Understanding Human Psychology

  This year didn’t ease in gently. It took off — fast. Like a bullet train. Last year ended on a high, and before I could fully catch my breath, this year began on an even higher note, professionally. Work picked up pace almost immediately. New challenges, engaging conversations, demanding timelines, and opportunities that required me to be fully present from day one. And for that, I feel grateful. The year also began wrapped in family moments, celebrations, gatherings, laughter, and togetherness. The kind that you enjoy before life pulls you back into its rhythm. Soon after, the days became busy, not in a draining way, but in a stretching way. The kind of busyness that keeps you on your toes and makes you feel alive. There have already been moments that asked for focus, patience, and presence. Situations that were challenging, yet deeply engaging. The kind that don’t let you function on autopilot. And as I look ahead, I can sense that there are fun times coming too and moments of ...

  Most of us don’t stop because we can’t do something. We stop because we are scared of failing . We don’t take that exam because what if I don’t clear it? We don’t apply for that role because what if I’m not good enough? We don’t start learning a new skill because what if I can’t keep up? We don’t say yes to a project because what if I mess it up? Slowly, fear starts deciding our life choices. What we forget is this simple truth: failure is not the opposite of success . In many cases, it is a part of it. Most people who succeed don’t do so because everything went smoothly. They succeed because they tried, failed, learnt, adjusted, and kept going. I’ve experienced this very personally. When I decided to pursue my PhD, I was scared. Not because I didn’t want it — I really did — but because I didn’t know if I would be able to manage it. The fear was very real. What if I can’t complete it? What if I’m not capable enough? Then, after I got admission, life threw another curveb...

  2025: From Awareness to Influence — A Year That Changed How I Operate As 2025 draws to a close, I find myself pausing, first, to measure the year by milestones, and second to measure it by movement . Inner movement, Relational movement, and finally, Systemic movement. If I were to describe 2025 in two halves, the first half was about awareness and connection, and the second half was about stakeholder management and collective momentum. What’s interesting is that the second half could only exist because of the first. It Started With Awareness - Early 2025 gently but firmly nudged me inward. Awareness of self, patterns, what energizes me and what drains me. That awareness naturally led to a deeper connection with self, my intent, my values, my way of being in the world. And once that connection with self strengthened, my connection with others became more authentic, more grounded, and more meaningful. Conversations felt less transactional and more intentional. Listening became dee...

  As professionals, we often talk about qualities as if they are switches, like either on or off. One is confident or not, decisive or hesitant, strong or vulnerable. But I feel reality doesn’t work in binaries. I feel qualities exist on a continuum. Confidence, for instance, ranges from self-doubt on one end to arrogance on the other. Somewhere in the middle lies grounded and sound-minded confidence, like the one that listens, adapts, and still takes a stand when needed. Too little confidence can hold you back. Too much can shut others down. Haven’t we all experienced people who are holding themselves back in their professional career and are loosing out on opportunities to shine because of the lack of confidence. And similarly experienced people because of their over confidence, nearly arrogance, they can turn off their colleagues or push them into a shell. The same is true for vulnerability. At the right moment, vulnerability builds trust, deepens connection, and makes leaders...

  There are days when my work feels like walking a tightrope. One moment, I’m expected to follow processes exactly as they are — templates, standards, formats, quality checks. Don’t miss a step. Don’t improvise. Consistency matters. And I completely agree. In many situations, standardisation is what keeps work efficient, reliable, and safe. But a few hours later, I’m asked a very different question: “Can you think differently?” “Can you make this more innovative?” “Can you bring a fresh perspective?” And suddenly, the same system that demanded conformity now expects creativity. I’ve often found myself thinking — which version of me do you want today? This is the reality for many of us. The world asks for quality — which usually means standardisation — and at the same time asks for creativity and innovation, which often means breaking away from those very standards. Both are valuable. Both are necessary. But managing the shift between the two is not easy. As a leader, I’ve realised ...