Birds of a Feather Flock Together! - A Poem

 

Free of any rein, harness, or tether

An invisible bond holds them together

Given any time, situation or weather

An adventure, leisure, or under pressure

Birds of a feather flock together!

Voice opinion, whether generous, incongruous, or displeasure

Being what you truly are and accepting is the endeavor

No judgment whether tender, moderate, or aggressor

Birds of a feather flock together!

In times of need whether Jan, June, or December

Whatever, whichever, wherever, and whenever

Whether a loud shout, quiet share, or a gentle whisper

A friend will be there for you forever

Birds of a feather flock together!

Sweet n sour, spicy, tangy, salty, or pepper

Like two peas in a pod, or different as apples and oranges flavor

A special bond that can remain forever

Only if we give it time, attention, and savor

Birds of a feather flock together!

Fluid - A Poem

The times have changed, and how!

To nature’s bounty and fury, we now sincerely bow!

The seasons as we knew then and now

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, I avow!

A thin line between work and play

Our life is how we mold the day

Nothing is black and white but all gray

Life, as we know, is more fluid today!

They say necessity is the mother of invention

In tough times a need for a new dimension

It’s time to find solutions through collaboration

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, with no exception!

When he/she/they gender pronouns matter

Nothing is what it seems on a platter

When all your earlier impressions scatter

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, and it’s no idle chatter!

How we do business today has changed

Brick and mortar to e-commerce, interchanged

A wave of digitalization unchained

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, unstrained!

School and office buildings have become redundant!

And yet the work gets done by the incumbent

Being self-reliant and yet interdependent

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, a judgment not indulgent!

Less is more, and minimalism is indeed the new maxim

What was indispensable has gone through many subtractions

While true essentials of today cost us a fraction

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, no retraction!

In the pandemic, the mask may have covered the ground

In truth, it laid bare our relationships and trust, unbound

No matter what, love and empathy stand finally crowned

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, I strongly propound!

But who knows what’s in store for us in the future?

As travelers in a time capsule, as actors, and as viewers

Adapt, adjust, hang in there, play our part, and maneuver

Life, as we know, is more fluid today and tomorrow, another adventure!

Breath - A Poem

 

You are, therefore, I am.

In this moment. At this very point in time.

You are precious. Yet, I don’t care a dime

You are now, you are here

Not in the past or future

But one thing is crystal clear

I don’t need to hear from a seer

You are, therefore, I am.

 

Moments are just grains of sand in time

Some with grime and some sublime

And so many that don’t shine

Yet here we are, just both of us

Intertwined and aligned

Facing the seconds unconfined

I traverse through life as if I don’t mind

Your presence, I undermine

But one thing I must forever remind

You are, therefore, I am.

 

Live in the moment is what we are told

The deep meaning gradually unfolds

Lifting the veil of darkness, I see the gold

The message is loud, clear, and bold

Your understated presence is extolled

When some saw the writing on the wall, I just scrolled

And now it’s too late I am told

Though I wish I was sooner enrolled

To this thought or belief that we must forever behold

You are, therefore, I am.

Breath - A Poem

The lighter side of The New Work Eco-system.

1. Virtual calls with international colleagues becoming a daily norm, most have finally started understanding the concept of the Time Zone difference. Your global colleagues finally know where India is located on the global map.

2. We have understood it is not apt to wish a ‘Good Morning’ to everyone on a global call as there are colleagues in the meeting from different locations across the world. More correct would be just saying, ‘Greetings to all’. No need to ramble off with the time-consuming time-specific salutations to show you are inclusive.

3. Turning on your video for virtual meetings does not mean showing up at work anymore. If it was required last year, in 2021 it is ok to keep the video off. Your good work in the last year allows you that. If you have not worked hard enough, good luck to you. Even showing your face may not help. Your manager and colleagues can see through you anyway.

4. Logging in a few minutes early is being on time. Logging on time is not enough. And logging even a few minutes after the scheduled time is rude and discourteous. With no traffic woes, no excuse has been yet found to be good enough to report late. Maybe if you say, the previous meeting overran it could be tolerable but otherwise be ready with an apology.

