Category: Communication

The Leadership Dilemma- The Story of Kacha and Devayani

The Leadership Dilemma – The Story of Kacha and Devayani is one of the most thought-provoking narratives in ancient Indian literature, offering timeless insights into leadership, strategy, knowledge, loyalty, emotional intelligence, and human relationships. At a time when the conflict between the Devas and the Asuras dominated the cosmic order, the Asuras began gaining a decisive advantage in battle. Their strength did not come only from military power or weapons. Their greatest advantage was their guru, Shukracharya, who possessed the sacred Mrita Sanjeevani Vidya — a divine knowledge capable of restoring life to the dead. Whenever Asura warriors were defeated, Shukracharya revived them, making the Asuras nearly impossible to overcome. The Devas gradually realized that no victory could be permanent as long as this knowledge remained exclusively with their rivals. Brihaspati, the guru of the Devas, understood that the balance of power would continue shifting unless the Devas also gained access to the Mrita Sanjeevani Vidya. After careful consideration, a difficult decision was made. Brihaspati’s son, Kacha, would enter Shukracharya’s ashram as a disciple and attempt to learn the sacred knowledge. Kacha arrived at the ashram of Shukracharya with humility and respect. Introducing himself openly as the son of Brihaspati, he requested permission to study under the Asura guru. Shukracharya immediately understood why Kacha had come. Yet, despite the rivalry between the Devas and Asuras, he honored the ancient principle that sincere seekers of knowledge should not be denied education. Impressed by Kacha’s discipline and conduct, he accepted him as a disciple. Among those living in the ashram was Devayani. Intelligent, proud, sensitive, and deeply attached to her father, she gradually developed affection for Kacha as she observed his sincerity, discipline, and dedication. Kacha treated her with kindness and respect, though his primary focus remained his mission. However, the Asuras viewed Kacha with suspicion. They feared that he had been sent specifically to obtain the Mrita Sanjeevani Vidya and weaken their strategic advantage. Concerned about the possibility of losing their greatest strength, they repeatedly attempted to eliminate him. The first time, Kacha was killed while tending cattle in the forest. When he did not return, Devayani became distressed and requested her father to find him. Through his spiritual powers, Shukracharya discovered what had happened and revived Kacha using the Mrita Sanjeevani mantra. The Asuras tried again. This time they destroyed his body and scattered the remains, believing revival would be impossible. Yet Devayani once more pleaded for Kacha’s return, and Shukracharya restored him to life. Realizing ordinary methods would not stop him, the Asuras devised a more extreme plan. They killed Kacha, burned his body into ashes, mixed the ashes into wine, and secretly served the drink to Shukracharya. Unaware of the deception, Shukracharya consumed it. When Kacha once again disappeared, Devayani begged her father to save him. During meditation, Shukracharya discovered the horrifying truth — Kacha was inside his own body. Reviving him would destroy him, while refusing would fail both his daughter and his disciple. Faced with this impossible choice, Shukracharya decided to teach Kacha the Mrita Sanjeevani Vidya itself. He instructed Kacha to emerge from his body after learning the mantra and then use the same knowledge to revive him. Kacha obeyed. As predicted, Shukracharya died when Kacha emerged, but Kacha immediately used the sacred mantra to restore his guru to life. Years later, after completing his education, Kacha prepared to leave the ashram. At that moment, Devayani confessed her love and asked him to remain with her. Kacha, though respectful and compassionate toward her, refused. He explained that because he had emerged from Shukracharya’s body, he was spiritually equivalent to his guru’s son, making Devayani like a sister to him. Devayani felt deeply hurt and humiliated by his rejection. In anger, she cursed Kacha that the Mrita Sanjeevani Vidya would never personally benefit him. Kacha, wounded by her reaction, responded with a curse of his own, declaring that she would never marry a Brahmin. Their relationship, once filled with trust and affection, ended in bitterness. Kacha eventually returned to the Devas carrying the sacred knowledge that would help restore balance in the cosmic struggle. The story of Kacha and Devayani is more than an ancient narrative; it also reflects timeless insights into leadership, strategy, relationships, and human psychology. Like many ancient Indian stories, it combines spiritual themes with practical observations about power, decision-making, loyalty, and organizational dynamics. Management and Leadership Lessons from the Story The story of Kacha and Devayani explores challenges that remain deeply relevant in modern leadership and organizational life. Its themes continue to resonate in areas such as management, communication, stakeholder balance, emotional intelligence, and long-term strategic thinking. Knowledge Creates Strategic Advantage At the heart of the story lies Shukracharya’s exclusive possession of the Mrita Sanjeevani Vidya. This unique capability gave the Asuras a major strategic edge over their rivals. In modern organizations, competitive advantage often comes from proprietary technology, patents, specialized expertise, AI systems, research capabilities, or rare talent. The story demonstrates that control over unique knowledge can significantly influence long-term power and competitiveness. Learning from Competitors is Essential Kacha’s mission was not merely educational; it was strategic. He was sent to understand and acquire a capability unavailable within his own system. Modern parallels include competitive hiring, industry benchmarking, capability analysis, market intelligence, and reverse engineering. Organizations that fail to study competitors risk falling behind in innovation and adaptability. At the same time, the story also highlights that strategic learning can create ethical and emotional complications when trust and personal relationships become involved. Emotional Intelligence in Leadership The story shows that leadership is not based on strategy alone — emotions, relationships, and communication also shape outcomes. Much of the eventual conflict emerged not from bad intentions, but from assumptions and expectations that were never openly discussed. The story teaches that effective leaders need empathy, emotional discipline, and clear communication. Organizations run through people, and leaders who ignore emotional dynamics risk damaging trust, morale, and long-term relationships. Invisible Contributions and Unmanaged Expectations… Continue reading The Leadership Dilemma- The Story of Kacha and Devayani

