Do you have an appetite for NO? As professionals, we often chase YES from our stakeholders. However, the way to Yes is through facing No. Embrace rejection without losing momentum. Hearing NO is a good news Chandra, a young professional, had no time to lose. He needed alignment from multiple stakeholders before a major launch. …
What does it take to build something great? The courage to give up what was good enough. Good enough is the enemy of great. Creating space for greatness Darshini, product head for an AI firm, worked hard with her team to rebuild their flagship product from scratch. Within a week of launch, signups exceeded targets. …
Why do executives need to do inner work? So that it frees them to achieve beyond imagination. Inner work means confronting ego which blocks the path of growth. A story of growth and ego Clint, a high-profile executive, was on track to become a partner. He breezed through interviews with confidence, convinced he knew exactly …
What do Gen Z want? Every manager wrestles with this question. Their expectations from work and life signal a clear shift. The starting point is acceptance, not denial. A Zen master offers guidance A corporate executive once visited a Zen temple. He noticed a Zen master surrounded by Gen Z disciples—deeply committed, yet joyful in …
How rumination holds leaders back? Dwelling on past mistakes with self‑blame doesn’t fuel progress—it drains confidence. Focus is a leader’s most valuable asset, and rumination simply dilutes it. Rumination – Five steps backward Yogesh had excelled in every project he led. As a first‑time leader, he carried the same expectation of high performance. His learning …
How to care for your team? Do they need care? Absolutely. However, many swing to extremes – too much or too little. Care becomes either taboo or weakness. Learning to care Xavier was known as the stern leader. A go-getter with a result-oriented mindset. He dove straight into work discussions. He rarely acknowledged or learned …
The fundamentals of business are not left to one person at the top. They become meaningful only when leaders across all levels take time to understand how the business truly runs. When emerging leaders grasp the basics, they make better decisions and drive sustainable growth. The fundamentals: Focus on what matters Umang, a newly promoted …
Leadership bench strength is not about succession planning. It is about building cadre of leaders below you who can step up, take initiative, and make a difference. Creating leadership bench strength Tharani, the founder of a fast-growing AI healthcare community, had the vision but couldn’t execute it alone. Her challenge? Inspiring people to go beyond …
Ambition radiates energy. It signals drive, purpose, and the determination to shape a better future. For leaders who aspire to drive change, ambition is a powerful trait to demonstrate. Getting in touch with one’s ambition Sameer never aspired for the C-suite, yet he rose to become CEO. Known for his capability, fairness, and authenticity, he …
How to learn decision-making? Making decisions and learning from their outcomes is the only way a leader can improve their decision-making. It is not a skill you master in theory. It is a practice that you live with. Calling shots Rupa, a seasoned leader in a mid-sized organization, stepped into a bigger role. Suddenly, demands …
