🔍 Fish Mindset vs Chicken Mindset in Scrum Teams 🐟🐔
What actually drives real productivity?

In most Agile/Scrum teams, I notice two very different work styles showing up again and again.

One type works quietly.
Focused on the Sprint goal.
Takes ownership.
Delivers consistently.

The other type is very visible.
Always active in discussions.
Sharing frequent updates.
Looks busy — but not always impactful.

Neither style is “good” or “bad” by default. The problem starts when visibility begins to replace value delivery.

👉 So what happens when noise overtakes outcomes in a Sprint?

📌 1. Predictability suffers
When attention shifts from finishing work to staying visible, Sprint commitments lose meaning. Velocity becomes unstable and delivery confidence drops.

📌 2. Unplanned work increases
Excessive syncs, side conversations, and constant context switching pull focus away from moving backlog items to Done.

📌 3. Activity is mistaken for productivity
Lots of conversations, tickets moving around, and updates can look productive — while actual customer value remains low. Measuring the right things (flow, delivery frequency, outcomes) tells a very different story.

📌 4. Team balance matters
High-performing teams create space for both thoughtful execution and healthy communication. Real productivity happens when contribution — not volume — is valued.

🔑 Leadership takeaway
In Agile environments, outcomes should always outweigh optics.
The teams that move products forward aren’t always the loudest — they’re the most aligned, focused, and committed.

📈 Productivity isn’t about who speaks the most.
🚀 It’s about who delivers value — consistently.

Problems are unreal

In life, something that stops or bothers you is a problem.

Everyone has similar problems like those of relationship, job/finance, health, and lastly big worries about the country.

You can solve problems by, firstly, not having the problem at all. Know that life is too short to keep solving problems one after another.

Just wake up and walk ahead, problems will get solved by themselves.

Second, know that the problem is not real.

Third, know that nature has provided you the solution even before giving you the problem. When it snows, there are no bacteria since no herbs to heal you grow in that season. In spring, the herbs come first and then the bugs. In summer, the shade comes before the sun gets strong.

So, nature takes good care of you. And solutions will come to you when you are calm and collected, you use your intelligence, are active and have strong faith in the Divine law. Willingly accept the problem and see it as a challenge because there is no problem that cannot be solved. Things like doing spiritual practices, listening to people who have more problems than you and serving them can do good to you.

Problems help us move from imperfection to perfection. A seed contains the tree but the seed has to cease to be a seed to become a tree. Neither the seed nor the sapling is perfect. It has to cease to be a sapling to become a tree.

So, in life you can either see imperfection at every step, or you can see a movement from one perfection to another.

Every problem, once solved, becomes an experience and each experience completes you. In the progression of life, you will leave behind every experience saying, “This is nothing.“ Anything that is completed loses its importance.

That is to say it leads you to void or nothing. A sign of intelligence is how soon you arrive at this understanding.

Examine everything in life and say “This is nothing“.

What remains after all that is love, and that is everything.

Wish everything was labeled with an Expiration Date!!

You always wish you'd never be in the same situation again but sometimes you just land up there. The equation doesn't change just the variables do. I wrote this note more to myself about a year ago and today I feel that when you land up in the same situation your courage fails you. It definitely hurts to be hurt but there comes a moment when pain fails to hurt and it feels good.  This is what I infer from the difficulty I have when talking about the pain. My fingers start to hesitate at the keys even as I write the words here. Today when I was going through this note again it seems it failed to inspire me. It failed to work on me as it did the last time when I wrote this. I'm guessing that even notes or feelings come with an expiry date. But still I didn't feel like trashing this one as it may work for someone else !

I know baby you're scared 
but atleast you dared 
Don't worry ,if you put in at the wrong places 
trust the milleau ov face 
Not every one would disgrace 


Let me show you, it can be easy 
If you just let it be 
Nothing is promised, but I believe if 
If you give it everything, trust 


Trust and someone would really live upto it 
and you'd know whom you could rely every bit 


You know we got a lot 
Not evrybody will stab you with a knife 
I know you've seen a lot of things in your life 
It got you feeling like this can't be right 
But, this is not right 
Don't let the darkness abrogate light 


Put the trust in right places 
and you would see a sea of faces 
If you give it everything,you'd get trust
Trust every soul and not everyone would let you down.

