Integrity: are we on track?

Remember Iván Fernández Anaya, the Spanish athlete?

Ivan was running a cross country race in Spain. He was just behind Abel Mutai, a Kenyan runner, who was sure to win the race. Close to the finish line, Abel stopped assuming he had already completed the race. He had got confused by the signage. Iván could have gone ahead, finished the race and won. But he didn’t do that. He shouted at Abel to keep running and when he did not understand his Spanish, he simply pushed him forward to allow him to finish the race and win it.

Ivan did not win the race but won the hearts of people around the world. He demonstrated the highest standards of integrity, of sportsmanship, and ethics.

When a journalist asked Iván, “Why did you do that, you could have won?” Ivan replied, “What would be the merit of my victory? What would be the honour in that medal? What would my mother think of that?”

Ivan’s answer – What would my mother think of that? – once again shows that seeds of integrity are sown during childhood. Parents and elders play an important role in helping us shape our values and commitment to ethical principles.

Some years ago, sharing John Grigg’s story “The Night We Won the Buick”, I had written a post capturing a mother’s advice to her son, “if you have character, you have the better part of wealth.”

Integrity means aligning our actions with our values. Remember that integrity is not a destination but a lifelong commitment to ethical behaviour and moral principles.

To remind ourselves, I am sharing five basic traits of integrity.

 

 

Let the interviewer see ‘good’ in you as you respond to the question on ‘weakness’

Tell us something about your weaknesses – one of the frequently asked questions in job interviews – continues to baffle people.  This was also asked to me in the recent career development workshop I conducted for our office interns. Hence, I decided to write on this issue.

I would offer the following tips and examples:

Be honest: Choose a weakness that you have identified through self-reflection or as feedback you received from someone. This shows that you are aware of your areas for improvement.

Keep it professional: Avoid sharing overly personal or unrelated weakness. Stick to a weakness that is work-related and can be addressed within a professional context. However, refrain from sharing a weakness that impacts the essential functions of the job.

Inform that you are working on the weakness: Give specific examples of how you are working on improving this aspect of yourself. Mention any courses, workshops, or mentorships you are engaged in. This will also demonstrate your enthusiasm for continuous learning and improvement.

Examples

For a job that does not require communication as a core competence, you may say the following:

I am not good at public speaking. While I’m comfortable communicating in one-on-one or in small group settings, addressing large gatherings is a bit more challenging for me. To tackle this weakness, I’ve enrolled in workshops and courses focused on presentation skills. I also look for opportunities to speak at team meetings or industry events. With each experience and feedback, I am getting better.

Another example

I find it difficult to say ‘no’ to the requests being made to me. While this makes me a cordial and cooperative person, I often end up taking too much on my plate and get stressed.   I discussed the situation with a few friends. I gathered I am not the only one facing this situation, and there are ways to deal with this without sounding negative or rude. It is important to mention the current tasks you are working on, their deadlines to explain why it is not possible to take on more.  I am working on this now and already see the difference.

The trick lies in answering in a way that interviewers see ‘good’ in you as you describe your weakness.

Five practical tips to ace your next job interview

I was recently invited to conduct a career development workshop for interns in our office. Based on the needs identified through a questionnaire, the workshop focused on getting better with job applications and job interviews.

In this post, I capture top five tips I gave on achieving excellence in a job interview:

Why are you the right person for this job?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions. This should also be kept in mind while writing a compelling cover latter. You may prepare your answer keeping the following in mind:

• Clearly articulate how your qualification, skills and experience directly align with the requirements of the position. Provide specific examples. Whenever possible, quantify your achievements.
• Be honest, concise, humble, and specific.

You may not have had a great start, but you can still win

Like a Football game, interview is a test of your temperament, in addition to your knowledge and competence. A team trailing by a few goals can win in the end, and a winning team can lose a Football game. Likewise, you could bounce back even if you struggle to answer a few initial questions in your job interview. Keep your cool. You got to give your best throughout the interview.

Listen to the questions carefully

At times, we rush to answer the question without really understanding what is being asked. So, listen carefully. If you don’t understand, go ahead and politely request the interviewer to repeat the question. This is also a good strategy to get some time to think through the answer.

Demonstrate your passion and enthusiasm

Express genuine enthusiasm for the role and the organization. Convey your passion for the industry and your eagerness to contribute to the organization’s success.