The Power of Slowing Down: Why Your Mind Needs a Pause

  We live in a time where speed is celebrated. A packed schedule is seen as success. Constant activity feels like achievement. From the moment we wake up to the moment we sleep, we keep moving—doing, responding, consuming. But in all this motion, one thing quietly disappears: Our ability to pause. And that loss comes at a price. Mental exhaustion, anxiety, and burnout don’t suddenly appear. They build gradually when the mind is never given a moment of stillness—when silence feels uncomfortable and every free second is filled with distraction. We assume slowing down will hold us back. But often, it’s the only way to truly move forward. An ancient story from the Ramayan reflects this truth. When Hanuman Ji began his journey to find Mata Sita, he stood before a vast ocean. It wasn’t just physical—it required clarity, focus, and inner strength. Despite his power, he didn’t act impulsively. He paused. He centered himself, connected with his purpose, and only then took the leap. That moment of stillness gave direction to his strength. As he moved forward, another test appeared—Surasa. She emerged from the waters and declared that no one could pass unless they entered her mouth. It could have become a battle of force. But instead of reacting, he chose awareness. He observed, adapted, and stayed calm. He first grew in size as she did, then suddenly shrank, entered her mouth, and exited instantly becoming small, fulfilling the condition wisely, and continuing without conflict. That decision didn’t delay him. It made him more effective. This is where we often go wrong. • We rush into reactions. • We respond without thinking. • We avoid stillness by staying occupied. But here’s the reality: A busy mind is not a peaceful mind. Slowing down doesn’t mean becoming unproductive. It means becoming intentional. It looks like: • Pausing before replying when emotions are high • Stepping back when things feel overwhelming • Allowing moments of silence • Resting without guilt Because the human mind isn’t built to run at full speed all the time. Even nature follows a rhythm. Nothing grows overnight. Nothing meaningful happens in chaos. Why should we be any different? • Clarity comes from stillness. • Balance comes from awareness. • Peace comes from knowing when to pause. When you slow down, you begin to see what once went unnoticed—your thoughts, patterns, and reactions. You move from automatic reactions to mindful responses. And that changes everything. • You think better. • You feel better. • You live better. So instead of asking: “What’s next?” Try asking: “Am I present right now?” 👉 Take a moment. 👉 Breathe deeply. 👉 Slow down. Because true strength isn’t just in moving fast— It’s in knowing when to pause before you move.   This article was originally published on LinkedIn.

