Category: Celebrations/Festivals

Say it…

“Never be afraid to let someone know if they brightened the room they just walked into. Or if something they said inspired you to change..” – Donna Ashworth, “LIFE”

One thing which amuses me ,as to why people are afraid of saying the “truth” to others. It is like someone in the family sings very beautifully and can mesmerise you with her voice ,but we are not ready to say it to them.

I can understand not talking negatively or criticising people, in public. I think it makes sense to appreciate people in public and criticise in private. But, nothing tells us not to say good things about others, as and when it happens.

My son can brighten a room and make people feel positive, wherever he goes. This a positive trait and I admire it in him. I have told him many times and wish I could develop this positive trait too. There could be similar qualities in your family or friends circle. But, most of us are reluctant to tell them.

We tend to appreciate someone, behind their back but are reluctant to tell them ,when they are around. I have never understood this psychology ,amongst human beings. Even parents, do not generally easily appreciate, anything good in their kids. They may even appreciate the neighbours children but not their own. On the other hand, they will pounce on the child ,even for an accidental mistake.

Our life should be like a transparent glass. We should be able to see others and others should be able to see us and our behaviour. The more open we are and more openly we say it, the more ,we will be respected.

Even in organisations, the leaders, who give you feedback on your face, with real life examples are appreciated more than those, who camouflage their feedback and try to shoot through ,others’ shoulders.

I can understand the reluctance ,when there is a negative feedback to be given. But what prevents us from sharing positive feedback. Why cannot a captain ,tell a player that she has played well and we won the match because of you. Or her sportsperson spirit is worth emulating by everyone in the team.

We get ,what we give in life. If we say good about others, we get back good. This does not mean ,we fake about others. If we are not authentic and honest, nobody is going to believe us. We will lose our own personal credibility ,by our behaviour.

The best of leaders in organisations and society, do not hesitate to say what they like and what they see as positives, in others. This makes them adorable and even when they give feedback for improvement, they are taken very seriously.

Let us start practising this with our family and friends from today. If we spot, something good, let us resolve that we will say it and never keep it within our selves. This will not only motivate others but also make us feel good.

Let us just “say it” from today.

S Ramesh Shankar

22nd June 2025

Best kept secrets of HR

We recently had a annual HR strategy meeting in our organisation.  This year there was a suggestion given by a young colleague of mine.  It was to request all employees to name one family member of theirs, who have made a lasting impact on their life and career.  They were advised to give this information well in advance to the organisers.  The organisers on their part printed a nicely worded letter of appreciation signed by the CHRO.

I was touched by the idea and the way it was implemented.  Almost all employees had tears in their eyes, when they received this appreciation letter along with the token gift from their respective managers during the course of the conference.

This was not the end of it.  After the conference, we got emails, messages and letters from their family members for this thoughtful gesture.  I was overwhelmed by their response.   What started as an innovative idea by a young colleague ended in stirring emotions amongst hundreds of human beings across the organization and their families.

The lesson we learnt from this idea was that gratitude and recognition are much more valuable than monetary rewards.  In our daily routine, we tend to forget these simple deeds,  which can make them feel cared for and appreciated.  We always have to remember that what we are today is the outcome of the toil of many unsung heroines and heroes in our lives.

S Ramesh Shankar

End of a century


In cricket, if you hit 100 runs, it is considered a century and a milestone for a batsman.  In life, if you live for hundred years it is indeed a landmark of your life.  Not many people live up to that age and not many survive to live that way.  What significance is it for me if I say that this is my hundredth blog.  It could signify that I do not have enough to do at work and in life that I have started writing blogs.  It could also mean that I have enough to share based on my learnings in life.

I was always wondering what to write on the hundredth blog.  Its a question for which I have no answer.  I can only state that the journey of writing blogs began a year back.  It has been an eventful journey.  Every time I get to reflect and think, the words flow as water from a tap.  It could be a summer evening watching the sunset or a long haul flight.  The words flow as if there is no gravity.  It is joyful and reflective.

I also post my blogs on my company social media platform.  I get a lot of feedback wherever I travel around the world.  People have encouraged me to write more and given me ideas on what to write.  They have commented on my blogs and made me think differently.  Words are a great expression of feelings.  What we cannot express in person can sometimes be better expressed in words.

As I look back I realise that my life has been a great learning workshop.  It has had its ups and downs.  But every experience has taught me something.  Even writing blogs has been one such experience.  So, I have dedicated this blog to sharing my learning.  As I pen down my thoughts, I learn from it.  It also helps me pour out my feelings on issues, beliefs and values.

In the history of a nation, a century of existence could mean a lot.  It could mean heritage.  It could mean its richness of civilisation.  It could mean the culture and values of the organisation getting institutionalised.  Similarly in the life of an individual an event could mean something.  For me writing my hundredth blog is one such event.  It has brought out something in me.  It has enabled me to express myself in more ways than one.

I am grateful to all the people around me who have made this happen.  My family members, my team members, my readers and my mentors.  All of them have encouraged me to write and share.  I may not be perfect in my writing but I promise that I try to be authentic.  I try to narrate my experiences of life in my own way.  I try to put myself in every readers’ shoes and narrate events as they would experience it.

Just as the historical building above is more than a century old, this blog signifies my completing the hundredth piece.

I hope this energy within me blossoms.  I hope to live up to the expectations of my readers.  I hope to reflect realities of life.  I hope to share what cannot be shared easily.  I hope to bring in positive change in society.  I believe that even if one person changes there could be an impact of my writing and it is worth it.  I do believe that change begins with me and hence this first step.

Do you believe it ?

S Ramesh Shankar
November 2016