Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!

Category Archives: #leadership


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The bouncing ball

Bouncing ball

Think of any organization, like a bouncing ball. No two moments are alike Change is order of things. In such moments the leaders at the top need all the support they can get from their team. And for that clarity in communication be it timely updates , to them & to the team is equally  paramount.

When the ball bounces are extreme, it could be many factors, like the winds of change that’s affecting it. Let’s call it external forces be it political, economic,global changes and more…

No one can predict things to the T but if risks are part of the buisness, then leadership needs both resilience from the entire team and quick decision taking to keep the company ‘ball balancing’  afloat.

In times of internal instability from unexpected forces within the company, affecting the state of buisness the leaders need  more than just attention to detail to bring the dissenting fragments and solve crisis .

It’s a given that even in stable times there is always going to be  that bounce in the ball think of it as the pulse in the heartbeat. Just that the force and velocity is a little more manageable . Acknowledging it as a part of risk management  makes it more realistic than procrastinating  from planning for it.

Whatever be the force, the torque generated decides the nature of impact it has. Being prepared and building the resilience muscle and creating a strong srategic team in easier times, helps in times of crisis management.

Embracing the changes is about  understanding the experiences of highs and lows as a part of the journey. And most of all seeing the setbacks as an opportunity  to bounce back stronger again.

What do you think ? 

Savvy Raj

 


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Power of Poise

The silent language  of leadership.

Have you ever experienced how some people exude confidence in just their efforless presence? 

It isnt just about the words you speaks but how you show up .

And if you can imagine how the body posture influences the way you move when in alignment you will sense how you exude a quiet confidence flowing in every step you take. Like dancers  deportment,creating the art of presence. Quite akin to the silent language of leadership.

Here are a few insights on how  deportment influences leadership.

More than 55% of communication  is nonverbal and hence how you carry yourself speaks volumes without a word

Maintaining  a good posture  enhances confidence & authority thereby influences how others perceive leadership.

Composure & Presence

Dancers composure shapes their movements And while dance movement training builds poise it also enhances emotional intelligence & resilience all valuable traits for effective leadership.

Adaptability  is Power

Whether in a dance or in leadership situations with quick  decision taking & bouncing back in crisis the ability to move with  fluidity & grace in changes that come with the challenges in time defines success.

Energy speaks louder than words

Leaders, like dancers, must be fully engaged aware of their space, their audience, their message.

Self Check-in

How are you breathing in this now? Is your breath calm or  labored.?

What is your  attitude reflecting ?  Composure & confidence or  Confusion and nervous hesitation.

Power of Alignment

How about if the next time you step into a room you become aware of your posture the way you are carrying yourself?  And then intentionally align yourself.

After all, like dancing, leadership is consistent practice, not just a single performance.

Savvy Raj


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Embrace Silence

I am not a trained speaker, nor an expert story teller. In fact I am quite the antithesis for while I deeply enjoy conversing with people than speeches… I  have always liked my deeds than talks to show up for me .

And I have sensed the butterflies in my stomach and heard my own beating heart while speaking to a room full of people, many many  times in my life. 

Like they say, life makes you stand on the razors edge, as much as on varied stages to experience what it is to be  vulnerable, only to transform you.

But then I know I have it in me to ace it. After all, the power of my self belief and purpose has always stood out stronger than my vulnerabilities.

Time and time again I have realized how much it is all in our mind. The journey of life through the illusions, our delusions & revelations to the clarity in awareness.

In time I have often sensed that what makes you uncomfortable  has your deliverance. In those moments of vulnerability, there is latent strength to overcome the odds.

What seems like an uncomfortable pause…

Can be the reason why what you say is heard and understood.

For if you truly care to sense

For there is much power in the pause,

In the space between two words  two thoughts , two moments and two people.

It is waiting for awareness

Embrace the silence

Sense the power in the spaces.

Ease in to the pause

Listen more

Trust yourself

You will find yourself.

Savvy


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Affirm the good

On Managing Behaviour

Whether as a parent, a partner, a teacher, a manager or leader, we all come across challenges in behavior.

Here are few pointers…

Being  critical is easier

Being an example is what matters

To pave the path of positive change

Affirm the good with consistency

Appreciate a deed well done

Behavior transforms in time.

Savvy


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6 Tips to Overcome Analysis Paralysis

On Analysis Paralysis

Some of the common Symptoms: Overthinking ,lack of focus,  Stress ,Frustration, Racing thoughts .Indecisiveness in high pressure situations, Cognitive confusion. Tiredness Sleeplessness etc.

If you are feeling caught

In a swirl of thoughts & emotions

As if you are being engulfed

In a whirlwind of overthinking…

Perhaps about family  & relationships

Or your career or finances etc

Where you feel stuck in a loop

Unable to take a decision

Or move forward with  a solution.

It could be Analysis Paralysis.

While anyone of us may have experienced  it, people with inflexible and fixed mindset often find themselves in this dilemma.

On the other hand people who are  sensitive and empathy also find themselves  unable to take a decision to move forward if it is going to upset another .

In fact Analysis Paralysis  can create blockages for intuitive people and hence they need to  understand it to address it.

If you are experiencing it now here are few solutions to manage  it.

  1. Acknowledge with Self Awareness  by scanning your entire body to sense what, when and where,and how often you are feeling this way.  
  2. Address it by allowing yourself to be more flexible and open to new perspectives without fear. 
  3. Stop trying to please one and all. Trust in your capabilities and know you are enough.
  4. Conquering  your fear of failure by taking  a small step towards that which seems impossible. Keep the faith in yourself and you can always  pivot without unwanted pressure.
  5. Inculcating a practice of mindfulness regularly helps increase focus by creating present moment awareness.
  6. Choosing to slow down and avoid  the pressures of multitasking help ease the cognitive challenges. 