5. Saying that a brand launch is in late summer/autumn is not appropriate if we have a global audience. There may be folks from the southern hemisphere who may totally miss the red-letter event. I say, just spell out the month.

6. Upskilling and taking up new courses has been the hottest trend of COVID19 that may not go out of fashion. An overwhelming majority has joined the (not fire) brigade and taken to drinking straight from the fire hose and oozing with knowledge.

7. If it’s an office call (even phone call) without prior intimation or appointment, it has now become expected to start with permission or request. Don’t be surprised to hear an unexpected warm humble request coming from someone who was known to be cold and brusque in Pre-COVID times.

8. ‘Are you still there?’, ‘Can you hear me?’, ‘Can you see my screen?’, ‘Can everyone go on mute?, ‘Can we take this offline?’, have been unanimously voted as the most used phrases in office seances, oops, office meetings. By showing up for these meetings, is how most of us have kept our spirits alive and home fires burning the whole of last year.

9. With the rise in virtual meetings, there also has been a rise in multitasking, especially in meetings where we are invited but not required. With video kept off, you can be emailing, chomping on your favorite snack, preparing for the next meeting or your meal, completing pending items, doing other phone calls (yes, even that!) and no one will still find out.

10. With the overload of virtual meetings, one can politely declare, ‘I have a hard stop’ or ‘I have to jump to another meeting’ at the start of a meeting. It helps two ways. It helps you to get an early exit from purposeless meetings which you don’t need to be part of in the first place and show you are super busy with a full schedule (even when you are not).

11. The Coffee Breaks or the Virtual Water Cooler sessions ran by HR for team building and employee well-being have now run their course. These concepts if still running anywhere can now graciously call it a day. Honestly, we just want to get off the laptop and our back-breaking chair and take a Real Break!

12. With the lines blurring between office and housework, with meetings scheduled beyond typical work hours, it is ok if our work status shows ‘Away’ (from the laptop) or ‘Be Right Back’ or even ‘Offline’ during office hours. Because - When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go!

Pic Courtesy - thearensic.com

Gratitude (2020)

Thank you

For making us stronger and resilient more than we knew we could be.

And for making us realize the vulnerability of life.

Thank you

For helping us to focus on the NOW and not THEREAFTER.

And for making us realize the importance of ‘’We’’ and not just the ‘’I’’.

Thank you

For making us look inward for happiness and peace.

And for bringing out our latent creative side.

Thank you

For making us understand the meaning of agility at work.

And that at times it is better we don’t go against the tide.

Thank you

For applying the well-timed brakes in our journey called life

We now understand what we have been taking for granted on this ride.

Thank you

For forcing us to go back to basics, to giving, caring and being responsible.

It has more meaning and has purpose when the ‘’I’’ plays the second fiddle and steps aside.

Dichotomy, Thy Name is COVID-19

Somewhere far across when you first raised your ugly head

And made people cower and crawl inside their home

Little did we know all that we watched and we read

Would soon forbid even us to be carefree, let loose, and roam

 

Your humble beginnings in wet markets and all things unclean

Had us squirming when we saw where you came from that was so far unseen

Whether washing hands, objects, or anything that came in between

It made many of us realize the importance of health and good hygiene

 

Even when we were forced us to wear a mask to keep us safe

Day by day, week by week, it made us really chafe

Little did we know that something that protected even any telltale

Can very well reveal the person’s true character behind the veil  

 

Ever since you came into our life, life has never been the same

Many call it a new reality, for some, it has been a boon but for many a bane

You have made us realize what’s important and what we need to appreciate

Whether it is our health or relationships, some of us have realized the true meaning albeit late

 

Because of you, many professions may, unfortunately, become less important or redundant

But one thing that came to light was what we really need is not valued and very much insufficient

Whether those in healthcare, education, food, essential services, or any other industry in the new equation

How to become digital, agile, yet sustainable and with compassion will become the new foundation

 

You have been the harshest teacher for those who have understood the hard way

The importance of being resilient, positive, practicing gratitude, and pivoting to a new wave

Minimalism, cherishing little joys and being in the present are some lessons learned by yours truly

Being self-reliant, value of family members and my hobbies have helped me so far steadfastly

Sadly, looks like you will be part of our lives for much longer than earlier imagined

Hope a new vaccine is born somewhere soon that has you dispatching

All said and done, 2020 will remain a potent year, thanks to you, we would all like forgotten

You may have made us stronger, wiser, and tougher but for many, it will remain downright rotten

 

Tomorrow is a new day and as someone said everything happens for a reason

The humanity that has suffered at your hands has very much learned her lesson

It’s natures way of telling us, slow is good, less is more, and take care of mother earth.

