Creativity & Innovation Archives

Leardership Lessons from Samudra Manthan

According to Hindu mythology, Indra, the king of Svarga, once traveled through the heavens on his celestial elephant Airavata. During his journey, he encountered Rishi Durvasa, a sage known for his spiritual power and fierce temper. Durvasa offered Indra a sacred garland blessed by Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Indra accepted the garland, but instead of wearing it respectfully, he casually placed it on Airavata’s head. The elephant threw the garland to the ground and crushed it under its feet. Durvasa viewed this act as a serious insult to the divine blessing carried by the garland. Furious at the disrespect, he cursed Indra and the devtas. The curse stripped them of their strength, prosperity, influence, and divine energy. As a result of the curse, the devtas began losing battles against the asuras. Under the leadership of Bali, the asuras captured control over the three worlds. Weak and defeated, the devtas approached Vishnu for guidance. Vishnu advised them to churn the cosmic ocean and obtain Amrit, the nectar of immortality. However, the task required enormous power and coordination. Vishnu instructed the devtas to form a temporary alliance with the asuras. He suggested that both sides work together to churn the Ocean and told them to workout sharing of divine treasures diplomatically. And he would ensure victory for the devtas. The devtas then approached King Bali and informed him about the hidden treasures and Amrit, the nectar of immortality concealed within the vast ocean. Excited by the possibility of immortality and unimaginable wealth, Bali and the asuras agreed to participate in churning of the ocean. The great event became known as Samudra Manthan. To begin churning, the participants uprooted Mount Mandarachal and used it as the churning rod. The serpent, Vasuki, agreed to serve as the rope after receiving a promise of Amrit. Carrying the enormous mountain proved extremely difficult, and many devtas and asuras collapsed from exhaustion. Vishnu revived the fallen warriors, carried the mountain on Garuda, and placed it in the middle of the ocean. Vasuki wrapped himself around the mountain. Vishnu advised the devtas to hold the serpent’s head while the asuras held the tail. The asuras rejected the arrangement because they considered the tail inferior and inauspicious. As a result, the devtas accepted the tail position instead. When the churning started, the mountain began sinking because of its immense weight. Vishnu immediately assumed his Kurma avatar and took the form of a gigantic turtle. He supported the mountain on his shell and stabilized the entire process. As the churning continued, a deadly poison called ‘halahal’ emerged from the ocean. The poison spread toxic fumes that threatened all creation. To protect the universe, Shiva consumed the poison and held it in his throat. The poison turned his throat blue, which earned him the title Neelakanth, meaning “the blue-throated one.” After the poison emerged, many divine treasures and celestial beings rose from the ocean. Hindu scriptures collectively describe these treasures as the Ratnas. Among the most important treasures appeared Lakshmi, who chose Vishnu as her eternal consort. Celestial dancers such as Rambha and Menaka also emerged and later joined the Gandharvas. The devtas accepted Varuni, the goddess associated with wine and pleasure. Several divine animals also appeared during the churning. These included Kamadhenu, the wish-fulfilling cow given to sages for sacred rituals; Airavata, the celestial elephant claimed by Indra; and Uchhaishravas, the magnificent seven-headed horse received by Bali. The ocean also revealed precious objects such as the Kaustubha jewel worn by Vishnu and the Kalpavriksha, the wish-fulfilling celestial tree later taken to Indraloka. Other treasures included Chandra and Dhanvantari, the divine physician who emerged carrying the pot of Amrit. The moment Dhanvantari appeared with Amrit, the nectar of immortality, conflict erupted between the devtas and the asuras. The asuras seized the pot and refused to share Amrit with the devtas. To recover it, Vishnu transformed into Mohini, an enchanting female form of unmatched beauty. Mesmerized by her charm, the asuras trusted her and allowed her to distribute Amrit fairly. Mohini seated the devtas and asuras separately. She then secretly served the Amrit only to the devtas. An intelligent asura named Swarbhanu recognized the deception. He disguised himself as a devta and quietly sat between Surya and Chandra. Before anyone noticed him, he drank a portion of Amrit. Surya and Chandra quickly recognized the disguise and alerted Mohini (Vishnu). Vishnu instantly used the Sudarshana Chakra to sever Swarbhanu’s head. However, Amrit had already touched him, so he did not die. His head became known as Rahu, while his body became Ketu. Hindu mythology later connected this story with the origin of eclipses. After the devtas consumed Amrit, Vishnu revealed his true form and returned to Vaikuntha on Garuda. Furious after realizing the deception, the asuras launched a massive war against the devtas. Empowered by Amrit, the devtas eventually defeated the asuras, reclaimed Svarga, and pushed their rivals into Patalaloka. Who Was Swarbhanu? Swarbhanu was the son of the asura king Viprachitti and Simhika. Hindu texts describe Simhika as intelligent, spiritually intense, ambitious, and highly powerful. From childhood, Swarbhanu displayed extraordinary intelligence and strategic thinking. Unlike many warriors who relied mainly on physical strength, he depended on observation, disguise, planning, and psychological tactics. He questioned authority and strongly opposed the repeated dominance of the devtas. Swarbhanu believed the asuras deserved equal respect, influence, and power. After his transformation into Rahu and Ketu, many associated him with illusion, ambition, rebellion, secrecy, obsession, and unconventional paths. Despite widespread fear surrounding him, Simhika never abandoned her son. Traditional interpretations often describe Rahu’s emotional attachment to his mother because she supported him when others rejected him. In astrology, Rahu symbolizes intense desire, emotional hunger, attachment, ambition, illusion, and the longing for acceptance. Leadership Lessons from Samudra Manthan and Rahu’s Story Respect the Intent Behind Every Gift Indra’s downfall began with a small act of carelessness. He failed to respect the sacred garland gifted by Rishi Durvasa and treated it casually. A wise leader… Continue reading Leardership Lessons from Samudra Manthan