Three points to remember always!

• No one answers all questions in an interview equally well.
• If you got a job, it does not mean you were the best.
• If you didn’t get a job, it does not mean you were not the best.

Stay positive. No one wins always. You need one great interview to get your dream job.

Five lessons on leadership from a lighthouse

A lighthouse serves as a navigational aid and warning system for ships at sea. It typically consists of a tall tower with a powerful light source at the top, often equipped with a system of lenses and mirrors to enhance the light’s visibility. The main function of a lighthouse is to provide a visible signal to mariners. The powerful light emitted from the lighthouse can be seen from a considerable distance, helping ships to locate the coast, avoid obstacles, and navigate safely.

Amid the crashing waves and darkness, a lighthouse stands as a beacon of hope and guidance for sailors navigating treacherous waters.

If we reflect, a lighthouse can provide useful lessons on leadership.

1. Leaders illuminate paths for others

Lighthouse shows path to others. Similarly, leaders illuminate the path for their team, fostering an environment where each member can navigate challenges with confidence. Leadership is not about standing in the spotlight; it’s about shining it on others.  

2. Leaders stand firm during adversities

Lighthouse faces storms head-on, withstanding the fiercest winds and torrential rains. Leaders, too, must weather the storms of adversity with resilience. Instead of sheltering in the face of challenges, great leaders stand firm, inspiring their team to face adversity head-on and emerge stronger.

3.  Leaders adapt to situations

Lighthouse understands the ever shifting tides and adapts the beacon’s intensity accordingly. Leaders must possess a similar adaptability, adjusting their strategies to navigate the dynamic landscape of business and team dynamics, external challenges, and unforeseen situations.

4. Leaders are consistent

Just as the lighthouse never falters in its duty, consistency is the bedrock of effective leadership. Leaders must be a reliable source of guidance, providing a steady hand even when the waters are turbulent. Consistency breeds trust, a cornerstone of any successful leadership journey.

5.  Leaders don’t discriminate

Lighthouse shows paths to all ships. Its light is for everyone. Leaders must embrace this attitude. Team leaders should treat all members of their team fairly and equally; national leaders must treat all citizens as equal, irrespective of their faith, gender, ethnicity or colour; and a true global leaders must rise above the protectionist policies and demonstrate that their actions don’t cause poverty, insecurity, displacements and hunger anywhere.   

My new year wish

In a quaint village nestled between hills and rivers, there existed a peculiar garden known as the Garden of Harmony. This garden had the magical ability to reflect the emotions of the villagers. The flowers blossomed and thrived when love and kindness prevailed but withered in the presence of hate and discord.

One day, the village experienced an unusual phenomenon. The once vibrant and colourful garden began to lose its luster. The flowers drooped, and the once enchanting fragrance turned bitter. The villagers, perplexed by the sudden change, gathered to unravel the mystery.

An elderly woman renowned for her wisdom was approached by the villagers. She spoke of hatred and division that had appeared amongst the villagers. She urged the villagers to unite and to nurture the roots of love and understanding once again.

The villagers decided to embark on a journey of transformation from hatred to love. They organized gatherings to share stories, experiences, and traditions, breaking down the barriers that had divided them. Slowly the atmosphere in the village began to change.

As the villagers embraced each other’s differences, the Garden of Harmony responded in kind. Vibrant colours returned to the petals, and the air was once again filled with a sweet, harmonious fragrance. The magic of the garden reflected the newfound unity and love that now flourished in the hearts of the villagers.

Inspired by the tale of the Garden of Harmony, other villages started to cultivate their own gardens, fostering environments of love, acceptance, and mutual respect.

The story of the Garden of Harmony is a reminder that the seeds of love, have the power to eradicate hate and cultivate a world where unity and understanding blossom.

I pray for peace and harmony in the world in 2024 and beyond.

Adversities begin a transformative journey

Maya was a young woman who lived in a small town in a poor family. Her father had passed away when she was a child, leaving her mother to navigate the storm of financial difficulties alone. Despite the hardships, Maya’s mother, a resilient soul, worked tirelessly to provide for Maya and her siblings.

As Maya entered her teenage years, her family’s struggles intensified. The burden of financial strain weighed heavily on her shoulders. One day, as Maya scrolled through a local newspaper, she spotted an advertisement for a short story competition. Maya was good at writing stories and decided to submit one of her stories.

