Whilst we appreciate the need to be mindful, we are in reality so unmindful that we fail to recognise that DNA - Genealogical studies indicate that 12 generations of our patriarchal and matriarchal ancestors in a way, collectively, influence our styles, personality, traits, looks and much more. That means arithmetically, 4094 ancestors !!! If each generation was about 30 to 35 years apart, it means we carry and we are influenced by historical perspectives of about 400 years

A lion who refuses to listen to the sheep may not score highly on the metrics of contemporary leadership, but he remains the leader of the jungle nonetheless — respected, revered and acknowledged by all those within his domain. We should therefore be cautious about subscribing unquestioningly to assessment models that attempt to measure every dimension of a leader’s competence against the same yardsticks. A lion has to be fierce. He must command authority and, when necessary,

Experience with power, compounded by the mindless abeyance of the weak, can inflate a dangerously false sense of self. The holder of power begins to genuinely believe: ... that he is the ultimate embodiment of the role. ....that no one before him ever performed the role better. ....that no one after him could possibly perform it better. ....that his ways, his style and his commitment are universally admired. ....that people genuinely love him and will remember him forever. Ev

Every learning journey begins with four simple affirmations rooted in profound realizations: • An honest recognition that there is a gap in one's knowledge. •An intense desire to bridge that gap through learning. •A restless curiosity that constantly asks, "What more is there to know?" •A deep intellectual humility that acknowledges, "What I know is only a part of the truth. There is always another perspective, another insight, another lesson waiting to be discovered."Learnin

Albert Einstein famously said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." Few statements capture the essence of growth, leadership, and progress more powerfully. Every problem is born from a particular way of thinking. Our assumptions, beliefs, priorities, and decisions shape the outcomes we experience. If our thinking led us into a problem, it is unrealistic to expect that the same mindset will lead us out of it. Real solutions demand

Have you ever wondered why the very same mistake, committed by two different leaders, is judged so differently by the very same group of people? Social psychologist Elliot Aronson called this phenomenon the Pratfall Effect. It is one of social psychology's most fascinating findings, revealing a curious paradox: the same mistake can make one person more likeable while making another less respected. Imagine these two scenarios. Leader A is highly competent, respected and admire

Before sharing my thoughts, let me share a small note with you : DARVO is a concept used in psychology to describe a response pattern that some people use when confronted about their behaviour. It's best presented as a pattern to watch for rather than something that definitively labels a person as a manipulator in every case. Whether at home, at the workplace, in business, or in social organisations, sooner or later you will encounter people who manipulate situations, facts,

Sometimes, we take things too lightly. We fail to recognize the criticality of something while there is still time to act. We postpone difficult decisions, ignore warning signs, and tell ourselves there is always tomorrow. But tomorrow can quietly become too late. Whether it is preparing for an examination, completing an important work project, or delivering a critical speech, timing matters. What could have been prepared and handled calmly with sufficient time can become a c

Weekend musing

Qualities beyond qualifications, intelligence beyond intellect, and competencies unreflected in a résumé are often what distinguish true winners.It is what lies beyond the visible and the audible that ultimately determines success. Impressive credentials and polished conversations can create illusions; discerning the real from the superficial is the true art. Every organisation that aspires to build great leadership needs a Talent Recruiter with the rare ability to separate g

Success can be achieved through two paths: luck or consistency. While luck may seem appealing, it is unpredictable and fleeting. You cannot control it, and it may vanish as quickly as it appears. On the other hand, consistency represents a steadfast commitment to a course of action, maintained day after day. In today's fast-paced world, many dive into new ideas with enthusiasm but often give up at the first sign of difficulty. Consider the story of Sunderesan, a gardener with

Whenever life takes you through difficult times, remember this: it is not punishing you—it is preparing you. The first few years of your career can be the hardest. You leave the comfort of a world where others carried many of your responsibilities and step into one where your future depends on your own choices. You sweat, you struggle, you face rejection, and there are moments when fear seems greater than confidence. What you don't realise is that these are your investment ye

"Tarraki ke daur mein, Zorr useeka chal gaya... bana ke apna raasta jo bheeed se nikal gaya..." Success does not arrive with a map drawn by others. If you wait for the world to show you the way, you may wait forever. The world owes no one a roadmap. Life belongs to those who observe keenly, think independently, learn quickly, and act decisively. They read the landscape, adapt to circumstances, and carve their own path. Never surrender control of your dest

A little success often tests character more than repeated failure. While failure teaches humility, unchecked success can breed arrogance. When a person begins to applaud themselves more than others do, they risk becoming a caricature of their own importance. This human weakness is beautifully captured in the saying that a slight gust of success, influence, or authority can convince some that they can overturn mountains or bury the ocean. However, reality remains unmoved; it i

More often than not, the problem itself is far smaller than the mountain our mind builds around it. What truly drains us is not reality, but the hundreds of imagined scenarios we create—What if this happens? What if everything goes wrong? What will people think? What if I fail? These imagined possibilities multiply far faster than the actual facts. Anxiety thrives in this gap between reality and imagination. A single challenge soon becomes three hundred imagined disasters, ea

A thousand careful steps can be overshadowed by a single misstep, reminding us that success is defined not by how brilliantly we start, but by how faithfully we finish. The greatest danger often lurks near the summit. Fatigue, overconfidence, or the illusion that the hard part is over can tempt us to lower our guard. This is precisely when vigilance is most crucial. We cannot afford to loosen our focus until the very last step has been taken. Life constantly reinforces this t