And it has nothing to do with being on top
Leadership is being redefined like never before. The generation where decades of experience and wisdom were pre-requisites for promotion are gone. Today, it’s not uncommon to see a young adult starting a new career in a junior managerial position.
While there are plenty of questions to debate whether our corporate culture is heading in the right direction, there are some characteristics consistent across all effective leaders in every era. Here they are.
1. They don’t call people out
Good leaders aren’t quick to point fingers and push blame. They know that mistakes are a part of being human and that they are bound to happen. When…
We need compassion, not just competence.
One of my friends in university had everything going for her. She maintained a near-perfect GPA, landed on fancy internships, and met professors who were willing to write flowery letters on her behalf.
She had the ideal post-grad survival kit.
She went on to pursue a Master’s in Occupational Therapy. Partway through, she confessed regretting the decision. Over coffee one day, she looked up and said, “You know I’ve been thinking lately… Professor Campbell once told me I’m too smart to just become an Occupational Therapist.”
I raised my eyebrows. Really, I thought. “So, what would you do if you…
Before COVID, ‘tired’ was endemic in our streets and now, those people are still grinding — but from home
You know what’s a trending look these days?
It’s isn’t designer bags and $300 Gucci slides. We almost over that Athleisure look that influencers keep selling as a lifestyle. Even the virtual meeting Pajama bottoms are getting old (sort of).
The thing we’re really after is: looking tired, being tired, appearing tired.
Before COVID, ‘tired’ was endemic in our streets. We had zombies sporting extra large coffee cups and the people snoozing on subways. It was kind of a thing. We’d even toss it around the word tired during small talk, for fun.
Now, those people are still grinding —…
We are not one big, happy family.
At one point this year, my week’s calendar was 30% social events — brainstorming for them, planning for them, and then dreadfully attending them. An effort by my company to foster “company spirit”. I hate those words.
The HR at every place I’ve worked at has had the same desire to foster some big, loving family. Honestly, it makes no sense. Remember, corporations function on distinct hierarchies. And its’ players are largely motivated by salary and compensation. Not exactly grounds for a loving, lasting friendship.
People who are not friends, have the ability to work together in a respectful, collaborative…
It’s something much worse.
Lately, there’s this overwhelming sensation hanging in the air. And it isn’t the threat of a deadly virus that keeps mutating. We’ve gotten used to that.
It’s the fact that everyone’s ignoring public health advice, our only real defence against the threat of that deadly virus that keeps mutating.
Terrifying, ain’t it?
The other day my friend tried to joke, “Today’s cases are down, there were only 7500 new people infected.” Honestly, I would have laughed. Except, I don’t think he was being sarcastic. So, I kept my mouth shut.
Nothing is funny. Not his joke, not the 7500 newly…
And we wonder why the cases are still going up
My friend texted me the other day, “Finally got my vaccine. It’s about time. Can’t wait to travel again.”
She works remotely — from her parent’s nest. They do all the grocery shopping and run all the errands. They are the ones who work in factories.
But I mean, sometimes she goes out sometimes… to hang out with a friend or pick up a bottle of wine from the liquor store.
Where I live, vaccines aren’t officially available for healthy 20–30 year olds. …
Maybe then, we’d start to figure out what really makes us happy.
The caption read, “First day of Grade 19.”
It was a picture of my friend sitting in her fancy, mid-century style living room. She was wearing a sweater over a collared button-up with trousers and a pair of Oxfords.
This was last fall when the pandemic already sent our city into lockdown. My friend was starting her Ph.D. at a prestigious school near her home. Only now, it would be conducted virtually, over Zoom, from that fancy, mid-century style living room of hers.
I think she was trying to be witty. But I couldn’t tell. Her expression had a hint…
And it’s time to honk before they start to brainwash us — again.
I passed by a Pizza Pizza joint today. Where there would normally be a sign advertising their $4.99 medium pizza, there was one featuring their new purple yam crust.
But it’s not an odd sight. Name any fast food joint and you’ll find at least one item on their menu that isn’t categorically “fast food”. Chic-fil-A, McDonald’s, and Wendy’s now all have grilled chicken varieties. McDonald’s and Wendy’s have been pushing hard on their salads. And Burger King, Harvey’s, Shake Shack, and Carl’s Jr. now have veggie burgers???
On the surface, there’s nothing wrong with this. If you haven’t noticed…
It’s time to re-evaluate how we evaluate individuals
“…and compensation will depend on your experience and education.”
I nodded.
I was hoping to land any job, so sure-sure-sure, whatever you like.
I wasn’t really listening. I didn’t think it’s possible to do worse than an academic lab. So I was prepared to take whatever they were about to offer. For those of you who are unacquainted, scientific labs hurt for money like no tomorrow.
That line has always reverberated at the back of my mind — crawling to the forefront now and again. Like when one co-worker, who only has her certificate degree, was recently replaced by a…
Just Medium Things
A horrible, weird habit I’ve developed
I discovered Medium just over a year ago — right when the pandemic was taking hold of my city. And for some reason, I can’t remember how I discovered this place, probably because being in seemingly endless lockdowns, shutdowns, or whatever is not good for long term memory — or any kind of memory for that matter.
But it doesn’t matter. All I know is, ever since I discovered I could earn money by writing whatever I wanted — I felt like I stumbled upon a goldmine.
I’m a particularly talented writer, or an engaging writer, or wildly creative writer…
