Hi, I am Surabhi Bahl, a senior consultant at Accenture. Prior to Accenture, I have 4 years of work experience at Google and an MBA in Marketing from Imperial College, London.
Here are my top 3 learnings thus far in the programme, which have been shortlisted after much deliberation, given how deep and immense my learnings have been in the programme!
- “Bring Your whole self to Work”
This is about showing up authentically, leading with humility, and remembering that we’re all vulnerable, imperfect human beings doing the best we can. It’s also about having the courage to take risks, speak up, ask for help, and connecting with others in a genuine way It’s not always easy for us to be this way, especially within a professional setting.
When we don’t practice this, we aren’t able to do our best, most innovative work, and we spend too much time trying to look good or fit in
How I’ve imbibed this is that I now bring my warm witty self in meetings with all my stakeholders. I raise my hand and ask for help when I feel it is not my area of expertise but I also actively add value by sharing my skill set, without being concerned about “How it may be perceived”
2. “Ask Empowering Questions”
An empowering question is one that enables a change in mindset or breaks through a limiting assumption. You can ask empowering questions and turn the situation around when either you or someone you know is feeling stuck in a specific work situation.
It involves the following steps:
You identify what assumption you are making about a situation that might be stopping you from pursuing what you want. Next, you identify the opposite of that assumption and then you ask the empowering question – how would you act or what would you do if you knew that the opposite of this assumption were true and then you go ahead and do that!
How I apply this is when I feel frustrated about a situation at work, I sit and actively list down the limiting assumptions I am making about the situation and then strongly believe that they are not true and just act! I can tell you from experience that 9 out of 10 times, it was either all in my head or I have had the positive outcome I was hoping for.
3. “Feedback is the food of champions”
Imbibing a feedback culture is the foundation of every successful organisation. 80% of our work related stress comes from internal issues and employees would rather quit than talk about it.
Here are some do’s and don’ts about giving and receiving feedback:
For giving feedback:
1st – Focus on behaviour vs. individual
2nd – Address the subject matter concisely with ‘actionable’ remedies
3rd – Be non-judgemental
When receiving feedback:
1st – Listen with 100% attention to understand the feedback
2nd – Consider feedback as a gift and not a threat
3rd – Proactively evaluate it before you decide to accept or reject it
Good feedback leads to an increase in self-confidence, self-awareness and improved performance!
I now practice this process called “Feed Forward” where I actively seek feedback in what I consider my areas of development
Take a look at this video, if the above points don’t convince you to jump and apply right now, because this programme will be nothing like you’ve experienced before and if nothing else, it will give you the courage to just be yourself, but more confidently!
Get yourself nominated! Find someone to nominate you before 17th February 2020. Nominate here