 

 


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Surf the waves

To swim and surface
Is daring the waves.
Like any ocean surfer knows
We are all equal before a wave.
While you may not be able to control everything
And learning curve may be steep
You adapt to ride the waves.
For waves are a part of the flow
In the cycle of life.
A wise leader knows
the highs and lows
Are part of the same flow.

Savvy


 


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Handling Difficult People

If ever you are in a position where you are hurt and helpless and want to help yourself out of this situation  check on your own behavior

Are you speaking and sharing   more than you should?

Are you over explaining and try to match up to anothers expectations and not valuing your own strengths?

Are you defending yourself  when the other person  refuses to understand  anothers perspective?

Are you too sensitive and taking things personally  when actually  the source of the issues or the problem is not you at all?

Often  it is self awareness that is the first step towards bettering your life.

A self check to see your reactions  is definitely a way to improving  how you handle and manage difficult people in life.

Tbe way to make life favorable  to you , is in living as if all is rigged in  your favor.

Savvy


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Dare your doubts

Have you faced self doubts and challenges  in uncertainty

Have you been unsure of yourself to take a decision. 

Here is an approach  that actually  changes the equation.

Instead of focusing on your doubts focus on your abilities. 

Value yourself

Dare your self doubts

Persevere in patience

To build on your skills

Keep the faith in you

Focus on your strengths

Add insights in exploration

Dissolve your selfedoubts

Work on your positives

Own your competences.

Savvy


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On leadership.

Poignant truths  to remember for all leaders

You are human and not a machine and so is your team.

You are here to lead, not here to be liked by all. 

You will also make mistakes,  and that is how you learn

You will adapt as you cannot control everything, some things are unavoidable and  sooner you  acknowledge  it the better.

You will be challenged by a few in inexplicable ways , but these experiences will empower you.

Your teams will outgrow you in time, even if you have invested your all in them .

You will learn how to sustain in the letting go , that is the way of evolving with change.

And most of all the higher you climb the lonelier you will feel.

Be prepared to manage  it.


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Are you a workaholic?

If you let work bleed into your  night
You will find yourself racing with time
Like a hamster on a wheel
Churning in the loop of your own doing .

Savvy Raj


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Entrepreneurship truths

Workers want to be Executives 

Executives  want to be Managers

Managers want to be Leaders

Leaders want to be Founders

Founders want to be Investors

Investors want profits over people.

Truth is…

Even if one of them are there for the right reasons, it starts to make a meaningful difference.

Savvy Raj


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New Age Of Wisdom

My good friend @Geoff  Hudson Searle posed and shared an interesting  question.’Are we entering  a new age of Wisdom?

‘A new age of wisdom ‘ is a fascinating topic to ponder on…

Wisdom continues to evolve

As change is the only constant

Knowing is never enough

Discerning knowledge with application makes all the difference.

Some see it as the Age of the Aquarius, a dawn of enlightenment, but it is also a sign of changing times when there is greater access to knowledge and increased interest in holistic & spiritual practices and greater receptivity & awareness of values of empathy compassion and collaboration and therein interconnections.

Speaking of AI, while we are better informed, the human aspect of intuitive and ethical considerations play a significant role in understanding and application of this new age wisdom.

Now, this rise of a new age of wisdom could also mean more inclusive and divergent thinking in a more conscious and enlightened world.

The question then is, what resonates within and what we choose to do with it.

What are your thoughts on this?


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Be an encourager

On Coaches & Coaching

At times just when a coach knows it’s progress the client wants to give up.

They may feel the changes are not enough or there may be other personal factors that may be inhibiting their success. It is important to acknowledge their emotions at the moment and celebrate small wins precisely showing how far they have come. As a coach  being empathic & encouraging while being flexible and adaptable as you adjust strategies for the way forward aids and facilitates progress.

Often clients face doubt and overwhelm at some point or the other. It is important then to remind them of their why and guide them to stay on course.

Your thoughts are welcome.

©Savvy Raj


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Nature nurtures

Watching this papaya tree grow in our garden gives me great joy. Nature has so much wisdom to offer if we take time to reflect on it.
Love how the tiny little shoots are protected and nurtured by an umbrella of more mature leaves until they are ready to face the sun on their own…

©Savvy Raj

#life, #naturelovers, #treelovers #nurturing,  #homegarden #nature #awareness


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What truly matters?

What is the highest form of sportsmanship in a race? Runner #Ivan showed the world.

Kenyan runner Abel Mutai was a few meters away from the finish line but got confused by the track markings and thought he had completed the race. Spanish-speaking Ivan Fernandez was running behind him and realized that Abel was confused. Ivan started shouting at Abel to continue running, but Abel didn’t understand Spanish. Realizing that Abel didn’t understand, Fernandez pushed him towards the finish line.

A reporter who witnessed this asked Ivan, “Why did you do this?” Ivan replied, “My dream is that one day we can have a society where we push and help each other to win.”

The reporter pressed on, “But why did you let Kenya win?”

Ivan replied, “I didn’t let him win; he was going to win. The race was his.”

The reporter insisted, “But you could have won!”

Ivan looked at the reporter and said, “But what would be the merit of my victory? What would be the honor of this medal? What would my mother think of it?”

Values are passed from generation to generation. What values are we teaching our children? How much do we encourage others?

Most of us use others’ weaknesses to our advantage instead of helping them overcome those weaknesses. Ivan is a perfect example of how wrong this is.

How many of us align with Ivan’s actions?

In school and college life, when discussing competition, our son often asked questions like Ivan’s. Today, we learned a valuable lesson from an Olympic runner for our son’s questions.

Thank you, Ivan…

Thanks to Vignesh Janarthanan’s Facebook post

A wonderful share to motivate  good values & goodwill in action.