Trust trees to teach us
The lessons in living life
In adaptation to change
In flexibility & resilience
In sustaining for the future
In giving, sharing & letting go
Knowing the significance
Of bonds and boundaries
In networking and communication
Of perseverance in bearing fruits
To trust and wait in patience
And so much more…
Above all in faith, hope & self belief
To grow from a seed to a tree.
Savvy Raj
Here are my musings to support the
Qualities of a Leader mentioned by the esteemed and the honourable Dr Abdul Kalam Azad.
All these are valuable qualities in leadership.
A Visionary:
Without knowing where to lead the followers how can a leader execute his plan?
Equanimity
Without being able to be balanced in equanimity in both actions and attitude, how can a leader be able to ride the storms and manifest the changes in the challenges?
Nobility
Without enabling the heart and mind to be transparent to each other, how can a leader be synched in the decisions taken?
An Explorer
Without being open to an explorer’s mindset how can the leadership survive in this cutthroat world?
A decision maker
Without a focused approach and timely decisions taken with courage how can leadership know what to do ahead?
Integrity:
Without a sense of honesty and morality how can the leader lead others?
And I love the wisdom in these words. For this is what to me, is the sign of a great leader.
Art of Giving Feedbacks
There are many types of feedbacks given and solicited in a typical corporate environment.
In the art of management the topic of critical appraisals and sharing feedbacks is a nerve wracking process on both sides. For the truth is feedbacks at work take not only a whole lot of in- depth analysis, but it takes courage and common sense deliver. And often they can be the toughest of conversations to have.
Are you feeling uncertain about how to confront a feedback session.At work there will be time where you might have faced a feedback session .
If you have been the one who is giving feedback to your team or a member of your team here are six tips that can help you master the art of giving feedbacks.
Prepare
Keep the perspectives clear of what was expected and agreed upon earlier and the issues that is evident. Give a clear picture of what has been observed to the receiver. Remember you are addressing the work issues, dont get personal.
Proper time and place
Ensure you are slotting a feedback time that is mutually least distracting.
This will ensure there is the required focus and necessary attention to the discussion at hand.
Ask and listen well
Contrary to what is understood about feedbacks time the reviewer needs to hear more and speak less often to deliver objective feedbacks to resolve issues.
Avoid letting your own ego from taking too much space. Instead Inquire more into why certain things are not going well. Speak less ask more open ended questions and let them speak and ask for feedbacks and own up to their mistakes. That way you will not be crushing egos but resolving issues you are facing as a team .Avoid bombarding. Be empathetic but assertive.
Sandwich
Choose your words and sentences well.Feedbacks and critical analysis involves being mindful of the words you choose and conveying the criticism in a well meaning way so that you are not directly attacking the receiver. This will ensure they are able to digest and understand what is going wrong and not stagnate by becoming defensive.
Remember it is not a war of egos and ensure you avoid making it one .
Be clear & concise
Vagueness is not going to resolve anything. Be objective in your feedback . If someone is a perpetual latecomer then mention specifically how many times they are late in the last month .
This will make them more accountable and lead to ownership and better productivity at work.
See the Bigger Picture
When you giving feedback address the issue and do not attack the person’s character. Try your best to see things in the larger frame . Avoid being petty and leave your own ego aside before you begin.Remind yourself always to envision the bigger picture. And remember that it is not personal.
Feedbacks in general can be a very valuable tool for companies.and there are many types of feedbacks.
Have you given or received feedbacks recently.
What are your expectations and experiences on feedbacks?
Savvy
Have been growing vegetables in my terrace garden
Every potted plant has a story to tell
A lesson to share in the growing…
Take this tomato plant for instance
So much growth but not many fruits
Perhaps they were densely planted
And hence contained in their pot
A few tomatoes have showed up
Others have yet to see the light of the day
Amongst these few, the tiniest tomato
Is very visible to the eye, having ripened the earliest.
The rest are as yet awaiting
Patiently for their evolution
Like they say
Wisdom hath no age!
Perhaps this tiny one at best
Received the rays of sunshine
Nourished in the nurture.
Matured well before it’s time.
Savvy
Photography by Savvy Raj
To dare as much as to retreat
In the ebb and flow of life —
Waves teaches us much!
To reach the pinnacle of success
Is one thing,
But truth of nature is, it changes.
So, the glory must recede in humility.
Such is the way of balance.
There is no gain in holding on.
There is grace in letting go.
Such is the circle of life.
Savvy
The power of choice rests with you … always .
