Human Capacity and Self Belief

"Believe in yourself" - seems to be an age old axiom. 


Why is it that securing a healthy self belief, so difficult and rare? Suffering from a lack of self belief might not look very obvious for many, in the day to day living. It also does not mean that, there are no achievements in their lives. We have our achievements when things go our way and we have our failures when the turn goes the other way.High achievement is accompanied with elation and euphoria, whereas the low turn is accompanied with dejection and self pity. So, overall Self belief in us seems to be low, only appearing high, clothed in the way things around are set up. Else, the true self belief comes out naked.


When it is true that opportunities are all around us(and you would have to accept the assumption, because, there are a few who grab them as if they picked a fruit from a low hanging branch!), how come we find it tough to even trace them out?  In fact, if experiences speaks truth, most of these opportunities look to us like monstrous problems! The difference is in our focus-- what am I habituated to look at in every stimulus that comes to me? Opportunity or problem? our responses have a choice here because  the flavors of both views are contrastingly different. Opportunity sounds, tastes and seems sweet, Problem sounds, tastes and seems bitter- that is the difference, there might be one in a hundred or a thousand, who, for the heck of it loves the bitter, given a choice! Rest others who too still embrace problems, when given a  choice, do not do it because they loved it always- they just started exercising their choice, irrespective of what they felt about it, and sooner than later, the action of doing, overpowered the feeling and colored it to make them like what they are choosing! It works - every time.


In an average to more than average human capacity, taste of success is a reality at some stage. They have seen it happen. And the self belief seems to have soared to new heights, suddenly anything looked possible and things seemed to just fall in place. They got attention from people and they were heard. The ideas seemed to be coming in at the right time and they looked capable of creating situations of advantage for themselves-- in short it looked like they reached!! And then the magic starts waning a little, we are a little more grounded on several occasions. Not that things would go bad so suddenly, but most of us seem to be hitting a plateau -- no effervescence anymore, no kick out of what you do, a glaring difference in your thought and action, leading to erosion of self belief!! Precisely then, what is it that is  required here? what does one do, to live up to one's capacity and build it more from here?




This is where we need to RECREATE ourselves. Our earlier period of rise was no dream and the present period of plateau is no curse. Both are just indications of our inherent self belief. It is important for us to know that, our self belief is a sum total of our thoughts, we held about ourselves- don't discount the trivial thoughts too! - they count. Everything counts. when chips are down, when life is monotonous, when going might be smooth, but too smooth to excite you to jump around and you are waiting for the proverbial, "Push from the unknown", that is when you need to recreate yourself. 

Recreation is a process of altering your self belief to new standards. 

Here's how the process goes: 


1. Observe yourself when you are dragging and pulling on, but not jumping with excitement about life.


2. Look at the nearest situation of a stimulus- it could be about calling someone to wish them on their birthday. However, your current mood perhaps is preventing you from reaching out to people- one of the symptoms of low self belief. Precisely then, give yourself a self infusion of new energy - tell yourself that you are good to connect and really can make a difference to their day, tell yourself that, by reaching out, you are showing your sense of confidence in relationships, just pick up the phone and call. Get as much intent as possible in your words and tone- and you will see magic happening! the other person would profusely than you, and yo hang up. You will fell sop good about yourself and would be ready for another call.


3. What you would not so easily catch here is the point that, within no time, you are miles away from your past mood! you RECREATED yourself. The onus is on you and don't leave it to external stimuli again. 


This is like completely taking charge of our self and operating from a new locus of self belief. So you start with small things and carry this self infusion process with more complex situations too... and every time you would come out much stronger than before... it radiates from you...


you see, RECREATION is actually so simple...Lets do it as and when we need to see the capacity in us, bigger than challenges around..


Till next blog
Kota

Reason for Expression

When Strategy drives the structure, it is objective oriented. When Structure drives a strategy, it can get open ended. When desire drives capacity, it can be anything, anywhere situation. When Need drives capacity, it is goal oriented. 


