tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78937329712731171462024-03-10T08:17:42.199+05:30Serendipity and LearningA collection of my thoughts, muses and creative pursuits from the learning and education space! A serendipitous journey over technology and operations led me into learning and education and leadership development for organizations and people. A collection of thoughts, nothing more - usually used to index and cross refer...Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.comBlogger603125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-13720174907409411262024-02-28T21:20:00.002+05:302024-02-28T21:20:45.528+05:30Bloat<p>Podcasts bloat</p><p>Ted talks bloat</p><p>Online courses bloat</p><p>Hell they have even managed to make reels bloat.</p><p>One course I saw recently has 22 hours video on some innocuous topic. Many Ted talks can be compressed to 3 sentencs (or 5). Tip - read the transcript - it is way faster. Part of the reason I gave up listening to podcasts was bloat and ads. </p><p>So, why this bloat? What is the incentive to keep on adding layer after layer of meaningless information. Anything more and this post will bloat. </p><p>So, stop. Cut to the chase. </p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-67944128213958884682024-02-28T14:24:00.000+05:302024-02-28T14:24:25.296+05:30On sales techniques<p>Just as we speak, I received a spam sales mail. As an L&D head, I receive a whole bunch of sales "spam". Not all of it classifies as spam, let me clarify. But a badly crafted sales message is spam. Similarly, </p><p>A mail that does not take the organization need into account.</p><p>A mail that uses techniques like "can we meet this week or next" is pointless - because I dont intend to meet - because your mail did not connect to our need at all. </p><p>A mail that is not compelling. </p><p>A mail that has no differentiator. </p><p>Yes, you are a training company and yes, I am a potential client. Yes you need to get my attention and I might be happier ignoring it. So, how to make that transition? To me the method is to stand out, make the other curious and thats it. When the need arises the client will come (having been on the other side).</p><p>Someone I had 5 years ago will be working with us because they are "different" - and that is what we seek now. </p><p>But my point is - unless your customer reads your mail your sales technique is of no use. And unless the customer finds it compelling enough, she may not read it. And she might not get around to seeing it as a compelling because she has no need. </p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-1535362953616340702024-02-24T19:33:00.000+05:302024-02-24T19:33:01.389+05:30The nintendo<p>About 15 odd years ago, when the internet had not crept into all devices, we purchased a Nintendo Wii and we have all of one game CD on it. And it is crazy that even today the kids are able to derive enjoyment out of it and as they grow, the game is becoming a great de-stressor in the midst of exam prep. </p><p>Today we are at a stage when every app worth its salt sends updates every week, if not more. So, features can be added, newer levels can be introduced and all sorts of things can be done. But what do you when you have ship your product as "one and done". Or put in other words, what if updating was a constraint. </p><p>Whatever the issue, what is impressive that is that it looks like the game will keep going on and on. </p><p>Here are some of the things they have discovered. </p><p>The game unlocks new characters as your achievements increase. </p><p>There are many such possible achievements - the race is done in reverse, mirror circuits</p><p>There are many challenges</p><p>As the players uncover these, newer achievements emerge. </p><p>I have no idea till what level this will go - and I am sure, older non updateable games were always designed like this - but it is brilliant to see the stickiness of this game. </p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-58005743080659705962024-01-20T11:15:00.007+05:302024-01-20T11:15:46.291+05:304 minutes of creativity and Chat GPT<p> Found this gem in Lyndon Cerejos - Being Designerly newsletter. That is Stephen Fry reading Nick Caves letter on the creative process and ChatGPT. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="420" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iGJcF4bLKd4" width="505" youtube-src-id="iGJcF4bLKd4"></iframe></div><br /><p>Worth every second of those 4 minutes. </p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-34012957977347115442024-01-18T21:59:00.001+05:302024-01-18T21:59:02.562+05:30The Creative Act: A way of being<p>Somebody recommended this book somewhere and as I am wont to do, I bought it. I am a sucker for books on creativity. Especially if it is recommended. By someone I know. Or dont. Or on Amazon. Thus it is that I have a collection of books on Creativity. </p><p>Helps that somewhere along the way, I self identify as a creative person. And over the years, I have in my own way understood creativity. </p><p>Helps also that I conduct creativity workshops and thus have an insight into creativity. </p><p>All said and done, I picked up Rick Rubins book -The creative act. I had no idea who Rick Rubin was - I forgot to google- this was an impulse buy remember. Turns out that he is a creative musician (yes, the book has a lot of references to music). </p><p>So, done with all the backstory. Lets get to the book.