Author: Career Ahead

  • Q&A with Tatiana Kolovou

    Q&A with Tatiana Kolovou

    As a Senior Lecturer at the Kelley School of business, Indiana University, Tatiana Kolovou teaches Business communication and Cross Cultural Communication to undergrads and MBA students. Tatiana is a professional speaker, trainer and LinkedIn Author, having authored 16 courses in the LinkedIn library, including the best-selling Communication Tips, which has over 2 million views. Born and raised in Athens, Greece, Tatiana has been based in the US for the last 35 years.

    We had a great opportunity to talk with Tatiana about the importance of first impressions and how one can work on improving their communication skills.

    Q1. From a professional standpoint, how important is a good ‘first impression’?

    A1. It is critical. Our brain subconsciously makes a decision if someone is a friend or an enemy, it’s a kind of primal reflex that we have. Even if we meet someone on the street who we are not going to see again – we quickly decide. First impressions are formed in milliseconds, not even one second or three seconds; and we know this from published research on social cognition. So we must be quite mindful in the contexts where we want to be aware of what impression we make. Mind you, we are not always cognisant of first impressions we make when we meet someone in the market, grocery store, bookstore, or on the street; but if it is in the business world, when we are meeting someone for the first time we may want to influence that more and must be mindful to that effect.

    Q2. What are the crucial aspects that determine the impression we make on others?

    A2. Research on social cognition tells us that there are two dimensions – the first is likeability; the concept of warmth, deciding if someone is a friend or not, and we make that decision first. But, we then also decide if we trust the person enough to want to be on their team or to listen to what they say – that is the competence aspect. So, there are two components – warmth and competence. This study was first done at Harvard by Amy Cuddy and her research team. And even though we weigh both components, we first decide on warmth and then proceed with competence. These are crucial aspects of that first impression. For instance, in the context of a day care service where we take children, we want for the teachers to be not only very well organized and for the place to be clean, but we want the teachers first to greet our children and be warm with them. But then, we also want to trust that our children will learn. So that’s a good example of warmth and competence. The same stands for someone starting a presentation in a meeting – we want them (even though they may get right to the point) to make an effort to be welcoming at least, or to show warmth before the meeting begins, because we make decisions based on that.  Since I also teach cross cultural communication, I would have to add here, that this depends on the context.

    Q3. What factors help to build trust when the aim is to influence others or sway their opinion?

    A3. To build trust you have to have a comparatively longer-standing relationship. Perhaps more than one or two interactions, or you have to have back and forth in a working / professional relationship. Building trust again depends on the context. Many times people trust you before they even know you, because you may be associated with an organization they trust. If it’s a famous consulting company or firm that is a known brand, one assumes that this person is trustworthy and should get a chance, as opposed to someone unknown. But in a context where you’re working with someone, you look at many different aspects of how trust is influenced – for example, the person’s reputation or what we call their ‘brand’.

    There are certain behaviours that build trust. Does the person follow through? Do they keep their word? Do they have a network that can be useful to you? Do they bring together a good argument? Do they have their facts right? And, most importantly I would say, for people to influence others and sway their opinion, they have to be looking out for that other person. So if I’m trying to convince someone that they should do something, I should say, ‘this is good for you’; I have to focus on the person and what’s in it for them. I need to know them and what they want, and what they value. A very important part of trust-building is understanding your counterpart and what is a win for them as well. This takes us back to relationships – showing warmth and connecting with others at their level. So, knowing your context and knowing your audience to create that connection is an important factor.

    Q4. What are the non-verbal aspects of communication that one can work on to improve their presence? Which specific non-verbal communication has the most impact?

    A4. Presence definitely is based on non-verbals. Just one face-to-face interaction carries over ten thousand non-verbals; because non-verbals include intonation in the voice, use of space, how you stand, where you sit, what you’re wearing, how you gesture, and facial expressions. You can imagine that all of this is important. In a business setting or a meeting ‘how you show up’ would be quite significant, and that involves literally – your aura – your energy that you bring with you; how you stand and how you walk into a room, or how you sit in a chair. That’s how you show up.

    Next, eye contact – I would say out of all non-verbal communications this comes first. Not just constant eye contact, but respectful and flexible, because in some cultures looking straight in someone’s eyes does not have the meaning it would in others, and we need to be sensitive to that. A lot of what we communicate is with our eye contact.

