Ankit Ahuja_BLP043_Consulting_03Jan’12

3^rd January 2012 the day started with excitement and anxiety all around. One on hand -Mercer one of the world’s largest HR Consulting firm was in the campus to recruit and there was a consulting class scheduled. The first thing I learned was how to imply the learning instantly as I was able to utilize the initial learning of how to deal with the clients in the Mercer interview. During the course of the day we learned many things like of Proposal Development, Dealing with Resistance and Stages of Discovery. I read the chapters 9 and 10 of Flawless Consulting by Peter Block as a part of the pre reading for the Consulting class.               `              

Chapter 9 of “Flawless Consulting” gives the detailed picture of how consultants find it difficult to talk to their clients because of resistance and the associated feelings. Dealing with resistance is difficult but we should engage the client in relation with the central problem. A consultant should stay away from defending himself, rather he should ask questions and encourage his client to talk. Best way to handle resistance is to blow itself out, like a storm, and not to fight it head-on. 

The three step process of dealing with the resistance as stated by Peter Block:-

1.) Pick up cues for resistance

2.) Name the resistance

3.) Be quite and seek response

Chapter 10 of the book explains about the discovery phase. The goal of discovery is to be effective and powerful. In this phase consultant should have the clear understanding of the client’s business and the context. Root cause analysis should be done to unframe the underlying problem which can be different from what client was stating.In the end  consultant should provide the information about  How the things needs to be managed and finally follow up with the necessary recommendations.

The day ended with the financial review of the SOIL’s future plan of building a residential campus and the transparency that was maintained all through the review session was amazing and it was a great learning curve that happened on the day.

Ankit Ahuja_BLP043_Self Leadership_Sep'11

When the going gets tough the immediate reaction for most human beings is to respond with fear, doubt and trepidation. The fear of the unknown when your life feels like a tsunami - drowning in raw emotions that send chills up and down your spine. You can hardly breathe as your mind races trying to figure out to many things other than yourself. You feel exposed and vulnerable. You get jumpy and over react when asked to do the simplest thing, Perhaps you find yourself crying in the bathroom covering your mouth so no one hears your pain. Even I carried the same apprehensions on the day I joined SOIL. During the early days of SOIL life I attended one of the amazing sessions of our life, answering all my queries and solving all my apprehensions. It was the session of Self Leadership by MR Anil Sachdev- CEO and Founder School of Inspired Leadership.

The session covered the 6 Layers of Learning, Taking the control of the senses (the exercises covered really helped in introspection and how one can leverage the capacity of the senses).

This was followed by Appreciative Inquiry > which I feel is one of the most powerful tools enabling a person to know his real self, understand his greater purpose in life and strike out how he with his existing knowledge & strengths have the capability in achieving it. It tells you that you have all what you NEED! Then we did the burning candle exercise, discuss getting rid of Ego, how to bring the Mind and the Heart parallel, the Fears we live with and how to make smart decisions, smartly.

During the 4 months journey of SOIL we all have had the chance to interact with Anil Sir a lot and he has highlighted the following things:-

       Try to uncover your passion and start building yourself towards it.

      Try to figure out what you are good at and back your strengths driving that activity.

Today when I look back and think about those two things which he mentioned , a gentle smile runs  across my face as  I followed his instructions to actually do the things he suggested , I am  a successful and happy person right now. I can tell you the methodologies Anil Sir followed were simple and systematic that made me a cheerful and contented person which I am? His emotional connect with me has been mesmerizing, helping me out in difficult times.

“I have realized that there are only 2 things in life that can help you attain the escape velocity to break out of an existing paradigm. One is PAIN and the other is ASPIRATION. It is as true of organizations as it is for individuals that the desire to change is really triggered by one of the two.”

Thus I went through a complete transformation in last four months. I am able to rediscover and rejuvenate myself. I used to be a firm believer that being an “emotional fool” whom I used to call myself and thought it is one of the major weaknesses that I have carried which have hindered my path to success in many ways. Guess what? After the time that has passed in SOIL I am still an emotional person but not a fool. I am an emotionally balanced person who utilizes and channelizes his emotions in the right manner. I am a people’s man and love to emotionally connect with them.