Maybe we need to listen to her more carefully, act responsibly, and appreciate her worth henceforth.

 

Pic Courtesy: https://www.james-alan-smith.com/2018/06/05/dichotomy-by-james-alan-smith/

A Happy Mother's Day - Dedication to all Mothers

In the current times, we have all been tested to our limits. It's almost akin to being thrown under a bus and then being asked to drive that same bus home.

If you are a working professional actively working from home, managing housework, and also taking care of family members, then more power to you. 

This was the stuff that nightmares were made off in bygone times, but today it's a harsh reality.

Battling the virtual meetings, with the phone in one hand and wielding the chapati rolling pin in the other, we have definitely armed ourselves with a Ph.D. in multitasking skills within a short period.

At the same time, we have been forced to introspect, dip into our inner reserves of energies, and find ways and means to deal with these unprecedented challenges. Each of us, in our own unique ways, is tackling the inner demons along with fighting the faceless universal evil out there.

Why am I ranting about it today when so much has been said and fumed by many already?

Well, amidst all this chaos and uncertainty, when all of us are seeking solutions or answers from experts out there, we have one superhuman living right among us. A superhuman who has all those qualities that the specialists are urging us to cultivate; that will help us to accept the new normal courageously and without any complaints. And that person deserves attention today more than ever.

Today is Mother's Day, my friends. And the superhuman is none other than our dear mom. 

Hard-working and Energetic – Have you seen your mom ever sitting down after a hard day's work and complaining. "Oh, I have had enough; now I need a break." Or "I can't take this anymore. You guys manage; I am going to lie down now".

Not my mom or mother in law for sure. Despite their frail frame, they are always on their feet from dawn to dusk, unfailingly toiling away as if they have access to the "Akshay Patra of Energy." It's incredible that at their age, they are more agile than any of us who are almost half their age. Sometimes, I wonder what secret sauce they have been cooking their food with all these years.

Self-sacrificing - No one can come close to being defined as self-sacrificing more precisely than our mothers. Whether it's their choices, their likes, or ideas, they will always put our interests first and their last. Period!

Unconditional Love and support – When everyone in professional circles is talking about the importance of collaborating, teamwork, supporting each other, and having each other's back in the current crisis, mothers literally can teach us a lot beyond all these ornate words. They are our strong pillars who not only support us, help us, provide us all comforts but also do not expect anything from us, unlike professional relationships. They will do it wholly and unconditionally and, more often than not, bend over backward even when their backs hurt.

Resourceful – In these tough times, we don't know what the future holds for us in terms of jobs, business, health, safety, and even existence. We have been forced to think creatively, find opportunities in stressful situations, and to keep a positive outlook. When I think about it, haven't our moms been doing that forever. Always ingenious, finding alternatives for scarce resources, finding a quick-fix for seemingly complex problems, and many a time even converting your potential recipe disaster into a lip-smacking dish.

Proactive and disciplined – Despite having a grueling day, the next morning, they will wake up at the appointed time, get back on their tired and old feet, and gently amble into the daily grind, keeping all excuses at bay. Ready to face a new day with the same vigor, they will foresee any potential lags and delays and, like a real professional tick all boxes in their packed daily schedule. They will stick to the required timelines and will not pause until the task is done. Also, they have an innate sense to sniff out any shortage, problem, and take timely preemptive action.