Chauffeur’s Knowledge Trap

  Have you ever been called to share your views on something you are not an expert at? Have you ever delivered a lecture with limited knowledge? How was your experience? Have you ever heard of Chauffeur’s Knowledge Trap ? Here’s a story of a nobel prize laureate and his chauffeur. Mr. Max Planck, nobel prize laureate of 1918, used to travel to different places to deliver lectures on ‘Quantum theory’. During one such travel to a university, the chauffeur told Mr. Planck that he has heard his lecture so many times and he remembers every point he makes during his lecture. And he is so sure that he can deliver the lecture without any problem. Listening to him Mr. Planck told him that no one from that university knows him and when they reach the university chauffeur can introduce himself as Mr. Planck and he will do a role reversal. Before reaching the campus of the university they exchanged their cloths. Mr. Planck put on chauffeur’s cap and the chauffeur wore Mr. Planck’s coat and got seated on the back seat. Mr. Planck drove him to the gate of the auditorium and they were received and greeted by the university chancellor and other professors. After exchanging pleasantries they went inside the auditorium and they were surprised to see the auditorium full of students. Mr. Planck (the fake chauffeur) was given a seat on in the last row and the chauffeur (fake Mr. Planck) started delivering his talk. He performed exceptionally well and for next two hour there was pin drop silence in the auditorium as everyone was so engrossed in his lecture. There was a big round of applause when he finished his lecture. The twist in the story The personified Mr. Planck, the chauffeur was about leave the podium when one of the professors raised his hand and asked him a very complex question which needed thorough mastery on mathematical equations and formulas. He was stunned as he had never expected a question from the audience nor any question was ever asked to Mr. Planck when he himself delivered his lectures. He needed to answer the question as unanswered question would have raised doubts on Mr. Planck’s quantum theory and would have dented his image. He thought for a while, smiled and told the professor that his question was so simple that even his chauffeur can answer it. Mr. Planck (the fake chauffeur) took the podium and answered the question with very complex mathematical equations and formulas. After answering the question Mr. Planck left in hurry and drove his chauffeur out of the university and swore never to repeat this in his life. Chauffeur’s Knowledge is half knowledge as they say, “Half knowledge is dangerous, either be ignorant or be excellent.”  To acquire Planck’s knowledge first you need to understand the difference between both the types, Planck’s knowledge and Chauffeur’s knowledge.  Following is the difference between the two:   “Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” – Albert Einstein With the spread of social media and 24X7 TV channels, we follow a number of journalists and News anchors and depending upon our interests we believe everything they say on economy, investments, foreign affairs and a number of topics. Journalists and news anchors need not be experts on various topics and most of them behave as Chauffeurs with limited knowledge which they acquire from either listening to their competitors or unconfirmed sources of information. To be successful it becomes very important to come out of Chauffeur Knowledge Trap and establishing ones authenticity. Coming out of Chauffeur’s Knowledge Trap One can acquire Planck’s knowledge and come out of Chauffeur’s knowledge trap by using following strategies: Know your circle of competence: The first step to come out of chauffeur knowledge trap is to know your circle of competence. Once you have found out your circle try and stay within your circle of competence, even if it’s small. You can keep enlarging it by acquiring more knowledge. Develop habit of reading books: From the time immemorial it has been commonly understood that the best way to acquire knowledge is to read. Click here to learn how to develop habit of reading books. Attend training programs and seminars: Training programs and seminars led by experts focuses on specific topics or skills. These programs typically takes place over the course of few days and involve cooperative discussions, opportunities to share perspectives and issues related to the topic. The principle of Implementation and its impact on learning: Early implementation of what you learnt will enhance your learning by four times (4X) where as delayed implementation or no implementation of what you learnt will reduce your learning to one fourth (1/4). Implementation is the key. Write! Writing, to knowledge, is a certified check: As they say, “To know it- write it!” To write, you will need to read as you can’t be a great writer unless you are familiar with great writing. Writing a blog keeps you updated on all new developments on a certain topic/subject. Your quest to update your blog with new content will lead you to always be searching for new information/knowledge and sharing it with your readers. There Are No Short Cuts to acquire knowledge: Acquiring knowledge takes time, discipline and sincere efforts. Following poem written by English poet, Alexander Pope, sums up this beautifully: “A little learning is a dangerous thing.  Drink Deep, or taste not the Pierian Spring; There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, And drinking largely sobers us again.” In this poem Alexander Pope says that little learning or knowledge (the shallow draughts) will only confuse (intoxicate the brain), misleading us into thinking that we know more than, in fact, we do. Remedy to this problem lies in continuously learning (drink largely at the Pierian Spring- which is source of knowledge of art and science). Hope you enjoyed reading this. Keep learning!  