    In the business setting, another critical non-verbal is a firm or confident handshake (I’m referring to the pre-Covid era of course). A handshake communicates confidence and ease between the person who is initiating it and the person receiving it. And then gestures and facial expressions are obviously significant. Dress and everything that involves dress – how a person carries themselves. For instance, if you see a person wearing a very expensive or well-tailored suit, but if they are not comfortable or confident in their stance – that sends a message. The same way, sometimes women wear heels higher than they are comfortable in. This can make them feel awkward, not comfortable in their own skin. So however you dress, you should be mindful to communicate a comfortable, for you, message. You want to be comfortable, and you want that to be part of what carries your brand. There is a really good book called ‘Power Cues’ by Nick Morgan, which discusses this in detail.

    Q5. What is an effective method to improve speaking skills?

    A5. It takes practice. In his book ‘Outliers’ Malcom Gladwell talks about 10,000-hour activities, the idea that people can become experts in any subject in 10,000 hours. I would say speaking takes more than that, as a non-native English speaker it’s definitely taken me more than that. But if there’s one thing to improve your speaking skills, its practice – practice, practice, practice. And possibly, put yourself in situations where you have to speak with conviction, where you have to get attention. My daughter, for instance, is a second year college student, and she is at home because of Covid and is attending university online. Because she felt quite secluded, I recommended that she volunteer with the girls’ swimming team for the local high school. We had a long conversation about how speaking in coaching – standing on the deck and calling out commands, needing to get attention from others and being comfortable hearing your voice – that is a fantastic practice opportunity to improve one’s speaking skills. So, try to put yourself in situations where you have to do a lot of practice. Practice impromptu speaking; there are several apps to help with this. One is called ‘LikeSo’ and it is in the app store. Another one that I really appreciate because it’s very innovative and progressive is called ORAI – Oratory Artificial Intelligence. You can practice impromptu speeches and keep improving your scores, and you can do this privately.

    Q6. How has the current scenario post-Covid, with most official work taking place online, impacted business communication?

    A6. Reflecting back to your question on first impressions – remember that even before Covid, our first impressions quite often are made with the picture that we post on our LinkedIn profile; or the intonation of our voice in our outgoing voicemail; or the tone and respect that we show in an email that we send out. So, first impressions are not always face-to-face. And in a the post-Covid, or Covid world we live in now, our first impressions are carried by our background and in our lighting, in the position of our camera, in all the ways that we are able to affect or show energy that comes across in a camera. I believe that post-Covid, we are still going to carry on a lot of business virtually, because it’s cheaper and more efficient. So it’s going to be very important that our communication maintains a certain level of crispness and impact. Being attentive to details and being able to carry our brand positively is extremely important.  For more on this topic, see reference #4 in the latest LinkedIn Trends for 2021.

    Q7. In your personal experience, what are the innate qualities of good leaders and effective communicators?

    A7. Number one is awareness. Be aware how you come across. Get feedback from others. Some of the best feedback that I’ve received is feedback that I wasn’t expecting. But I do ask – what did you think of me when you first met me? How did this come across? You need to ask questions of people you can trust. Have some awareness of how you show up and how you come across and then see if you can influence it.

    Good leaders and communicators understand their audience and they come prepared; they don’t bring a cookie-cutter approach to everything. Once they know who their audience is and what they need, they change their style, they adapt. Mind you, this does not mean that they are being manipulative or inauthentic. They are showing flexibility, they are not rigid.

    Good leaders and communicators build trust first and they have a network that can help most. Remember, building a network is not something you do when you need a job or you need something. Having a network is the ability to pick up the phone and ask somebody (who may be living thousands of miles away) to do you a favour; and, because of the energy and goodwill that you’ve invested in the relationship, things happen. So, good leaders and communicators have that.

    Good leaders and communicators function with a strong sense of integrity in everything they do. They function with integrity even when no one is looking. With trustworthiness and definite competence they will get the job done, they will get it done right and detailed as if they own it, even if they may not. And they do it with a level of care, and relationship and with best intent for everyone involved.

  • LaVar Arrington’s Complete Athlete – Empowering the Next Generation

    LaVar Arrington’s Complete Athlete – Empowering the Next Generation

    “Dream big, work hard, and don’t give up.”

