For those who want to lead, read.

I miss reading. Being with a good book is way more enjoyable than the best movie. I'm sure many of you who might be reading this would agree.

When you read, your mind wanders. It enters a world beyond what the author is trying to convey and conjure. I would like to think that we learn and gain a little more wisdom from these experiences. Studies have shown that the more varied is our reading the better we learn.

Having said that, when was the last time you really read. Shut off all outside distractions and read. Bite each word and sentence, chew on it and digest the meanings. I find that truly enjoyable, but its such a rare occurrence now. As work and family commitments piles up, its so difficult to just have some time off to read. And its not just me or us, according to this article by HBR, we are reading less. We are getting more literate, but reading less.

I aspire to read everyday. Could be anything, just 15mins a day before I go off to bed. That will be my new resolution. Read more, to know less and ask more.

Read more here (pun intended).
http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/08/for_those_who_want_to_lead_rea.html

Image credits: http://centeredlibrarian.blogspot.com 

Understanding someone's inner logic

This is an interesting article from Harvard Business Review.
How many times have we faced the same problem. We find someone's behavior or thinking as unreasonable or illogical. But if we delve deeper and probe with the right questions, we might be pleasantly surprised that its perfectly reasonable and logical when we understand the motivation and mindset that the person is working with.

This is especially important in the context of project management. When you face a seemingly unreasonable stakeholder or client, maybe its time to take a step back. And ask different questions. Find out what could be motivating this unreasonable request.

I remember this quote from Ayn Rand (one of my favourite writer), "Contradictions do not exist. Whenever you think you are facing a contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong."

Bear it in mind. It might get you out of an awkward confrontation.

Read more here.
http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/08/discovering_the_other_persons.html