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.

Rediscovering the Joy of Traditional Games as Training Tools for Deeper Impact.

Moneky’s Pole is the literal transition of the traditional game in context here. It is called Bandar Qilla. During our childhood, when televisions were an ultra-luxury, computers, laptops, and mobile phones were innovations in process, and routines were simpler and less distracting. our morning routine was all about waking up early, getting ready, and going to school and it was all fun. On return when, we would head out to meet neighborhood friends and engage in various outdoor games like Kabaddi, Gulli Danda, Pitthu Garam, Stapu, Lukan Meeti, Kokla Chhapaki, Bandar Qilla (Monkey’s Pole), and more. We would play until the sun set, and after coming home, do homework/study, have dinner, and sit with our grandparents to listen to their stories and tales. These stories would take us to magical worlds where horses could fly, and one could lift mountains. I would not call them fake, but they were probably high on imagination and wonder. However, today, it’s rare to find children playing in parks or playgrounds. Most of them are content playing on their PSPs or mobile phones. Cartoon channels have replaced grandparents as storytellers, and the traditional games we used to play have been forgotten. I often ponder whether the tales portrayed on cartoon networks or mobile screens possess the same enchanting ability as the imaginative stories that our grandparents used to transport us to other worlds. Having played both traditional and online games both, I would say that traditional games are much more enriching. I struggle to comprehend what younger generations find so appealing in mobile games. Traditional games were not only a form of entertainment but also provided valuable lessons in teamwork, responsibility, and morality, while fostering meaningful social connections. No wonder the training interventions most loved in my training room are about those games and the corporates are bound towards outdoor retreats, recreation, and physical activities. One of my favorite traditional games is Bandar Qilla (Monkey’s Pole). Although the monkey (chosen player) often gets beaten by the group, the game is still a lot of fun. This game requires 8-10 players, and after drawing lots, the player who loses becomes the monkey (Bandar). The monkey ties a rope around the pole and, with the help of his leg, draws a circle around the pole, which becomes his area. He or she is required to hang on to the loose end of the rope during the gameplay. The rest of the players keep their shoes around the pole, and the monkey is supposed to protect them from being stolen by other team members. The players outside the enclosure are not allowed to enter it, and the monkey cannot leave his circle. If the monkey does leave the circle, the players are allowed to kick him back inside. During the play, while stealing shoes, if any of the players is touched by the monkey, then the monkey is set free and the other player who was touched by him takes his place and becomes a new monkey. Once all the shoes have been stolen, the players start hitting the monkey with them until he runs towards his house or a pre-decided place, signaling the end of the game. The game is then repeated after drawing lots, and a new monkey is chosen. Although this game may seem a little weird to those who have never played it before, the adventure, vibe, and impact of the game are remarkable. If you want to experience the thrill and understand the deeper meaning behind this traditional game, you should play it at least once. To me, this game was never just about the monkey and the pole, but about human nature. The circle around the pole represents our boundaries, and the shoes around the pole represent our external environment family, internal environment , and the little joys in life. As long as we stay within our limits and protect what belongs to us, we remain safe. If we cross our boundaries and leave things unattended, there may be severe consequences. Hence going out of the comfort zones is good but one must guard the boundaries that define and impact our internal and external environment. This also defines our peace of mind and social existence. Just like the players outside the enclosure who try to steal shoes, there may be people who are annoying, and distract you from your goals of peace, happiness, and growth. They can trigger your anxiety, and get on your nerves in a zest to take away the little things that matter to us. But that is where you need to guard your inner boundaries and focus on your core. Nourish your inner circle, guard the space that matters, and never allow anyone to enter your inner circle and destroy the mental peace, just like the monkey whose only job is to guard what is his own, what matters most without letting the outside stress enter his sacred space.