Kill the Ravan within

Today is Dussehra--the day of victory of good over evil; and it signifies the reign of the truth. On this day, let's realise that we are the captains of your ship and that we have to navigate the rough and high seas to end our journey successfully.

Charles Darwin had said: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.“

Most of us have professional identities but no faith in our work. May we find courage to break tradition, and discover a new identity in which we find our uniqueness.

“God cannot help you until you, yourself, first, try your best“, says Swami Kriyananda.

Have no expectation of instant results. Do keep allowance for things to work out. Are you spiritually inclined? However, you need the component of spirituality in your life. Religion changes you for the better. Your life depends on your attitude.

Besides faith and patience, the other divine virtues worth cultivating are: that way you become a genius; to tolerate like a tree; to discriminate between good and bad, real and fake; to judge ­ wherein you do justice to self and others; to face life situations squarely with quiet efficiency; to cooperate and be capable of teamwork; to travel light; to concentrate on essentials overlooking trifles.

Negativity creates barriers and a life framed is bondage.

Never have a one-track mind, have a wide canvas to function in. Try to connect with the Supreme; He is by your side as and when needed.

“Tell the mind to let go of its sad stories, and instead focus on happiness“ (Sugandhi Iyer).

Don't ever collapse under burden, just thrive. Only those who endure and act can gain. Live to the hilt.

Keep in mind Soren Kierkegaard's view: “Life has its own hidden forces which you can only discover by living.“

Do good. Your goodness creates goodwill in people that takes you closer to your deity. And be a winner like Ram whose victory over Ravan we celebrate today.

Forgiveness God's gift

Lord Buddha had said, “there is no revenge as complete as forgiveness“. This is not just an idealistic maxim. This is the only way to retain our peace. The habit of nurturing grievances is highly injurious to one's own self. Forgiveness is a gift of God. This arises from the core of the heart. By forgiving, the poison of revenge dries up. The forgiver becomes the abode of love, happiness, humility and contentment.

The words of Jesus from Mark 11:25 strike us like a beacon of light. “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone so that God may also forgive you your trespasses.

Also, “If you can't forgive, you can't be forgiven; yet the wrong you experienced is so hurtful, there seems to be no way to let it go.“

Forgiveness has qualities not to look back at revenge.

The two can't coexist. If we sow the seeds of love, we will have a tree of love with abundance of flowers of compassion, charm and fragrance.

If out of fear and revenge, we sow thorny bushes, we should never hope to pluck bundles of grapes from there.

In the same way, we can't hope ever to create woolen or silken cloth out of rayon.

Forgive and forget is the heritage of the saints and of those who follow them remain cool. Ego is the hindrance in the way to forgive and forget. No relief is possible. The fire is there but it is dormant. It is the ego which is afire. The fire of ego burns the egoist.

The man with qualities of forgiveness never says that he is good, because those who think of themselves as good, goodness never draws near them. The man who can forget is a very strong man.

The span of human life is so short that we cannot afford to waste time and life in such trifles. Get over the bad habit. The best way to do so is to keep ourselves ever busy in any work which absorbs our interest.

Conclusions are wrong

When it comes to God, you have been told to believe, but nobody told you to explore divinity. Without being touched by an experience, believing something is not going to transform you.

Suppose from the day you were born, if I kept telling you my little finger is God, if I show you my little finger, divine emotions will come within you. If I teach you that my little finger is the devil, if I show you my little finger, terror will arise within you.

This is the nature of your mind.

Whatever you make out of the mind is of no true significance. As a device, yes, but in the ultimate sense it does not mean anything, because it may take one shape today and another shape tomorrow.

The mind is fluid, you can make anything out of it.

The intellect is just a survival tool, a limited aspect of your life. Survival is essential, but not fulfilling. If you want to go into the deeper dimensions of life, first you need the necessary instruments. Right now you experience life with just sense organs ­ by seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling. With these, you can't know anything beyond the physical. You can't measure the depth of the ocean with a foot scale. That is what is happening with people. They are approaching the deeper dimensions of life without the necessary instruments. So they jump to wrong conclusions.

