• Embracing Chaos with a plan of transition to order : A Manager’s Strategy for the Unknown. 

    For some of the projects, in the beginning there is only Unknown! 

    • Nothing has been built yet.
    • No clear role models exist—only distant possibilities of feasibility.
    • The team is entirely new.
    • Committing to a deadline comes with a high risk of missing it.

    In these situations, the best strategy a manager can adopt is **controlled chaos**. This doesn’t mean having no strategy at all; rather, it means learning to navigate and leverage chaos effectively. The key is to embrace the unknown while continuously working toward order.

    ### **Build the Team**

    Building a team isn’t just about hiring people and putting them in a shared space—physical or virtual. A strong team is one where every member feels motivated, empowered, and safe to take action. There’s no universal formula for this; every manager and every team is different. Experiment with different approaches, discard what doesn’t work, and adopt what does. Most importantly, recognize that team-building is an ongoing process, not just something that happens in the first month.

    ### **Learn from Progress (Both Success and Failure)**

    Failure is an inevitable part of any ambitious project, but it’s also a valuable learning opportunity. The key is to create a culture where these lessons are absorbed and applied. Learning from both successes and failures must be embedded in the team’s DNA, otherwise, these insights will be lost.

    ### **It’s never about the Human—It’s almost always about the Process**

    This is part of building a safe place for team where they can execute in chaos environment with too much unknown. Its never the humans, always process. Process is like a clay cast which produces beautiful bronze statues. Keep tinkering the cast fine-tuning the beauty. 

    ### **But Don’t Ignore the Human Element**

    While processes are crucial, sometimes the issue *is* human. If a problem arises once, it’s a process issue. If it happens twice, it sparks curiosity. But if the same issue persists with the same individuals, it’s time for change. Address the underlying patterns, and don’t shy away from tackling the elephant in the room.

    ### **Look for folks rising up to the Occasion **

    In moments of chaos, certain team members will step up, delivering exceptional results. Recognize these individuals, appreciate their efforts, and reward them wisely. Often, the best reward is more opportunities to work on projects of their choice. Spend time mentoring and coaching them to reach their next level.

    ### **Transition to Order**

    Picture yourself navigating an abandoned tunnel—clearing debris, laying tracks, installing lights, and improving ventilation. Once you’ve made it through, don’t linger in the tunnel—board the train and move forward. The transition from chaos to order is delicate and requires a cultural shift. Stay vigilant, listen actively, and guide the team smoothly into structured execution.

    By mastering controlled chaos, managers can transform uncertainty into opportunity, laying the foundation for long-term success.

  • The King was furious

    The King was furious

    A stray arrow from his own camp,

    killed his favorite horse. 

    He ordered arrows to be fired 

    Towards his own men.

    He ordered retreat 

    And marched with anger 

    To his own fort. 

    All the men at arms,

    Left to wear different colors. 

    The king was still furious. 

  • Dreary nightmare

    Every night,

    I had the same dreary nightmare,

    waking me up sweaty, lost and scared.

    Always,

    I was cuddled –

    soothing voice, surrounded me.

    Until today,

    No warm hands holding me.

    No musical notes to make me merry.

  • Their aura spreads

    Don’t get blindsided

    King’s tone traverses all,

    Queen’s colors are on flag.

    The cogs – shaking, shaping, rotating, oscillating, carrying the burden of whole kingdom –

    Are simply cogs without eyes and ears.

    When the cogs start sensing

    Their aura spreads until it encompasses the royal blue.

  • Weighing life and death

    He is nobody,

    No signs on forehead,

    No crown or gowns on head

    No colors on clothes.

    One day,

    He is mending the chores,

    Minding his own clock,

    Walking the street –

    An elephant

    garlanded him.

    Now,

    He weighs life and death for everybody.

  • Big Brother with Big Stick

    Big brother with big stick,

    Mending the lines of flock –

    Stern yet caring and loved.

    Big Don with big gun,

    emptying pockets of shun,

    cruel, uncaring and detested.

    The abrupt shift,

    the slice of hand,

    the swap of mask,

    the turn of hat,

    awed everybody.

  • Grace in getting up from fall

    One always stumbles,

    And falls to ground.

    It matters to onlooker –

    how gracefully they getup –

    and fall in line of the great race.

  • The whole nothingness is fulfilling.

    When you are waiting,
    And nothing happening.

    Not even a fickle of wind,
    Not even a leaf is falling,
    Not even a cricket is chirping.

    The sky blue, orange and radiant
    And just stuck like a painting.

    The bird in the nest,
    silently staring at you.

    The music from far away,
    playing without a change in rhythm.

    The whole nothingness is fulfilling.

  • Alterlobe communication

    ✓ You are the expert in the field!

    ✓ You have lot of relevant and recent experience in the same field. 

    ❖ Yet – when communicating to someone about it, hold your horses.

    ✓ Stop thinking intuitively about how much you can and will talk about this.

    ✓ Stop default mode of dumping all your years of acquired knowledge to other person.

    ❖ Take a pace back and think – what other person is expecting.

    ❖ In other words – what other ear is hoping to hear. (Thus Alter-ear or Alter-lobe in the title)

    ✓ (Put yourself in their shoe – and think what are they expecting from you. )

    ✓ Start pre-preparation.

    ❖ Think introspectively – if given a chance, what are they asking you?

    ❖ What’s their single most important – one and only question?

    ✓ Answer only that question.

    ✓ And then give them an actual chance to probe you more.

    ✓ Follow-up and expand your communication to follow their line of thought.

    ✓ You are still an expert.

    ❖ But now you have become a recognized expert.

    ✓ Remember “communication” is better a “conversation” – not a one way radio.

  • Gods fought a war here

    Withered by the surprising storm,

    Forced to take shelter here,

    In this cave atop the hill.

    Once upon an era back –

    This used to be my favorite,

    Too many memories floating here.

    Then, it happened –

    Gods fought a war here,

    Ferociously and fiercely.

    The whole valley and hill charred,

    All that is lively is dead.

    All that is green and brown is charred.

    Gods rode away –

    After a brokered truce,

    Leaving all that is dead.

    After storm passed –

    Stretched and strolled –

    Scanning all over.

    Everything I glanced –

    Made my heart heavy –

    Destressing and depressing.

    But at the center of it all,

    Deep in the valley,

    A lonely plant cheered me.