To her surprise, Maya’s story won the competition. She earned a scholarship to pursue her passion for writing. With this newfound opportunity, Maya spread her wings and soared above the difficulties that once confined her spirit. She continued to write inspirational stories and became an accomplished writer. Her books were published and sold across the globe.

Maya’s story has two lessons for us:

• Each one of us is good at something. We must Identify our core strength and make use of it.
• Struggles and adversities are not the end but the beginning of a transformative journey.

We are living in times of multiple crises: wars in Palestine and Ukraine, impact of a devastating pandemic and climate crisis. Numbers from the Palestine not included, by May 2023, the devastating consequences of war, conflict and human rights violations had displaced a staggering 110 million people, according to the Sustainable Development Goals Report Special Edition 2023. We are off track in achieving the sustainable development goals by 2030.

Can the world rise to the occasion and begin a transformative journey towards its commitments to ending poverty, ending inequalities, promoting peace, and making the world a better place for everyone?  The time is clicking fast. We have only six years to deliver on the sustainable development goals.  

Is your conscience on silent mode?

A boy once went fishing with his father. The fishing season was to begin at midnight. The father and son reached early to find a nice spot and prepare. The son put his fishing pole into the water and suddenly found it becoming heavier. A large fish was caught. The boy and his father looked at the handsome fish, gills playing back and forth in the moonlight. The father lit a match and looked at his watch. It was 10 P.M, still hours before the season would open. He told his son to put the fish back into the water, saying we will start at the right time. The son wasn’t too happy. He said, “Nobody has seen us, there are no boats or fishermen around, and we may not be able to find a fish as big as this one.” But the father insisted, and the fish was released into the water. Indeed, they didn’t catch such a large fish in that season. Years passed and the boy became a successful architect. He remembered the lesson on ethics his father had taught him that night.

Do the right thing even when nobody is seeing you.   

Ethics are simple matters of right and wrong. Our conscience tells us about them but often we don’t listen to our inner voice and do things we are not supposed to do. After a while, we get so used to doing things for personal gains that the voice of conscience goes on a silent mode.

Years ago, I had written a post capturing a mother’s advice to her son, “if you have character, you have the better part of wealth.”

Unfortunately when I see the sufferings around the world – children and civilians being killed by bombs in Gaza, Palestinians going without food, water and electricity; hospitals being bombed;   humanitarian aid not being able to reach people; the ongoing war in Ukraine; and the biased media coverage, it tells me that the conscience of most leaders is on silent mode due to years of wrong doings and vested interests that have guided their action. I wish peace will prevail soon, and human beings everywhere will be able to live in dignity, safety and security.  

Let butterflies fly

Once upon a time, a man found a butterfly that was starting to hatch from its cocoon. He watched the butterfly’s struggle for hours as it tried to force itself through a tiny hole. After a while, it appeared to the man that the butterfly was stuck, making no progress. Then the man decided to help the butterfly out. He took a pair of scissors and cut off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily but it had a swollen body and smaller wings. The man waited for the wings to get bigger and swelling to go away.  Unfortunately, this never happened. The butterfly spent the rest of its life unable to fly, crawling around with small wings and a swollen body. Indeed, the man was kind enough to help the struggling butterfly come out of the cocoon. However, he didn’t understand that the restricting cocoon and the struggle to get out of it were needed for the butterfly to force fluid from its body into its wings to prepare itself for flying once it was free. The aid of the man made the butterfly weak for the rest of its life.

Several lessons emerge from this well-known butterfly story.

Struggles make us stronger. Struggles lead to progress and growth. Therefore, rather that complaining, persevere and learn to steer your way out of challenging times.

Think before you decide to help someone. At times, the way in which you may decide to help may not be needed or even do harm as was the case in this story.  

On a broader level, there are lessons for development aid as well. Some feel development aid is making poor people poorer by making them dependent upon the external aid. I don’t support this opinion because I have seen several programmes that have worked wonders and empowered communities. I do feel however that except for humanitarian emergencies where food, shelter and basic health care become the top priorities, the purpose of external aid should be to help communities stand on their feet. Solutions must be explored in consultation with people, rather than imposing what is felt appropriate by people far away from ground realities.  If we don’t do this, we run the risk of making communities weaker.