People are eager to jump to conclusions because without a conclusion, they have no substance of their own.
What you call as `myself,' that person or that personality is just a bundle of conclusions that you have made about life.

But whatever conclusion you have made, you are bound to be wrong because life does not fit into any conclusion that you make. The moment you make a conclusion, you have stopped your growth; you have stopped and destroyed the possibilities of life.

When you dare to exist without any conclusions, willing to exist as just a small particle of this existence, then you will know the limitlessness of the existence.

Are you sleeping enough?

Lack of sleep can cause numerous health problems

Adequate sleep is extremely crucial for healthy and normal functioning of your body. Sleep in good quantity and quality is essential for physical, mental and emotional well being. It gives the desired rest and recharges the mind and body. Sleep has important homeostatic functions.

Sleep and heart have a close relation both scientifically and emotionally. The emotional relationship has been exploited in music and songs.

In an adult, the average sleep time is usually seven to eight hours and disturbed sleep is most unwelcome as it can have adverse effects on the functioning of various body systems particularly the heart and the brain.

The 24 x 7 lifestyle has relegated sleep to a secondary level of importance since humans have made a conscious decision to sacrifice sleep for completion of their tasks. The amount of sleep that a person needs to function in a normal manner depends on several factors, including age. Infants sleep most of the day (about 16 hours); teenagers usually need about nine hours a day; and adults need an average of seven to eight hours a day. Although older adults require about as much sleep as younger adults, they usually sleep for shorter periods and spend less time in deep stages of sleep. About 50 per cent of adults over the age of 65 have some type of sleep disorder, although it is not clear whether this is a normal part of aging or a result of other factors, such as medications that are commonly used by older people. In most cases, sleep disorders can be easily managed once they are properly diagnosed. Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder. It occurs more often in women and in the elderly.

Chronic sleep deprivation can have adverse effects on heart, blood pressure and metabolic functions resulting in hypertension, heart attacks, diabetes and stomach-related disorders like indigestion and hyperacidity. Chronic sleep deprivation also causes and/or aggravates snoring which is a prominent symptom of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

OSA is a common sleep disorder. OSA is characterised by repetitive closure of pharynx (a part of upper airway) in sleep causing lowering of oxygen concentrations in sleep. Low oxygen results in rise in blood pressure, rise in heart rate, irregular heart beating and release of stress hormones. The chief complaints in patients of OSA are snoring and daytime sleepiness and tiredness. Increase in body weight also occurs which may be difficult to lose in spite of exercises. OSA can affect both obese and non-obese individuals.

To overcome daytime sleepiness they may consume tobacco, smoke cigarettes or consume excess tea/ coffee, which is again harmful. Patients of OSA are at risk of developing high blood pressure, heart attacks, type 2 diabetes, stroke, obesity and dementia. Management of OSA is highly rewarding since it not only treats the sleep complaint but also the associated disorders are better managed. Oxygen is the basic requirement of body cells and if this is lacking, be in sleep only, needs to be treated. The basic needs of life- Roti, Kapda aur Makaan (food, clothes and shelter), needs to be rewritten as Oxygen, Roti, Kapda aur Makaan.

Did you know?
There are more than 70 different sleep disorders, which are generally classified into three categories: lack of sleep (e.g, insomnia), disturbed sleep (e.g., obstructive sleep apnea), and excessive sleep (e.g., narcolepsy).

सिर्फ एक कहानी हूँ मैं

अगर रख सको तो एक निशानी हूँ मैं,
खो दो तो सिर्फ एक कहानी हूँ मैं ,

रोक पाए न जिसको ये सारी दुनिया,
वोह एक बूँद आँख का पानी हूँ मैं........

सबको प्यार देने की आदत है हमें,
अपनी अलग पहचान बनाने की आदत है हमे,

कितना भी गहरा जख्म दे कोई,
उतना ही ज्यादा मुस्कराने की आदत है हमें...