</p><p>The book is a master piece of writing on the creative process. Hands down the best book I have ever read that captures the creative process (if you call it capturing, because the whole point of the creative process is about being creative and non conformist) in such a beautiful fashion. </p><p>Ideas come. Ideas go. Do you know how to kindle the brain to get to that flash of insight? Rick calls this ideation/insight process a gift from the universe. Are you listening, he asks. And you are just a mere instrument in making the idea happen - the idea is floating in the universe in a manner of speaking. So, how do you align, body mind and soul with the universe and prepare yourself for receiving the idea? He calls the creative process divine - well almost. And meditative. And having got that flash of insight, how do you nurture it? How to execute? What might happen? What might go wrong? And then what? Rick turns over every tiny stone on the path. </p><p>Rick takes you through this process like a meandering river. And it meanders through every possible path. The book flows through pretty much all aspects of creativity and takes you through in a gentle manner. This is a book to be savoured. Read slowly. Dipped into. </p><p>This book is meditative. He speaks of detachment. Following the path. Trusting the process. What does that sound like? Yes, Creativity is a deep spiritual experience and he asks, are you able to see it? Feel it?</p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-81755736792454999042024-01-04T13:59:00.002+05:302024-01-04T13:59:18.410+05:30The marketeer<p> In a recent train travel, the coffee vendor was saying "If you dont like the taste of the coffee, dont pay, pay only if you like it". And in the return journey, I heard the same thing. Turned out, it wasnt the same vendor, it was something that the agency running the catering for the train had figured. </p><p>Food in Indian trains has never been great. Indeed, bereft of all nostalgia, food has been pathetic. Sure, there are exceptions in some trains, at some railway stations, but it has mostly been low quality. Now if you need to people to try it, there has to be a hook - hence this one. </p><p>Cut to the sandwich seller. The vendor (all catering staff) came with the sandwich and repeated the same spiel. And he actually waited till someone tasted one sandwich, said the taste was good before accepting payment. He did that for the dhokla as well. </p><p>And he did not stop at that. The bag had a few rose petals on it as well. Mind you this was an evening train. And he said, well, I live in Ujjain and do puja of Mahakaal and then sprinkle the flowers before my duty. Clearly this man is a consummate marketeer. And in a blink of an eye, he had managed to sell 6 sandwiches and a few dholkas as well. </p><p>So, what. It is one thing to know the consumer pain point (train food is bad), it is one thing to decide to tackle it with a hook (pay only if taste is good) - but it is takes a little extra bit of empathy to make that extra connect to the customer (anyone who comes to Ujjain has a high likelihood of being a devotee of Mahakaal). </p><p><br /></p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-67122947904939974892023-12-28T10:45:00.001+05:302023-12-28T10:45:00.129+05:30Everybody is talking about AI<p>My year end reflection - on AI. </p><p>Proceed with caution: To be fair, I don't know much about AI. I know ChatGPT (I mean, who doesnt. Even my cat does). I have used it and found myself alternating between being blown away and feeling meh. </p><p>I have seen midjourney images (never tried) and AI driven story lines and plot lines. Quite impressive really. And apparently it has won a creativity contest as well. </p><p>And at a conference recently someone said, AI will be like electricity in future - that was a different way of looking at it. It could become as ubiquitous as electricity, but like anything these days will have a steep tab attached to it. And the moment that happens, it will be preserve of a few who can afford it. </p><p>Organizations will have (many already have) co-pilots enabled - and beautiful mails will be read and replied to by AI. (Human communication hopefully will keep pace.)</p><p>But keeping all that aside, can AI really replace L&D professionals? Let us look at the points of engagement of L&D</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>AI can do a great job of creating Individual learning plans without the tedium of having to do this person by person. What used to be a largely hi-po audience can theoretically be opened to all. (Leave aside questions of effectiveness or if companies will do it)</li><li>AI can do a equally great job in evaluating learning effectiveness (not all parts, but a large part of it)</li><li>AI assisted content curation will be the rage- will it be effective, we don't know, but they will do a good job for sure. Especially if it is hyper personalised. So, AI driven hyper personalised learning will be a thing. All these content driven platforms will personal AI either free or at cost.