Nurturing and empathetic – Even after all this, they will always be ready to give a kind ear to all your woes and complaints unfailingly without missing each and every word you say. After all these years, they are still keen to know from you how your day has been, listen genuinely, and allow you to share your problems so that you feel lighter. How many people in our life are sincerely concerned about our well-being? Well, we can probably count them on our finger-tips.

These and many more qualities we need to imbibe from our mothers not just today but forever. I am sure my feelings above resonate with most of you. So much to learn from these superhumans whose value we take for granted. We as their children cannot thank them enough for all that they do for us, consistently and steadfastly. This is a dedication to my mom and mother-in-law, for simply being the superhumans they are, and also for showcasing their humane qualities with such humility and grace.

Happy Mother's Day – Aai and Mummy

Yoga and the Art of Project Management

A funny thing happened in our Yoga class today. After an intense hour of maneuvering through Tadasana, Trikonasana, Virabhadrasana (all Yoga postures/asanas) and what have you, it was time for all to do the Shavasana. For the uninitiated, Shavasan is the pause mode in Yoga before you finally wind up your session. It is lying down on your back with eyes closed and focusing on slow and gentle breathing. Though it seems to be the easiest, I must tell you; it is the most difficult of all poses.

It is resting the body for five to ten (or more) minutes in a corpse like pose. However, for some newbies (sometimes even regulars) what typically happens is exactly the opposite. Though their body is in rested state, it is the mind that keeps wandering from one thought to another. While for other beginners it is something else. Like it happened today morning.

Initially, it was a faint sound of a deep breath, and then slowly and gradually it grew into a loud sonorous sound. It was a reverberation of someone snoring just a few meters away. An elderly gentleman instead of counting his breath had moved to counting sheep that too quite effortlessly. A sense of déjà vu along with a faint smile crept upon me as I lay there motionless on the floor with my eyes closed. And in that exact moment, as contrary, as it may sound, I had an eye-opening moment. I could not help but think of the many uncanny similarities between Yoga and Project Management. The two topics are completely divergent but yet so similar.

So, before my willowy thoughts could have me in twists just like in Yoga, I have decided to pour them out here in a blog post.

For a yoga enthusiast who works for a non-profit organization for the advocacy of project management profession, here are the ten reasons why I think both these two seemingly unrelated disciplines are quite alike.

1. Both exist since time immemorial
Yoga’s origin is rooted in India, and it has existed since thousands of years ago. We all know that! Modern project management may have been born in the western world and that too in the past century but project management as a discipline has been present since the existence of Mohenjo-Daro (one of the world's earliest major cities), Great Pyramids of Giza and Great Wall of China. 

Mohenjo-Daro civilzation

The Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

The Great Wall of China

2. Global and Agnostic in nature
Though Yoga originated in India, it is not Hindu in nature. Likewise, modern project management is not a western world concept. Both are globally accepted, used and practiced. While one is religion agnostic, the other is industry agnostic. There will be different methodologies and new variations, but the principles remain same.

3. While Yoga is the union of Body, Mind, and Soul, Project Management is bringing together technical skills, leadership, and business management skills
It is a misconception that Yoga is only about getting into pretzel knots, doing head stands or mind-boggling postures. It is actually about achieving balance in physical, mental and spiritual health. Yoga does not end when you get off the yoga mat and step out of the class. It is a holistic journey. Besides our postures, it is about watching our breath; it is about meditation, control over our thoughts and focusing on total well-being.
The same way Project management is not just about technical skills and knowing how to use tools and templates. It is also important to have leadership skills and business intelligence. In today’s increasingly complex and competitive global marketplace it is imperative for a project manager to have a business bent of mind to get the bigger picture and understand how each project fits into the entire strategic journey of his/her organization. In project management parlance it is called as the ideal skill set or the Talent Triangle.

                       

4. Mastery over both needs practice and discipline
Both should regularly be practiced and with a disciplined approach to have mastery over them. It is not something which can be done one day and forgotten the next day. If I miss a few yoga classes, my yoga teacher does not teach me new asanas until I revisit and practice what was already taught in previous classes. I have to start from scratch, get the foundation postures right and then only move ahead to the new posture. So is the case with project management, one must keep abreast of the new techniques, practices, and methodologies especially in this fast-changing dynamic world while at the same time being in touch with the discipline on a day to day basis.

