , i find the sequel " Fish Sticks " addressing the more difficult challenge of making change stick .

While it contains some deep practical insights , one line that is worth remembering is a quote in it from Joseph campbell

" Your path is created in the moments of action . If you see it laid out in front of you , step 1 , 2, 3 ..you can be sure its someone elses path . Thats why you see it so clearly "

"So while we should all be open to taking advise and any inspiration from observing other organisations and people, when it comes to action , do not borrow someone elses to do list .
Instead take your own first step !! "

B97 Facilitators Be-Aware

 Here are a few things that I keep reminding myself every time i am engaged to align people towards common goals and resolve differences.

1. The process is not about me . Its about the group that i am enabling and the outcomes they are trying to achieve .

2. I have been engaged not because the people are individually incompetent , but to help them achieve some outcomes collectively.

3. Being aware of the multiple hats i wear as i design and steer the process ; The facilitator, advisor , the subject matter expert ( especially in areas when i have expertise )

4. Being sensitive to the spoken and the unspoken , including my own biases and feelings.

5. Every session/interraction is a new one. Do not be wedded to a pre-set process. As they say in cricket "Take a fresh guard "

Staying conscious of these enhances my probability of creating the desired impact and outcome. Might just enhance yours too !

B96 What you fear is never as bad as what you imagine

 Work on looking at your fears directly,calmly, clearly ,trying to visualise it and you will begin to resonate with the following two lines from the book " Who moved my cheese "

"What you fear is never as bad as what you imagine . The fear you build up in your mind is worse than the situation that actually exists "

You will then clearly see that while fear needs to be respected, its the INFLATED fear that is holding us back from experimenting,trying something different, something new " and then our journey towards freedom from our imagined fears would have truly begun.

Keep doing this every time you feel the tightening in your gut and then like everything else in life , with repeated practise you will slowly get better at recognising and handling your fears too.

B95 Re-read "Who moved my cheese"

 Re-read "Who moved my cheese" even if everything is seemingly going well .

While most of us would have read the book " Who moved my cheese" , I believe its worth re-reading given current times. Both in the context of our careers and businesses.

I for one am glad that i spen

d 4 hours over the weekend re-reading and reflecting.

B94 Disappearing mid managerial roles

 Hope the writing on the wall pushes many managers out of their comfort zones, for their own good and before its too late.

Organisations especially those whose businesses have been impacted since march 2020 by Covid19 are discovering they could do without a fair chunk of their managerial staff . While some of these roles may reappear when demand and business revives , my reading based on data from people i have been speaking to including some of my clients is " Most of these managerial roles are going to disappear for good " .

Certainly not good news for middle and senior managers who arent able to demonstrate visible impact or value .

Wishing most would use the opportunity to upskill, reskill and focus on impact and value.

B93 Viewing issues through your lenses

 People viewing issues through their lenses ( In this case labelling and seeing one a global monopoly trying to be the big daddy who does as he pleases, vs the other being seen as someone who is trying to challenge the giant and organise others against it) will make an already difficult and complex issue that much more challenging to resolve .

Hope they realise whats at stake and resolve it without any further escalation for the benefit of all the players ,
· Google which has been trying to do so much in India in the last 18-24 months
· The Indian tech ecosystem and its innovators
· And the millions of Indian tech customers and professionals

B92 Be honest with your inner struggles

 Gandhi Ji's reliance on truth extended to his battles with his weaknesses, inner doubts, failings which are well documented in his own words .

Through this he demonstrated to the world that no challenge or goal is insurmountable however strong and powerful the opposing forces be if you are honest with your own inner struggles.

My gratitude as the world and we indians celebrate his 151st birthday.