Gautam Muralidharan A 11.4
I got some very interesting ideas from Elizabeth, Michal, Jerad, Kate and Wai-Jing. I think I am going to borrow a few places from all of these classmates of mine. They are members of my triads and we share some very interesting common interests.
I would like to go to China. Elizabeth’s journey working, raising a fmialy and studying in China brings to light a very interesting culture that I want to immerse myself in. As a leader that will work with culturally diverse teams, understanding the Chinese culture would be a good step forward towards managing diversity.
The Burning Man festival in Nevada got me very intrigued. There are similar festivals in India that I would like to attend. For example, the Vallam Kali festival in Kerala, India (which is on my current list) brings together people from different background and redefines teamwork in a fun setting.
I would like to go to China. Elizabeth’s journey working, raising a fmialy and studying in China brings to light a very interesting culture that I want to immerse myself in. As a leader that will work with culturally diverse teams, understanding the Chinese culture would be a good step forward towards managing diversity.
The Burning Man festival in Nevada got me very intrigued. There are similar festivals in India that I would like to attend. For example, the Vallam Kali festival in Kerala, India (which is on my current list) brings together people from different background and redefines teamwork in a fun setting.
Gautam Muralidharan A 10.3
The place I like to visit when I am the best is home. I don’t describe Home as a physical location (as I expect most of us don’t). I am a very blessed man with a wonderful loving family. Home is wherever I am with them. Not matter what victory and failure I always find solace at home. What makes Home so important is that that’s where all my journeys have always started and almost all ended. I remember difficult days when I was looking for a job when there were no doors opening despite my best attempts. Those days always ended well when I returned to the warm embrace of loved ones. I would always live to fight another day. Even though those days were not my best, I found my best by coming back home.
On days when I felt like I was at my best, I was never able to truly feel like I was at my best without joining my family at home. I think being at home or thinking of home has always brought out the best in me. It reminds me of empathy, values, a sense of togetherness, future and joy; values I would like to always hold very close to my heart as a creative leader.
Ultimately what we earn, what we provide and what we take from is Home. It is a wonderful place any leader should always be able to visit. I begin all my best work at home and think the best projects are also done there. I draw inspiration from this place everyday and learn to be a better leader by the examples my family sets at our home.
On days when I felt like I was at my best, I was never able to truly feel like I was at my best without joining my family at home. I think being at home or thinking of home has always brought out the best in me. It reminds me of empathy, values, a sense of togetherness, future and joy; values I would like to always hold very close to my heart as a creative leader.
Ultimately what we earn, what we provide and what we take from is Home. It is a wonderful place any leader should always be able to visit. I begin all my best work at home and think the best projects are also done there. I draw inspiration from this place everyday and learn to be a better leader by the examples my family sets at our home.
Gautam Muralidharan A 5.2.2
Two places I want to visit as a creative leader:
- My mind: I know this sounds rather corny. But I would like to revisit my thought process as I become a creative leader. An idea is a powerful thing and in understanding what Ideas I plant in my mind I will be able to better define how I address challenges I expect to encounter as a creative leader. For example, forces of negative thinking are rather powerful, and can easily derail any project. Being able to consciously control my mind will allow me to imagine, plan and execute better.
- Kerala, India: This southern state in India boasts an amazing 100% literacy rate! This is a place i would like to visit and learn from in implementing my community project. There are several initiatives that have helped the state achieve this staggering statistic including the the efforts by leaders, Vaikunda Swami, Narayana Guru and Ayyankali, towards the socially discriminated castes in the state, with the help of community-based organisations like Nair Service Society, SNDP, Muslim Mahajana Sabha, Yoga Kshema Sabha (of Nambudiris) and different congregations of Christian churches, that led to developement in the mass education of Kerala. I think there are several valuable lessons to be learned and emulated.
