A prayer is a bow of acceptance.
A prayer is a joyous amalgamation to the divine within.
Savvy
A prayer
Category Archives: growth
Art of Management
Irony Of Middle Management
One of the common concerns of any scaling team is that while the stakeholders ensure themselves with a great set of leadership and they in turn recruit a battalion of teams under them to do the work,there is one lacuna…
The chaos and confusion in the middle management!
The frozen middle management scenario is a result of widening gaps in communication and connection between the managers and themselves.
Often great work done by the team goes without credit buried under the hierarchy structure and lack of appreciation.
Second inspite of ability in the teams and readiness to accomplish good work there is a lot of confusion about what to do as there is no clarity passed on to them from their managers.
It’s clearly indicative of how important it is for the leadership team to share the purpose of why they are doing what they do…and how the message needs to be passed on with the same passion to every member of the teams no matter the number of layers adding up in the middle.
This is how you reinstate ownership and accountability which is paramount to the efficiency of the teams.
Unfortunately much of what is conveyed to the managers from the top in terms of the purpose is often withheld from teams, for the manager may not personally value the significance of the message for teams reporting to them to understand. It becomes less and less important in their discussions. And that is where a gamut of internal communications issues show up.
What will you do
When you do not have a purpose
You stop steering ….
As there is no winds of motivation to sail your course.
In the case of the middle managers sandwiched in between, they soon have no sense of purpose, they are often found working in circles without direction.
They may seem busy doing mundane chores to fill their work days and go back home every day a little more disengaged and disconnected with the system.
In my professional career as a Consultant & having been involved in the organisational development up close, I have encountered such scenarios where the value of transparency in teams in their shared work as well as the vision & purpose of the leader is often lost in the daily rut of routine. Between filling forms and answering mails much of the work today has become impersonal.
I believe the role of the middle management is crucial in managing change for they can bridge the gap between expectations from the strategic objectives and key results set from the top to match with the speed and efficiency actual day to day activities integration .
An engaged, informed, and knowledgeable middle management would mean a lot to the stability of a growing organization. It is a huge balancing act between manging to sustain through the changes and managing policies practices and procedures ensuring compliance and come away stronger.
It is important for the key stakeholders to have conversation that sets clarity on the value for the middle management in the system and expectations from them.
They need to know how much interweaved they actually are in driving changes. They also need to become more self aware and understand the intricacies of working beyond biases and prejudices that may come along while they understand the power structure of their respective organization.
Beyond good communication skills they will need to develop their expertise in networking with their seniors as well as their teams.
The responsibility on the middle management is demanding as the role is expanding to include the implementation of changes in the system as well as managing the cultural changes.
This can happen best when the senior management is aware of the challenges faced by the middle management, like time in planning to execution. They can best help fasten this process by direction support and feedbacks while realizing the strategic value of the middle managers.
Every level of management is intrinsically interweaved and important to the whole. In recognizing their individual strengths as well working in the spirit of collaboration, teams begin to evolve.
What do you think of the prevailing practices at work?
Savvy Raj
Its Logical!
Logically
There is always a reason
For things as they are
For people to be who they are
For time to be as is
So dont worry!
Just be happy…
Savvy
A passionate perseverance…
You become what you consistently think about.
Would you agree?
From since I can remember I have been fascinated by movement and dance. With its power and applications in grace and dignity.
I had no plans to become a dance educator but decades into dance and training here I am still thinking and writing and dancing whenever I can.
Yes, you may have many other professional careers and experiences in varied fields but the things you are deeply passionate about, you become and becomes you.
Be it any form of art of science or anything in between yet unnamed…
You draw energy and purpose from it…
You feed from the very energy in reference and reflection.
You transform yourself and your environment with the very same energy within in enthusiasm as you come from heartfelt abundance.
Savvy
Taro
Our Gardens Gift
Taro Or Arbi in Hindi
Every morning I try and spend some time in my terrace garden by myself, and I am often delighted by a gift or two from nature’s amazing abundance.
