Clay Station - get your hands into life!

Why would a successful software professional with years of experience choose to get his hands dirty? Founder of Clay Station, Ganesh, did just that. After coming back from the US he decided to start up something quite different - a pottery studio. 

I discovered Clay Station a few months back when I wanted to get a clay water fountain. The place is on the terrace and all you can see is the wonderful colors of earth, brick, stone and verdant green tree tops. So I did what any sane person would do... jump right in and take up some classes! Its came as a welcome counter point to the rush of life. I can't say I've made much - a turtle, a tree shaped lamp, a mask. But, ah, the joy of just being there! My instructors were Subhasini and Afroz - both very good and patient. Maybe you should check it out...

www.claystation.in

Why aren't Indians Creative?

A few weeks ago I ran a workshop on Creativity & Innovation for a leading software MNC. The objective was to help employees get 'more innovative' because that's what clients want. Then a curious thing happened...

I did some 'warm up' exercises with the team and they did well. In a short while the energy in the room was white hot. Then we got into the challenges of the participants faced in their own environment. Suddenly the creative method they had so easily learnt in the exercise was meeting with mixed results!

One member ruefully admitted: 'Its funny how when we look at our own work, it gets so hard!'. So what makes it hard? A prior history of attempting to do things and running smack into the 'culture wall'.

Take a look at how one company does it very differently. They give out a "coupon book of errors" to new employees. Every time you made a mistake you'd have to rip off a coupon and that was that. New employees did not have to put up with sarcasm and put-me-downs. New employees would carefully use the coupon book. The big question? What happens when if you finish your coupon book? You get another one! Ah, living a Vida Loca!

Sure companies want creativity. They want new innovative ideas. But when an idea - even a small one - does not work out guess what happens? The rebuke is delivered with a sting, a knowing smile and a shake of the head. Others watching the drama learn quickly that it does not pay to do something different here. They'll just do it somewhere else. That's how culture gets built.

Is Indian culture so risk averse? Is that why despite being pretty sharp, we have few great ideas coming out of here?What do you think?

What's a Right Question?

Been reading 'Brainsteering' by Kevin & Shawn Coyne - two brothers who have written a refreshing book on breakthrough thinking. Brainstorming is so passe - its a old tool that should be put to pasture. Here is a better way forward. As a business coach, I've been a fan of questions. The better the question - the better the perspective and thus breakthrough.

Take a few.

• Who does our thing best in all the world and how could we adapt it?
• How would I do this if weren't constrained by...?
• What would we do differently if we could trust our customers not to cheat us (or didn't care if a few did)?
• What best practices am I following that have been 'bested' and are not valid anymore?
• What is the biggest hassle that customers have to put up with? 

What 'better' questions are you asking?  
 

What's the "Aura" of Executive Presence?

Some years ago an senior exec I was coaching asked this question.
'Where's the grief?' I asked him.
'My boss says I'm not ready for the really big time... because I don't have executive presence. So what exactly is this thing? I mean is it just the question of what I wear? My car? The club I go to?'
That got me thinking hard about this subject. Looks like a lot of people get stymied and never make it beyond a certain level. 

Executive Presence is a lot more than your clothes. Sure you need a well tailored suit, good grooming and well polished shoes. Necessary, but not sufficient. Just the externals won't cut it. In fact your need 'Aura'. In this next series, I'll cover what makes some people command a room and others merely look like furniture.

First things First. Own your mind! That means you need to "size up and speak up." What's your take of the situation? Have you done the homework, the analysis, the thinking? Enter every meeting with a point of view (POV). What are the top 2 or 3 things you want to say? You don't have to be loud about it either. State your views clearly and invite comment. Display strength and openness.

Or do you wait to see which way the wind will blow before you weigh in with your call? If that's what you're doing too often, then its way too safe - and extremely risky for your career. People at senior levels are always scanning for promising people and asking a question "Is this person executive material?"

 To build your Aura - Size up the situation and speak up!