Here are some interesting observations from office group meetings.
Office meetings are no different
From groups of human getting together
Human behaviour has an extensive range.
From shy to extroverted, bold to introverted
Myriad patterns of personalities
Manifest in business meetings.
There are those totally in charge
Setting the tones driving the agenda
There are those who are out to showcase skills at every opportunity.
There are others who are peacebuilders.
There are facilitators who are also great delegators.
They are resourceful in the absence of a leader.
There are those brimming with enthusiasm.
They are the ice breakers who reduce tensions.
There are the creativity enhancers.
They step beyond the box and think.
They can bring tangible and intangible to light.
They can be ambiguous or realistic in views.
There are contributors who just say a few words which make people rethink.
They may have voiced their opinion only after much thought.
There are those who blether on and on without consideration for others.
For, they love to be the centre of attention.
They forget it is a meeting with a time & agenda.
Then there are the team players who actually enjoy meetups.
They are adaptable, versatile and happy to help.
They are the bond that binds one and all.
They are juxtaposed with the reserved and silent ones.
They are those who are uncomfortable with the attention.
They are the wallflowers who may have many views but are quiet in a group.
They are great to tap into to hear alternate views.
Have you noticed those who are physically there in a meeting but yet not there?
They are lost in a realm of their own
They are wanderers who are free spirits actually.
They hate to be restrained in one space for even a while.
There is just one issue they hardly pay attention and hence may be unproductive at meetings.
Have you also met the pessimistic who always think it won’t work?
They can bring down the spirits and the morale of an entire team.
There are also the argumentative who always have a counter view without thinking.
Then come to the detail-oriented
Who never leave anything to chance.
They come prepared and are diligent.
They are at risk of seeming too intense.
They, however, can pinpoint the errors.
Their questions can bring clarity to the team.
Finally, there are those who rarely attend.
They saunter in without an agenda.
They have no idea what the meeting is all about.
They have never bothered to find out either.
They still can be channelised through proper directions.
Lastly, let’s watch out for perpetual latecomers.
They always may come in full of excuses but with the right interventions & time management skills.
They can be great contributors…
How many of these types have you observed in your office meetings?
Every person is unique, & likewise, every meeting is thus equally unique.
Through a positive approach, when utilized in the right way for the right skills…
Everyone can then, greatly contribute to the productivity of a meeting.
In my earlier stint of working in the aviation industry, I had the privilege of working with a multitude of passengers day in and day out.
Handling VIP passengers, tough customers and dealing with difficult situations was an everyday affair. But it taught me patience and adaptability on the job and most importantly how to maintain a cool and pleasant disposition no matter the time of the day or the shift you are in.
Beyond the glamour were the grind and the rigours of the conformity in the service industry.
However, there were some amazing takebacks & learnings for a lifetime with regards to people management especially customer service.
Sharing a few thoughts on Customer Care:
The best way to express customer care and what you can give any customer is your undivided attention.
It can be in the form of kind words, pleasant voice, empathetic smiles, nods and eye contact that work to show that you understand their needs or issues.
Psychologically it is equivalent to giving personal time, it aids to comfort people, reassure them, and make them feel good especially in moments of crisis, delays or disappointments.
Remember to avoid mechanical responses, choosing some people as favourites and treating them better.
Aim to treat every one of your customers as important.
Be understated and avoid embarrassing the client with too much emphasis on the care you are giving. Aim to be classy and not overly effusive that it looks unnatural. Customers may even start apologizing for taking your time…
Aim to do your best every time. Your customers may not remember how you did it but remember you made them feel special. And that goes a long way!
AN ARTIST’S RELATION TO SOLITUDE
An artist must make time for the long periods of solitude
Solitude is extremely important
Away from home
Away from the studio
Away from family
Away from friends
An artist should stay for long periods of time at waterfalls
An artist should stay for long periods of time at exploding volcanoes
An artist should stay for long periods of time looking at fast-running rivers
An artist should stay for long periods of time looking at the horizon where the ocean and sky meet
An artist should stay for long periods of time looking at the stars in the night sky
Marina Abramovic
I loved the poem enough to share it, yet felt there is something much deeper to reflect there.