We should have the courage to document and disseminate what has not worked, just as much as we share good practices of developmental work. If we don’t do this, we are not telling several stories of butterflies who were left crawling for life instead of flying.    

What is the best habit you’ve picked up from someone?

There is an ancient folk tale from India about six blind men. They were born blind. They could only listen to stories and talks of people around them to imagine what the world would be like. They heard that there was a huge animal called elephant. They were curious about its shape and form. A man took them to a king’s place to allow them to touch the animal and feel for themselves.

One of them who touched the trunk of the elephant said, “it is a thick snake;” another one whose hands fell on its ear said, “it is kind of magic carpet or a big fan;” the third person who touched its leg said, “ it is like the stem of a tree;” the man who touched the side of the elephant remarked, “ it is a wall” and the one who laid his hands on the tail of the elephant described it “as a rope”. While all the six men were arguing loudly about the creature, the king appeared and asked them to put all the parts together and then imagine the creature.

What do we observe in this folktale? Even when presented with a real elephant, each blind man’s imagination was restricted to the part of the elephant he touched.

The lesson is clear. Our own experiences give us a very limited view of life. If we want to make the most of our life, we need to look beyond ourselves. We need to develop the attitude of social learning or learning from people around us.  

Interacting with people and asking them to share their life experiences is one of the best ways to learn and grow.  There are several examples. People learn language, sports, music from others and also follow the lifestyles of people who impress them.

How can we develop the attitude of social learning?

• Observe people around you and see how they do their work. Years ago, I learnt how to iron clothes by observing a worker in a dry-cleaning shop.
• Repeatedly tell yourself that you may be wrong. Don’t push your own opinion too hard, even when you are sure about it. Read my earlier post: look for the fourth orange.
• Listen to understand. Be attentive when people speak even if it is not about your field or area of interest.
• Surround yourself with people who are better than yourself.
• Ask people to share their experiences and habits. Someone recently shared “One of the best habits I have consciously picked up in my life is the practice of saving a portion of my salary for charity. And I feel so good about it.”

Be curious. Look around. Pick up one good habit from someone you know and start doing it.

Speak up or stay quiet?

I was recently invited to give a talk to our office interns. As we discussed attitudes at work, one intern asked, “At times, I have an opinion different from my boss or other colleagues who tend to support the boss’s view. I don’t want to be seen as a person who is too critical or negative of an idea that has a general endorsement.”

My response was clear. Have the courage to share your point of view. If a large number of people say or do some thing, it does not mean it is right. If you speak in the context of proposing an idea or solution in the larger interest, you will be heard.     

I have seen several situations in which people walk out of a meeting feeling dejected because they did not agree with the decision that was taken. They feel worse if they could not put across their point of view or their idea was shot down at the outset.

Some of the ways to deal with these situations are as follows:

Prepare well: Not everyone comes prepared in meetings. The one who has prepared well, certainly has an edge over the others. Organize your points keeping in mind the facts, principles, values, and overall mission of the organization. If your idea is consistent with these, no one will be able to shoot it down.  

Speak in the larger interest: When your points are made in the broader interest of work and you are ethically right, it will not be easy for others to ignore them. Even if they do it once, they will not be able to do it a second time.

Don’t be shy to speak early: Generally, the first few speakers guide the course of the discussion. By speaking early, you can put the discussion on the right track. This would be much better than letting it go a wrong way and then struggle to bring it back to the point.

Pick up only the critical issues, not all: Give up on trivial matters by telling you that it does not matter much. But do raise your voice on issues that matter. This will make sure that you are not described as someone who is always critical. I try this and find it to be working most of the times.

Critique ideas, not people: You may not agree with what others are saying but make sure that your response is only on the merit of the idea, not on the person. Speak respectfully so that it is seen a process of dialogue not a conflict of personality.  

Accept that your idea may not fly always:  No matter how good your point of view is or how well you present it, it will not be accepted always. There are always better ideas coming from people with different perspectives and experiences. Many a times, no one’s idea is fully accepted. The best solution emerges when all ideas are treated equally, discussed and a decision is taken using the collective wisdom of the team.

“Everyone goes with the flow … but the one who goes against the flow becomes someone remarkable in life.”- Swami Vivekanand