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

The Little Things Which Make Me Happy

Have you ever wondered what those little things which make you happy are? Following is list of those little things which make me happy Waking Up Early Without Alarm: You know you have more time to finish things. Cuddling In The Bed: It feels great to cuddle in the bed waiting for the bed tea. Going for a Walk: You enjoy the beauty of the nature. Watching the sun rise and watching the birds going out of their nests fills you with joy. Deep Breathing: A 5-10 minutes of deep breathing fills you with positive energy. Touching the Feet of Parents: It’s a way of thank your parents for raising you well. Their blessings can make miracles happen. Smile by a Stranger: Smile breaks the barriers and you may get a friend for life. Give one and you may one. Playing with Kids: Reminds us of those golden days when we were kids. Aaloo Prantha with White Butter and Lassi: Nothing can be more delicious than Aaloo Prantha with white butter and a glass of lassi. Mouth watering and keeps you going for the day. Listening Stories From Elders: Elders love to tell their stories and these stories are full with their life experiences and can help you understand life easily. A Tight Hug From Your Little Ones: That’s what I call, “Unconditional Love.” To See Kids Smiling While Sleeping: What else could be happiness than watching kids smiling while they are sleeping? A Small Change in Your Routine: Makes you more exciting and try something new. Less Traffic on Roads: Heavenly feeling if you are a Delhite. And if you get all signal lights green then.. (No words can describe that feeling) Reaching Office Early: That head start which counts at the last. Storytelling To Kids: Ensures you are spending time with your kids and pass on the knowledge you received from your parents. Reading Your Favorite Book: Helps you understand so many things. Meeting Old Friends On The Go: Who else can remind of all those mischief and blunders? Finding Money in Old Jeans: May be that’s what we call magic! Food Cooked By Mother: Divine! Hugging Your Parents: Telling them whatever you are today and wherever you have reached, it’s only because of their hard work. To Listen Parents Childhood Stories From Their Friends: It’ll make you rolling over the floor laughing. And tell you how naughty/humorous they were at their young age. Spending Time With Old Buddies: Connect to your past. Spending Time Following Your Passion: For me it’s bird photography and playing Alghoza. It helps overcome anxiety and there are a number of lessons I have learnt from bird watching. Click here to learn lessons from bird watching. A Joke From Little Ones: Helps forget the tensions and enjoy life. Visiting Your School/College: Gives a chance to return whatever you have learned to the future generations. Watching Full Moon: That wow feeling!! Experimenting While Cooking and Letting Your Wife Know About The New Recipe: An off from kitchen keeps wife happy. Season’s First Rain: That cool breeze and smell of freshness. Langar Sewa In A Gurudwara: Heavenly feeling! A Break From Your Routine: Gives you an opportunity to rejuvenate yourself. Music You Love: Takes you to the other world, away from your sorrows. And if you can sing along that’s the icing on the cake. Going On a Long Drive: Helps exploring new areas. Dew Drops On Petals Of A Flower: Makes you enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature. Watching/ Listening The Birds Chirping/ Singing: It could be mesmerizing. Massage: Relives from exertion. An Extended Weekend: One can’t ask for more these days than an extended weekend. It gives you enough time to finish all your pending work and go to some distant place away from noise and pollution and rejuvenate yourself with new energy. Your Status Message/ Tweet Getting Viral: Something everyone wants these days. Hand Written Letter: A rare feat these days as people prefer emails and other short messaging services. . Extending A Helping Hand: Sometimes your little help occupy the biggest part of their hearts. Let Your Spouse Pursue his/her Dreams: Makes the bond stronger and makes you proud of his/her achievements. These are some of the little things I could figure out which make me happy. There could be many other things which can be added to the list. Make your list of little things which make you happy.