</li><li>AI assisted content creation - audio, video will make content creation very easy. So, what happens to huge content farms companies have created? Tough to say. Universities can offer their content to companies for them use via an AI - this might well be a business model</li><li>Today to search a good course is a pain on all platforms - AI can easily search and summarise, much faster and better and efficiently. </li></ul>Here is the kicker - most companies are still here when it comes to AI, but what if we moved into skill building?<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Can AI assist in skill building? I think yes and some companies are already doing this. By analysing behaviour, mails and conversation, an AI skill building assistant is quite a rage. Think LXP powered by AI. </li><li>Can AI assist in coaching? Yes, again, I think AI coaches will be the rage. Think of it as how chat bots work today. They can do an initial level of coaching until human intervention is needed. Of course, some work needs to be done, but my suspicion is someone is at it already. </li><li>Can AI assist in Talent Management? This will be a stretch, but again it is doable. </li><li>The better data that you have, the easier it is to engage AI to do the grunt work. Until it takes over :)</li></ul><div>So, what happens to hooman trainers and facilitators and content creators and coaches like me? Well, we have to do what the AI cannot do. Like how photographers suddenly lost their mojo with digital photography became ubiquitous, but found their feet when people realised that quantity is not quality. </div><div><br /></div><div>The comparison is not the same, but atleast for the foreseeable future "sub text" still belongs to humans. I dont know till how long this lead will last. But if you are in any of these fields (or for that matter in any field) build your expertise. Do what AI cannot do. Join the dots that AI cannot. Remember for now, AI uses data from the past. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, as long as you can think originally, you are ahead of the game. For now. </div><div><br /></div><div>Aside: As an original thinker, I think I need to put what I write behind a firewall. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-44179788527970709582023-12-27T10:28:00.003+05:302023-12-27T10:28:00.126+05:30Books Read 2023<p>This year was a bad book year. The year I suffered <a href="https://neellearning.blogspot.com/2023/06/readers-block.html">from readers block</a>. So, taking stock of what I read this year. </p><p>Five Seats of Power by Raghu Ananthanarayan</p><p>Invaders and Infidels by Sandeep Balakrishna</p><p>Hindu Rashtra by Anand Ranganathan</p><p>Humble Inquiry by Edgar Schein (re-read)</p><p>Navigating Polarities by Brian Emerson and Kelly Lewis</p><p>Trust and Inspire Stephen Covey</p><p>The Wisdom of the Bullfrog by Admiral William Mc Raven</p><p>The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd</p><p>Night sky tells the time by Prof V Krishnamurthy</p><p>From Manjunath to Manjamma by Harsha Bhatt</p><p>Four thousand weeks by Oliver Burkeman</p><p>Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows</p><p>Seeing Systems by Barry Oshry</p><p>The Darkening age: Christian destruction of the classical world by Catherine Nixey</p><p>Build by Tony Fadell</p><p>I have more books in my to-read list than ever before</p><p>A translation of the Kumarasambhava by MR Kale</p><p>Shankaras translation of the Viveka Chudamani</p><p>Upanishads by Dr. Radhakrishnan</p><p>The systems thinker by Albert Rutherford</p><p>The Bhagavad Gita by Eknath Easwaran</p><p>Started and given up for now</p><p>The India Way by S Jaishankar</p><p>Genius Makers Cade Metz</p><p>To summarise - my appetite for business and non-fiction remains. Fiction is almost absent in reading this year except for the usual re-reads of old favourites. And I think this is the year when I purchased more digital books than physical books. Plus my OD course meant more OD studies - which is reflected in the list. I am gravitating towards history and Indian epics and shastras. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-26666571454170747472023-11-27T12:05:00.004+05:302023-11-27T12:05:48.343+05:30What I learnt I learnt by doing<p>Continuing on my insights from the design conference- followed by an L&D meetup. </p><p>What I realise is that, pretty much everything one learns has to be learnt by doing. Almost everything I learnt has followed the same mode. </p><p>I invested time in a Theatre workshop many years ago. The entire exercise was learning by doing. Learn, fall, receive feedback, try again, fall, receive feedback and so on. </p><p>And about perhaps 10 years later I signed up for ISABS ODCP. The entire exercise of making an OD professional out of you is filled with these learning cycles. Try, receive feedback, reflect, act, rinse, repeat. </p><p>And while these are relatively short cycle learning projects, the story is the same for anything in the longer term as well. </p><p>What I learnt I learnt by doing. </p><p>(Failing, Fallling, Learning again, Seeking Feedback, Reflecting, Trying again, Failing again, Receiving mild applause, Trying again, Failing again, Working hard, Getting it right and so on. It is a messy process and you cant scrub it clean. This is the only way learning has happened and will continue to happen. </p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-75205230771406676292023-11-27T11:49:00.003+05:302023-11-27T11:49:38.011+05:30You cannot afford to be insular and inward looking<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the things we often tell newbies in HR is to know the business. Know the customers. Look beyond HR. (Ditto for those in L&D or TA)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">And I heard this being repeated in the Design conference. As a designer, you need to be <span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">aware. You need to know the business. Know the customers. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Go beyond the stated problem. Dont fix what has been told to you. Investigate further. And so on. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The common factor here apart from the fact that as much as you gain expertise, you cannot be a one trick pony or that you require T shaped skills. But what resonated with me more was the fact that you cannot afford to be insular and inward looking regardless in your field. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-44082098087068581152023-11-25T19:27:00.003+05:302023-11-25T19:27:19.241+05:30The joy of a crossword<p> In these days of app driven pleasures, somewhere the younger one discovered the pleasure of the crossword. I think it is serendipity because the crossword appears on the page that she tries her hand at other puzzles and one fine day, she decided to tackle the crossword. And I was called to help. </p><p>I am an old lover of the crossword. I never quite figured the cryptic crossword beyond a few clues despite my best efforts, but a typical word crossword is something I absolutely adore. </p><p>The joy of finding a word in bits and pieces, trying out a word, swapping something - it is fun - plus it increases general knowledge and vocabulary. Though those are side benefits - the sheer joy of words is what the crossword enables. </p><p>Plus nowadays, google helps if we get a little stuck. So, there we are the two of us, pondering over, a word for the crowd with pitchforks or a sailors cry for help or a sanctuary for lions and absolutely enjoying every moment of solving the crossword. </p><p>And now inspired, we are looking at tackling the cryptic crossword. </p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-42038012429989824472023-11-25T19:16:00.006+05:302023-11-25T19:17:06.081+05:30Design conference<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When was the last time you did something for the first time. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I did yesterday. I attended a design conference. For various reasons which included learning about a field that has held me in thrall for a long long time.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">And it did not disappoint. Met some folks with whom I only had telephonic conversations, some long lost contacts rejuvenated and meeting some old friends in a different setting. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Design conferences are surely creative. And highly educational. And I highly recommend visiting a different conference than your profession... some problems are the same and some are different. Gives a great perspective. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">As an L&D professional...my takeaway...deepen your practice else AI is waiting. Rewrite the rules!</span></span>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-44260673586278984922023-11-20T20:53:00.003+05:302023-11-20T20:53:11.363+05:30Gyan of gyaanis<p>At the end of any premier event, there is a rash of posts on Linked in. And therefore, <span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I dread Linkedin the day after the world cup. Leadership lessons from Rohit. Coaching fundamentals by Rahul. How to hold your head under pressure despite being a star on Virat. How to work the team on the Netherlands captain. How to play in adversity on the Afghanistan wicketkeeper. How to serve like the 12th man selflessly. Pages upon pages from people who may have last bowled in kindergarten (or 7th grade). In their gully. With a plastic ball. Underam. In a 5 over match. With one bounce out. Nothing might be factually wrong, but a lot of it is hearsay. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The same thing happened with Chandrayaan. Everybody who had thrown a paper plane in the air was suddenly giving gyan about the work culture at ISRO and the humility of the scientists there. (Again, nothing factually wrong there)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The same thing happened a few years back with the pandemic. And still happening with AI. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Now, note, I absolutely love some great pieces of writing and leadership lessons and AI and whatever, but a lot of times, the gyan someone gives is second hand. It is one thing to write it being in the know, being around when it happened - it is another thing to watch it on TV and write about leadership lessons - when the truth is - we dont know. We really dont know. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sort of goes on the same vein as I <a href="https://neellearning.blogspot.com/2023/08/isro-gyaan.html">have written before</a>. </span></span></p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-34865744555442109712023-11-16T11:08:00.001+05:302023-11-16T11:08:03.828+05:30Five Seats of Power<p> This book has been on my mind for a while. I was a little sceptical about it - thinking that "I know the Mahabharata (as most of us do), so what new thing will I learn". The reason i share this is it is possible that this is the reason many might have to not read this book. </p><p>But as I read the book, I was pleasantly surprised. The author has drawn on the Mahabharata to create an elaborate leadership archetype - and there were many aspects I did not know about. In the story of the Mahabharata Arjuna and Bheema have been in the centre, Yudhisthira as well but the role of Nakula and Sahadeva have been minimal - almost like background figures. Duryodhana, Bheeshma, Karna and others also have a lot of space as compared to Nakula and Sahadeva. So that comes in the way of looking at 5 archetypes. And the author ties it all together as leadership archetypes. </p><p>The Mahabharata is one of the Indias foremost epics. And it is one of those stories that lend itself to so many retellings and interpretations - it has so much depth and layers. And the author has brought out the nuances of the protagonists and some of the antagonists while constructing a Leadership archetype theory around it. </p><p>Personally I found the leader reflections a little boring. </p><p>But each story, the definitions and the contemporary mapping is fleshed out very well. Definitely worth a second read and more. </p><p>This book is a not a one time sit and read. It takes a while to go through it simply because the work is a summary of deep work. And beyond the Mahabharata, it dives into a few more concepts and constructs that will take time to understand and assimilate. I do intend to do a deep dive into it later. </p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-26394459729535636772023-11-14T09:40:00.000+05:302023-11-14T09:40:07.719+05:30The story of a boat<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="369" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KDmrqi4wH9Y" width="444" youtube-src-id="KDmrqi4wH9Y"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a very inspiring video - the story of Indias first autonomous boat - Matangi. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is inspiring for many reasons. For reasons as diverse as seeing Indian taking leaps in technology that we never thought possible. For seeing an enterpreneurs commitment for 11 years to work on a "never done before" project. For seeing the passion - bringing our sailors home. And being able to see great Indian hi-tech products. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Read this in conjunction with the previous post. This meeting would have started as a dream in someones mind - so much of it vague, unknown issues, unforeseen circumstances, unproven technology, unknown enetities and like any project it would have hit so many hurdles that the team would have struggled to overcome. And all of this would have been one (or a few) persons dream. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What a joy it is to see such initiatives succeed! </div><br /> <p></p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-32488798784708527882023-11-12T10:49:00.001+05:302023-11-12T10:49:17.343+05:30The vague meeting<p> When was the last time you sat in a meeting that had vague objectives? The speaker started. The group nodded expecting it to go "never attend boring meetings". But the leader took a different direction. </p><p>He said, the Indian space program, missile program, IT industry - many such initiatives that are big toda started with an unclear objective, but the group worked through the vague objectives, sculpted them and worked on it bit and bit and then it became an overnight success. </p><p>Behind that overnight success is a lot of effort, but everything began with that single thought, that single meeting. </p><p>And therefore, as leaders your job is think long term. Go after those vague initiatives. Sure out of them some will succeed, some will fail, but never fail to dream big. </p><p>Personally this resonated a lot with me - having been part of a few projects that started with a vague idea...