इस अजनबी दुनिया में अकेल ख्वाब हूँ मैं,
सवालो से खफा छोटा सा जवाब हूँ मैं,

जो समझ न सके मुझे, उनके लिए "कौन"
जो समझ गए उनके लिए खुली किताब हूँ मैं,

आँख से देखोगे तो खुश पाओगे,
दिल से पूछोगे तो दर्द का सैलाब हूँ मैं,

अगर रख सको तो एक निशानी हूँ मैं,
खो दो तो सिर्फ एक कहानी हूँ मैं......

Never Give Up

We human beings are facing many problems these days, many of them devastating. And there is a tendency to simply turn on the news and read about these problems without reflecting on how they can make a difference in their lives. The reality is that there are solutions to every problem. We must look outside our small window of solutions.

The ups and downs make our life more meaningful and strong; indeed they are part and parcel of our life. One who has traveled on the uneven roads only will be able to realize the worth of the even roads. Therefore, one should never bow down easily. Life is a great teacher.

Every day is day of learning. Disappointments, problems and failures will be cornering us but if there is a sunset, let us not forget there is sunrise too.

Jerry, a famous businessman, was sad and looked deeply disturbed. He incurred a huge loss in his business.He hated life. He could not imagine a life in an abject poverty and an utter hopelessness. He hoped for a spark or ray that would redeem him from the misery of life he was in but it seemed very hard. With a heavy heart, he was walking on the seashore with the intention of suicide.

There, he saw a few children of the fisher folk making a house with sand. As he looked at them so admiringly, suddenly a big wave washed away their sand house. He was upset and sad for the children but they remained calm and composed.

“Children, you must have been disappointed that your beautiful house is washed away“ he said. “O, we cannot predict how far this wave would reach and this is a third time it has washed away our house“ said a boy; and another said, “Come on, we shall build our house there and the wave may not reach there.“ This remark brought a ray of life in his life; his morale went high. His self-confidence was boosted.

He walked back home happily. He learnt one thing: Never give up.

I've been living a lie!!

I know You think I'm crazy when I open the floodgates to my mind to the world.I heard what you said when I left something precious for something I believed in.Perhaps, the feeling that I've been living a lie is the creepiest I've been through. I thought I was an integral part of something and then it dawned I was not. I was just living a Lie. How could I be so stupid? 


Naah you're not the only one, every one has a fair share of stupidity  to contribute to the world.


I thought that I am cared for but again the truth didn't betray me for long.I somehow know I've been looking for happiness outside and that is when I stopped looking inwards.Trust me nothing is more stressful for a human than when their goals are tied to the approval of others.I seem brave enough to be free to you but somewhere deep inside I know I'm tied too. In Distrust I trust.


Let's not bullshit each other.Do you think I bought everything just because I loved it, half-true.I wanted the stuff that will be "a huge middle finger to each one of you."




I have started living in a world where most feedback I get is bullshit. The compliments mean nothing--the happiness they used to bring, that's just a passe to me. I don't know why but these days I tend to dismiss the genuine compliments I get in all the areas (work, personality, sense of humor, creativity) because it has started getting lumped in with the same counterfeit flattery I've been getting through.


The sound of a song I have known for years, flooded the emotional gates.A burst of emotion and tears left the gates of my eyes. 


I know you would hate me after you get a taste of my truth. But isn't it somewhat yours too?


You're similar to me, and hopefully we'll both eventually learn that everyone has a sad story to tell, despite how two-dimensionally stupid or sadistic others may seem. Like they say, life is suffering.


If you're hurt after getting a bitter taste of my truth,I'd not tell you how genuinely sorry I'm for being the awful Me and will be the better Me I'd ever love to be.


Not because I'm too arrogant to be sorry. Because, I have just realized that how badly I've been wounded all this while living a lie.


For now, I'd sign off from here and will take charge of my life with the only truth I figured out for myself~


Happiness comes from nothing, so think of nothing to bring you happiness.

Life's acid test

I have been a very stupid person and trusted each and every person who came into my life. I always saw the world with rose-tinted glasses and believed in one and all.

After being back-stabbed twice by close friends, I realized you need to be prudent in judging people and not everyone could be worthy of your trust.

I still remember the person who actually made me believe that I have been such a big ninny to trust him.
After two bitter experiences, I thought its time I don't trust everyone and not to be like a child and running after nothings.

