In the past two decades, Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella has had ample time to identify what makes a great leader stand apart from the rest. Here are three attributes that Nadella not only looks for in a leader but also tries to develop in his own self: 1.     Great leaders create clarity Clarity is the first trait that Satya Nadella thinks great leaders and managers possess. While your team may be able to tread the path on their own if it is clearly defined, during times of turbulence and uncertainty your leadership is what your people look up to and it is what’s needed ..read more

Ted Lasso, the hit show on Apple TV, an American comedy that masterfully weaves in biting British humour, imparts much-needed lessons about modern leadership and people-centric management. A small-time Kansan American Football coach Ted is recruited by a struggling British football club despite having zero experience in the game. What ensues is an exciting plot — and a story that we can take some great leadership lessons from. No wonder the show also racked up 20 Emmy nominations, including four in the Best Supporting Actor category. But now let’s jump to the three les ..read more

When shifting into a new job, people often wait to establish their position before displaying their leadership skills. Instead, I say grab the bull by the horns and jump into the deep end of the leadership pool because a leader is created through people’s perceptions. You may intrinsically have leadership qualities but they don’t mean much if people don’t perceive you as a leader. Also, let’s face it – actions speak louder than any trait a leader may have. So today, I’ve put together a few ways to kickstart being perceived as a leader. They’re especially relevant if you’re starting a new job o ..read more

There are endless articles and books on innovation leadership – about how the mix of different leadership styles are used to create better teams and organizations. And of course there’s no arguing the concept. But today, I’d like to approach the topic from a different angle, by identifying all the legacy habits that so many leaders, especially those in Asia and other frontier markets just have a hard time letting go of. 1. Autocratic Leadership I believe that one change we’ll see in leadership studies in the next ten, maybe twenty years is the elimination or at least minimization of autoc ..read more

Working with a team means there will always be ups and downs – and as a team leader finding the solution to a high performing team is your responsibility. Here are a few tips that can help you with what you need to turnaround your dysfunctional team: 1. Rid your team of the non-performers. You will save yourself a lot of time and goodwill with your team members if you immediately get rid of those in the team that do not add any benefits. You will soon notice a shift in energy and a change in the way your team comes together. 2. Fill your team with capable people with the right attitude. Teams ..read more

Although the gap between men and women in leadership positions is narrowing, there still exists a glaring disparity between them. Lean In Study 2019 about gender representation in the corporate pipeline reveals that women only hold 21 percent of C-suite positions. But why does this gender inequality persist in leadership roles when women are as qualified as men are to lead? In fact, according to Harvard Business Review, women score higher than men in most leadership skills. Unconscious bias, however, is what hinders them from getting promoted in their organizations. While men tend to maximize ..read more

Kindness often takes a backseat in the workplace, as organisations succumb to the pressure of achieving financial success. In this competitive and cutthroat work culture, a staggering 98 percent of employees report experiencing uncivil behaviour at work. With the COVID-19 pandemic taking a toll on the mental health of staff around the globe, radiating kindness is more important than ever. For those of us who are reluctant about returning to the office, those who are desperate to go back and everyone in between, a safe, energetic, and trusting working culture is important to be produ ..read more

As we head into 2022, it’s time to reflect upon just how hard the pandemic rocked the business world – to the point where leaders must adapt if they, their teams and their businesses, are to survive and thrive. Here are the top three leadership trends that will dominate the business landscape in 2022 and beyond. 1.  Recalibrating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion While diversity and inclusion have been a part of the public discourse for the past few years, social movements like Black Lives Matter have led to organisations setting a high priority to DE&I efforts. However, DEI cannot work ..read more

There’s rarely a day when Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk is not seen making the headlines, highlighting his business ventures. A sort of a Willy Wonka figure for technology, Musk seems to mystify people with every announcement he makes about space travel, artificial intelligence and electric cars. The analytical and idealistic engineer who is working to revolutionise transportation both on Earth and in space is clearly not just a businessman and not in it solely for money. And this is what makes him so interesting. For the same reason Steve Jobs is venerated, Musk has a greater mission and ..read more

With the Omicron COVID variant rapidly spreading in several countries, many companies including Nike, Apple and others are wondering whether they should return to the office. Other businesses that are bringing workers back are considering adding extra safety measures like requiring masks. Even though it’s understandable why we need to maintain physical distance from people, there’s no reason we need to stop connecting with people socially, especially when networking is a vital ingredient in the recipe for career success. Not surprising that professional relationships can make th ..read more