This morning I came across a refreshing sight of this plant growing right below our beautiful mango tree. I was compelled to use Google lens for more on this plant and found out it is Taro or what is commonly called Arbi in Hindi.
Here is a little bit more I read about this beautiful plant reaching out with a generous spread of leaves.
Taro is a starchy root vegetable that has a sweet, nutty flavor—a flavor and texture that seems a combination of chestnuts and potatoes. Taro can be steamed, boiled, fried, stir-fried, baked, and braised. It is often added to soups and stews where it absorbs fatty juices and serves as a nutty thickener.
It’s hard to describe taro flavor using other flavors. It is known to have a sweet taste with a hint of vanilla. People usually consume its edible corm and leaves. The corms, which have a light purple color due to phenolic pigments,are roasted, baked or boiled. The natural sugars give a sweet, nutty flavor. The starch is easily digestible, and since the grains are fine and small it is often used for baby food.
Young taro leaves and stems can be eaten after boiling twice to remove the acrid flavor. The leaves are a good source of vitamins A and C and contain more protein than the corms.
In its raw form, the plant is toxic due to the presence of calcium oxalate, and the presence of needle-shaped raphides in the plant cells. However, the toxin can be minimized and the tuber rendered palatable by cooking, or by steeping in cold water overnight (Source Wiki)
Interesting information on Taro.
Do you know more about Taro, do you have a taro plant in your garden? Would love to hear more.
Savvy
Acknowledge as is!
Today morning I happened to read my mother’s musings… which was written back in time on life. I share it here for I think it comes across as a relevant reminder for a pause in reflection.
No one is without faults.
To err is human, to forgive is divine.
Perfection in our speech, appearance, behaviour & habits are all our wants. But is it possible? Being wrong, doing wrong things, saying inappropriate words,-intentionally or not -is all in our nature. Do we realise, we too can be wrong sometimes , before pointing others.
Forgiving, if not forgetting is also in
in our nature. But how many of us are ready to do that. It is because of our ego and pride, putting ourselves first, comes before everything.
There is a proverb in Tamil. ” Even elephants can slip. ” How much ever perfect, one tends to be, mistakes happen many ways knowingly or unknowingly. If we keep this in mind , forgiving others, accepting people with their faults becomes easier.
Each is born & brought up differently. Values & principles change as per their culture , beliefs, situations and circumstances. Being stubborn & sticking to our thoughts , narrows our outlook of the world.
When we widen our spectrum, understanding & accepting others as they are, becomes much easier.
When we shift our perspective a little & start looking from other’s eyes, our shortcomings will become visible. Let’s be true n honest in our judgements.
We all need to co exist . Criticism, unless asked, distances us. Instead of accusations , appreciation & acknowledgement will bring us closer to each other. After all peace is what all of us want.
Above all we all are born with different nature by birth which is hard to change. We cannot change the stripes of a zebra. Acceptance & adjustment to a certain level is the road to peaceful co- existence.
So to have good relationships
Forget.
If not forgive
Accept
If not adjust.
We need not be divine. But need not be fault finders too. As fellow human beings , with erring in our nature, let’s all strive to live peacefully & happily acknowledge each other as they are.
Anjana
On Love & Inclusion
A poignant tale of a little child sensing the favoritism by her own father was shared by my friend Ali Anani in his post….
Here are my reflections on this post… which I had initially shared with him privately but then realized that perhaps it needs to be read and understood in the larger context of the trials and tribulations in life and living..
Truth has a way of baring open the wounds of the heart and mind on its path of healing the hurt.
For truth is on its own path of self correction in this world.
For unfairness and
Injustice has to somedayfind justice
Exclusion to inclusion
Doubts to clarity.
When truth speaks
In one way or another
It is important to listen
In empathy without judgements
Truth speaks as it is
In all of innocence
Or in wisdom of awareness.
And yet…
Innocence can be daunting to handle . But addressing the truth one way or the other
Leads to discoveries of how little we know or of what is sensed & perceived.