I pulled up my socks, made selective friends and trusted only selected people.

When I faced the betrayal, it was the worst phase of my life; as when your trust breaks, it seems like the end of the world. To overcome it, I said to myself,“ You cheat me once, shame on you; you cheat me twice, shame on me.“ Then I made one saying the bookmark of my life, “Forgive but don't forget the name“. It's really true, one should definitely forgive as life is too short for holding the grudge but don't forget the name so that you don't give that person the authority to cheat you again.

Sometime such incidents happen to teach one of us and make us a better person and make us realise our own worth.

The day that friend of mine betrayed me, I actually realised my worth and thought he wasn't actually worth trusting. We become strong and mature with such incidents. It is rightly said with every problem there is a hidden opportunity, so always try to figure out that opportunity.

Life teaches us in many ways and if things go wrong, remember nothing can get worse than this. It's time for
things to get better and you have learnt your lesson and things will fall in place on their own. Have faith and belief in God.

Trust yourself and life will be filled with colors of rainbow once again.

Attitudinal change

I have been a very negative person most of my life.

Whenever something wrong happened with me, I always blamed God. I believed my stars were not in their appropriate position. My faith in stones and astrology increased day by day. In other words, I became a slave to my uncontrolled mind.

I fondly recall the day which has proved to be a transforming experience in my life. I was at an airport and my flight was delayed, giving me time to visit the bookshop. I chanced upon a book titled “You can Heal Your Llife“. The book changed my thinking altogether.

The essence of the book was that it led the reader to understand that when one thought negatively, one didn't achieve anything. I took a decision to give positivity a chance.

I consciously changed my thinking patterns and learnt a golden key to developing wisdom in life, “The mind is your best friend if you can control it and worst enemy if you are under the control of your mind“. I changed my psychology and inwardly started consoling myself that I will have the best as I deserve the best in life.

I told myself that I wasn't aware of the span of my life.

And, either I could live in complaint mode or I could live in the enjoyment mode.
The choice was mine. I made it a practice in my daily routine to remind myself that I was God's child and deserved being in a natural state of happiness.

Furthermore, when the sun rises every morning, it rises for everyone. You have to take this oath everyday that “The seeds of success are in abundance in the universe and I will definitely produce results if I am patient, optimistic and hardworking.“

I believe there is a thin line of difference between people but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude .When we put together faith, hope and love, we can develop positivity in a negative world

See the positivity in everyone, everywhere

There is a beautiful Sanskrit proverb that says, "Nobody gives happiness or misery. It is created by one's own mind." It means that you take unhappiness from others. You question people, "Why did you behave like that? Why did you insult me?" It is useless to do so. You should have compassion and feel, "Oh this person does not have that refined level of consciousness." If you don't want to be insulted, then nobody can insult you.

If you are basing your life on these feelings, you will be ruined because emotions are not stable at all. And not only are you bothered by your feelings, you also bother everybody by your feelings which are anyway momentary. The first thing in spiritual path: Praise yourself and praise others. And stop blaming your self and others. Lord Krishna says to Arjuna, "You are so good, you already have all the good qualities. I am only just bringing them up in you. Don't worry."

There is a story of a Guru who had stupid disciples. So, any work that the Guru would give, the disciples would do the opposite. Once the Guru's daughter was getting married and he told the disciples to whitewash the front of the house.

The disciples went and whitewashed the opposite house. The Guru asked, "What did you do? Now the baraat (bridegroom's family) is coming. Quickly whitewash the front." When the guests arrived, the disciples caught hold of each guest and started painting them. The guests got so annoyed that they cancelled the wedding. The Guru was very upset. But then he later found out that the groom was not mentally sane.

The lesson: even though the disciples were stupid, something good came out of all their mistakes.

So, the point is to see the positivity everywhere and in everyone, and hold the mind steadfast in the self. That is a sign of yoga and it will bring skill in action, success in endeavours and happiness in one's being.