Life Lessons from Bird Watching

I was a toddler when my parents used to take me to ‘Dinga Pull’, a local pond, near my home town of Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala District. The pond was full, of a number of local as well as migratory birds like cranes, black winged stilts, herons and geese etc. Those were the days when air conditioners were a luxury only a few could afford. And most people used to sleep on rooftops during summers. Early in the morning everyday, I used to count number of big flocks of migratory birds. And I didn’t realize when bird watching became my hobby and continues to be the hobby I enjoy the most until today. The only difference is now I capture them in my digital memory as well. What amazes me the most about the birds is the variety of color, sizes and feather styles they exhibit. I love to watch them sing, dance, feed their chicks, eat, fight and sometimes trick human beings. My grandmother had at least two to three stories to tell on each bird I used to tell her about after coming back from my bird watching expeditions. In Greek culture the hell is described as ‘Averno’ a place without birds and I too believe in the same. God has surrounded us with birds and in our culture birds are symbol of our faith and trust on God. In addition to being impressed by the sheer beauty and diversity of the bird kingdom, I am equally amazed by their mannerism and behavior patterns. Over many years, I have learned a number of life lessons from bird watching and in this post I’ll share some of the key ones. 1. Evolution Sixty Six million years ago a ten kilometer wide asteroid collided with Earth; such was the impact of the collision that the dominant animal group at the time, the mighty dinosaurs went extinct, at least most of them. Though the impact was equivalent to a force of millions of nuclear bombs and eventually ushered in a nuclear winter like scenario for Earth’s climate, still one peculiar type of dinosaur made it through the catastrophe and survives today. We know the current descendants of these dinosaurs as ‘Birds’. There have been a countless studies to why did ancestors of modern birds survive while many of their close relatives succumbed. Recent research suggests that prior to the extinction event, a line of the dinosaurs shrank in the size gradually over millions of years as they developed flight capabilities and beaks (instead of teeth). And they were able to sustain themselves eating seeds long enough to survive the climate conditions and emerge as survivors. Evidence also suggests that seeds are usually tough naturally and can withstand catastrophic phenomena. It’s possible that changes in diet actually lead to leaner structure overtime and their bones and muscles evolved become lighter (and therefore the flight). This was possible in part because birds evolved and adapted to the environmental changes. And of course the conditions created by the collision were favorable to their long term survival, so they got lucky as well. In order to grow and to be successful in our lives we also need to change and adapt as per the situation. 2. No One Wins Alone Birds fly in V shape formation and each formation has a leader and each member of the formation follows the leader. When the lead bird flaps its wings it creates uplift for the followers and helps save their energy and they can fly farther. When the leader gets tired another member from the formation takes his place and the leader shifts to another position without any feeling bad about losing his position in the formation. Once they reach their destination their hierarchy ceases to exist and all of them spend time with each other as equals. If they see any danger they shout and also tell others about the danger. A great team beats a great individual any day. When you surround yourself with like minded people with a winning attitude you benefit from fresh ideas, profound insight and positive energy. 3. Know the Route and Travel Together Migratory birds fly thousands of kilometers every year and they follow the same route for generations. As they say, “if you want to go fast, go alone and if you want to go far, go together.” No one understands this phrase better than birds. They fly together as flying together increases their chances of survival. 4. Wake Up Early You will never find a bird sleeping late in its nest. Birds wake up very early and welcome the sun with beautiful songs and start their routine with positive energy. This is one trait found in all successful people world over- they all are early risers and start their day when others are still sleeping in their beds. If you want to develop habit of waking up early click here. 5. Self Care Birds struggle the whole day feeding and taking care of its ever-growing chicks, still you will not find a single bird untidy. Birds take care of themselves and they keep themselves clean and tidy. When we are stressed at work with loads of to do list and overdue tasks, the first thing we do is to skip meals, stop exercise and ignore our social life. Ignoring self care only makes things worse. Self care helps us in preventing the overload burnouts, reducing the negative effects of stress and helps us to refocus. If you can’t take long breaks to rejuvenate your energies even small breaks go a long way to help you perform better. 6. Come Back Home Birds start their day early for the search of food and sometimes they fly to distant places looking for food but when sun sets in they always come back to their nests. A number of people ask where do migratory birds belong to and I always answer that their home is where their families are. Travel… Continue reading Life Lessons from Bird Watching

Meetings and Minutes of the Meeting!

