Soul on my Sleeve

Dear Tilak, Your frustration is understandable, but the good news is that you’ve caught this early enough to address it head-on. Situations like this are not uncommon, and as much as they test our patience, they can also reveal opportunities for improvement—either in the way expectations are communicated or in understanding what the new hire truly needs to succeed. Here’s a step-by-step plan to address the issue: 1. Schedule a

Dear Yogesh, I often make self-promises and resolutions to complete certain activities in a given time frame. But more than often I fail to do so as a habit. What does science say about resolutions? Do they actually work? Every year, I watch friends, coworkers, and relatives make resolutions—only to see them stick with them for a couple of weeks before slipping back into old habits. I’ve been there myself

Training a colleague can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience, but it can also test your patience and resilience. Providing guidance often involves giving feedback, which can sometimes be met with resistance. The challenge isn’t just in delivering feedback—it’s in creating an environment where the feedback is welcomed. A coworker may not feel safe receiving your input, which causes his/her defensiveness. To overcome this, it’s important to focus on building

Have you ever walked into a space and instantly felt like you didn’t belong? You’re not alone. Many of us have experienced moments of unease in unfamiliar or unwelcoming environments. Maybe it’s a language barrier, feeling underdressed, or doubting your ideas in the presence of confident voices. It could be noticing that your family structure looks different from others. Whatever the reason, the feeling of exclusion can be deeply unsettling,

This article highlights the key challenges in leadership development programs, particularly around the effectiveness of personality assessments. Despite significant investments in such assessments, the results often don’t stick, and leaders’ behavior rarely changes. The article argues that this is largely because most personality assessments are one-dimensional, focused solely on self-awareness without considering how a leader interacts with their team. Key Issues with Traditional Leadership Development: One-Dimensional Assessments: Most assessments focus

Dear Yogesh, I am a regional president for a global financial services company. About five years ago, I hired Rohan, a brilliant young man—let’s call him Whiz Kid—to bring creativity and innovation to how we use technology and approach regional customer acquisition. He’s a genius in terms of IQ, with a remarkable ability to grasp complex ideas and create actionable plans. He also had a knack for building relationships and

Dear Yogesh, I’ve recently taken on the role of Head of Sales at a growing marketing services firm, and I’m thrilled about the opportunity to drive the company’s future success. However, my new team is quite young, and some of them are just starting out in their professional careers. I’ve always managed more senior-level salespeople, so leading individual contributors, especially those at the beginning of their careers, is a new

There’s no shortage of material written about innovation, often aimed at senior leadership and the C-suite, focusing on top-down strategies like vision, culture, investment, and policy. Many frameworks also target product designers and professionals responsible for developing new solutions or launching new businesses, with agile development and design thinking being prime examples. While these approaches have their value, they tend to overlook the heart of most organizations—the managers and professionals

It sounds like you’re navigating a tricky situation with your team member who takes a lot of time off under the unlimited PTO policy. While her performance is excellent, the excessive PTO is creating some tension with the team and affecting her visibility, especially when it comes to opportunities for advancement. Here are some steps you might consider: Clarify Expectations: Since the PTO policy is unlimited, it can be hard

Dear Yogesh, I want to seek your opinion on handling the situation where my spouse talks too much. My direct/indirect feedback over the years. Sincerely, Geeta Dear Geeta, Giving feedback to your boss definitely presents unique challenges. The power dynamics at play make the stakes feel higher, but ultimately, your boss is still a person who is capable of change. Approaching the conversation with care, respect, and preparation can help