Is solitude the road to stillness … afterall there is often stillness in the movements and movement in the stillness as well.
So I would like to ask an artist…
Do you really want solitude or stillness ?
Sometimes in deep solitude there is no stillness.
And that is perhaps the reason for the need of staying away from it all.
Staying away is not the answer but just a change to alter and arrange thoughts.
For thoughts run amuck sometimes and have a speed all their own
Every person has a certain style of dressing. They have their own preferences on what to wear and an idea of what looks and feels good on them.
Some are safe players and some are extremely adventurous.
Corporate wear.
When it comes to the world of corporate wear, there is good reason to understand how to dress for success and make it work for you.
Here are a few tips on dressing well at work.
Dress well. It matters.
Feel good in the clothes you wear , remember its for yourself, not for others.be confident in what you are wearing.
A Matter of Details.
Attend to the smallest of the detail ensure that you are clean and organised
Avoid shabby and grunge looks while at work.
A Matter of Choices
Avoid going overboard spending for clothes or accessory.
Teach yourself to be well mannered, as how you behave is not only a reflection of yourself but also the company you work for.
A Matter of Decorum
Pay attention to your behaviour that all time
Maintain decorum and adhere to the set company culture.
A Matter of Comfort.
Choose closed shoes with practical heels. Avoid uncomfortable stilettos if they dont allow you ease of movement. Alternatively you carry your work wearing a shoe bag and wear comfy shoes while traveling to work. Or you can opt for comfortable block heels.Do remember your health is above all else.
Ensure what you wear is comfortable.
A Matter of Professionality.
Avoid distracting bling and bringing unnecessary attention on yourself.
If you wish to you can adhere to
global monochromatic tones at work grey black blue beige etc with the right accessories. It may makes you look and feel professional. It helps to accessorize with hints of colour to make the look interesting.
Make sure to work well at what you do as much as you dress well. Be a thorough professional at work.
A Matter of Grooming.
Keep your makeup minimal and fresh.
Be well groomed. Let your hair, nails speak for themselves remember to wear neat and ironed clothes.
Keep jewellery simple avoid too much skin show.
Avoid dangling earrings. Keep them for a party.
You can try matching your footwear to the attire or go for contrast.
Avoid following the trends of fashion blindly.
Wear what suits your personality and be yourself.
A Matter of Poise & Posture.
Regardless of what you are wearing ensure that you work on correcting your posture. If you find yourself slouching pick up your head & shoulders align with your back and breathe easily. Remember that a good posture shows confidence.
A Matter of Attitude.
Keep good attitude. To be the best you can paying attention to clothes you wear but more importantly remember it’s the whole package.
A matter of planning
Think what you want to wear next day. A simple practice of selecting and keeping your clothes ready for the next morning saves time.
A little planning goes a long way.
Remember it is not superficial it is an investment to your own self and career.
Dressing well is not about the brands you wear. It it about how wear what you wear.
Came across this profoundly touching and valuable take on life and how it teaches us lessons in living.
Sharing it here today.
A poem by Jorge Luis Borges
You learn…
I checked about this poet and learned more about him on Wikipedia…. Jorge Luis Borges Acevedo was an Argentine short-story writer, essayist, poet and translator, and a key figure in Spanish-language and universal literature.
Touching the nerve of truth
It is not an easy task to confront
Cause to confront is to be ready for conflict
Be it any kind…
From mental social or physical and more
Conflicts are always unwanted.
But change is the only constant
And life moves on creating itself.
In any art and creative endeavour
Say even speaking & writing for that matter, there is much scope for influences and perceptions.
It is the nature of truth to transform
But not without chaos and confusion
Such is the nature of human frailty.
There in lies the strength of human spirit. (Contd)
Domestic abuse happens and it need not be only physical abuse.