</p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-4030089503204801692023-11-09T11:51:00.000+05:302023-11-09T11:51:10.150+05:30Why do people play Ludo?<p>I was watching a few people play these games like Ludo and Candy Crush and I wondered exactly why people play them. </p><p>When you play Ludo IRL there is some element of strategy. And humans. And some interaction apart from the dice throw and the coin selection. </p><p>When you play Ludo online, all you do is click for the dice throw and click on which coin you want to move. The similarity ends there. There are no humans, no emotion - but yet why do people play?</p><p>People play it only for a dopamine rush? <a href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/qj4jjx/board-games-apps-ludo-king-coronavirus-lockdown">And here is a theory</a>! <a href="https://gamequitters.com/how-dopamine-impacts-gaming/">And a better one</a>.</p><p><br /></p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-87281939140693317762023-11-06T14:56:00.004+05:302023-11-06T14:56:38.800+05:30What happens when you hire a brilliant jerk?<p>The brilliant jerk is of many types. Sometimes it is someone who is insanely brilliant. Sometimes, it is someone who is very good at relationship building. Sometimes it is someone who just delivers. </p><p>But the effect the brilliant jerk has is always the same. </p><p>They seem to leave a trail of destruction - sometimes attrition, discontent many a time.</p><p>They seem to always be insecure about "something". If could be a customer, an important project or their own skill or their prized relationship. </p><p>The area that they own gets significantly good results (often way ahead of the pack) that the leader is forced to accommodate all their shenanigans. (This is not entirely true, the leader makes a choice to accommodate.)</p><p>Word spreads very quickly about the "bad" culture in the team.</p><p>People do not want to work with this brilliant jerk. </p><p>Certain decisions are taken which end up being regretted. </p><p>Everyone has to watch their back. </p><p>But what intrigues me, how much companies, teams and seasoned leaders put up with brilliant jerks. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-18655455912115284742023-11-04T15:30:00.001+05:302023-11-04T15:30:11.972+05:30The addictive game<p>Recently Swiggy came up with a run collection scheme on their app. Orders above a particular amount automatically get "runs" assigned. And you score runs to be considered for some reward. The first order happened because of a necessity. But the simplicity of the game and the apparent need to "score" made me make a few more orders - I created a few "needs". </p><p>This is exactly what the app wants - but on the other hand, I have industriously tried to accumulate points on Gpay for some reward (it was a game connected to cities and a few more). </p><p>That is how addictive a game is. </p><p>(Well, I lost in the gpay game after some time because one or two of the cities seemed to beyond reach and it felt pointless. The Swiggy one, I am still in it - I lost 2 runs because the order was a rupee lesser than what the app wanted.)</p><p>The trick, like all good games is to keep it at the point where it is enticing and just out of reach. Too difficult and interest drops. </p><p>Modified version posted on Linkedin</p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-62106817710502381752023-10-20T17:18:00.003+05:302023-10-20T17:18:23.875+05:30On blindspots<p> I was working with a senior leader on a presentation for a leadership meeting. As he walked us through it, I asked a few questions on the story arc, how the dots join as per the story and shared a few suggestions. Now all of these were very obvious, but it was not obvious for the leader. </p><p>And the same thing happened with me a few weeks back when I had put together a proposal for an initiative and a colleague asked me a few questions that in hindsight was very obvious. </p><p>To me the learning from this is that as leaders we always have blindspots, so it is a good idea to check with a few peers for contrarian views - something that is missing. </p><p>Blindspots are bound to be there, how to ensure that as a leader you eliminate them as much as possible? </p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-42749694293498217902023-10-20T15:47:00.004+05:302023-10-20T15:47:57.445+05:30Misfiring sales pitches<p>How to sell a product 101</p><p>Send email:</p><p>I'm P and I work with Q. I interact with visionary HR Leaders about their strategies for constantly changing business needs with technology. Would love to make your acquaintance. </p><p>The receiver (me) thinks, that wow, I am a visionary HR leader and instanty responds to the mail. Except that I am not a visionary HR leader. And even if I am, why would I respond to spam like this? </p><p>Strategy fail</p><p>I get a few of these each week. Clearly some sales strategist