Ever since I got into this Change Management role for organizations, I have realized that it is important to be attentive not just in the meeting but even before & after them. Apparently, they are also important because meeting take place when everyone is busy with their regular tasks at job – the junior staff, middle manager and even the top management is busy their core responsibilities, big decisions – and to avoid the misunderstandings, to avoid a situation where things slip away from our preoccupied minds, Minutes of the Meeting is a good idea and shall be followed as a work ritual. Plan for a meeting If you are the one who had called for the meeting, it is recommended you appoint a person to take down the minutes of meeting. Right from the agenda of the meeting, date & time for meeting, the attendees should be recorded. It is always better to set the outline for step 2. This should be done closely with the meeting chair. And outline helps in case the minutes of the meetings are asked to be shared as handouts for one and all. For an even detail understanding you can also refer to the Robert’s Rule. What to Record It is very imperative to understand the Agenda of a meeting and what are the results sought from it. One must keep note of the following: Motions discussed Acceptance & amendments made in ongoing business functions The significant decisions made The strategy talked about & chosen to be incorporated for Timelines discussed Roles & responsibilities shouldered on Review Meeting – date & time The above points are important to make sure that a meeting time is well utilized and optimum results can be expected. While now we know what all should be a part of MOM, here are few tips which one must know to write the MOM effectively, Create an outline/template. Take the attendance – this is helpful also when you do not know everyone who is a part of the meeting. Do not try to take dictation or capture it all, understand the importance of MOM and accordingly make notes. There is nothing wrong in asking for clarification. Make sure you MOM is all correct & validated information. Make a Call to Action head in the MOM and consider getting it signed/validated by the members involved. How to Write the Minutes of Meeting? Now that we know what all to record, it is important to understand the process of writing minutes of a meeting. The following are the points I follow to write minutes of the meeting: Take important notes during the meeting and do not try to capture it all as that might lead you to concentrate only on making notes and disturb your participation in the meeting. Complete the document right after the meeting to avoid missing on any important points. Edit to ensure clarity and detailing. For Board meetings, mention the important arguments made for decisions made. Be objective and avoid repetitions. Make sure that you do not end up writing anything which sounds like a Personal Observation. Attach any referred documents, reports based on which the decisions were take as appendix with the MOM. Sharing Minutes of the Meeting The most commonly used sharing mode for MOM is – email to the attendee as an official record. However, MOM for some of the top level/board meetings is also converted into hand-outs for future actions and timely actions. Technology has made it easier and offers many more options through – Cloud Sharing. MOM can now be shared instantly through Google Docs, OneNote, and Ever Note etc for instant & easy discussions. They offer the ease to access and edit the same document to all the users it is shared with and hence more time & effort saving. As a conclusion, we must understand the importance of MOM, they are significant for they are a record of important discussions and also they mark the future course of prominent actions being devised for business.

Delegation in Ramayana (Mythology & Management)

