Why should I join me?

This is a question all leaders should ask themselves.
Why should a good person join my team?
What is it I can offer as a leader that can motivate?
Why should I, join my team, if I had to?

Getting the best people on board is not just a job description and a CTC.
It cannot be a push.

The Pull quotient comes from the organisation and its leaders.
Leaders need to have stories.
Stories that are credible, come from experience.
Upholds the culture of the place.
With Proof of Concept.


I often ask myself the same question.
The answers help me jot down a new set of to-dos.
Always.

The Rose and the Thorns.

“The Flower which is single,

Need not envy the thorns which are numerous.”

Fireflies- Tagore.

Read this today.

And thought it is a great lesson for us as we begin the week.

Sometimes we consider thorns as competition.

We get pierced.

We bleed.

We cry.

Little realising that we are the flower.

That can captivate the world.

Happy Monday everyone.

Friday One Liner

It's time we appreciate that creating a layout for the brand and a child's art class with equal gusto is quite an act.

Happy Friday.

Working with the bindi

Saw a security guard. In her khakis. Bun neatly tied up under her cap. A small bindi. Going about her job in the heat.

Once she is done, she will, in all probability, change back into a wear she is comfortable in, go home and sit behind the kitchen fire.For her, the uniform in blue- the trousers, the shirt, the shoes, the cap just signal working hours. Duty and her professionalism.

Thousands of women like her balance work, home, tradition, societal expectations, individual license and economic freedom, with elan.

Without reading articles on work life balance. For many like her, it's a life they have seamlessly slipped into.

( Photo Courtesy: www.dnaindia.com)

The Birthday Cake Board

Creativity on the table makes a moment beautiful.

Instead of one big cake that is opened up straight on the table, take a wooden board, make an assortment of cupcakes, a medium size cake, and go wild with flowers, candles- your way:-)

Of Butter Paper in Dal and More

Keep some online dining sites handy. The ones I order in from Gurgaon are very reasonable if you do a smart ordering.

For eg, an order of kebabs or say a vegetarian main can be supplemented by a peas and onion rice made at home.All we need to do is fry green peas, and caramelise onions. Mix them in with cooked rice.

A regular dal is a good accompaniment. We can cook it for two days and freeze it. But temper it fresh just before serving.

Don't discard the butter paper once the butter is used up. Soak it in the simmering dal for a few minutes with a ladle and then remove. The dal tastes delicious.

Yoghurt, fresh melon and honey serves in a glass makes for a great dessert. looks good too.

Some tips I have learnt over the years as a working mum.

Opting Out

An interview of a global CEO on  mother- daughter conversation inspired me to write this piece today.

The work place in most organisations and the mindsets force women to opt out.
Either of motherhood.
Or of her career.

This pressure is dialled up with our own feelings of guilt and coping with societal pressures as well.
Makes us connect the financial status at home with her choice.
Once the income is enough for a decent life, some of us throw in our business cards and call it quits.
To keep ourselves happy, we start dabbling in our hobbies and feel good that we are still "working".

In the process, we have lost out on half our workforce- of investment in education that would lead to great productivity at work,  balanced decisions in professions, fantastic managerial abilities that comes from within rather than business schools.

Opting out of motherhood is a societal disaster and we have seen this in some nations.

We see a book, an ad, some interviews about how some women, who braved all odds and decided not to opt out and feel inspired.
And then go back to what we are most comfortable doing.

Every time I take a session in a business school and see half the room filed with young girls, I am optimistic.
And then I attend a senior management conference and see the sprinkling and realise just how many simply dropped out.

Of course it calls for some change in work places.
I have written about this in my earlier blogs.

But again and again, I know that the change has to come from within.
Those demons need to be squashed.

We cannot opt out.
We are mothers and we are part of the nation's workforce.
We do both jobs brilliantly.
Both lead to a nation of productivity and excellence.
And maybe, a happier, balanced world.