has figured that young female profile -praise talent and pitch some product is the right way to do it. And they are all following it. </p><p>This is one example, I get some with slightly varying degrees of sophistication. One of them cleverly hid the fact that it was a sales pitch and presented themself as an L&D lead somewhere. Another invited to a non-existent conference/roundtable - you name it. </p><p>But - a note to those who sell. This wont work. </p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-84515792271933461182023-10-17T20:10:00.004+05:302023-10-17T20:10:52.387+05:30The power of the encouraging voice<p>Recently we were showcasing some of our work to a couple of "famous" personalities. And somehow, a few of them wanted to find things that were wrong rather than look at what we have created and appreciate the effort, the creativity and the audacity. At the level of accomplishment of these people, all they had to do was to be an encouraging voice. </p><p>On the other side, at work, we initiated a small initiative and just as we sent it across, there was an encouraging voice from one of the recipients about how this initiative reminded him of something else and so on. This was the second time this individual had been a encouraging voice. </p><p>And very often, thats all we want - an encouraging voice. Think about this the next time you are asked to give feedback on a new initiative. The encouraging voice can include suggestions and tips and tricks btw, doesnt have to be all pink eyed optimism. </p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-37321851952900870192023-10-16T20:12:00.000+05:302023-10-16T20:12:19.228+05:30What happens when tech fails?<p> I was travelling in a bus and the ticket dispenser failed - low battery. And whoever designed this system had no plan B. The conductor had no spare battery, no charging point or even manual tickets to give. So, he closed the bus doors and told the driver, we cant take any more passengers and sped to our destination. </p><p>Whoever thought of this wonderful tech did not think of a plan B in case it fails. Aside, the electronic ticket dispenser is slower than the manual ticket and at peak hours, it is quite an effort for the conductor to keep up. And most of them hate electronic payment at peak hours - simply because it is way too slow for them. </p><p>This is similar to toll boths in India (some of the high through put ones) which are faster than fast-tag (yet). </p><p>This does not mean that tech is bad or tech is too slow - it just means, it needs to designed and thought through better. </p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-89130530874740919772023-09-13T14:08:00.002+05:302023-09-13T14:08:31.295+05:30AI and Creative Thinking<p>Up until now, I was of the firm belief that AI wont be able to beat human creativity soon (or never). But <a href="https://singularityhub.com/2023/09/10/openais-gpt-4-scores-in-the-top-1-of-creative-thinking/">seeing results of AI based Chatgpt scores in TTCT</a> makes me rethink. </p><p>The Torrance test measures, in its own words, fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration. </p><p>Fluency stands for number of relevant responses.</p><p>Flexibility is number of categories of shifts or ideas. </p><p>Originality is number of unusual ideas determined by statistical infrequency</p><p>Elaboration is ideas beyond the usual necessary for the responses</p><p>Yes, on the face of it, seems like a brute force AI will work well. Plus we may be tempted to question the test itself which was developed in the 50s. </p><p>But to me this is a first breach in the wall that is humans versus artificial intel in a manner of speaking. \</p><p>PS: I still feel an AI is no match for a creative human, but who knows</p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893732971273117146.post-67740761039878920172023-09-10T20:42:00.004+05:302023-09-10T20:42:35.506+05:30Bart, Co-pilot and all that<p> This is the first generation AI (ok, maybe more, but leave the technicalities aside for the moment). As on date, you can create perfect emails, documents, powerpoint slides and do a lot of things with basic AI. It will only get better as time progresses. </p><p>Now for the moment, it is argued that AI will improve productivity - which it might, if you see the copious new emails that will be created and exchanged with attachment runnings into reams. </p><p>One person makes the email with AI, another replies, so the human sitting there is just pushing buttons. I am almost reminded of the 90s Ramayana television where the battle between Rama and Ravana was depicted as an "arrow vs arrow" battle. It is hard to explain it - but IYKYK. </p><p>So, point being (and this is the continuation of the earlier post in a different manner) - we can create great emails, but we need to learn basic human etiquette. And we are great with words, but miss the comprehension and originality of thought. </p><p>We live in interesting times. </p>Neelearninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05425816994994054813noreply@blogger.com0