People will not stay with YOU, neither is the expectation real #wisen-up!

Think of me as a manager who brings a team-first perspective to the workplace, every day. However good that might sound, this is not really the best approach when you are working in a setup that has constant churning of resources, the exits are quick, often impromptu, seldom unplanned and you are essentially, almost on your own when it comes to doing something for the team. It has been a handful of years at my current stint and I believe that this duration has helped me grasp one big realization – you might have the best intentions for the team but it is not really wise to expect them to reciprocate the gesture. Why? Simple – the salary-for-work environment puts everyone in a certain place.

To Office-goers: What is your workplace ecosystem like?

Healthier, Happier Workplaces are Small but Beautifully Managed

This question is relevant for anyone who does not have the luxury of working from home – something that I, personally don't count a blessing as huge some folks make us believe. Working from home has totally different dynamics. The reason lies in the office culture, the infrastructure, the people fueling daily interactions and the type of decision-makers that are found at every contemporary workplace. Closing-in on the question – what really is a good workplace environment? Does the presence of a great snack stand or awesome lattes throughout the day mean you are privileged as an employee? There is limited help out there if you want to evaluate your organizational culture, most information found online often heavily manipulated. The answers have to come from you and me...

DIY Anxiety Management: Need that Morning Sense of Calmness

There is one challenge that has been constantly biting me – the inability to dress up in a calm, relaxed manner when getting ready for the daily drive that leads me to the office. Why? I am a self-confessed, highly embraced, chronic anxiety sufferer, and despite my best efforts, the smallest of changes in plans for the day, from a minor change of breakfast menu to running any small errand that might surface at the last moment, I tend to get a bit agitated. During winters, this feeling is somewhat controlled as I don't sweat as much but during summers, the feeling can be excruciatingly bothersome. To explain this better, I will need to divulge more details about my morning routine too, and the stickiness of it that is also a bit of a challenge. The thing is that I need a few minutes of working in the morning to get in the right frame of mind and soldier up for the day to follow. This is not about gaining muscle or fitting into a muscle tee. This is just a means to an end, as it helps me prepare mentally for things that might bother me and those that have already been marked as problems to solve. Whether I am expected to be a peacemaker or a troubleshooter at home or the office, the morning workout helps me be better at it. But working out comes with another challenge - the sweating and the time it takes to snap out of the exercising mode.

The Great Leveler, Humbled by the Metro & Work-life

I don’t ride the high horse of belonging to a niche section of the society that cannot bear a single drop of sweat on their mighty foreheads However, my childhood unfolded in a manner that could be best described as ‘arrested development’ despite growing a typically middle-class environment. As a result, many hesitations about people, places, and being in the outdoors got imprinted on my psyche. I am no Different—though I hold the bare minimum of typecasts that overwhelm many of us, some have passively filtered into my mind and corroded its judgment. Like any other true Delhi resident, I too often bitch about the fact that how the out-of-stationers are overcrowding our city or how our tax money is being used for creating facilities that we seldom use ourselves. However, this discussion is more about how public transit systems can instill some humility in you and how being humble can help you live perhaps a better life...