Stories are the best ways to overcome obstacles of learning. While I was working on a leadership program I came across two stories from our mythology which helped me to explain the concept of delegation to my trainees. In this blog, ‘Delegation in Ramayana (Mythology & Management) I’ll share both the stories and how these stories explain the delegation. First Story Lord Ram helped Sugriva to regain his honor and made him king of Kishindha. Sugriva and vanars decided to help Lord Ram unite with his wife Mata Sita who was abducted by demon Ravan. The entire Vanar army was divided into four groups and sent in four directions to find Mata Sita. Hanuman, Angad and Jambavantha with their group reached the southern seashore. They met Sampati, a vulture, who tells them Mata Sita was abducted by Ravan and is sitting under a tree in Lanka, which is on the other side of the ocean. Upon encountering the vast ocean, every vanara begins to lament his inability to jump across the water. Hanuman too is saddened at the possible failure of his mission, until the other vanaras and the wise bear Jambavantha begin to extol his virtues. Hanuman then recollects his own powers, enlarges his body, and flies across the ocean. After he finds Sita in captivity, Hanuman reveals his identity to her by giving her ring of Lord Ram. He reassures her that Lord Ram has been looking for her. He offers to carry her back to Lord Ram, but she refuses his offer, saying it would be an insult to Lord Ram as his honor is at stake. She gives her jewelry to Hanuman Ji and asks him to give it to Lord Ram. Second Story To seek a peaceful solution, Lord Ram sent Angad as messengers to convince Ravana to return Mata Sita peacefully. As this was the only way to avert the war. Angada tried every means to convince Ravana, but he was firm to face battle instead of returning Mata Sita peacefully. Angada planted his foot firmly on the ground and challenged anybody in the courtroom to uproot his foot. If anybody were to accept the challenge and was successful, Lord Ram would concede defeat and return without Mata Sita. All the commanders of Ravana’s army and even his son ‘Indrajit’ tried to lift Angada’s leg but none succeeded. Feeling humiliated by this failure, an infuriated Ravana slowly walked towards Angada’s planted foot and just as he was about to hold Angada’s leg to attempt the challenge, Angada moved away and Ravana fell down. Angada explained that the challenge was for Ravana’s commanders and not for Ravana. He told that Ravana was prepared to fall on his feet but instead he should choose to fall on the Lord Ram’s feet, for those are the ones that remove fear of cycle of life & death. He then picked up Ravana’s crown which fell down on the ground and threw it out of the palace. Ravana ordered his men to kill Angada. But he took a jump and flew back to the place where the Vanara army was gathered. Lessons: Mythology & Management These two stories give us very important lessons of management in purview of Delegation. See Lord Ram as CEO of company and observe the power of delegation being expelled and carried off by him. When the thought struck my mind, I got another reason to reassure myself that management certainly is a derivative of mythology. Lord Ram, put across the problem and took up a discussion to suggest solutions. He was aware of his team strengths and weaknesses.  Lord Ram also knew about the importance of each task to their organization and the task @ hand. Accordingly as per the skill set and the importance of task – he further went on to strategic delegation among the team. That is the reason why Hanuman in story 1 was assigned the task to find Sita and to reconfirm her presence at the Ashok Vatika. He was assigned the task based on this physical skill set and presence of mind. And Sita like an ardent associate understood the importance of task delegated and din’t asked for any further help or assistance. In management context, an extension further to delegation leads to imbalance and hence grievance. And that is why the delegation holds lot of importance. Coming to the second story, Angada was delegated a task of authority. He was a messenger deployed to discuss the suggested way out, to avoid war. His skill set included assertiveness, authority, communication skills and he knew temper control which wasn’t a case with Hanuman as he was an emotional devotee of Lord Ram and would never listen to any ill words for Lord Ram. Lord Ram knew of his skill set and his power. And hence the delegation was done accordingly. These two stories embark all the 5 Stages of Delegation. Where Lord Ram, observed and realized the strengths of his team members including Hanuman, Jamavanth and Angad. He evaluated the situations and the employee skill set, he made sure of the circumstances and allowed his team to collaborate and that’s how he delegated.

Journey to Excellence

Have you ever wondered what is the definition of Best? What is definition of Excellence? What is the definition of Perfection? Here is a small story which not only helped me to understand the meaning of The Best, Excellence and Perfection but also guided me towards journey to excellence. In ancient Rome, Romans had a very large number of Slaves. The behavior of Romans with their slaves was very cruel. Even for slightest mistakes the slaves were punished very harshly. Killing slave was not an offense in Roman law and Romans used to explore new ways to torture their slaves. If any of the slaves tried to escape from his master, there was only one punishment, slow but very painful death. This was also used to refrain other slaves from running. All the roads were well protected by the Roman army and a big jungle was the only place where slaves could hide themselves. But the jungle was full of wild animals and it was considered impossible to cross jungle without any protection. Romans calculated if someone was to cross the jungle successfully he will have to run like a leopard else he will be chased and killed by wild animals. It needed a superhuman to run at such speed hence Romans never tried to protect the road leading to jungle. Still in ancient Roman texts there are tales of many slaves who were able to cross the forest successfully and live a free life. When modern medical science came to know such stories they started testing human body if it was capable of running long distances at fast speeds. After so much of research medical science concluded that human body is incapable of taking this much of stress and if someone tries to run faster than the maximum speed described in the study his blood pressure will rise to such a level that he will die of a heart attack. They gave a bench mark that a human can’t run a distance of 400m in less than 50 seconds. On 29th Sept. 1900 Maxie Long of USA covered 400m in 47.8 seconds breaking the bench mark set by scientists. Time taken by Maxie was a world record in athletics and he was considered the best. Scientists said Maxie Long has something special that made him capable of covering 400m in less than 50 seconds. On May 27, 1916 Ted Meredith of USA broke this record by 4 seconds. Now 47.4 seconds was the new bench mark. On 18th Oct.1968 Lee Evans of USA covered the 400m in 43.29 seconds to reset the new bench mark. On 17th Aug. 1988 Reynolds set a new world record to cover 400m in 43.29 seconds. A new bench mark. And on 26th Aug 1999 Michael Johnson of USA made a new world record and covered 400m in 43.18 seconds. Michael Johnson’s world record still standing tall and has not been broken. Today how many of us know Maxie Long of 1900, let alone remembering him. People talk about Michael Johnson of 1999 and they will talk till a new athlete comes and reset the bar higher. In last 100 years the bench mark in athletics has been reset at least 25 times by different athletes. No one talks about athletes who were the best of their times and raised the standard to new levels. We remember people who keep raising the bar continuously and keep improving their own bench marks. Yesterday’s best can’t always be the best. It may not even considered to be good tomorrow. So what is the Best, Excellent and Perfection? There is nothing called Best, Excellent or Perfection. It is all about improving, getting better and better and raising the bar to next level. Hope you too are on your Journey to Excellence. Happy Journey!

