Hope Springs Eternal

In conversation with myself,
the mind mapping session, one day,
a question leading to another,
I asked myself:
Asma, what was in the jar,
the jar that Pandora carried?
Many things, not-so good things,
along with curiosity on her mind.
And what happened?
Well, curiosity killed the cat,
it did then, it still does now.
Now, as in?
Could there be a better example,
than the year we almost survived;
not all, but most?
Hmmm, isn’t curiosity a good thing?
Depends,
on the situation, on the surrounding.
So, what next, then and now?
Hope remained in the jar,
and in her mind,
contained before it could escape,
both then and now.
What’s the difference?
Then the jar was a mud pithos,
huge and heavy.
Now, the jar is a glass container,
small and secured.
If you were to be in the story,
what would you be?
Hope, I hope so.
And what does Hope say?
Same as did Alexander Pope,
“Hope springs eternal
in the human breast.”
We survived then,
we will survive now.
Will it be the same,
for those who survived?
It is never the same,
except for curiosity and hope.
Hope springs eternal.
Curiosity brings change.
And, Change is constant.
Meaning?
Adapt and survive, or
Resist and perish.
Use your free will,
But make a wise choice.
So, what does Asma wish?
A hopeful and healthful future.
Is that a possibility?
Well, Hope says yes,
And, so does Asma.

…Ashu Bolar
ashubolar@gmail.com

Change, Changing, Changed

Change, a six letter word, which means to create a difference or be the difference or both.

So the changing process…

Is it easy? Not at all.

Any choices? Not actually.

Change is constant. Well, it is. So you change, adapt or else the option is you become a dinosaur—extinct. Survival of the fittest. Darwin’s Evolutionary Theory. Natural Selection.

Change is always challenging. It means transforming, revolutionizing in some cases. A massive behavioural shift. Overcoming fear in many cases; a fear of being trapped in a vicious cycle.

How aggravating can ‘Change’ be?

Scenario A: Every time the Windows software or an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning – a business process management software) upgrades, there is an expression of annoyance on most of our faces and a silent question – “Why again?” Answer: It is the need of the hour. A want may be.

Scenario B: Every time we switch our mobile phones, the excitement of new phone is diluted with the anxiety of learning and getting used to the new applications. But still you are smiling. Why? Answer: It is a desire fulfilled.

Changing…we generally don’t like it. Yet, we do it. Why?

Either we do not have a choice or we actually want to adapt, or may be survive.

So how do we do it while smiling and not sulking?

By converting a ‘want’ into a ‘desire’.

How?

Simple. Apply Design Thinking.

Now, what is Design Thinking? A new management terminology for something that existed almost always. It simply means be creative, be innovative. Think out of the box. If need be, think beyond the box. Or maybe just forget the box that limits your thinking. Just think!

Remember the arts class in our school days? The art teacher drew a Mickey Mouse on the black board and every student was to replicate that Mickey Mouse. However, every art book had a unique Mickey Mouse sketched—somewhere the tail was long, some places it was missing; some had large ears, some had tiny; and then the eyes! Every student had his/her version of Mickey Mouse.

Now, if say, in corporate terms, Mickey Mouse was the company’s vision drawn on the board by the art teacher (the manager here), then every student (means an employee) had a creative strategy to achieve that Mickey Mouse, that Vision. Some may look or sound good. Some may not. But if the class had 30 students, then there were 30 Design Thinking solutions right there on the art paper in the classroom (board room here).

Another analogy is a craft class. The craft teacher gives an A4 paper to 30 students and says, “Do anything, but the paper in the end of one hour should look anything but rectangle.” Again every student applies his/her mind. A result could be anything from a crushed paper ball to a beautiful paper sculpture.

We all have been there. We all have done it. We all know it. Design Thinking to me is nothing but letting my mind think without any blinders on. It is the application of art to the scientific thinking process—generating a thought that can give a solution to create want, then convert it into a desire, and thereon, to bring about a behavioural shift without forcing or emphasizing on the word CHANGE.

With creative thinking any unhappy scenario can be converted into a happy one.

Let’s apply this to Scenario A. What if the person is informed that the new Windows version or upgraded ERP has more pros than the visible cons? Often a person is upset not because of the change, but because it wasn’t informed. Here, communication plays a significant role. Timely and effective communication can make an individual aware that upgraded software equals to increased productivity, and thus, enhanced growth, both organizational and individual growth. Make this sound like the desired new phone and there you go…all happy, all smiles!

Some wise person once told me, “Asma, if there are two glasses, one full to the rim and one an inch or two less than the rim, then in such a scenario, which glass would you pour water in and why?”

I would pour water in the second glass as there is space to add the additional quantity. And, if I try pouring water in the first glass, then there will be an overflow and waste of water.

That is exactly similar with our minds. When we learn and learn, then we become glass-full with no space to add any new information. Hence, no inclination to adapt, and thus, we feel we do not have to change. However, when we put in efforts to constantly learn and unlearn, then there is space to add new information, new ideas, and may be, bring about new changes—create difference or be the difference.

Changed?

Hmmm, it is a process. It is ongoing in my case. Because to me, creating difference makes sense. Being a dinosaur doesn’t. I read ‘Dinosaur’ as ‘Die-No-Saw’, meaning I just exist without any contribution to the society, not a good feeling. How about you?

…Ashu Bolar
ashubolar@gmail.com

Post Appraisal Dysfunctionality

New organisation…new work…new hopes….all are amazing until the time of performance appraisal. 😦

Yes, one year of hard work, more & more assignments, numerous late nights, and of course, working on weekends goes with out saying. (Weekend in most of the organisations in India starts with Sunday and ends on the very same Sunday.)

You don’t get paid for working extra hours and on weekends, however there is a hope that things will be better next year with some appreciation, some recognition, and of course, some increment.

But in the new financial year, you realise that a pat on your shoulder is a dream come true. And all you land up with is a kick in your backside.

Yes, that happens in the form of your appraisal. There is this huge form that your expected to fill, which you sincerely complete with great enthusiasm that dies the very minute you get the new letter with revised insulting salary structure in your hand.

Along with enthusiasm, dies your motivation, dies your self confidence, dies the belief in your seniors with fixed plastic smiles, who are sweet talkers, excel in using and misusing you to pump up their images at the cost of your efforts and energy. Unfortunately this realisation comes a little late. 😥

In such a decaying state, either you continue to die everyday or choose to survive either by raising voice or by selecting yet another new place. In the corporate world, to expect a change equals expecting a revolution. With fewer friends and more frenemies, such a revolution is plainly hypothetical. However, a change in yourself or your surroundings is for sure a possibility. After all life, be it world or corporate world, is nothing but survival of the fittest.

I am struggling to overcome this dysfunctionality as I choose to survive. Now how, is something that we will discuss later! 🙂

…Ashu Bolar