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.

Creativity and Innovation – The Thirsty Crow way

Let me take you back to the age old story of ‘Thirsty Crow’. Once there was a crow. He was very thirsty. He went here and there in search of water. At last he saw a water pot. He looked inside the pot. There was very little water inside the pot. The crow saw some stones nearby. He thought of a plan. He picked some stones and started putting stones inside the pot one by one. The water level came up. He drank the water and flew away happily. This story was amongst the first few I was told during my childhood. The then moral of the story was ‘‘Where there is will, there is a way’’ but life is all about exploring and evolving constantly. Going with that we human beings are the certainly the most accommodating and we instantly look for solutions. I have been observing people, reasons vary – the pressure of circumstances, peer pressure, family expectations and what not. Everybody loves short-cuts and ‘Jugaad’ for that reason is picking up fast. It is no more a way of life…it is smart strategy. The solution and results matter at last – for my driver, the maid, the friends, the colleagues and almost everyone around. If someone bangs the idea of ethical ways – people just disregard the philosophy and feel that you are not aware of how the world works. How to get the job done is no more a concern, to get the job done is what matters. To share an experience – few days back I had gone to meet my Uncle at Aligarh and on the way back my car broke down. I was around 25 kms from the city. I called my cousin to help and in half an hour’s time he came to the rescue with a mechanic. He checked my car and told me that it needs to be taken to workshop. I told him I can’t spare that much of time as it was already 3 pm and I had an urgent meeting the very next day. He said in Hindi, “To iska koi jugaad ker deta hoon” (“He will do something”- Read it as temporary arrangement) so that I can reach Gurgaon. He connected some wires to the battery and asked me to test if the car is fine. I checked and my car was working perfectly. I thanked him and started my journey to Gurgaon and in around 4 hours I was there at my home in Gurgaon. Next day I went to a nearby service station and got my car repaired. Defining Jugaad ‘Jugaad’ is a word which is used very frequently in day to day life. As per Wikipedia, Jugaad means an innovative fix or a simple work-around, sometimes pejoratively used for solutions that bend rules, or a resource that can be used as such, or a person who can solve a vexatious issue. Both concepts express a need to do what needs to be done, without regard to what is conventionally supposed to be possible. Indovation, Chinovation, Hack, Kludge are some of the words which are used as synonyms to Jugaad. All the concepts express need to do what needs to be done without taking the same old beaten path. And The Thirsty Crow was the first to travel ‘the Jugaad way’ and now I know the current moral of the story is to use possible means, creativity and innovation whichever can help human kind to live a solution driven life.