    LaVar Arrington is a legend in football. Widely regarded as one of the top linebackers of all time coming out of Penn State University, he was selected #2 in the NFL draft by the Washington Redskins, where he went on to a legendary career as an all-time top linebacker. Famous for his spectacular ‘LaVar Leap’ on the field, Arrington has spent the years after football leaping into business as a successful entrepreneur and advocate for the development of youth. His career trajectory is a prime example of how pro athletes can continue to shine after their athletic careers have ended.

    Sport is a common denominator around the world. It is the great unifier, the great motivator, and the global pastime. Regardless of which sport an individual plays, watches or supports, the attributes of an athlete are generally the same across all sports – the ability to function as part of a team, leadership skills, decision-making, patience and self-discipline. LaVar believes that, “While talent plays a role in levels of achievement, talent alone does not turn an athlete into an elite athlete. You must infuse the attributes listed above in order to become a ‘complete athlete’”.

    Sport, specifically football, was the foundation of LaVar’s life from the time he was a young child in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – a city well-known for cultivating some of the greatest players in football history. LaVar was fortunate to have mentors and role models such as Dwight White, a legendary football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who was a neighbor in his community; and Jerome Bettis, from whom LaVar had the opportunity to learn many significant career and life skills.

    “Sport is a common denominator around the world. It is the great unifier, the great motivator, and the global pastime”

    “To be a complete athlete, LaVar represents that an athlete must be physically fit, but perhaps even more importantly, they must also prioritize their emotional, mental and financial well-being”

    Over the course of his career LaVar came to recognize several learning gaps that impact the growth of an athlete, and his development as a businessman was based on an endeavor to fill those gaps for others – to help them build the attributes that make a complete athlete. To be a complete athlete, LaVar represents that an athlete must be physically fit, but perhaps even more importantly, they must also prioritize their emotional, mental and financial well-being. Committed to developing and nurturing youth to achieve their full potential, LaVar promotes the complete development of youth, providing an ecosystem of growth and development, focusing on helping youth to build the attributes which will allow them to be elite athletes and well-rounded human beings. LaVar is dedicated to shaping the future, one athlete at a time. Through the Complete Athlete and his Up on Game podcast, LaVar aspires to give young athletes the knowledge, tools and resources to help them develop themselves. In LaVar’s words, “If you can build winning habits as a person, and have winning thoughts and have a winning mindset and apply those attitudes to your life, then for me, we will have succeeded in putting one more positive person into our society; who can make a difference and will give back to others”.

    The definition of success changes as we age and mature, and this is no different for an athlete. For the longest time, until LaVar got to an age where he was actually able to comprehend what success looked like and have physical interaction with top athletes, he saw success only as a dream. Now, as an entrepreneur and businessman, LaVar understands the important role that business leaders can play in preparing an athlete for success after their sports career. It is only when industry leaders humanize success – by opening up their daily routines, their decision-making strategies and methodologies – that the youth can see a real pathway to success, the actual steps they can take to achieve their goals. “I never took my talent for granted, pushing myself to always reach new levels and go beyond the limits that our minds – and sometimes our bodies, set for us. By never taking my talent for granted, I was always achieving new levels of personal success, which allowed me to be recognized as one of the greatest linebackers at Penn State University and continue to perform at a high-level in the NFL”, noted LaVar. “Now, as a businessman, I have the opportunity to influence young athletes in a different way – both helping to refine their talents on AND off the field.”

    As an elite athlete, LaVar recognizes that his greatest responsibility is to enable youth to reach their full potential by empowering them to measure success through the personal and professional development necessary to become a complete athlete. According to LaVar, the methods of building success are truly a learned and applied process, and it’s not something that drops out of the sky. “You are not randomly chosen to be successful; rather, success comes to people who are willing to put in the time and energy and develop the beliefs that make success a reality”, notes Arrington.

    LaVar recently launched the Up on Game podcast with fellow football legends, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Plaxico Burress, allowing them to explore relevant issues in the world of sports and life. Through Up on Game, LaVar, T.J. and Plaxico endeavor to be a positive role models for youth, exploring issues and challenges relevant to young people today – at all levels of their game, helping them to overcome these challenges through their experience and lessons learned throughout their career. Additionally, he prioritizes bridging the communication gap between coaches and athletes, parents and kids, using Up on Game as a vehicle to spur conversation, discussion and positive impact.

