A student was asked to find the length represented by “x” and here is what he replied!
And we thought teacher’s job was easy!! Hilarious! (via an email forward)
Have a wonderful weekend!
February 28, 2009
Here’s a story I read from archives of Frank Patrick’s FocusedPerformance Blog -
An old man and a young boy were traveling through their village with their donkey. The boy rode on the donkey and the old man walked. As they went along they passed some people who remarked it was a shame the old man was walking and the boy was riding. The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions.
Later, they passed some people that remarked, “What a shame, he makes that little boy walk.” They then decided they both would walk! Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a decent donkey to ride. So, they both rode the donkey.
Now they passed some people that shamed them by saying “How awful to put such a load on a poor donkey”. The boy and man said they were probably right, so they decided to carry the donkey. As they crossed a bridge, they lost their grip on the animal and he fell into the river and drowned.
The moral of the story?
If you try to please everyone, you might as well kiss your ass good-bye.
Trying to please everybody and not saying things as they are is the greatest disservice we do to ourselves and our organizations!
February 26, 2009
Here is an interesting experience I had some time back.
I went to one of my colleague’s desk to discuss an important point with a prior intimation. As I was speaking, his eyeballs kept focusing on his laptop screen and then back on me. His attention span to what I was saying was very limited. It was when he interrupted me just because someone pinged him on MSN that I had to revolt. I stopped speaking and suggested that we would only discuss when he is done with all his mails and chat. He got the point.
On the other hand, I had a colleague few years back who made sure that when someone drops in to meet (even without prior intimation), he would immediately shut the lid of his laptop and assume a very relaxed position. He would attentively listen and acknowledge that he is getting the message. He guaranteed his complete attention.
People resort to a number of ways to demonstrate that they are higher in the hierarchy – in process of exhibiting this, they loose respect. Isn’t humility even more neccessary and important when you climb higher in the corporate hierarchy?
Key takeaways for me from these experiences -
- People only respect you when you respect them. People reciprocate acts. Give and you graciously receive. Respecting people at workplace is mandatory!
- Respecting people means listening them. With all social applications, chat, mobiles, blackberries and emails, it is very easy to be always pre-occupied with something or the other. But is it more important than a person who is sitting in front of you, wanting to tell something important? Respecting people means listening them. Really listening!
- Respecting people means respecting their time – because that’s the most precious resource we all have! Scheduling meetings only when they are required, sticking to agenda and adhering to meeting time is a great way to respect other’s time.
- Respecting people means doing what you said you will. Keeping on promises means you respect your commitment and expectations of the other party.
In this regards, I liked what I read at LSS Academy blog post titled “7 Practical Ways to Respect People”. I also loved 10 tips on how to respect people.
Have you experienced situations when you felt that you were not respected? What did you learn from it?
I am keen to know and I look forward to your comments.
February 26, 2009
“Forgiveness is the fragrance that a violet sheds on the heel that crushed it.” – Mark Twain.
At workplace and in our lives, how often do we forgive each other?
Now that’s an important question to ask yourself if you are stressed. Because most of the times, stress is a result of holding a grudge against someone. More you hold it, more stress it adds. It adds toxicity into our thinking, speech and our interactions.
For me, “Forgive, Forget and Move on” has been the best approach to stay positive and light from within. It is therapeutic.
I was recently reading Robin Sharma’s book “Who Will Cry When You Die” for some inspiration. The book has short chapters with simple lessons. That makes it a great book to pick up when you want some quick insights in a limited time!
In one of the chapter, Robin says –
“When you bear a grudge against someone, it is almost as if you carry that person around on your back with you. He drains you of your energy, enthusiasm and peace of mind. But the moment you forgive him, you get him off your back and you can move on with rest of your life.“
So when we forgive someone, we are not doing any favor to the other party. But we are doing a great favor to ourselves. Forgiveness is a selfish act that you do for yourself. People might associate ability to forgive with a weak personality type – so be it. As I mentioned, it is more about how we feel after we forgive someone and not how someone thinks!
In the management development program, we were asked to sit in complete silence in front of lit candles. We were then asked to close our eyes and think about people who had wronged us at some point in our lives. We bought those people in front of us – in our thoughts. We then said, “I know you hurt me at some point but today, I forgive you. I hold no grudge against you. May you remain happy.”
Most of the people who did this exercise felt lighter from within thereafter. As I said, it had therapeutic effect on a lot of us.
