Understanding Human Psychology

  Have you ever stood in front of a locked door, unsure if you have the right key? That’s exactly how trust works in conversations, especially those of coaching. People don’t just open up because you ask them to. They need to feel safe, heard, and respected. In coaching, I’ve seen this play out many times. A client walks in, guarded and hesitant, unsure if they can truly share what’s on their mind. But the moment they realize I’m not here to judge—just to listen—something shifts. Like a door slightly ajar, they let me in, little by little. The key? Open-ended questions. Instead of asking, “Are you struggling at work?” I ask, “What’s been the biggest challenge for you lately?” It gives them the space to explore their own thoughts, rather than shutting the conversation down with a yes or no. Trust is not demanded; it’s earned. And the right words—like the right key—can make all the difference.

  As Women's Day approaches, I find myself reflecting on the profound stories of resilience and strength that shape our society. Recently, I was deeply moved by a speech from Mrs. Smriti Irani, Actress and Former Minister of Women and Child Development, Indian Government. In her address, she recounted the hardships faced by her mother, herself, and her two sisters. They were compelled to leave their home because her mother couldn't bear a male child—a stark reminder of the deep-seated gender biases that have plagued our culture. Mrs. Irani's narrative is not just a personal account but a reflection of the challenges many women have endured. It prompts me to question: Despite our celebrations of Women's Day, have we truly eradicated these biases from our hearts and society? While such incidents might seem like relics of the past, I wonder if, in certain corners of our world, girls are still made to feel inferior, their potential unfairly measured against that of boys. ...

The other day, I was talking to my husband about how different school was when we were kids. Back then, teachers weren’t just authority figures—they were almost untouchable. We respected them, but there was also a sense of fear, a rigid boundary between us and them. You didn’t question a teacher, you followed instructions, and education was largely about memorization rather than understanding. But now, when I look at my child’s experience in school, it’s a completely different world. Teachers today are warm, approachable, and deeply invested in a child’s emotional well-being. Many of them feel like second mothers and fathers, offering support beyond academics. They encourage curiosity, creativity, and dialogue. Education itself has shifted—rote learning is being replaced with interactive methods that make concepts come alive. This shift makes me wonder about its impact on a child’s developing mind. Respect for teachers used to stem from a sense of authority, but now it comes from admir...

Many times in a coaching journey, I see a familiar look on my coachee’s face—the unspoken “Why is my coach telling me to take action?” They hear me say that certain actions will need to be taken, that we’ll evaluate them each time we meet—maybe once a fortnight, maybe once a month. And they wonder, Why? Won’t change just happen on its own? And honestly? They’re not wrong. Change will happen. Life moves forward, things shift, and we evolve—whether we plan for it or not. But here’s the thing: when you take action with intention, when you make purposeful choices instead of waiting for change to unfold on its own, you take control of your direction. That’s when you tap into your personal power—your ability to shape the outcome, rather than just being carried along by it. I often hear, “It will happen anyway.” Yes, it will. But wouldn’t you rather be the one steering the ship instead of drifting wherever the waves take you? Change is inevitable, but purposeful change is a choice. This doesn...

There is something magical about the space that forms in a coaching session. It’s not something tangible, yet the shift is almost immediate. A client walks in, sometimes guarded, sometimes unsure. And then, in what feels like an instant, the space transforms—trust takes root, and vulnerability follows. I’ve had so many moments where clients tell me, “I have never shared this with anyone before.” The first time it happened, I was taken aback. Now, I see it happen so often that I’ve come to deeply respect the power of coaching. There is something in the process, in the presence, in the way we hold space as coaches, that creates an environment where people feel seen, heard, and safe. It’s an honor, truly, to be the person on the other side of that conversation. To be trusted with thoughts, emotions, and stories that have been locked away for years. To witness the moment a realization dawns or the weight of long-held emotions finally lifts. It’s not just about asking the right questions; i...