    Up on Game examines the issues and current events in sports, tying it to life, making it relevant for everyone. Edgy, honest, dynamic and raw, Up on Game allows Arrington, Houshmandzadeh and Burress to providementorship, experience, perspective and commitment to athletes of all ages.  “Up on Game allows us to contribute to the development of athletes around the world, allowing us to impact lives, shape the character of athletes, developing the perspective and understanding of athletes, coaches, parents and families, who are integral to the success of the athlete”, notes Arrington. His aim is to build a culture of giving back, and to mentor athletes from a young age that a service mentality – embracing the impact that we must all make on society and for one another – is the most important ingredient to success at all levels of life, and it has been a fundamental pillar of LaVar’s life as an athlete and businessman.

    “It is only when industry leaders humanize success – by opening up their daily routines, their decision-making strategies and methodologies – that the youth can see a real pathway to success, the actual steps they can take to achieve their goals”

    “You are not randomly chosen to be successful; rather, success comes to people who are willing to put in the time and energy and develop the beliefs that make success a reality”

    With the Complete Athlete and Up on Game, LaVar aims to familiarize the youth with critical self-development experiences. He believes that if you make youth aware of how important it is to learn who you are and to develop who you are, they will be on a course for a more enhanced life and future. “Had I done this, my life could have potentially been more enhanced, which may have even made me a more phenomenal athlete. In the end, I look at things from the very simplistic standpoint that, undoubtedly, I am more than enough, and also valuable enough to continue building and growing who I am, and that is my ‘magnificent obsession’, as C.T. Fletcher would say”, says Arrington.

    Transitioning to the next stage of his career beyond football was easy for LaVar because of his love of helping people and being a person of service. He stresses that his awards and achievements in sports don’t amount to anything if he doesn’t use those experiences to help others achieve at a high level – high enough to potentially be an all-pro, pro-bowler or professional athlete. The Up on Game podcast allows him to have the opportunity to communicate with and mentor younger athletes, which is something he has always excelled at. “I’ve been a better teacher and a better mentor than I’ve ever been an active player. I take a great deal of pride in my ability to communicate clearly the different ways to approach sports AND life to be as successful as you can possibly be”, remarked Arrington. Helping to develop athletes into the complete athlete is something that has been a tremendous passion of his, and he recognizes that he has been blessed to have enough success where he can make this commitment to young athletes his daily focus in both life and business. He acknowledges that, “It is not about what LaVar can do for LaVar, it is about what impact and influence LaVar can have on humanity, and since my lane is sports, that’s where I endeavor to begin my ‘crusade of service’”.

    Prioritizing personal development, professional development and continuing education programs for youth is critical to preparing young athletes to excel not only in sports but in their careers and life – by refining key life skills and building on the attributes of leadership that are found in athletics. When businesses commit a portion of their corporate social responsiblity budgets to programs that support the development of the next generation, they make a commitment to the sustainability of our collective future. Contributing to the development of youth means preparing them to be future elite athletes, entrepreneurs, innovators, and humanitarians – better equipped to take the reins of leadership in our metamorphic future.

    LaVar’s advice to young athletes is to put as much effort into their personal growth as they do to their athletic growth, urging them not to neglect their mental health. Take risks. To quote William Shedd, “A ship is safe in the harbor, but that’s not what a ship was built for”. Greatness doesn’t come from comfort zones. As LaVar says, “Dream big, work hard, and don’t give up.”

  • Q&A with Tanujj Garg

    Q&A with Tanujj Garg

    Tanujj Garg and his career path in the entertainment business epitomize a fresh new wave in the Indian film industry. The Indian audiences are decidedly treating content as King, and a new generation of producers has its finger on the pulse.

    After completing his education, Tanuj worked with Disney UTV and Viacom 18 before joining Balaji Motion Pictures in 2010 as their CEO. In 2016, he partnered with Atul Kasbekar to launch his own production company, Ellipsis Entertainment. With over 17 years of experience in the entertainment industry, we thought Tanuj would be a perfect resource for an inside view on the actual ‘business’ of entertainment, and he was kind enough to oblige us by answering a few questions.