Top 10 happiness mantras

Can you achieve excellence in the corporate world and still be happy? Find out from a new book called 'Happiness Quotient' by Dr Rekha Shetty. "

The top 10 happiness mantras for you: 

1. Each new day holds out a chance to create a whole new beginning, a sparkling new field of possibilities.

2. The ecology, the geography of your inner mindspace, is in your hands.

3. 'Swayambhu' is a word that describes happiness welling out of you, like an underground stream in the mountains.

4. Focus on Stress and unhappiness should be turned upside down. Instead of attacking unhappiness, we should plant a garden of happiness, by welcoming the positive emotions into our lives - love, compassion, wonder, courage, laughter and peace.

5. Focusing on our unhappiness by attacking it only helps to magnetize more power and attention to the negative person, event or object that causes it. Hence focus on cultivating happy people and avoid toxic people.

6. When the garden is clean and blooming and full of life, the snakes of anger have no place to hide; the thorns of greed get cleared away. When the clutter of old hatreds is replaced by order, the flowers of friendship bloom. The scorpions of revenge and jealousy slither away and the butterflies of laughter return to celebrate the flowers.

7. Too much television is 'Tele-visham' (Tele poison). Too much stimulation, a mindspace crowded by fantasy people and events, distracts you from focusing on your own mindspace, your home, your backyard.

8. Some days we seem to live a fantasy life dominated by day dreams, while reality tugs at our heartstrings for attention, like a neglected child. Take care of what is yours and enjoy it.

9. Let the cells of your body be gently bathed in happiness, positive thoughts and healing energies.

10. Physical fitness is the most important thing in life. The capacity to attain perfection of mind and soul depends on your physical health. Take care of yourself as no one else can do it for you.

Go on, be positive!

The state of your mental health says a lot about your life. Experts say that people who focus more on positive thinking and have positive attitudes not only enjoy life more but also lead healthier lives. Optimists are said to deal with pain and hardship better than their pessimistic counterparts. Remember your body reacts to your thoughts, feelings and actions. So if you're in a bad mood, your body will respond in a similar manner. While keeping yourself fit by eating right and managing stress is alright, positive thinking goes a long way in ensuring good health.

If you're feeling unwell and tell yourself that you're coming down with a bug, chances are that it will come true. Your mind is more powerful than you think. Stop thinking that you are going to fall sick or will take time to recover from a sickness. Experts call this the placebo effect - a placebo is treatment that provides whatsoever no medical gain except making the patient believe that it is helping them get better. Several patients report relief from their problems although they haven't actually received any medicine.

Thinking positive may not come naturally to everyone. To make that change you need to make a conscious effort. Whenever you find yourself getting negative thoughts, stop them. Start thinking of a happy event or memory that will cheer you.

Make positive statements. Instead of thinking or saying, "I can't do this or this is impossible", state positive affirmations - I will give this my best shot or I have so many things to be grateful about," sends out positive vibes.

Down in the dumps or feeling out of sorts with an illness? Visualization is a great technique that will actually help you feel better. Imagine yourself healthy and happy. When you visualize your thoughts, they send out positive signals to your brain making you feel better.

Positive emotions like humor, friendship and love are known to supercharge your health. Experts have long since asserted that laughter is great for you. Life is full of humor if you stop and experience it. Watch funny movies or TV shows, read books and jokes that make you smile, meet people who make you laugh. Laughter increases creativity, reduces pain, and even accelerates healing.

Catch up with friends. With the hectic lives we lead, we often forget how relaxing and calming meeting a friend can be. Good friendships are important so make sure you surround yourself with genuine ones. Having close buddies help you recuperate faster from sickness.

Social service and volunteering boosts feelings of compassion, which in turn make you a better person. When you help someone, you also help yourself. There are several orphanages, old age homes, mentally and physically challenged centers and animal shelters that need you to spend time with people and animals living there. You don't need to go there every week. Go once in a while and notice the difference.

When you spend a certain amount of time in prayer, and spiritual beliefs, you send positive vibrations your side. Have faith and it will go a long way in being a faithful companion. Prayer and meditation are good ways to connect to your spiritual side.

Office Politics - I'll Outshine at Work & that too without YOU!!

Dear Office-Politics,

I’ve worked hard to build a solid reputation as a good performer. I’ve had rave reviews from most of my managers.

