Learnings from Aarti Sharma - 360 image makeover - 1

Active Listening

 The most crucial part of communication is Active Listening. 

WHY?

• Active listening ensures that you completely understand the message before you reply

• When you listen actively, you show respect and empathy for the speaker

• It minimizes the chances of miscommunication

• When people feel heard and understood, they are more likely to be open and honest

• It keeps you engaged in the conversation

Active listening is difficult as we all have something to say, so how can you practise it daily?

1. Give attention by making eye contact, nodding, etc, to show that you are fully engaged. 

2. Avoid distractions like checking your phone.

3. Paraphrase or summarise what the speaker has said to ensure that you have understood (Pro tip)

4. Avoid interrupting and replace it with silence. Let the speaker finish before you speak

5. Show empathy by using phrases like “I understand how you feel…”

6. At the end, offer feedback by giving a thoughtful response indicating that you were listening actively

Feedback - The Sandwich Method 

You are the Leader of your team. Someone did a project and came to you for review, and there were some mistakes. Now, you have to give feedback on it. 

How will you give feedback while being calm and assertive?

Here's a secret method that people like Managers and CEOs use to give feedback to others. (You'll not get this anywhere else)

The Sandwich Method 

Remember how we make a sandwich

1. Butter the bread - start by praising what they have done right 
2. Add some sauce -  tell them where they have gone wrong
3. Cut and add vegetables - Give specific suggestions on how they can improve 
4. Butter the bread again - Praise them again for what went well

Now, you know how to give the perfect feedback. Guess what? You'll forget it tomorrow. Why?

"Practising makes you remember things." So here's today's activity

Power Poses

“Ever walked in a room full of people and felt everyone was constantly judging you?”

It’s not the people judging you; it’s you.

Why? Because of

• Weak body language
• Bad posture
• Constant Fidgeting
• Trying to avoid interaction
• Looking at your phone as an escape

Don’t worry; stay prepared the next time you get into such a situation. Use these three exercises beforehand:

1. Power poses: Power poses are body postures that are open, expansive and take up space. These are typically associated with confidence and dominance. Some of them are the Wonder Woman pose, the victory pose, the CEO pose, etc. (Reply “Power poses” to this email to know more about practising them)
2. Positive Visualisation: Close your eyes and imagine yourself successfully interacting. Picture yourself standing tall and speaking clearly and confidently. 
3. Maintaining eye contact: Eye contact is highly essential for communication. Practice this by looking at yourself in the mirror. 

And Voila, these are something you can do to rechargeyourself for interacting with people. 

Did you know that certain body postures can help you recharge yourself.

Yes you read that right!

These are called “Power Poses”.

Power poses are open body postures that can help you feel confident and in charge of the situation. Psychologically, Power Poses can help you in:

• Increasing confidence

• Reducing stress

• Enhancing mood

• Improving your performance while being under high-pressure

Whether we talk to a stranger, our boss or someone who looks more powerful than us, we often hesitate, get nervous, feel anxiety, etc. 

So, here I am helping you master some Power Poses (Read till the end, it’s your only complete guide on Power Poses as we are covering everything)

1. The Wonder Woman Pose 

Benefit: Promotes feeling of strength and authority 

         

2. The Victory Pose

Benefit: Enhance feeling of success and accomplishments

   

3. The CEO Pose 

Benefit: Conveys relaxation and 

  

Now choose the one according to the situation and your needs. To implement these follow the following steps:

1. Find a quiet private space

2. Practise your chosen power post for 2-3 minutes

3. Focus on your breathing, make sure you are relaxed

4. Add these in your daily routine

Power Poses will help you the best before high-pressure situations like interviews, important meetings, networking events, etc. 

Practice them consistently for 2-3 minutes and notice the magic happens. 

Picture this: you met someone for the first time,

What are you going to notice in the first 5 seconds?

5 Seconds

That’s the time it takes to create a first impression. In just five seconds, the other person judges us. 

Based on what? Our appearance, body language, communication skills, and our behavior.

