The Rediff Reach through

I have always said that I am the true beneficiary of my work:) After all, there is no greater power than universal REACH.I leave no stone unturned to reach out to people and extend my knowledge and experience. And that exactly was the main prerogative behind 'I Am Another YOU' as well. My work takes me places and I meet so many people everyday - confused, disoriented and entangled in their self created webs of despair, pain and agony. And all seem to have a similar link missing - guidance. Through my workshops, blogs, mails, interviews, book - any source to reach out and I am there.
Below is an excerpt from my most recent reach out effort through Rediff where I was invited to have a celebrity chat with their users. The queries varied from job frustration, office politics, inferiority complex, hierarchical problems to time and pressure management! Uploaded a few to spread the word.. It is amazing to know find people who want to help themselves. That's the best way to grow, after all..

Monish asked, I wanted to know how to tackle a boss who thinks nothing of you
Priya answers, Well, a boss only forms an opinion on your performance, not your potential. Your performance is what will get him to think 'something' of you !

Sudeen asked, Hi Priya . I am hardworking person in my organization but everything goes in vain.. How to showcase my hard work?
Priya answers, Well, you need to make sure that your hard work also gives 'results'. You also need to make sure that the result of your performance reaches your seniors. Many times people work hard but fail to report their success or ideas to their seniors. When you do a good job, do your own PR at work. Make your success known. It is likely that you are doing a great job, but your seniors don’t know about it.

NKG asked, I want to know how to work under pressure
Priya answers, Well, let go of all distractions and focus only on your work and only do your work until it is done. Pressure is good; it directs your focus and sets your priorities. use it to your advantage, else pressure can break you.

SK asked, how does one manage severe stress on mind amidst work deadlines
Priya answers, Same answer! Avoid distractions and focus on the work at hand. Switch off from everything that does not contribute to your work and done lift your head till you are done with your work.

Munish asked, Hello Priya how can we put enthusiasm in our team daily
Priya answers, The fastest way to build an enthusiastic team is to be an enthusiastic team player. Enthusiasm is contagious, you affect others!!! You become the cheerleader of your team and they will eventually follow one team player at a time.

Haaridas asked, Hello Priya , I would like to know more about positive thinking - how can we have positive thinking - pls advise
Priya answers, Hey to think positive you need to consciously direct your thinking. You need to know that your thoughts affect your behaviours. And thoughts are triggered by our senses. When you see a good image, it automatically triggers good thoughts. So make sure that you keep your focus on the positive things. Surround yourself with positive things. Listen to positive and energetic music, read good books, make your surrounding positive, and see the positive impact it has on your thinking. You will be amazed.

Anamika asked, how do we get team members to work as a team? How to motivate them to perform better?
Priya answers, People learn by example. If you can continually keep yourself motivated and if they can see you improving and making progress, then you can mentor them. Words don’t inspire people, actions do. You are the best motivation your team can ever have. Start with yourself and your team will be the best in time.

Ritu asked, how to handle a difficult boss? he is always insulting me in public but I don’t know what wrong I have done
Priya answers, Confront your boss and express how you feel. Maybe drop in an email and tell what impact his insults are having on your morale and performance. And if it still does not bear result, then look forward to moving on. Don’t buy into the insults if they are not deserved. But give him a chance to correct himself or in the least apologise.

Lallu asked, Hi I am on my own in terms of working on projects. Please tell me how to keep myself motivated as I do not have an anchor
Priya answers, Working on your own is a boon, trust me. Like I have been saying earlier to keep yourself motivated is easy. Listen to good music, move with it. Read good books, and send out your favourite quotes to people (that way you build a positive connect with people). Read my book :) It’s called I Am another You. Smile often. Laugh. Be the first to help. Wake up in the morning and blow a kiss to yourself in the mirror. Look out of the window and exclaim that today is the best day of your life. Write out a fortune for the day for yourself!! You can motivate yourself by what you do for yourself and what you say to yourself.

