For all artists, thoughts are the treaure troves of creative enterprise, to choose those from which to create from, are also thoughts that help pick tools for the infinite paths of expression. The ability to express or create art is a gift. A Gift of Grace. To respect the gift of creativity …. is to express gratitude and use it in empowering ways. To be able to express and convey is to be able to let go without doubts of disbelief. To be ready and willing to share helps boosts the sense of self confidence and self worth.
Take time to appreciate the grace of your gift , as you make a difference in your own unique way! Savvy
It is not about what we are having or doing. It is about how we are feeling. It is about how we make others feel.
It is not about where or how we are staying It is about with whom we are staying.
It is not about where and what we have studied. It is about what we are speaking. It is about the tone of our talking.
It is not about the form or attire we are wearing. It is about the approach & attitude we are having.
We live not with the luxuries of life But with the state of our mind , our constant companion.
One word, or one stare has the power to change the whole state of mind, irrespective of the surrounding. Being aware & having the right attitude in this ever changing life and making them positive ones is within one’s reach.
All it needs is the effort to make even the harsh moments to consoling n soothing moments with the right words & approach.
Yes. It needs a lot of training n conditioning to change the mind set, to walk the right path. Yet it is worth trying as it brings peace n happiness to self & others.
Ultimately it is what we all are seeking. Right? Ok to work. Better being silent is the best answer.
Never get hurt of insults. Take it as a way to move forward in life. It will strengthen you.
If you are not ready to adjust in life sometimes, you may have to suffer for a longer time.
Never be in awe of anyone.if you are awestuck you will be always a step behind them.
Never wish to live like others. You will loose your peace in the process.
Never compare yourself with others. It will end up in hating yourself.
Do not give much importance to other’s criticism. Then you will never live for yourself.
Being practical in approach makes life easier.
Sow the seeds of love, happiness, trust & success. They will come back in plenty. That is Nature’s Law.
If you want to know the value of your parents, live with your relatives for some. If you want to know the value of relations live without money with them.
Never hesitate to try again. If you win it will take you to the next level. If you loose it will teach you a life lesson. Perseverance makes everything possible.
You have to cross many rejections to achieve success.
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?
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.
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.
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.
This post is stemming from reflections to my post by a reader on LinkedIn. I simply choose to delve a bit with the insightful thoughts.
And these verses birthed along the way.
The wall of the mind Is in each of us to forge through In valuing the space between Two thoughts two steps or two notes. In choosing harmony of synchrony In conscious awareness In discerning thoughts In response than reaction In connecting the dots In realizing the grace of unity.
In sensing the strength Of the circle of conscious connections.
There is a Cobbler who sits across the street in front of my Office Building.
Every day, I see that there is a stray dog who comes and sits with him as soon as he arrives at the place, and he feeds him biscuits and some times milk.
The man gets busy in his work, while the dog sits there and gives him company.
One can feel that there is a unknown connection between them, they have conversation without a word being spoken.
He also brings food for birds, which he keeps at different places on the street pavement where he sits for his work.
Many people stop by and ask him for directions, he always guides them with a smile. Even if he doesn’t get any business from them.
If he sees a homeless person going by, he offers them water and food that he has brought for himself and engages in conversations with them.
One can see and feel the peace, the conversations bring to them.
I felt to go and meet him today.
He smiled at me and said his name is Dayaram, and asked me if I would like to have tea?
Pleasantly surprised, I said, “Sure, let’s have some tea.”
Here is a man who would be struggling to make ₹ 200-300 a day, out of which he would be spending around ₹ 12 – Rs.15 on the food that he brings for the dog and the birds, and the two cups of tea would cost him another ₹ 20.
He being rich in his own way, smiles radiantly, and his calm, effortless, abundant state of being is infectious.
I told him that I have been observing him, what he does, and that I am humbled and fascinated by it.
We continue talking, and I refer to the dog, and he says “Oh! he’s just one of us – God’s Own Creation”.
Talk about non-duality!
He goes on to say that “I am not serving… it is He who is making it happen via this person. It would be egoistic to say that ‘I’ am doing it!”
I fold my hands and bow to him, and request him to accept some money, saying, “It is not I, who is giving you this money, it is He who is sending it to you via myself.”
We laugh and he obliges me by accepting it.
As I am about to leave, he says:
“Maango Ussi se, Baanto khushi se, Kaho na kissi se”
माँगो उसी से, बाँटो ख़ुशी से, कहो ना किसी से
(Ask from Him, but then don’t just accumulate it – give it away to others with happiness and gratitude, and do it silently!)
but encouragement does more.Like the sun after a shower!
In every opportunity to teach, train and educate if every teacher, manager, leader acknowledges the value of appreciation and encouragement it will create and leave a positive impression forever in the heart of the learner or follower.
Friend… such a beautiful word! I loved this particular space at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Belgium and felt so much at home there. Although it meant become a friend of the museum…the fact was, there was so much positive energy simply being in it.
Be a friend reach out to care Be inclusive and expansive Our world needs more of it. Care to open your heart and share Express your hopes and aspirations Love life enough to live it lovingly!
Savvy Raj 