    Q1. Growing up in Mumbai, the film industry is all pervasive. Did you ever imagine in your student years that your business would be ‘show business’?

    A1. Well, honestly, I had never imagined that I’d eventually be in the Indian media and entertainment business. Having said that, I was always inclined towards this sector; I felt myself organically drawn towards it even though my parents wanted me to pursue a chartered accountancy degree, which I tried to pursue but was miserable at. Then I decided to pursue my passion and one thing led to another. My passion started turning into my profession, which, I think, is the best position for any individual to be in.

    Q2. What kind of education do you think would be advantageous for someone looking to make a career in the movie production business?

    A2. I didn’t really go through any formal education in the movie production process. There’s absolutely nothing better than learning on the job, which is what I did. I learnt things the hard way by actually getting my hands dirty, being on the ground and learning the ropes of the business whilst actually working in the thick of things. There’s no better education than that. Having said that, I pursued my MBA in the UK, with a double specialization in marketing and strategy, which has been a huge advantage. The MBA gives you a generalist business perspective; it provides a holistic view of how to conduct and run a business, which, sub-consciously, has come handy in the organizations I’ve helmed, and now of course, in my own entrepreneurial outfit (Ellipsis Entertainment).

    Q3. Which personality traits would you say are essential for success in this line of work?

    A3. I’d like to believe that this should be true of most other businesses as well but I can speak for the business I am in. What is crucial to our line of work is, first things first, you need to be progressive and sociable, you need to have great people skills, interpersonal skills and communication skills. Like I said earlier, these are crucial to any business today. I can’t think of any business that does not require these skills. I think these are on the softer side. On the more functional side it’s important to have great organizational and coordination skills.

    Q4. What are your thoughts on ‘expectations versus reality’ in terms of the glamour aspect of the movie business?

    A4. Fortunately or unfortunately, as an outsider, one has a very different perception of the industry. One obviously sees just the glamorous side. For people like us who are on the inside, and who are involved in the day-to-day business behind the scenes, it’s like any other business. I can speak for myself. We like to have our heads firmly planted on our shoulders, put our heads down and work hard. But I can see and understand why the industry is so enchanting and mesmerising for the audience, because it’s sexy, larger than life and aspirational! 

    Q5. In your opinion, what is the most prominent factor that differentiates the business of movies from other businesses?

    A5. I don’t think the business of movies is different from any other business. I think the laws and the principles that apply to any other business are as applicable to the movie business. Whether it is horizon planning, financial planning, human resource management, marketing or forecasting; it’s all the same. Of course, ours is a creative business; but I’m sure other businesses are creative in their own way. Deep beneath the veneer of creativity, is the business side. However, it also depends on which side of the camera you are on. If you are behind the scenes (like I am), it is like any other business.

    Q6. How have digital streaming platforms impacted the entertainment industry?

    A6. The recent arrival of the digital OTT wave in our industry has had mixed views, but to my mind it has been a huge blessing for various reasons. For one, it has radically altered the consumption habits of our audience. It has exposed them to a variety of multi-genre content, thereby altering their tastes, attitudes and preferences to a large extent. In any case, I have felt in the last couple of years the Indian audience has hugely evolved, evidenced by the kind of films that have been working at the box office. A lot of rules have changed, a lot of myths have been busted. It is no longer about a ‘star cast’; it is about the story and the narrative. For young, progressive filmmakers/producers like us, this is great news. Ellipsis aims to work towards content that is commercial, yet unconventional. Secondly, from a business perspective, OTT is great because suddenly our options increase; we are no longer dependent on the theatrical route. We have access to the straight-to-digital route too. With this in mind, I think the OTT wave has been hugely welcome. I will, however, qualify this by saying that theatrical is never going to go out of vogue. The theatrical business is going to remain alive and flourishing. It is not an experience you can ever substitute, because the theatrical experience in India is about community watching and about family outings.

    Q7. What do you see as the most exciting aspect of the future of entertainment?

    A7. With regard to films and series, we have already seen a massive explosion in the last couple of years. Especially with the OTT platforms coming in, there is a flood of content making the consumers spoilt for choice. Every other person is literally hooked on to some series or the other, and these are hugely exciting times for content creators and content consumers alike. As content creators we are now creating content not just for the theatrical audiences but also for the digital platforms and audiences. The quantum of content available for the average Indian consumer is massive. Hopefully this is only going to grow over the coming years with more OTT platforms and more technologies coming in. I think the demand for content is going to grow unabated.