Find out stories. Follow the Do’s and Don’ts (Post 4 in Series)

We have covered the details on ingredients of a good story and how to prepare for storytelling. To follow such steps, we need to know first, where to find the right story? That is the Part- I of this post and afterwards we will discuss about the Do’s and Don’ts of storytelling. Stories are everywhere but it’s a difficult work to find a powerful story which can connect the audience to the speaker. Where to find stories from? From your own life/experiences: This is the best place to find stories from. Your stories are unique as these tell about experiences of your life. Make a list of things happened to you or your loved ones. When you tell a story from your life, you tell it with more energy and passion. You act as a source of energy for your audience and you can pull their attention towards you. Mythological stories: Myths are an integral part of human existence and such stories are proof of people’s beliefs of divine powers. The epics ‘Ramayana’, ‘Mahabharata’ and ‘Bhagwad Gita’ contain thousands of stories about ancient Indian society, philosophy, beliefs, culture and ways of life. Though these epics were written thousands of years back but still there is lot of resemblance. For example, the exact distance between Earth & Sun which is determined by NASA now is been exactly defined in the ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ years back. It is incredible to find such meaningful information and statistics which we never realized existed. Historical Stories:History is our guide to future. It not only provides the best relevant examples but also helps with the proofing of a subject. Take up the history, research the subjects and dig deep into them. You must have heard of the Panchtantra stories and the age old Fairy tales, they all still hold so much of importance & value in terms of learning. We all remember Cinderella, Snow White, Rabbit & the Tortoise, Thirsty Crow etc. Now here is a quick review to the Do’s and Don’t of Storytelling. Do’s of Storytelling 1. Keep your stories simple and to the point: Always keep your story simple and to the point as complex stories make it difficult to explain the point you want to make and lengthy stories has potential to lose interest by the audience. 2. Relevance: Tell stories only those stories which are relevant to the subject. For experienced and intelligent people it 3. Use Humor: Humor will help keep audience’s interest in the story. Follow a simple rule: The longer, the humorous it must be. 4. Personal Stories: Tell your personal stories to the audience as these are your first hand experience of the challenges you faced and how you overcame those challenges. Personal stories will make you a unique speaker as none in the audience will have listened to them and no one can steal your story. Make a list of the things happened to you the best, the worst, the biggest mistake, the funniest, he greatest, the most frustrating, the most embarrassing. 5. Personal Humor: Tell about your ignorance at a particular instance and how did you behave in that situation. Audience will see themselves mirrored in you hence connecting to the point you want to convey. 6. Learn your Story: Tell a story at least 10 times before sharing it with your audience. Learn to tell what exactly you want to say and even if you miss that point you can improvise and make out your point. If you leave out an important point in the story it may spoil the outcome of the story. 7. Trigger the Emotions: There are many emotions, Happiness/ Sadness/ Anger/ Nostalgia/ Compassion/ Sympathy/ Empathy, a speaker can target with a story that have emotional power. A powerful story will help getting positive emotional response as the audience feel connected to it. Don’ts of Storytelling 1. Do not use too many stories in a presentation:Often only one good story is enough. You can tell two or maximum three stories to reinforce your point. Using more than three stories in your presentation will make it difficult for the participants to remember the points you made in each story. 2. Do not Keep your stories too simple: For experienced and intelligent people it will be a boring and they will lose interest in the message. Still if you have to tell a simple and short story keep it short after making your point proceed to the next part of your presentation. 3. Do not be Funny: There is a thin line between using humor in your story and being funny and lose the interest and respect of the audience. Do not portray yourself how stupidly you behaved at a particular instance as there is strong probability that they will forget the point you wanted to convey but will remember you as dumb. 4. Do not memorize Story: Do not memorize the story as people have tendency to tell the story word by word. And if the fumble they’ll miss the interest of the audience and hence the outcome of the story.