In the story that my friend shared…here are instances of lack of inclusion in a family
Where in one day there is marked difference in the way the father speaks,
When the child says
Why are you speaking to me…
Interesting to note that you perceived the young child as witty
Whereas another may perceive it as defiance,or even an evidence of an awareness of lack of inclusion and discrimination at this household in the young child’s mind.
And that she is voicing it in all of innocence.
What would be of significance is how the father addresses this brewing disconnect.
Lack of love can be a difficult phase at any age especially for a child.
Let’s trust the universe to show the way for this child to receive what she is yearning for one way or another.
May every life be able to sense love and live life lovingly.
Savvy
Truth is truth
Words have immense significance.
In the way we think speak, in the tonality, the choice of our words, we are influencing how we come across in every communication.
In saying…
I know everything -Ego
You don’t really matter so you are not worthy of my time & attention – Indifference/ Disrespect/Seclusion
How can you come in my way?
Domination
Stay silent and speak only when I tell you to.- Control
Who are you to advise me? -Pride
How dare you speak this way?
– Arrogance
If we only knew
The preciousness of life
We will begin to realize
How much of life is wasted
In arrogance and egotism.
In anger and doubt
Over things that hardly matter
In the larger plan of life
Can we choose to value
The preciousness of being
Place value for life over things.
This world is getting indifferent
Discarding truths nonchalantly
For it is difficult to swallow
But truth is truth
It finds its way ultimately
To make all the difference.
 Savvy
On Humility
Humility is a conscious practice in awareness.
Until it becomes a way of life.
In knowing that there is always more
Than what the eyes can see
Or the spirit can do
The soul knows
To reach beyond knowing
It is important to acknowledge the space
To allow learning to take place
Humility is dormant
When ego is dominant.
Humility is patience in waiting
A practice of humility
In thoughts words & deeds,
In listening to understand,
In letting go in faith and fortitude,
In making way for gratitude
In being hopeful in trust
In moderation and measure
Can unlock the inner potential
For humility is full of possibilities.
Savvy
The Divine Plan
If ever there is a shred of doubt
Of how life will pan out
How things will be
Or what will eventually happen
Just know…
The source coder has the divine plan all figured out.
In trust & faith, in grace and in goodwill there is synchrony of the synergies.
And therein is the bliss in the bless.
Savvy
There comes a time
The river of time is ever flowing
Where are you in this now?
Are you adrift for a reason or flowing along in purpose?
Are you sensing there is more
For you to do before you arrive
Where you want to go…
Are you feeling you are rushed
Carried through without a say
Or are you fighting alone
And wishing for some support and strength
Know wherever you are in this journey
You are meant to be and do
All that you deeply intend
For the river courses through
And finds its way to the sea…
Trust time to deliver all I’m good time
Trust yourself along the way
For you are not only in the flow
You are the flow
Savvy
O
Another day!
The day we learn to be light and live in lightness and not take things so seriously, we start truly living.
After all the sun will rise and set in its own course, life will flow in the river of time, why not think of living it cruising along knowing nothing lasts forever.
Whenever life feels a little too weary..
Know tomorrow is another day
And there is always a sun awaiting to shine…
Savvy
Patience waits…
Wisdom of Patience
Patience awaits
In faith and belief
Patience is understanding
For patience hones itself
For the suitable moments.
Patience is non-judgmental
Patience bears the burden
Of the moments
Knowing the power of time.
Patience is resilience in action
Patience is strength of the spirit
Patience speaks volumes of the soul
Without a word or deed.
Such is the wisdom of Patience
For much is resolved in patience.
A true Companion for Wisdom is Patience and a lot of life’s so called situations which need solutions can be resolved by thinking differently !
Ability to cultivate patience is an art…
To know all happens for a reason.
Savvy
Think happy
To think happy
Create some space in you
Allow happy thoughts in
Think well to feel happy
Inside out…and outside in
Reach out with good intentions
Wellness is a work in progress
Be well and be happy 😊
Savvy
Savvy Raj 