    Q8. What has been the most rewarding project for you in your career so far?

    A8. Well, that’s like asking a parent which is his/her favorite child! That’s an unfair question! In some shape or capacity I have been associated with more than 37 films so far. Each of them has created a unique memory. It’s like 37 chapters in my life. It’s a long journey that you live with every film. Of course, in some films I was acting in the capacity of a distributor, in some films a co-producer, and in several others a producer; but the fact remains that there is a huge emotional attachment with every baby that I have had the privilege to release. While it would be unfair of me to single out one or two, I will say “Tumhari Sulu”, “Rang De Basanti”, “Neerja”, “Ek Villain”, “Lootera” and “The Dirty Picture” have been my favs.

  • Q&A with Papa CJ

    Q&A with Papa CJ

    Hailed by Forbes Magazine as ‘the global face of Indian stand-up’, Papa CJ is an award-winning, world-renowned international stand-up comedian. He has performed over 2000 shows in over 25 countries across the world, and as per the Harvard business Review is ‘one of the most influential comedians around the world’. He holds an MBA degree from the University of Oxford and is an experienced motivational speaker. He has been invited to speak at Harvard University and the University of Oxford.

    Some of his lesser known achievements include being a corporate coach, having trained employees at over 50 blue-chip companies globally; he also consults with brands on concepts and content strategy; and his pet project is his initiative called The Happiness Project, whereby he performs in support of charitable causes across the world. His maiden book, an autobiography titled ‘Naked’, was launched at the Jaipur Literature Festival in January 2020 and has met with excellent reviews all around. We had the opportunity to ask him a few questions about how he came to find his calling in the world of comedy.

    • Growing up in India, do you recall how you first became familiar with the art of stand-up comedy?

    I was exposed to stand-up comedy in the UK. After completing my MBA degree from the University of Oxford I took a job as a management consultant in London. After 3 years in that job I had paid back my loans and so I took a one-year sabbatical. During that year off I went to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and saw stand-up comedy for the first time. I loved what I saw and three months later I took to the stage for the first time. I did 700 shows across the UK in my first 3 years and have never looked back since.

    • When did you start to think of it as a career option?

    Stand-up comedy in the UK was great for learning the craft but I had to take up jobs on the side to be able to support myself. I moved back to India in early 2008 and did my first multi-city India tour that year. In early 2009, I started the English language comedy circuit in Delhi and slowly English language comedy began to enter the popular conscience. However, I’d say it took till 2011 for me to earn enough to be able to legitimately call stand-up a career option.

    • How did your family react to your decision to shift from a dependable consulting job to stand-up comedy?

    My family has always been incredibly supportive of my endeavors and it was the same with stand-up comedy. It also helped that at no point was I not sustaining myself financially. It was only 10 years into my comedy career that my parents told me that they thought I’d do stand-up as a hobby for 6 months and then stop, but to their surprise I kept going on. 

    • What is the most appealing aspect of your work?

    That would be the fact that I don’t consider it ‘work’. It’s play. And for me there is no high greater than performing in front of a live audience and seeing them laugh.

    • What has been your most memorable performance so far?

    I have performed to a sold out Sydney Opera House and prestigious stages in New York, Las Vegas, Johannesburg, London, Singapore and many other cities across the world. However these aren’t the shows that give me the most joy. Under my pro-bono initiative called The Papa CJ Happiness Project, I visit the homes and hospital rooms of people who have been unwell for a long time. Those are the performances that mean the most for me because I am not only able to lift the spirits of someone who has been in an unhappy space for a while but also bring tears of joy to their loved ones by making their family member laugh.

    • How have you seen yourself evolve over the years?

    The first line in my autobiography titled ‘Naked’ is ‘stand-up comedy is an outward expression of an inward journey’. The answer to this question is pretty much the whole book and you’ll have to read it to find out.

    • If it were magically possible to do so, (knowing what you now know) would you change anything about your education and the path you chose?

    As cliché as it sounds, I don’t think that way. You do what you feel is right at the time and my life choices are what have brought me to where I am today. So I wouldn’t change anything.