Whatever irks you in the moment
Whatever seems too disappointing.
Whatever brings you down
Take a moment to think if its worth your energy and time…
Savvy
And here is nice little message worth a read on anger management.
I once asked a very successful Man to share his secret with me. He smiled and said to me.. “I started succeeding when I started leaving small fights for small fighters. I stopped fighting those who gossiped about me…I stopped fighting with my in laws…I stopped fighting for attention…I stopped fighting to meet public expectation of me…I stopped fighting for my rights with stupid people..I left such fights for those who have nothing else to do but fight…And I started fighting for my vision, my dreams, my ideas and my destiny. The day I gave up on small fights is the day I started becoming successful.”
Some fights are not worth your time. Choose what you fight for wisely…..
Care or Control?
I was in consultation with a middle age couple.
They started fighting right in front of me.
The upset husband said-
See doc….
I ‘Care’ so much for her & this is what I get in return.
To which the fuming wife replied-
He doesn’t care…
he just ‘Controls’!
The care from one person was perceived as control by another!
This made me think…🤔
What is Care and
What is Control?
How to identify them?
Soon
I received the answer.
I had an argument with my teenage daughter over a trivial disciplinery issue…
Harsh words were exchanged leaving both of us in tears…😪
After sometime,
as our emotions settled down ,
We said sorry to each other…
My daughter hugged me and said-
Papa ,
You know why you got upset?
You were not upset because I did wrong.
but u were upset because
I didnt follow your instructions…
there is a big difference!
I was stunned with her mature thinking pattern.
I received my answer too…
I was trying to Control her under the disguise of Care…
that caused the conflict ….
If I really ‘Care’ for someone ,
I will not get upset or angry with that person…
I will keep searching different ways to help him…
If I am struggling in any relationship…
I need to closely observe
If there is any subtle Control hidden behind my apparent Care…_*
‘because
“Care is an expression of love
While Control is an expression of ego…
Control cuts…Care connects
Control hurts…Care heals.
Keep Caring for people
but dont Control them …
because
Often people are not wrong…
they are just ‘different’.
Keep Caring.
Here is share of my mothers reflections after reading my yesterday’s poem
Every example stood out for me and I just had to share .. with some pictures for the same and a title.
“A seed has to undergo so much to come out of the earth with new shoots of tender leaves
Gold nuggets have to undergo much before they become beautiful ornaments
Raw diamonds and precious stones have to undergo much to get their brilliance .
A mother has to undergo so much before the birth of a wonderful life.
A rock and tree have to so much undergo before they become priceless sculptures
All things of Nature have to go through a lot of transformations before a finer end product emerges.
Never fear the blow of the hammer, the cutting of the axe, the heat of the burning fire or the hurts, pains and insults one has to bear as each blow makes them stronger, shapes them to what they are going to become. Gives them more power, value and a beautiful form.
Keep smiling. The smile and silence can unsettle the opponent.
Make each experience as a stepping stone to rise high,
A lesson to learn, to mould you to become a better, stronger, mature, independent and fearless as a person than before.
Remember there is dawn after every dusk.
Yes, your transformation will be hard. Yes, you will feel frightened, messed up and knocked down. Yes, you’ll want to stop. Yes, it’s the best work you’ll ever do.
Robin Sharma
A life lived in the fast lane
Travelling far wandering
Gathering what feels sane
The traveller weary yet wondering
Of countless learning’s and insights
As life’s lessons are like a game that’s playing ….
That resilience could have new heights
That humility has no lows
That lowly anger is never necessary
That the need of patience can be a lifetime challenge
That courage comes in to challenge the fear
That to fear not the tears as they give way to loving smiles
That love is unconditional
That in unconditional acceptance there is true strength
That in the strength of truth, there is a hallmark of inner peace
That adapting in peace is an art of flowing with life
That life in trust is a lot about letting go
That always needs are less than wants….
That every life manifests for a purpose
That purpose is bigger than profits
That profits can never satisfy
That satisfaction comes from within
That within you is the solution to every question
That question comes from curiosity
That curiosity makes life interesting
That interests change to help us evolve
That evolution is a progressive movement
That movement can be unique
That uniqueness is a divine expression
That divinity is in the universality of consciousness
That conscious awareness happens in gratitude
That gratitude is a transformative way of being
That being conscious is about connecting intuitively
That intuition speaks when you are ready to listen
That listening with empathy is giving truly
That truth is eternal and peace is the way…
Savvy Raj
Savvy Raj 
You must be logged in to post a comment.