Four years ago I was asked to learn a segment of the business from top to bottom, front to back. It is complex and high pressure, but I did it and used to be considered a valuable resource.

Then I got a series of new bosses.  Sure enough the team was no longer a team but my personal stock never dwindled. As a matter of fact these days most of the people I see don't respect each other and undervalue each other's contributions. I think some are so blinded by their own brightness that they can’t see other’s contributions.

I have worked with all sorts of people and have been a people's person, but I would definitely remember a few for all the lessons they have given me for my professional life. In the past I helped people on a couple of projects who never acknowledged my contributions, even though they were critical to the success of the projects.  I've seen people who have been insecure and in front of my colleagues and customers were condescending and openly rude to me, although I didn’t take it personally because that was their general demeanor to everyone. I have been forced to polish their apple with my experience in the name of team work. I’ve seen no team work from them. The job had grown, and having more people perform the job is merited, however I worked hard, and they got the glory.

I could have bowed to the powerful trio of adversaries and could have been the X, Y and Z of the “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” equation but I decided that I would never in my life romance a whore(Office politics). 

Yours lovingly, 

Vasu Gautam

Lessons learnt from the harmless flirtatious encounters with Office politics:

Positive attitude at work is something bosses look for in every employee. It is these very qualities that makes some more welcomed into any team, loved by your bosses and envied by colleagues.

Are these attitudes so difficult to possess or learned?

Frankly, it is really up to the individual - whether the person wants to learn it up or not, or even if that person is ambitious.

More often than not it is because people want a short cut to success, are insincere in their pursuit for better positions that they fall flat on their faces.

Assuming you are of the right thinking, you are sincere and willing to work hard, what then are some of the common expectations from bosses? What will make them take notice, perhaps even consider you for a promotion?

Remember, out there – there are full of people who will only do enough, too lazy or expect things to be delivered to them. If you have the right frame of mind, here are some tips you can use in your daily routine.

Start romancing with the work 

This means getting involved. No matter what is your rank, always be prepared to get your hands dirty. That means really doing the work.

Roll up your sleeves when you see a crisis looming, colleagues scrambling for a solution, managers in desperate need of assistance. These are perfect time to let your skills and knowledge shine.

Do not view your colleagues as competitors as that will mar your decision making at work. View them as team mates and when something happens to the team it hurts you too.

Dare to have an opinion

Learn to have a view on things and voice it when the time is right and appropriate. You are not just employed to do the work; you are also employed to propose better solutions to make things better.

Form opinions and generate ideas that can help make the company better. Do not think you are low ranking hence your opinion won’t matter. That is not true. Also, learning to have an opinion and generating ides when you are young at work will also prepare you for higher rank work. That is a positive attitude at work to have that everybody is bound to like.

Learn to Co-operate

It means more than just working with others in a seamless manner. It also means being able to learn to share credit when credit is given to the team. Very often people like to hog the limelight and are unwilling to cooperate since the success may need to be shared. But think about the overall effect of your actions on the team. Bosses will realize that you can contribute but are unwilling to cooperate as you know you may have to share credit.  Your subordinates and peers will disrespect you for not sharing the due credit. This sort of attitude will hold you back. You learn more and achieve more when you cooperate.

You gotta be trendy enough!! 

You may think this is funny. Why would you need to keep up with news on business, technology and trends especially when you are new? This positive attitude at work is not just relevant to the newbie but to managers too. In this day and age, bosses expect everyone to know what is happening in the world around them. A flood in Pakistan may affect the sale of your company’s product; a growing trend in China may mean new market for your company. All these are basics of the working world. The more you stay informed the better you can contribute.

Be the driving force of your own Career

You want to move up the corporate ladder? Be the driver of your own growth. There is only so much your company and your boss can do for you. When your boss sees that you take the initiative to grow yourself through exposing yourself to new ideas and people or even reading, you would have made a positive impression. Get feedback from supervisors and colleagues and see how you can improve. Take on the challenges that will spur your growth even if it scares you.

Positive attitude at work is not difficult to adopt. It really depends on you.  Remember, The Office Politics is a fickle mistress, my friend. You never know when she'll turn on you.