We have heard of some really out of the world feats in human world- most of them driven by a dire need. I was told of a housewife in the US, who could lift the front portion of a car with her bare hands, to protect her child, who was in a cradle that was just about to be crushed by a car that ran over it! We heard of people who could survive the most trying situations of sensitization camps and return in a sane state! We keep hearing of people who stand for days, people who go without food for days, of those who perform arts, music etc for prolonged times, almost all of them doing feats that look impossible from a normal view point. How do they do it?

"Human Capacity needs a reason for expression"

Therefore it becomes obvious for people who want to build capacity in others, to set a reason. The trick is not in goading or pushing people, but seems to be in creating a reason to do it-- not just do it, but do one's  best. The question is, what does it take to create a reason? How do you make others feel the need for doing their best?


Talking to inspire works - but has to be a continuous process and is subject to many a disturbance.


Showing reward works - but you find some of the target audience being disillusioned with rewards, after a while. 


Comparing with others might work temporarily. Howe ever it has also been seen how comparison can work counter productive to team work.


Setting the threat of penalty - might work for some, but does not make it either inspiring or self motivating. Change of one parameter in the environment can completely throw this plan out of gear.


So what works? While each of the above or combination of one or two might work, what always works is to make the task a great reason. I agree that this might not be straightaway possible for many of us, to try it out with many out there. One might also argue that, to have achievement motivation, you need to be a self governed guy.... however I believe, we can do this, if we understand the nuances clearly and agree that , even this works by a formula...


Let me not jump ahead of schedule to discuss about the formula here in this blog..... we would have that coming up soon, but I just wanted to leave you with the following thoughts to ponder upon:

• When was the last time, you had to closely interact with a family member or team member and put them on a job?
• What was your style? did you just persuade, did you use any of the 4 techniques given above or did you do something differently?
• Could you by any chance transfer your sense of ownership about the task to them, in whatever way you did it?
• If so, what did you see as a change in them? Didn't you see that you are no longer needed in the picture? Did you see them chasing the task, like their own?
• Just ponder, what could have contributed to such a change? and did you feel relieved :-)

Till the next time

Cheers

Kota

Capacity and Inner Connect

If ever, we find ourselves lacking in the capacity to accomplish anything, lets know that it is not becos of a lack of capacity- it is becos of a lack of connection to the inner  realm!. This follows the natural premise that, 

unless it is found in the inside first, it cannot ,manifest outside, next. 

Many a time, we stumble in our path, into a block- a cross road, a joint from where, it seems so confusing to move on, it feels that there is no hope, going back does not seem an option and going forward just looks impossible . So here is what happens - you just settle down for the status-quo and wait for a miracle to happen! By the way, miracles happen - when we are ready for it - the readiness comes only when we do the inner connect right.


So, what is the inner connect all about? 


It is a conscious process of disconnecting yourself from the task on hand and connecting to the realm of reflection within. 


The realm of reflection is only an entry point into the tremendous possibilities inside.Entering into the field of reflection achieves the first objective of cutting you off from the distractions on hand. Distractions are external, not internal. Unrest becos of external distractions, brings about unrest in internal world, only when we are so tightly hooked to the external. Tight coupling to the task you have on hand is important, but with a degree of freedom to leave this grasp and enter into realm of reflection, as and when. This should be possible for all of us - is this true?  - a simple example -our choice to focus on what we want in spite of other disturbances, shows us that, we can be masters of our choice- our attention to an interesting program on TV, an ear to the favorite gossip etc are some examples. Free choice means, being able to focus on what we want.


So, what happens after we enter the realm of reflection? The realm is like a pool - a pool of thoughts - you might take a little while to find your feet here, and be given to too much of swaying to start with - this is where, you would move from one extreme thought to another- particularly, if you are doing it new. An example here -- you are trying to write a blog - you might feel great to start - but you might hit the road block too soon, if you are not used to it- lack of ideas, no motivation to write, self doubt, no supporting vocabulary, other intermittent tasks and interruptions, procrastination -- all these or many more factors could be troubling you in moving forward- you can easily come to the conclusion, " perhaps it is not within me to write a blog! I am just not made out like that......" the conclusions on capacity start coming in. 


