Posts by Vas Nair
Problem Solving Takes More Than Guesswork
‘Engage the right people to help you solve a problem’. It’s not rocket science, however, it’s alarming to see how unprepared people are when they set out to solve an issue. This may be due to not knowing where to start; the conflict or problem has grown to be a bigger one; or a busy…
Read MoreGuiding Your Team Through Shifting Sands
Remember that frustrated feeling that overcomes you when your boss tries to explain why organizational changes are coming (including budget cuts)? So now you’re left wondering how to tell your team members that their priorities and workload have shifted and there’s more juggling ahead. For many leaders, this is a reality that plays out very…
Read MoreYou Don’t Always Have the Answers
Hey, it could be your first job, or trekking along a different career path, or even a promotion. These can be exciting opportunities, which can also be unsettling. Regardless of your time at a company, taking on a new role will present uncertainties – which can range from a new team (or new Boss!), relocating…
Read MoreTips To Design A Strong Mentoring Partnership
I’ve had a mentor for most of my career, explains Lin, an architect in a mid-sized firm in downtown Chicago. When I first entered the workforce, I found it super challenging to find a job that I could get my teeth into. After years of doing it on my own, and 2 unsuccessful career choices,…
Read MoreGet Networking!
Intellectually, I think we all know the tremendous benefits of networking. However, many people also shy away, and don’t fully take advantage of it. There are a variety of reasons for it – ‘I don’t have the time.’; ‘I won’t know anyone there.’; ‘I feel uneasy in a crowd.’; ‘I won’t know what to say’.…
Read MoreLEADERSHIP MYTHS Part 2: Turning them into learning opportunities
Leaders, like the rest of their employee population, have preferred styles when it comes to communicating, building relationships, how they work to achieve their goals, and resolving conflict. As they expand their skills and knowledge, they will lean into what’s worked well for them in the past. In this second part, I want to continue…
Read MoreLEADERSHIP MYTHS Part 1: What are the lessons for leaders?
We’ve all heard this time and time again…‘What does it take to be a leader today?’. Looking at decades of research on the topic, a few factors remain constant – that being a successful leader is contingent upon the environmental factors and the stakeholders involved. The other part to this equation belongs to the individual…
Read MoreThe Human Side of Leadership
We live with disruption every day! Our everchanging local and international environments, throw us a daily dose of interruptions that impact every one of us – and mind you, in very different ways. Your employees could be dealing with a host of unsettling issues ranging from Covid-19 setbacks, not adjusting well to the new way…
Read MoreMindfulness and Working Through Conflict
Dealing with the uncertainty and stressful emotions in any conflict can unto itself be a barrier to solving it. Perhaps its why many people tend to put it off or not ever deal with a difficult scenario. However, ignoring it might lead to even bigger problems such as uncomfortable interactions with others, a breakdown in…
Read MoreDo You (REALLY) Know How Engaged Your Employees Are?
It’s no surprise that the pandemic has us all marching to a different drumbeat on how best to re-engage as a team. It’s a common topic of discussion, regardless of the size or type of organization. For some, it means onboarding new team members who they’ve not met in-person. For others, it means working with…
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