It is not only about knowing, but practicing forgiveness. One of the best ways to stay positive.
I would conclude this stream of thoughts with gem of a quote on forgiveness (I read this on Amitabh Bachchan’s blog)
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and to discover that the prisoner was you.”
Next time, try forgiving someone. I can safely bet that you will feel better.
Have a great week ahead!!
February 22, 2009
Twitter is catching up on me.
I am too excited to have people like Guy Kawasaki (his blog “How to Change the World“, his twitter feed, his new book “Reality Check“) and David Zinger (his blog on Employee Engagement, his other blog on Strength-Based Leadership) follow me on Twitter. There are other followers too who come different walks of work life (PR, Marketing, SEO, HR, Sales etc.) and bring interesting insights on board. I follow them too.
My focus on ROII gets more intense with such an elite following.
Here are some of the tweets I posted in Feb 09 – for you to catch up.
- Wise owl lived in an oak, more he saw less he spoke. Less he spoke more he heard. Can’t we all be like that bird? http://tinyurl.com/lstng
- The person who works harder when the boss isn’t around is headed for a better future. – via an email forward.
- “People Don’t Hate Change, They Hate How You’re Trying to Change Them.” – Mike Kanazawa. http://tinyurl.com/bms6jm
- The triggers of recession are different but economic basics are same. In any case this could be a good time do things differently
- I learnt from 2001 recession that if you resist bad times, you fall victim to it. If you thrive on it, you flourish. Time to re-apply.
- Simple Rule: People cooperate if you cooperate. You defect and people are more likely to do the same with you. http://tinyurl.com/c6b98u
- If your intent is to get it done, time is generally not an problem. We always have ample time to do things we really “want” to do.
- Planning is fine but you only get oil if you drill wells (Tom Peters). Execution trumps planning! Specially in troubled times. What say?
- If each communication with others is an experience, what experience are you extending to people you talk to? Experience builds memorability.
- As a professional, do you provide enough value to people who interact with you (mail/twitter/blog..or in person)? http://tinyurl.com/aurevs
- I realize that I can only see +ve side of things when I am +ve from within. What you see depends on what you are internally.
- Reading this amazing list of 999 business ideas made me feel very optimistic. Possibilities are abundant. http://tinyurl.com/cakfrx
- Right Questions > Right Answers > Right Results. Do you ask right questions? http://tinyurl.com/cu5d5b
- ” There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way ” – Christopher Morley
- Rajesh Setty @UpbeatNow is compiling an eBook on “Facing a Layoff AND doing it anyway” Have a unique tip to share? http://tinyurl.com/b9uuqa
- “The only way to make a man trustworthy is to trust him” – Henry Lewis Stimson
- Bumper Striker for a Software Tester – “To err is human; to find the errors requires a tester.”
- The most truthful part of the newspapers (specially some of them in India) is the advertisements!!
- HumorTweet: “When the going gets tough, the tough go to Government.” Hilarious!
- From the book “On Writing” by Stephen King – “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time or the tools to write”.
- Talking of leading by example, what example are you setting for your team today?
- I always fail to connect to people who have a very materialistic point of view. Isn’t joy within us and not in material things? I wonder.
- To raise someone’s expectations then not fulfill them is worse than mediocrity. – Seth Godin. http://tinyurl.com/bw9whv
- HumorTweet: New definition of Liquidity – “When you look at your investments, your eyes get wet!”
- Lead by example to me is that you should not expect your team to do anything you won’t do yourself. http://tinyurl.com/bycxyb
- Note on Mutual Fund Prospectus “Past Performance is no guarantee for future returns” Isn’t it true for us as well?
- Optimism should stem from your abilities to do things and not merely from dependence on fate. http://tinyurl.com/cpb5js
- Inspiration, afterall is like a good bath – you need it daily! http://tinyurl.com/dlseow
Earlier, I thought micro-blogging was time consuming and non-productive. As I use these tools more, I realize that they have a potential to generate a tribe that follows you and your thoughts. Immense potential when you want to reach out to many people.
Follow me on Twitter
(Image Courtesy: Vincent Abry’s Twitter Button Collection)
Are you on Twitter yet ?
February 19, 2009
Last week, I had a number of new followers on Twitter. I already have a steady readership on my blog. This means more number of people are sparing valuable slice of their online time in reading what I have to say.
