Savvy Raj

Live Life Lovingly!

Tag Archives: lessons


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On Leadership

 

 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.


Savvy


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Art of Management

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


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Wisdom has no age

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


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On Waves

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 the holding on
There is grace in the letting go!
Such is the circle of life .

Savvy


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Choice rests with you!

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…..


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Care or control?

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.


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All is a part of life!

Here is share of my mothers reflections after reading my yesterday’s poem

Light after dawn

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

The Traveller

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Screenshot_2015-09-24-12-22-41-1 

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

http://www.savvyraj.com