First published in The Hindu, 1 June 2025 For many of us, an internal judge resides within our heads and is busy from morning to dusk. Both trivial and significant events get parsed into categories of ‘good’ and ‘bad.’ If…
Swati is an engaged and efficient worker, whose boss appreciates her work ethic and professionalism.While she is a values member of the team, on aspect of Swati’s personality irks her colleagues and boss. For every step of a project, Swati…
First published in The Hindu, 3 May 2025 The musician bows reverentially as the audience breaks out in deafening applause. As they rise to give him a standing ovation, the maestro bows even lower, as if seeking their blessings….
Whether it’s an unreasonable client, a hard-nosed colleague or a pesky boss, you encounter unpleasant interactions at work where emotions may run amok. Most often, these difficult conversations don’t happen out of the blue. Often, you dread an upcoming meeting…
First published in The Hindu, 5th April 2025 Though schools may not explicitly announce ranks of all students, very early on, children imbibe the message that they’re competing with one another. We can’t blame students for comparing their grades…
Though your appraisal is largely positive, the last sentence baffles you:“You need to cultivate more of a can-do attitude if you’re aspiring for a leadership role withinthe organsiation.” What the hell, you think to yourself. I’m hardworking, meet all deadlines,…
After his first month at a new job, Rishab still feels like an outsider. He likes the work and gets along with his colleagues but envies Sindhu who also joined the company at the same time as him. Whereas he’s…
That we are the world’s largest democracy is indeed significant. Just as caring for the planet requires an ecological consciousness, a healthy democracy hinges on responsible citizenship. For many, being a good citizen involves being honest in their day-to-day lives…
First published in The Hindu, 1 March 2025 A tendency to categorize people into groups is fairly pervasive. The groupings may be based on a host of factors ranging from gender, ethnicity, religion, class, caste, language, educational levels, political affiliation…
To persevere when the going is tough is a crucial life skill. Parents and educators exhort youngsters to stick it out, hoping that younger generations cultivate the essential quality of grit. Whether it’s a ballet class or tennis coaching or…