5. Processes, Rules and Structure

Both have an entire body of knowledge dedicated to them. There are step by step procedures; there are certain rules on why, when, where, and how to follow them. So also there is a framework for Yoga as well as Project Management which tells you the WHAT aspect of both disciplines.

6. Principles of Yoga and Knowledge Areas of Project Management

Just as Yoga has ten principles, project management has ten principles which are critical to understand.

Ten Yoga Principles	Ten Project Management Principles
Non-violence	Projects are unique and a temporary endeavor meant to achieve an objective
Truthfulness	Code of Ethics
Righteousness	Project Charter to decide what will comprise in that project
Wisdom	Consider technical as well as soft skills while forming project team
Simplicity	Risks and complexity in projects will always be there. Have a backup plan.
Worship of the spiritual goal	Cost, Time and Quality are co-dependent
Sacrifice the ego	Cannot underestimate the importance of managing stakeholders
Self-discipline	Follow processes
Reading	Keep abreast of latest technology, trends and techniques
Contentment	Celebrate success or achievement of important milestones

7. In both, we can use tools to facilitate the whole exercise but success eventually depends on the practitioner

In Yoga, you are provided tools to facilitate a difficult stretch or to get the correct posture especially if you are a beginner. So also in project management, there are tools and templates to assist a project manager in planning or executing his/her project. All said and done; it is up to each practitioner how well they make use of the available tools to achieve their goal.

8. It is a slow and steady journey

In Yoga and Project Management one can’t expect instant results. It is unlike an allopathy medicine or a pill which can provide a quick cure or remedy. It is a gradual process and for its effects to show it takes time. It could be weeks and sometimes many months, but the effects are far-reaching. 

9. Stable and yet flexible and agile.

Both disciplines teach its practitioners how to be stable when required and at the same time prepare them for any change. 
In Yoga, there are certain situations which require you to be steady and relaxed, viz. meditation process and then there are other areas where one is expected to be agile and flexible.
In the current VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) world, it is essential that project managers understand the importance of being flexible, agile and adaptable. These are the characteristics which we should nurture within us if we have to progress in these ever-changing times.

10. Shavaasan and Closing Process

Shavasana is considered trivial by the uninformed yoga practitioners and hence not seriously practiced at the end of a yoga session. Many tend to skip out early as they have not understood the full benefits of this asana. The objective is to relax the body and mind so that you may fully assimilate the benefits of your asana practice. Likewise, same is the case with the Closing Process in project management. It is not considered as important as other processes in project management. Shavasana and Closing Stage – both which are meant to be a culmination of the venture as a whole, provide the same benefits.

The first benefit being observation. Yoga and Project Management both help you to reflect, introspect and observe all that has happened, how it has affected us and helped gain a better perspective. Both are excellent stages for honest observation. The second benefit being clarity. It helps us to rationalize our thoughts, feel lighter, be more focused and get ready for what lays ahead. For e.g. in project management, one creates a ‘’Lessons learned’’ document in the closing process stage. This paper is highly essential before moving on to the next project. It is created so that we don’t repeat the same mistakes of the past and document the project learnings for consumption of others.


Last but not the least, according to me, yoga and project management are life skills and their benefits are extensive and far-reaching which can be reaped for generations together. And more so, if they are taught when young, they can be of immense help to the young students. While Yoga contributes to instilling a sense of discipline in an individual and helps channelize spiritual growth, project management benefits can be reaped not just by a person or society or organization but even by the nation as a whole.
I sincerely urge schools and colleges to look at these two knowledge areas and disciplines as a must-have for students as well as teachers.
Likewise, I sincerely urge the state and central government to regularize and institutionalize Yoga and Project Management discipline in school/colleges and industry respectively.
In fact, as a nation, if there are concerted efforts to institutionalize these two disciplines and we invest in training, skilling, and certification, we have the potential to become the richest in human resources and even the biggest exporter of yoga/project management talent to countries around the world.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author completely and do not necessarily reflect the position or thoughts of the organization the author is employed with.