Kundanlal asked, I wanted to ask you. Everywhere we see steps of overcome work pressure, steps to overcome office blues. But what happens when there actually is no pressure when you think of it. But still one feels blue and not at all motivated to come to office? What should one do when leaving home and reaching the workplace feels like the most awful task of the day
Priya answers, You need to take a reality check on whether you are in the right job. If you don’t feel excited about your work then either you are under used at work or you are in the wrong job. Raise the bar, take on new challenges, help colleagues, look at the vision of your company and look at ideas to contribute. And please indulge in reader. A leader is a reader after all, and while you are at it, read my new book, I Am another YOU. You spend your whole life at work, and it is your responsibility to make it exciting. Reach out to people. Upgrade your skill. Do anything. Do something.

Stressout asked, Hi Priya....I have been a top performer for the last few years...but of late...I am not able to concentrate on my work...neither being able to give priority to my family....lot of negative thoughts running in my mind. Also the uncertainty in the job market is making me get sleepless nites....so I am like kind of feeling insecured....pls help me to overcome this
Priya answers, Well, the true test of a top performer is to remain on the top. And you lose your job only if you are not performing well. So get your act together and focus on your work, in fact focus on getting better. You need to become an asset for the company, your work needs to be directing in adding value. When you are productive, you can’t be negative. Opposite thoughts can’t stay in the same mind. And if your focus is on upgrading and adding value you will be posted higher and you can be rest assured that your job is for keeps. Don’t compare yourself to people who lost their jobs. That’s their fate, you can create your own destiny.


jk asked, Hi Priya, It's very difficult to stay motivated when your boss prefers your pretty colleague to you. I'm a guy and I can't compete with a hot chick, even though my work is better. My boss, unfortunately, is male too!
Priya answers, Yes, your boss is giving into 'unprofessional' bias and trust me it won’t last long. Eventually your boss will go and so will his pretty muse. These are all temporary setbacks but if you are a visionary and a long term player, you will realise that end of the day companies become empires on hard work and not just pretty faces. So stay focused, your day of glory will come. But if you lose focus and fall back on your performance, you will soon be replaced by even a prettier face. Keep shining!

Punit asked, Priya..I plan the things to do (some tasks) but not able to do??Why it happened with me all the time??
Priya answers, Well, just planning is not enough. You need to DO it as well. One task at a time. DO and finish ONE task at a time, and then get on to the other. Every one plans, it’s easy... but a few DO. Become a DOER, even if it is small things... DO IT

klmp asked, My boss had negative feeling about my performance even though I work sincerely, hard working with better discipline ...and I try to be more accurate according to him..what to do now?
Priya answers, It would be great if you ask your boss what exactly he expects from you. Don’t try to please him, ask HIM what he and how he wants you to work. Then work accordingly and get his feedback. many times we thing we are doing the things the right way but that is not how the boss wants it. But if you get clarity on what he wants and how he wants it done, then you have movement. And remember to check with him occasionally if you are on the right track and if he is happy with your performance.

Sanya asked, I haven't got a raise in 2 years. I am not interested in my job anymore because there's no incentive and because of the recession I'm not getting another one. What do I do? I don't want to work like this anymore and my performance is suffering.
Priya answers, Well, you are lucky you have a job. The market is conserving, so you got to understand that. This is the time to economise and work harder. trust me times will change, and you have to make sure that you have changed for the better. If your job is good, keep it, grow with it, your raise will come. This is the time to lie low till the storm passes. The good days will come.

Rahulk asked, When a boss doesn't practice what s/he preaches, how do you get the point across to them?
Priya answers, They will get the point soon. People who don’t walk their talk, don’t last very long. They can fool people for a while but eventually people get it. You need to be a long term player, and have a long term vision, and you will see all people such as these temporary furniture in your set up.. You walk your talk. You got a long way to go !!!!

Ramesh asked, I am handling a team of 4 leads (team of 16) but few of them are very silent and interact with less. Even during meetings, they just give and take status and not more than that. What could be the reason for their silence? How to open up them for better team management?
Priya answers, Hmmm, maybe having coffee with them and hanging out with them over lunch, getting to know them better, would help them open up. Share your life and time, and the investment will at least help you understand them, if not open them up. The professional environment sometimes intimidates people; your personal initiative could help.