In my career as a dance educator and teacher spanning two decades now, I have come across many situations of mental abuse that some of my female students experienced and shared with me in the course of time. Believe me, it is a lot more rampant than we choose to accept. Some time ago I had written an article extensively on the Dignity of the being
Back then I had brought forward a true story of my own poor house help and how she stood strong in spite of continued physical torture in the hands of an abusive alcoholic husband.
Consider this a continuation of the exercise to bring up another much undercover and consciously veiled topic… of the shades and degrees of mental and emotional harassment in the name of relationships.
Age, education, class or culture does not seem to matter. It could happen to just about anyone. In fact, some very educated women, students who were affected by such partners cut a very sorry and disheartening figure, privately after the class.
Hoping however best I could use abilities in my capacity would help, I used to hold some space and time free for them to share and express what is going on in their lives. And to make them realise the power of positive expression, in helping them know that they are not alone and helpless.
We as dance educators can be if need be and when required, a great source of support to our learners in our understanding of movement. For the body never lies, we can probably be tuned in to see which of our students needs our gentle guidance and support as well from time to time.
It hurts to see a seemingly brilliant and confident woman breakdown under the weight of abuse and harassment at home. Often they would break down to share their issues with me for want of support. In the course of listening and understanding of their frustration my abilities to counsel strengthened as I started offering supported listening for their unique predicament.
I ended up realising how no two situations are the same. And besides a dominating and subjugating nature of an individual, how alcohol or substance abuse ( even chewing tobacco)are often factors that cause aggressive behaviour other than work stress and financial worries.
Often the woman finds herself in a predicament when the aggressor’s behaviour differs like chalk and cheese between day and night. There may be mental torture inflicted under the influence of a few drinks. The reasons no matter but when words and tempers spew, unfiltered and uncontrolled especially at the fag end of the day, the victim often is clueless as to how to deal with the situation.
Often drained by sporadic and incessant attacks they end up weakened by sleeping less, tossing and turning through the night wondering what they did to hear so much insinuating words. Health issues crop up in time as the body cannot cope with the confusion. And probably without any physical evidence to show, mental torture is difficult to prove. There are not many readily accessible support groups she could go here in India as yet and for the fear of judgements she prefers to suppress her hurt.
For example…
A dominating husband has a bad day at work. He gathers up all the rage and is seething inside.
His vent becomes his wife and family and often he comes home late night in a foul mood and spews venomous hate over his loved ones. Often it may be a time when all at home are asleep at night.
The reasons or the trigger to get angry could be just about anything.
It could be about a deal that did not come through at office… which he may carry forth on the home front… it first converts to deep-rooted rage and lack of patience and tolerance in general. It could be about anything …like, not picking up the phone when he calls, it could be about the lunch sent from home, which he found had less salt, it could be about not opening the door on time, it could be about a credit card swipe at a supermarket which irks him.
After such attacks especially at night most often there is regret in the morning for the words said, but it cannot be taken back.. And pride and ego stops him from feeling or saying sorry and taking help for amending his ways. The patterns continue. Cold silence ensues on both ends for want of peace. Until things settle in the course of time only to rise again another day.
The victim is often clueless about how to help in such a situation as she is continually bombarded with her weaknesses and told that all problems arise because of her. She often takes recourse to silence as there may be extended family members staying with them or for the fear that the children would hear and get hurt further.
Dealing with anger and rage and temper tantrums.
If you are ever at the receiving end of unforeseen anger you need to brace yourself from getting hurt and affected due to sensitivity.
Especially when you are confronted with a situation where you are taken aback by someone spewing anger all over you, showering you with mean and unnecessary words and raining abuses over you for something you did not do, as well as creating a ruckus about silly things… remember your best weapon is non-retaliation.
Try as they might to get you to say something by provoking with crude words … do not engage.
There is nothing like nonengagement for handling mental and emotionally abusive relationships.
It does not mean that you accept the pain and hurt rather you are aware of what works and how it is a more sensible way to tackle such a circumstance.