What makes a Good Story? (Post 3 in Series)

Here we are with the 3rd post in our Storytelling series. We now know about the art of storytelling and what shall go in the preparation of a good storytelling session. Now that we are prepared, we must understand what makes a Good Story, what are characteristics of Storytelling and what are the characteristics of a good Storyteller. What makes a Good Story? Single themed and well defined: A good story is always single themed and well defined. It doesn’t leave any space for absurd meanings. Connect to the listeners: A good story connects to the listeners very easily. It makes audience think of things differently or they may never have thought of. Stories bridge to one’s culture: It’s not only our blood or DNA which connects us to our culture, stories bridge people to their culture. Stories are part of every culture and are being told since generations. How many of us have actually seen the Mauryas or Mughals but we all love to listen to their stories, they make us feel proud. Stories make up our history and guide us to future. Helps to remember: A good story helps audience to remember the communications. Relevant to the topic: A good story is always relevant to the topic and helps audience learn a life lesson. Characteristics of Storytelling: Storytelling involves verbal activity/ communication: Storytelling is a verbal activity which involves a speaker and one or more listeners. Storytelling involves non-verbal communications: We use non-verbal communication to increase the effectiveness of the story telling. Tone and pitch of your voice, your body language and gestures adds to storytelling. Facial expressions and gestures add to the visualization of the story. Storytelling is a two way process: A story can’t come to life if it’s not a two way process. The storyteller and listener both share the responsibility to make story come to life through interaction. Storytelling involves a story: That’s an essential as without a story it’s not possible to tell it. Storytelling encourages imagination of listeners: As it is said that everything is always created twice, first in the mind and then in reality. Story provokes the curiosity of the listeners and simulates their senses to feel, see and touch the word picture. If your audience can see it they are more likely o take away your message. Characteristics of a Good Storyteller A storyteller is the person who works on wiring our brain, who connects us to a different world by giving wings to our imagination and adding vigor to our thought process. I have been a trainer for 8 years and during all this tenure I have been a listener to some of the great stories – be it a TTT, a TED talk or the workshops. Stories come our way through many channels, life observations etc. Based on my experience & learning, I think the following 5 are the most required characteristics which make a story teller great from good. Doesn’t make stories, Discover A good storyteller doesn’t make stories, he discovers them. Like I mentioned a trainers/storytellers life is the best source for discovering stories. You need to explore, learn & unlearn. Sensitivity to people, humanity a passion for reading and listening, all these habits helps one in discovering stories. Stories could be found in everyday life – one needs to have the passion to find them. S/he is the one who you will find with a recorder, a notebook, a pen on all his journeys and even everyday travels. S/he makes note as, writes down and details it on return. This makes a story and the above habits make a story teller. Purpose Oriented Good storytellers don’t believe in having a story. They make stories with purpose, the story has got a message and they make sure that the audience takes home the story. Good storytellers don’t leave things at that; they make sure the message is well delivered through the story. The purpose of a story is well communicated. They know the story Good storytellers make sure they know the story; they have the relevant examples to deliver it in the right way. Knowing a half story takes away the passion from storyteller, it brings down the confidence levels and hence it brings down the story- its purpose and its message. Only if they know the story well- they can make it more n more relevant to their audience. Telling the same story in different ways to different audiences is like explaining same concept to different sets of audience – freshers and experienced. Only if a teller knows the story so well can they explain it in the right way. Bring out the Emotion In training, a story is not just about the conveying the message it is about delivering the message and embossing it in the hearts & minds of your audience. If a storyteller could make the right connect and touch the emotional nodes – that means he has achieved the purpose behind the session. Such a session lasts forever, and the story and its message get submerged. I hope you enjoyed the post and it helped you better your storytelling sessions. Next in the series I will share – Where to find good stories and some Do’s and Dont’s of Story.