Another example -- you start on a new exercise program.  After years of no exercise - you have been pumped up to total motivation by a friend who counseled you or may be a movie you have seen on Chinese martial arts! After you start getting into some detail of the work out, as you are sweating it out, reality starts dawning on you, the video is showing a seasoned athlete working it out like a pro! and you are struggling with it for the first few repeats! Each extra move seems to be draining off everything from you and the sweetest voice you want to hear, is someone telling you to stop! Your mind tells you, " looks like this is not for me! I just don't have the capacity, having been born as who I am...... hmm... psst... better luck next time.." and you give up.  Should you give up?


This is where you start making the inner connect -- do stop, but briefly.... just disconnect from external world and task at hand, only for a few seconds, may be -- enter the realm of reflection - you start swimming through the thoughts of what prompted you in the first place to sweat it out or put a blog there. Then you start visualizing the benefits, the role models who inspired you and so on, though all these thoughts seem to be diverse, they all move you towards your objective - of recommitting yourself to the goal, and that is when you step out of the reflection pool to the other bank. Here you just stop  for a while to get the energy back - because this is the land of self renewal- at times the renewal is so perceptible - like a stream of current that passes through you- this revitalizes you, renews you and you can now be back to the task on hand -- YOU HAVE RECONNECTED to the source.


And when you have completed the task at hand, its not just about, how well you have done it, its about you winning over the tendency to give it up becos you cud not muster it - now you have done that, and here is an output - So, go out and celebrate!!!


Till the next blog,
Cheers
Kota

The Capacity Paradox

It was widely believed that office automation was boosting labor productivity (or total factor productivity). However, the growth accounts didn't seem to confirm the idea. From the early 1970s to the early 1990s there was a massive slow-down in growth as the machines were becoming ubiquitous. (Other variables in country's economies were changing simultaneously; growth accountingseparates out the improvement in production output using the same capital and labour resources as input by calculating growth in total factor productivity, AKA the "Solow residual".)

The productivity paradox has attracted a lot of recent controversy and has grown outside the original context of computers and communications. Some are now arguing that technology in general is subject to diminishing returns in its ability to increase economic growth.^{[4] ----- Source: Wikipedia}

^{When you read extracts like the one quoted above, you wonder, " where is all the human capacity going?" All known theories of human development have unequivocally stated that, human potential is vast and there is much to be harnessed.. now if all advances in technology and intellect has not enabled this harnessing the capacity, then what would? -- this seems to be the capacity paradox--- while it is there to be harnessed, we might still not be there in knowing how to harness, on  large scale. Of course this does not undermine any achievement of any individual, but just think of it-- the inventions and efforts of 1% population seem to be used by 99% of population, whereas the capacity levels of this 99% remain underutilized! this is the problem..}

^{The problem is akin to the problem related to finance in a family of 5, where there is just one earning member! Now, as fast as the earning is done by one member, if four more spend it faster, the net impact is negative growth of the financial status of the family... but think of it, a family of four petty earners, but each earns and spends for himself, the equation  seems to be better for each... so much for shared capacity syndrome.} 

<sup>Raju is a software engineer who passed out of a reasonably rated university and got selected thru the campus to a branded Indian software firm. He met up his project Manager, Suma, after three months of intense class room training. Suma was very patient with Raju, to start with.. however she did let him know that, he was a billable resource and she expected him to scale up soon enough..Raju was happy with his environment and felt that, coming to job was indeed fun, becos there is an esteem and respect that the brand gets for him outside... gradually, Raju found that, there were far too many mistakes being found out in his work and he seems to be in need of help, too frequently.. he started to despair and started disliking to come to work... it did not seem to be the same place he visualized a few weeks before, before long it was six months and Suma was doing a review of six months with him, to his consternation and anger, she concluded the meeting very shortly, by saying, " Raju, I think you are not scaling up as I expected... you did appear like having potential, when I met you six months back, but now, I dont know where the probem is, you just dont deliver even simple results..you know Raju, that our organisation has decided to no longer support members on the bench, and i have the mandate to send out the small percentage that is not performing up to the mark.... I am sorry to say, but I think you have to face this reality..."
Raju was stunned, unable to say a word, when Suma interrupted again, " Raju, I know you have the capacity, but something seems to be wrong when it comes to bringing it out! You need to put in efforts to bring the best out of you! I am sure you would do it.... we would give you a good recommendation", Suma walked out.... Raju was confused, angry, not knowing with whom.. Suma walked out .. pain was clear in her eyes on what transpired... she hated firing anyone... and the question always came back to her mind, " why do we hire when we cant get it out of them?".....