Knowing the fact that time is the most valuable resource we all have, I am more cautious on what value I deliver to the people spending this valuable resource and following my thoughts.
Extending this, I can say that every interaction I do with people at work, every speaking engagement that I get into – I am responsible for delivering value in return of the time people invest in those interactions.
Rajesh defines this as ROII (Return on Investment in Interaction) – and it is an important differentiating factor for managers, leaders and professionals alike. Knowing this, I consciously try to deliver value in all interactions.
Important questions as I start this week are –
- As a professional, do you provide enough value to people who interact with you (in person, via blog, twitter, email etc.)?
- After each interaction, do you leave people slightly better than what they were before the interaction?
Have a great week ahead!
February 16, 2009
One of the constant feedback from readers/reviewers of this blog has been that this is a serious blog. Content tends to be serious in nature.
So, I introduce a new series “Have Fun” where I will post anything and everything that brings a smile to me. This is the first one in that series – I am sure you will enjoy and have fun!
EVOLUTION
February 12, 2009
Questions provoke the thought process – and often right questions lead to right answers.
However, one of the most common traits I have observed in a lot of people is that they keep doing what they are asked to do without asking the right questions. They end up being “task-executors” and add no value to the process.
Asking right questions at the onset gives you clarity on purpose and objective of the activity. When you know the purpose, you start thinking it through and not just execute what is assigned. It makes a hell lot of difference when it comes to doing something right.
So, in a way, right questions lead to right answers which lead to right results.
I have seen meetings that go wrong because purpose was not clear to the participants. I have seen conversations between a manager and team member go wrong because manager was not clear on what he wanted to communicate and why. I have seen corporate initiatives going haywire because they started with insufficient clarity. The list can go on.
Purpose of asking questions could be to seek clarity or drive a thought process. Recently, we were brainstorming on sales strategy for a business unit where I also involved some people from the technical team.
The entire conversation revolved around questions. I threw open questions and they would just think the answers aloud. I would appreciate their thinking and ask further questions. Ideas kept moving forward. How wrong I was to think that technical guys have no clue about sales?
I asked simple questions like:
- What are the key benefits of approach you are suggesting?
- Why do you think it will work?
- How would you do that?
- Is that the best way to execute it?
- Any other alternative methods to do it better?
- Any other ideas? Is that all you could think of?
During the Management Development Program conducted by Prof. M. S. Pillai, we were told that if you walk with an umbrella when it is raining all over, you won’t get wet because umbrella will not allow rain drops to touch you. Similarly, if you work with a closed mind, you will never acquire knowledge. Just like rain, knowledge is all over. We need to open up the lids of our brains and let the knowledge come in.
I think that questions, right questions, meaningful questions are best tools for opening up the brain and spark off a thought process. Isn’t it?
In this regards, I just loved a quote I read at “The Last Psychiatrist” – great quote to end the post.
“The first business of (science) education should not be to help us answer questions, but to help us ask questions.”
Also read related posts that refer Management Development Program:
February 11, 2009
Some people have an inherent ability to constantly look at brighter side of things. Each day, there are several news items that speak about recession, layoffs and impacts. So much so, that it gets unnerving at times.
At such a time, it was refreshing to read someone who says that she loves recession. Anna at Engaging Brand blog writes about why she loves a recession – and here is why:
When you are positive about how to turn a recession from bad news to a market opportunity – you stand out from the crowd.
People have less money in business and that means they have to get creative, I love being creative!
People rely on people they can trust, trust becomes a strong asset….when times are good often my trust gets abused.
Great way to look at things from a different perspective.
My take is that recession is not a time to worry – because at the end of the day, worrying hardly solves anything. Relentless focus on actions and getting things done is the only way to beat recession blues.
It all boils down to effort versus luck. Put your best efforts (which is in your hands) and let luck take its own course.
As Rajesh rightly puts it, “living in the fear of facing a layoff is worse than being laid off. ” (By the way, Rajesh is compiling an eBook named “Facing A Layoff and Doing It Anyway” – if you have a great unique tip to survive a layoff, visit Rajesh’s blog and submit your entry. It might help many who are laid off or will be laid off in coming months.)
So it is always a smart strategy to focus on skill building, networking, putting relentless efforts in your pursuits at work and strive to deliver maximum value to the organization. Whatever happens thenafter can be termed luck, which is anyway not in our hands!
February 10, 2009