Gautam Muralidharan A 6.1a
10/7/13
Places I dont want to visit as a creative leader (metaphorical)
Teams with defeatist mentality: I had a very interesting experience at one of my clients. This client had a very bureaucratic team structure and information had to absolutely flow through their organizational structure. This was taken to absolute extremes that sometimes there would be a burning project risk that I would raise with my sponsor’s boss (because my project sponsor was out etc.) and he would politely avoid the issue. His only excuse was please come back after you have talked to the sponsor. There would also be absolutely no sense of ownership or accountability (much like stage 2) where everyone would avoid decision making like poison even if the facts were staring them in the face. There would also be rampant denial of the facts and everyone would embrace happy path. Like Dave Logan points out, no amount of speeches, threats, pleading or rationalizing would work. It was very frustrating. Walking away from that setup was very painful for me but was a necessary ending.
Abrasive Teams: There was this one time when I worked with a team that is borderline Stage 1, 2 and 3. For example, they would have these team leads that would constantly at each other’s throats. They would be abusive to each other and just be plain acrimonious. In the same setting there would be these teams that were completely and purely intimidated by these aggressive teams and would shut down (Think stage 2). Amidst this drama they would be convinced nothing good can ever be done and snicker at any attempts to improve things. Worse yet what made the abrasive teams more damaging was the fact that they would have Stage 3 type lone warriors who had their own hidden agenda that drove the animosity between teams.
Teams with defeatist mentality: I had a very interesting experience at one of my clients. This client had a very bureaucratic team structure and information had to absolutely flow through their organizational structure. This was taken to absolute extremes that sometimes there would be a burning project risk that I would raise with my sponsor’s boss (because my project sponsor was out etc.) and he would politely avoid the issue. His only excuse was please come back after you have talked to the sponsor. There would also be absolutely no sense of ownership or accountability (much like stage 2) where everyone would avoid decision making like poison even if the facts were staring them in the face. There would also be rampant denial of the facts and everyone would embrace happy path. Like Dave Logan points out, no amount of speeches, threats, pleading or rationalizing would work. It was very frustrating. Walking away from that setup was very painful for me but was a necessary ending.
Abrasive Teams: There was this one time when I worked with a team that is borderline Stage 1, 2 and 3. For example, they would have these team leads that would constantly at each other’s throats. They would be abusive to each other and just be plain acrimonious. In the same setting there would be these teams that were completely and purely intimidated by these aggressive teams and would shut down (Think stage 2). Amidst this drama they would be convinced nothing good can ever be done and snicker at any attempts to improve things. Worse yet what made the abrasive teams more damaging was the fact that they would have Stage 3 type lone warriors who had their own hidden agenda that drove the animosity between teams.
Gautam Muralidharan A 3.3
9/15/2013
Three areas I would like to visit on my creative leadership journey:
The Himalayas: It is certainly an important geographical destination. Home to some of the tallest and most majestic peaks this mountain range provides a home to diverse plants and animals. It also borders several countries and boasts a rich variety of vegetation. I think the experience of trekking through the Himalayas would be humbling. The quiet time for reflection among nature's design that has been perfected over centuries will definitely offer numerous lessons.
Zambezi river, Zambia: Rising from a small spring in northwestern Zambia, the Zambezi, Africa's fourth largest river, travels a massive 2700km and traverses six countries on its way to the Indian Ocean. In addition to eventually culminating in the Victorian falls ( a 100 meter drop) it is home to a variety of species of plants and animals; a perfect spot to watch and learn creative leadership from nature
Home: I love how Denise talked about finding inspiration from her 13 year old son who was displaying organizational behavior related dynamics. I think it would be well worth for me to stop and take notice of all the lessons here at home.
The Himalayas: It is certainly an important geographical destination. Home to some of the tallest and most majestic peaks this mountain range provides a home to diverse plants and animals. It also borders several countries and boasts a rich variety of vegetation. I think the experience of trekking through the Himalayas would be humbling. The quiet time for reflection among nature's design that has been perfected over centuries will definitely offer numerous lessons.
Zambezi river, Zambia: Rising from a small spring in northwestern Zambia, the Zambezi, Africa's fourth largest river, travels a massive 2700km and traverses six countries on its way to the Indian Ocean. In addition to eventually culminating in the Victorian falls ( a 100 meter drop) it is home to a variety of species of plants and animals; a perfect spot to watch and learn creative leadership from nature
Home: I love how Denise talked about finding inspiration from her 13 year old son who was displaying organizational behavior related dynamics. I think it would be well worth for me to stop and take notice of all the lessons here at home.