In Defence of Leisure
Rushikesh Kulkarni Leisure for the sake of itself is a luxury. Most modern day ideas of leisure focus on its potential to increase your productivity. This approach creates a simple self perpetuating…
HR, Organisations and Leadership
Managing Life – One Project At a Time
Many life skills exist in the world. But to truly live well, you need to master just a few. Standard survival skills, financial management and project management. While the first…
Multipotentialites
Over the years I have met folks who never identify with one true vocation. They are good at writing, taking pictures and even storytelling. Some of them who are great…
Of Rituals & Routines
What unites athletes, prolific writers, and high performing executives? A well defined ritual based routine, with blocks of time devoted to working on their craft. This seems to be one…
The Ultimate Productivity System
Before my masters, I used to run Breakfree Journeys. As an entrpreneur I owned my schedule. I could set or decline meetings as per my priorities. But after graduating in…
Why Storytelling Still Endures
Why Stortytelling still matters
The Genius of Severance
There are very few shows which accurately portray the absurdity of the modern corporate life. In the recent past, I have only liked The Office for its satirical portrayal of…
Connundrum
rushikeshgk2 Life is a connundrum. That’s all life is. An endless maze of choices and conflicts and the ensuing confusion, and the occasional contenment. Life also goes on. It doesn’t stop.…
21 Days of Writing Continuously
It takes 21 days to build a habit. I am not sure how scientific this claim is. But I can tell you that doing something continuously every day is difficult.…
Figuring it out on a walk
There is an excllent path between VT and Hornimam Circle. That path begins at Puncham Puri Wala and cuts through Bora Bazaar and finally opens up at the RBI museum.…
Barbershop Tales on Excellence
Until I moved out to pursue my masters, I would get my hair cut at the same saloon. That was the case until 2016. I graduated in 2018, and my…
My Adventures With Learning – As An Adult
Adult learning is a tricky business. Since my my civil services preparation days I have been trying to figure out the best ways of learning for myself. Back then I…
The Magic of Collective Effervescence
Power of Belonging A few weeks ago, I was waiting for my evening train at the station. Everyone around me was hooked onto their mobile screens. Nothing unusual, except that…
Becoming A Better Listener – Lessons from Coaching
I have always considered myself to be good at making conversations. Knowing something about many things has been an added advantage. But this was not sufficient at the workplace. Workplace…
Cleaning up Toxic Workplaces
Screen capture is a potent tool. Last week, a screengrab recording of an MS teams call went viral. A senior leader of a bank was seen berating his team for…
Celebrating Diversity Everyday
There is one Marathi song which has become a rage across the internet. Sung by Shreya Ghoshal and composed by the geniuses – Ajay and Atul, Baharla Ha Madhumas has…
5 Years of Being in HR
It is a cold rainy evening in Bangalore as I sit down to write this. It has been five years since I moved to this beautiful city. The move came…
Looking Out for The Invisible Workforce
Today was a day off for me on account of Labour Day. A holiday to mark the toil and struggle of the labour class. But what constitutes the labour class?…
On Avoiding Nasty Surprises – The Stoic Way
The recent bank crashes highlight the vulnerability of today’s economic system. In spite of all the access to big data analytics, decisions made are are not full proof. This may…
The Write Way
Happiness can be found when you put your thoughts down on a crisp white sheet of paper. Etching your thoughts and ideas as they flow from your mind (and sometimes…
On Workplace Friendships
Friendships at the workplace can be tricky. Some argue that it is best to maintain a healthy distance with colleagues. They cite the same logic to avoid workplace relationships, as…
The Building Blocks of Great Culture
Everyone has a viewpoint on Culture. Culture Vultures are everywhere. But I don’t blame them. Culture is a universal concept. Experienced by all and defined by all in their own…
Escaping the Hyper-Productivity Trap
Striking off all items from your to-do list is a source of joy. The accompanying ‘high’ is powered by a sense of accomplishment which is addictive. However, like all addictions…
Under the Moonlight
A new buzzword Rishad Premji’s tweet has brought into focus a new word in the corporate lingo – Moonlighting. The act of working two or more jobs. Remember, in Season…
Towards A More Sustainable Job Market
The recent spate of layoffs in tech-start ups has created an uneasy atmosphere all around. The precariousness of private jobs is now more evident than before. These sudden layoffs were…
On Completing Four Years in HR
Some dates in the year hold more significance than others. Today is one such a day, for, it marks the beginning of my full time career in HR. Before TISS,…
Stoicism for Everyday Battles
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is one of the most significant events of recent times. Unlike the other conflicts, it has caught the imagination of a wider segment of population.…
Why Managers Matter
You probably have seen or heard of Michael Scott. He is perhaps one of the most famous middle-management guys to have existed. He is also, of course, a fictional character…
Social Sciences for the Workplace
why social sciences matter at the modern-day workplace
Is Purpose the only Antidote to the Great Resignation?
Looking at the discourse on purpose in light of the great resignation.