A million dollar question to all of us, " why do we make people responsible for anything, when we have no mechanism to get the bets out of them?"...


Here the responsibly of getting the best out of oneself is as important as the organisation around them.... For now, I wud discuss in successive blogs, how the individual does best to get the capacity out.. and as we move on, we would also discuss what an organisation can do....


Before I sign out, just wanted to share a nice piece of writing I found that talks about the philosophy of bringing it out.... to awaken... enjoy..</sup>

Awaken
by Ralph S. Marston, Jr.

In your life
A new day is dawning
Awaken and touch the beauty

Wherever you've come from
Whatever you've been
New possibilities beckon
Right here and now
Awaken and make them real

There was a time when you held in your heart
The most magnificent of dreams
A time when life seemed to carry
Endless promises and possibilities

Those dreams are still with you
Awaken and bring them to life

What you long for
Is longing for you
What you dream of
Is what you are meant to create

The doubts you have exist only in your mind
The anxieties that seem so burdensome are of your own making
Now is the moment to awaken,
and allow those doubts to melt away

Awaken, and dive deeply into the beauty of this moment
Allow your spirit to fully experience the richness of it all

Awaken
Allow peace to fill you completely
Let it touch your deepest longings
Let it bring those longings to life
Your most treasured possibilities are real,
If you will simply let them live through you

Awaken to this moment, and life begins anew
Reach inside, and allow
your most treasured
dreams to awaken with you
Into a bright and shining new day

Remind yourself again and again
Of how beautiful life can be
Remind yourself again and again
That you can make it so

Awaken
Step boldly and lovingly forward
Into this day

You've already come
So very far

You're stronger, more experienced
and more determined than ever
To fulfill those longings
That tell you who you are

Now is your moment to create real meaning
Now is your moment to awaken
And to truly and fully live

Till next blog

Cheers

Kota

So, what is Human Capacity Building?

Human Capacity Building isn't anything new. Perhaps as old as the instance where, the oldest human had the self cognizance of her Capacity.

So, why are we talking about this theme? The pertinence of the topic is of paramount importance today... and that is because, we are all in an age where the need to excel is no longer an option. The individual wants it, the near and dear in family wants it, your employer wants it and your society wants it  - they all want you to perform! Any doubt that performance is an external manifestation of an inner element called , "Capacity"?

All expression of Capacity is an exploratory process- one directed more inside, at times leading to known results and a few times leading you to unknown and unexpected results- collision with these expected and unexpected results, fills you up with exultation and exhilaration. Human achievements looks for this exultation and would associate its innate sense of pride with these pristine moments, that seem to give an authentication to human existence. The power mantra here seems to be, "I achieve, therefore I am".

Hence, it becomes the responsibility for every individual to create these moments as many times as possible for themselves. Not only that, it is the responsibility of leaders to create this in all followers, for all parents to create in their children, for every teacher to fill their students with this, and finally every government to create this for every citizen! Going a little beyond structures that guide responsibilities, creating achievement in others is the greatest credit that you can make in anyone's emotional account. in plain terms - it just is the way to live a glorious life.

But, how do we do this? 

Human achievement can be created by working on building Human Capacity - it is a step by step approach. 

Why should you do it?

It just changes the way, your team member, family member, friend or child delivers to the world! you are working at the core productivity issues in them, rather than superficial tool enabling. 

Who should do this? 

Anyone who has an interest to develop others! objective for this interest could be anything, that is immaterial. If you  are just plain interested to develop another person to full capacity, this works for you...

So if you are one of them, visit this blog from time to time.... I am going to discuss here some ways to do this wonderful act called HUMAN CAPACITY BUILDING..

Till the next blog,

Cheers

Kota