In this five-second interaction, a person decides whether to connect with you, hire you, etc. 

So, how can you create the most unforgettable first impression? Here’s a quick framework:

SPARK

S - Smile 
P - Good Posture
A - Appearance - make sure you are well dressed and well groomed 
R - Respect the other person 
K - Use Knowledge as your superpower 

A five-second impression can open many doors for you. Never take it for granted, and present the best of yourself.

Where do you keep your hands when...

Remember?

When we used to stand in a group to perform on stage as a kid.

OR 

When you have to stand with your team in your workplace.

In both cases, did you also get stuck on where to keep your hands?

In your pocket? at the back? where should you keep them? 

If you get confused and fidget because of this, then read till the end. Here are some ways you can keep your hand, when you don't know where to keep them.

1. Keep them in a Gentle clasp

2. Keep them in a Steeple (this is my favourite and the best if you want to look confident)

3. Just keep them by your side or one hand on the other

 

   

And never (I repeat, never)

1. Keep your Arms folded

2. Keep your hands in your pocket

3. Keep your hands near your face

This is Bad body language which also creates a barrier between communication and makes you less approachable. 

Use these tips and see the magic. 

Can you jump into a Black Hole? 

Imagine jumping in a BLACK HOLE  in a dark, cold space even when you don't want to. 

That's how some people feel when told to speak in front of people or in a social gathering. 

Feet trample, Hands sweat, Mind fills with fog, focus loses its way! 

Have you ever felt that? Even in social gatherings, we often find ourselves stuck. 

What's worse is that when someone notices these flaws, we tend to repeat them more often. We either get stuck on words or speak too fast. 

What we need is Balance!  To maintain poise and composure and balance your conversations, do this - 

Speaking to one person at a time is a powerful way to maintain poise. Instead of taking in the entire audience at once, focus on making individual eye contact with one person as you deliver a sentence or complete a thought. 

Then, move your gaze to another person for the next point.                                   here...

then here...

This technique is a powerful tool. It creates a more personal connection with each member of the audience, making them feel like you're speaking directly to them. It also helps you stay calm and centered, as it breaks down the overwhelming task of addressing a large group into smaller, more manageable interactions. 

It also prevents your gaze from darting around the room, making you appear nervous or unsettled.  

Add these tips along with it...

1. Use the power of silence to emphasize key points
2. Anchor yourself to project confidence
3. Mirror your audience's energy to build rapport
4. Incorporate storytelling structure to keep listeners engaged
5. Vary your vocal tone to avoid monotony.  

Until next time...

Are you also someone who was told since childhood that being fluent in English can change your life? 

We are told that as long as we can speak fluent English, we can rise high in our careers and that it opens more significant and better doors of opportunities. However, my recent interaction with my client says otherwise. 

My client had a strong command of the English Language. He was articulate, confident, and naturally interested in engaging in conversations. Fast-forward 10 years, and these skills are needed to serve him. 

He felt stuck and frustrated and realized he needed more than just language. It's the feeling we get when speaking; however, the words are not creating the impact they should. Imagine feeling like you're hitting a wall in your career despite your best efforts. It's not just about speaking well; it's about genuinely connecting with others, understanding their perspectives, and expressing your ideas with clarity and empathy.

Wondering what his communication was lacking?

• Assertiveness
• Active Listening 
• Clarity and precision
• Adaptability 

And many more things that are a part of Effective Communication. 

My client needed Effective Communication and you might also. It can open doors, build strong relationships, and transform one's professional journey.

Effective Communication can...

• Build stronger relationships with colleagues, friends, and family.
• Improve team collaboration and productivity in professional settings.
• Resolve conflicts efficiently and constructively.
• Increase your ability to persuade and influence others.
• Boost your confidence in expressing thoughts clearly.
• Enhance career opportunities and open doors to new roles and promotions.

So, focus not just on Communication, focus on Effective Communication. 

Until Next time...

