Rashmi Datt
..... But outside, I acted as if nothing had happened, and rationalized to myself: 'She was a difficult subordinate. Her
leaving was no great loss'.
As I encountered more such uncomfortable situations - as we all do - I wondered what should I be doing different? How can I make real and deep changes to get out of the hurt-disappointment - struggle cycle?
I discovered that I was not alone in being entrenched in habitual patterns of thought-feeling-action. For example, fight or flight behaviour was common where many missed the big picture perspective.
I read, wrote, researched, learnt from the best teachers available, my painful experiences became my instructors. Entering an inner space of curiosity and compassion allowed me insights that washed away the conditioned ways of being, allowing new perspectives and possibilities to emerge.
Looking back on that crucial meeting, what would I have done differently? For one, taken the opportunity to dig deep and mine the gold, i.e., set up a meeting with Seema for a heart-to-heart chat 'Tell me more'. I would have learnt about what course corrections to make, and taken charge of my own leadership development.