Viraj Samarasekera’s Post

Let's hear for introverts and the contribution that they make to your organization. How to best recognize their efforts. https://lnkd.in/gsJnsCa5

Good advice regardless of age.

Discover the subtle signs of favoritism at work and empower yourself with actionable solutions on my blog. Uncover the dynamics and navigate through with insightful strategies. https://zurl.co/0NBl #WorkplaceDynamics #Favoritism #OfficeCulture #CareerInsights #CareerAdvice #WorkplaceFairness #EmployeeEmpowerment #CareerGrowth #OfficePolitics #EqualityAtWork #CareerSuccess

Paycom is dedicated to fostering personal and professional growth. This week, I had the opportunity to take the #CliftonStrengths assessment. Excited to delve deeper into my results in an upcoming session. Here are my top 5 strengths! If you've collaborated with me, do these resonate with you? #personaldevelopment #growthmindset

Last day of our 7-day challenge on reflections for a happier life: "When you feel like you are not getting what you deserve, do you speak up?" Many of us don't speak up when we feel like we are not getting what we deserve because we want to avoid confrontation, because we are afraid that the answer may be no, or because we worry that it's not worth the trouble. But speaking up and asking for what you deserve in an emotionally mature way - whether that's a salary increase, help with a project, recognition, or whatever - can increase your confidence, help to set boundaries on what you're willing to accept, and maybe, just maybe, get you what you deserve. Grab a pen and a beautiful journal or notepad and write out anything and everything that keeps you from speaking up for yourself, and think about actions you can take to start speaking up for yourself. #SquigglyLineCareer

"Don’t Tune Out: How Staying Open Can Change the Game" --- Key Takeaways: 1. Stay Open to New Information: Even after years of experience, there are always new angles to discover. 2. The Importance of Listening: Engaging with others and truly listening can uncover hidden solutions. 3. Avoid Complacency: Even if you feel like you’ve heard it all before, staying receptive can lead to breakthroughs. --- Have you ever submitted an exam, only to realize later that you missed something obvious? Or maybe you turned in a report, then after feedback, you spotted the gaps? That’s the value of keeping an open mind—it’s like a treasure hunt. Trust me, I know. Just last week, I experienced it firsthand. As a union executive, I’ve been involved in multiple negotiations for staff welfare. By now, you’d think there’s no new data or argument that could surprise me. But when Congress members accused us of missing facts and failing to explore certain ideas, I was tempted to tune them out. But I’m glad I didn’t. In that conversation, I kept quiet and listened closely, and guess what? There were new angles—perspectives we hadn’t fully explored. It gave us fresh momentum in our ongoing consultations, proving once again that no matter how long you’ve been at something, there’s always more to learn if you stay open. --- Further Reading: - "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie (the classic on the importance of listening). - "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle (on the value of being present and receptive). Image Source - https://lnkd.in/dn8rybhX --- So, next time you’re in a meeting or a tough negotiation, try this: listen like someone searching for treasure. You might just find something invaluable. Ever had a moment where simply listening turned things around for you? Share your experience—I’d love to hear it! Cheers, Uncle C. The Peoplepreneur. #CareerGrowth #ListenAndLearn #ActiveListening #NegotiationWins #StaffWelfare #EmployeeAdvocacy #TheObaniShow #Leadership #ContinuousImprovement #LinkedInCommunity

I don't want to seem selfish A few years back I was mentoring someone and they made that comment in reference to being asked to do something they weren't comfortable with. The ask wasn't inappropriate, but it was something they simply did not want to do. And frankly there was really no requirement for them to do it. That's when I told them "It's never selfish to put yourself first." Your company will make decisions that impact you with cold, emotionless detachment: • Move you to a new team or role • Move you to a new location • Fail to give you a raise • Terminate your employment Are any of those actions selfish on the part of the company? Of course not. Which is why it's not selfish for you to: • Move to a role you want or team you want to be on • Move to a new location you want to live in • Ask for better compensation • Leave the company to pursue other things you want to do Now you have to be tactful about all of the above, but employees should feel comfortable asking for all of those things that provide personal fulfilment in the same manner that companies ask employees to do things for company fulfilment. If your company makes you feel uncomfortable about the above... see the last bullet. Have you found yourself at a decision point that you felt like you were being selfish? What did you do?

Discover the subtle signs of favoritism at work and empower yourself with actionable solutions on my blog. Uncover the dynamics and navigate through with insightful strategies. https://zurl.co/0NBl #WorkplaceDynamics #Favoritism #OfficeCulture #CareerInsights #CareerAdvice #WorkplaceFairness #EmployeeEmpowerment #CareerGrowth #OfficePolitics #EqualityAtWork #CareerSuccess

Want to be more like Adam Grant? Work out if you are a #giver or a #taker! While it would involve a whole lot more than that, he does encourage you to identify who the givers are in your teams (hint: they're the ones constantly asking what they can do for others, as opposed to what others are doing for them) - weed out #toxictakers and improve the hidden #potential in your team.