Customer account in the eyes of Sales Leader

History of association with the customer 

Business units customer have 

Recent leadership changes

Strategic Focus

Leader’s focus

Data and Cloud Infrastructure 

Financial Goals

Collaboration Opportunities 

Think and Grow -Napoleon Hill's

Napoleon Hill's 13 Laws of Success

1.First Principle: Desire

For anyone to be successful, it is crucial that there exist within them the desire to be great or at least better than their current state. Without this desire, there would be no motivation or cause for action. Simple wanting or a wish will not produce results as it is just wishful thinking. What is needed is a deep burning desire for something that will automatically result in actions that will bring results. For true success, desire is necessary as wishes will only result in frustration. Desire focuses on the presence of something or the addition of something, whereas wanting focuses on the lack of something.

Whenever you focus on the lacking part, you attract more lack into your life subconsciously. When you focus on the desire, you are consumed by the feeling of having that thing in your life to the extent that you are already picturing what it would feel like to have it in your life. It is this desire that catapults you into action that brings results. Desire pushes you out of your comfort zone because when you desire something, you will not sit idly without doing everything possible to attain the object of your desire. This creates the attraction and brings into your life everything you desire.

2.Second Principle: Faith

When a desire stems and attracts emotions that arise from deep within one’s belief, it attracts faith as well. For a desire to come true, you must have faith that it is possible and that it will come true. When you truly have faith in a desire and believe it will come true, it starts manifesting into its physical self. Those who believe they are not worthy of love, even on a subconscious level, often find themselves continuously in the same pattern of relationships that they somehow sabotage even if it may seem that they are the victims in it. This is because of our own deep existing beliefs.

Our beliefs hold so much power that they almost always come true so if you want a desire to become real, believe in it and have faith that it will come true. You have to truly believe that you deserve what you desire and it will be yours soon. It is faith that makes desires come true. If you find it is hard for you to have faith, repeat affirmations which state that the desire will come true. If you keep repeating something, it will start sounding true and soon enough the idea will not sound alien to you.

Monitor your beliefs and when you start identifying a pattern of self-limiting thoughts, pick deliberate affirmations and repeat them in order to counter the limiting beliefs.

3.Third Principle: Auto Suggestion

There is a strong reason why we do not believe in our own wishes and even though we want something, we do not believe we deserve it. This is a state of being brainwashed. We have been brainwashed by the society to believe we are unworthy of what we desire and that wanting something is sinful. Deep within us, these beliefs exist which makes it difficult for us to believe we deserve something.

In order to get rid of these beliefs, you need to meditate. Go somewhere quiet, relax your mind and repeat the beliefs you want to plant within you. Focus on your worthiness and having faith. With time, the seeds you plant during your meditative stage using affirmations will transform into beliefs. Additionally, start writing things you desire on small placards or notes and read them several times a day in order to remember what you want and place them firmly in your subconscious mind.

4.Fourth Principle: Specialised Knowledge

If acquiring knowledge ensured success, professors would be the wealthiest of the lot. However, that is as far from the truth as possible. Just having knowledge doesn’t make one intelligent or even successful. This is proven by the fact that information is available to everyone these days. All the knowledge of the world is just a mere click away and yet few in the world are successful.

This is because it is not acquiring knowledge but using it that makes one successful. The correct use of specialised knowledge can make one successful which is why instead of focusing on gaining knowledge, focus on the knowledge that will make your desires come true and help you achieve success.

5.Fifth Principle: Imagination

Imagination can prove handy if used for the right purpose instead of just using it for one’s entertainment. Creative imagination is the kind that comes in useful when you want to become successful. In other words, synthetic imagination is caused by the effects around us and creative imagination becomes the cause of the effects around us. When you use creative imagination to visualize and picture the fruits of your desires as a reality, they soon take form and in fact become a reality.

6.Sixth Principle: Organised Planning

In order to succeed, you need a concrete plan. This plan should be a way to achieve what you desire. Take your time to draft a plan and then write it down. Once you write it down, the chances of it becoming a reality increase, so always make sure that you write down your plans and then proceed to divide them into workable goals.

