There is a small snack shop near my place, people call it the “Vadai Kadai” which means “The Vadai Shop” in the local language and Vadai is a small snack made of mashed dhall, mixed with onion, chilly, curry leaves etc., and fried in oil. One day I visited the shop to buy some Bonda … Read more
To most, “process” is a sick word that prevents them from doing things. Like the funny quote goes, “Getting things done is not an excuse for not following the process! Corollary: Following the process doesn’t get things done!” In some cases, the original intent of the process gets hazy or blurred over time and it … Read more
Recognition is not a perfunctory procedure as followed in most organizations today. It is something very vital that nurtures the growth of the employees and the organization. The organizations call it using many names and colours – RnR meet, Rewards & Recognition ceremony etc – but most lack the spirit! There is an incident from … Read more
Feedback is an important aspect for the organization and its employees. It plays an integral part in shaping up the career of the employee. Let’s begin with a story In the past, there was a popular orator who performed his discourses at many places. One day he was to perform his discourse in a village … Read more
Instilling confidence and making one believe in their own capabilities is the hallmark of a good leader. Like how it took Lord Rama to make Lord Hanuman believe in his very own strengths. As usual, our story! There was a village nearby a mountain, it had a small population. One day, a Sanyasi (An ascetic … Read more
Focus, usually is a very elusive thing. Leaders get pulled out in fifty different directions and sometimes they are spread too thin to have a better attention span and focus. Yet good leaders cultivate the ability to focus. In the olden days, there were Gurukulams – a sort of a residential school – run usually … Read more
Being inclusive is an important trait for a leader to build a great team. It goes beyond personal preferences to include the right people for the team regardless of their age, experience, levels etc. That said, each person has unique capabilities. So, having the right mix and choosing the right person for the right task … Read more
In this article in the series of “Catalytic Leadership”, we will see about commitment and how committed leaders would be to the task at hand. Thiruvalluvar in his Thirukkural couplet says, தெய்வத்தான் ஆகாது எனினும் முயற்சிதன்மெய்வருத்தக் கூலி தரும்– திருக்குறள் (619) Theivaththaan Aakaadhu Eninum Muyarchi ThannMeivarutha Kooli Tharum Meaning, Even when the Gods are not helping and … Read more
In this article in the series of “Catalytic Leadership”, we’ll see about what trust is from a leader’s perspective As usual a small story, Bob and Rob were very close friends from childhood. They were so close that their appearance and preferences were almost the same. They wore the dresses of the same colour, they … Read more
In this article in the series of “Catalytic Leadership”, we’ll see about how leaders understand people Once a student was travelling by bus. The bus was a bit crowded, yet he got a seat. In one of the stops, he saw his teacher board the bus. The teacher saw him too. When the teacher came … Read more
In this article in the series of “Catalytic Leadership”, we’ll see about the first step in solving any problem! Once three mathematicians and an ordinary guy were locked up in a room. They were given a paper that had a puzzle to be solved and were instructed that the key to open the room can … Read more
In this next article in the series of “Catalytic Leadership”, we will see about another important trait – “Knowing”. As usual, a story! A man was staying in the 10th floor in a hotel. He was just gazing outside from the balcony. Suddenly he heard a voice shouting nearby the swimming pool “Bob, your son … Read more
In this fifth article in the series of “Catalytic Leadership”, we will see about “Learning”. Learning is inevitable for all. It does not end with the school or university. As Mark Twain said, “Don’t let schooling interfere with your education”. In everyone’s life, there’s a lot to learn as the famous Tamil poet Avvaiyar said … Read more
In the fourth article in the series of “Catalytic Leadership”, we will continue about “Integrity” And the story! Once a thief was convicted before a court of law for robbing at many places including banks and private properties. He was elusive for a very long time but was caught red-handed once. He was proven to … Read more
In this third article in the series of “Catalytic Leadership”, we will see about “Integrity” As usual, a small story. There was a manager who used to eat regularly at one particular restaurant near his office. There was one waiter he had been noticing regularly. He was impressed with the way he takes the orders … Read more
This is the second article in the “Catalytic Leadership” series. Let’s begin with a story! One day a scholar visited a hairdresser. The scholar is well-known for his knowledge, pride and arrogance. He would mock anyone anytime he gets an opportunity, showing-off his knowledge and smartness. On entering the hairdresser’s shop, he inquired, “Hey, how … Read more
This article is the first in this series of articles on “Catalytic Leadership”. What exactly is Catalytic Leadership? Let’s start with a small story! Once there was a farmer who had 3 sons. In his deathbed, he wrote a will for them. The will read as “The land has to be divided equally among the … Read more