Also, it helps to understand that the aggressor is perhaps suffering and doesn’t know to channel and deal with the issues at hand and perhaps takes the path of bullying, manipulating, attacking by verbally insinuating and insulting to counter the situation. Know and accept they need help too. If they have any sense left they ought to get it for their own self. Remember the saying, you can only take the horse to the water but it has to drink on its own. So accept that you are doing your best and let go of worries.
Yes, it amounts to a great degree of emotional maturity to be silent and not succumb to such provocation.
A few tips…
If you find yourself identifying with any such predicament, allow yourself to express yourself.
Take help, speak to an emotionally mature member of your immediate family
Do not suppress in the morning for you know deep inside that this can and will happen again. It is just a matter of time.
Let them know there is so much that you are going through and that you need help.
Sleep as much as you can for you might often be sleep deprived.
Take interest in what you are feeding your body, avoid junk for you might just be nutritionally deficient with all the mental tensions and conflicts.
The body needs a vent to release the contracted pain, exercise well as much as you can.
Breathing consciously deeper with awareness can calm the agitated mind.
If you can write, regularly try to maintain a journal of gratitude for all the good things that are happening with you.
Look around and notice your blessings. They will be in the form of children, friends, pets, your skills, your faith, your inner resilience or your never say die attitude.
Realise you are meant to live not just exist.
Remember there is always a way!
Remember you are full of inner strength that you can harness even in your vulnerability.
Trust that this faith in yourself will take you through!
It is amazing how creativity is enhanced by leaps and bounds in the age of the internet . Especially with an app ready for every possibility.
Before the internet, drawing was a skill that was an innate gift or had to be honed by years of practical training. Back then artistry was challenging and time-consuming and most of all needed patience and dedication.
Having developed a bit of interest in artistic pursuits I remember enrolling in courses to learn the art of embossing and decorating pots, learning the intricate art of henna on the hand as well as joining a fabric designing course at a very famous and leading fashion institute of those times which I truly enjoyed and excelled in. And I remember using the understanding to create and sell my artworks and being rewarded not only monetarily but also emotionally through the contentment of creativity becoming tangible. The course of learning and experiencing it all was truly very fascinating indeed.
Today I draw a parallel on how one has to know how at the touch of a phone, the apps take you through the course at the speed you want, you can erase the art you create and redo at will, as often as you fancy. And most of all your drawings get texture, special effects and animation and you can even create a live 3d model for you to touch and sense!
Technology can charm the living daylights of you indeed!
Yet there are certain senses that are not touched upon…
The feel of holding a brush of colour, it flowing on the paper, and at times may be in error and you working around it creatively.
The sense of proportion in actually mixing medium and paints and getting the right shade.
The touch of canvas or other mediums and the way it feels after the painting.
The simple satisfaction of being able to feel connected to your artwork right through it all. It creates an intimate relationship between the art and the artist.
To be fair Art today has evolved along the way, there is computer precision and ease of use through applications that take artmaking to infinite possibilities.
The potential of an artist can increase leaps and bounds and endless pieces and options of colour choices can be churned out at the touch of a few keys. Everything is customisable giving the advantage to both the artist as much as the customer.
The scope and reach of creativity through Art is definitely increasing and that is a development worth noting. Everyone can create amazing art now unlike before. And that is quite an interesting phenomenon. Knowledge is openly accessible for the user.
In spite of the amazing advantages of technology, human emotional and creative connect is yet a challenge.
But nevertheless, I have chanced upon apps that give a great sense & feel of creating art.
Artwork by Russian Surrealist Painter Vladimir Kush
How are you going to reach the tree of knowing? The climb is not a cake walk It is tough to balance on the way up or down. You are at the base. And yet you are not grounded. In the knowing that sets you free. At times you climb almost all the way. But think twice about entering its core For it is demanding.
Life never comes with a planbook All happens in the living. All is meant to flow along the way. Things refine or distort To change or transform Into new paths of purpose. All, a leap of faith To reach beyond knowing.
Artwork by Russian Surrealist Painter Vladimir Kush
Savvy Raj 
You must be logged in to post a comment.