7.Seventh Principle: Decision

The type of decision Hill talks about in his book are firm and resolute decisions, instead of the ones that are formed and forgotten about in an instant. People who keep forming and changing their decisions are barely ever able to achieve what they desire. You need to believe strongly in your decisions to the extent that once you have taken a decision, it becomes concrete and must be followed through.

However, this it doesn’t mean a decision cannot be changed. However, a decision that is changed regularly is not much of a decision. Take strong and well thought-out decisions and then see them through to the end.

8.Eighth Principle: Persistence

Many people fail at their first attempt. They might fail on their hundredth attempt but the simple fact is that the 100th failed attempt proves their dedication and this strength of desire will ensure they succeed at some point in the future. Many people give up on the first attempt, claiming that the challenge is too tough for them and as a result these people barely ever succeed. In order to succeed, there should be an unwavering quality to the desire. In other words, you want it and you will do anything and spend as long as it takes to make this desire a reality.

9.Ninth Principle: Power of the Master Mind

One of the most important principles, this principle explains that in order to achieve what you desire, you need to align your thought vibrations with similar vibrations which can be achieved by keeping company of likeminded people. By choosing your company wisely, you will be surrounded by the right kind of motivation that will inspire and challenge you. If, instead, you surround yourself with lazy people who tend to slack off, with time you will fall into the same mindset and forego all desires. By surrounding yourself with people who motivate you to reach higher, you will achieve more.

10.Tenth Principle: Transmutation

This is one of the more controversial points in Hill’s book. He explains that we all have a strong sexual energy within us that we use to charm and attract the people we have an interest in. If we gather this energy and use it through creative imagination, we will be able to sound and seem more charming to people. This charm can help us get what we want by convincing people around us, through whom we may be able to achieve what we desire.

11.Eleventh Principle: The Subconscious Mind

Oftentimes, we truly want something but are limited by our beliefs and not being able to align vibrations in a manner that will help us make the desire a reality. We can control our subconscious mind by controlling and quieting our conscious mind and instilling the beliefs we want to see reflected in our lives. This is best achieved through meditation because we can truly control and tune into our subconscious. In simple words, our subconscious is the real master mind that decides what will and will not manifest in our lives.

12.Twelfth Principle: The Brain

According to research, when our creativity spikes, our subconscious mind reaches a state where it can be programmed comparatively easily which is why we need to be involved in creative tasks that help us get into the right state of the mind. When we repeat affirmations in our conscious mind while allowing ourselves to reach this state of mind through creative visualisations or imaginations, the pictures in our conscious mind are perceived as reality by our subconscious mind.

In simple words, when we visualise something, our subconscious mind cannot differentiate between the scene being a figment of our imagination or actual reality.

13.Final Principle: The Sixth Sense

This is your intuition or gut feeling and it becomes more profound when you start meditating and tuning into your subconscious mind. Your subconscious mind is your connection with the infinite wisdom of the universe. When we tune into our subconscious, which is in turn tuned into the universe, we get answers to our questions that would otherwise have eluded us. These answers may come to us as hunches or gut feelings and this is why they must not be ignored.

Unlocking the door to Theta state of Mind

Understand Theta State of Mind to Program your mind

https://fastercapital.com/content/Theta-state--Unlocking-the-Door-to-the-Theta-State-of-Mind.html

https://www.spiritualsuccessrx.com/silva-mind-control-method.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=811r4Mv2RaI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XsB3-g0gD0

Desires become reality: Affirmations

I am a powerful soul

I am calm and stable always

I am always happy

I am fearless I am confident

I am perfect in handling family investments

My body and mind are perfect and healthy always

My cholesterol levels and weight are normal

My family is united

Past is past, I release, I forgive and bless them

I have excelled at 

Success is certain for me

Sharvesh and Yoogesh are focused on their studies. Their concentration is the highest

Sharvesh have joined IIT Chennai Computer Science and Engg

God's power and blessings are a protective shield around me

Music to Increase Brain Power, Focus Music, Reduce Anxiety, Binaural and Isochronic Beats

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acQS2Fef8tU