Dia Mitra Academy

When the context changes, the learning must change too.

Last week I had the privilege of facilitating a Change Resilience workshop for Shell Lubricants leaders.

Originally designed as an in-person program, we pivoted to a two-day virtual experience bringing together leaders from China, Singapore, the Middle East, the UK and Europe.

Despite the distance, the conversations were deeply engaging.

Over two days we explored:

• How leaders experience the waves of change
• The psychology of resistance, exploration and commitment
• What it takes to lead teams through uncertainty
• Personal practices to build resilience during transformation
• Peer dialogue and reflection on real leadership challenges

What stood out most was the candour and openness across cultures and markets.

Leaders left with greater awareness of their own response to change and practical tools to support their teams through ongoing transformation.

Grateful to the Shell Lubricants leadership team for the energy, trust and thoughtful participation.

OrganisationalChange Shell

5 years hence and the run is on

Should I opt for this hands free edge walk 219 metres above the ground and take an aerial view of ?

The thrill beckoned, rationality resisted.

The picture gives away which way I swerved....but this post is about Paradoxes.

As leaders, we are trained to value , , and . The human brain is naturally inclined toward straightforward solutions — conserving cognitive energy in the face of complexity.

In strategic communication, this instinct serves us well. Clear messaging drives alignment, builds trust, and accelerates ex*****on.

However, when it comes to , maturity, and growth, 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭.

Paradox often holds the deeper wisdom.

Carl Jung once noted:
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘹 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴… 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘹 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”

𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 — 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲.

Notice how I used “AND” as the connective, not an “OR” for the above Parodoxes

Great leaders do not rush to resolve paradox.

They learn to navigate it. To sit with .

And in doing so, they unlock insight — for themselves, for their teams, and for their organizations.

I would love to know more about paradoxes you identify in the comments

This group radiates light

It was a privilege going back to and conducting a session on and for this remarkable group of women accountants, advisors and consultants led by

While many organizations, talk about and , this really imbibes it which is why it is always a pleasure crafting a experience for them.

have always established themselves as diligent, sincere and reliable. It is wonderful to “up the ante” and focus on the critical skills of influencing, establishing a strong and communicating to hold attention.

More power to you...upwards and onwards

😇Grateful and Fulfilling. That is the emotion which encapsulates me after conducting a program in NEOM, Saudi Arabia.

🍃We were stationed at the Renewable Energy site with vast desert terrain around and 3 hours away from the nearest city.

👊It was arduous with the long days and extensive travel but on seeing the difference people were making, we saw ourselves as instruments of change.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑🧑‍🤝‍🧑Shaping team synergy was more critical than ever, because the ecosystem is the team in Neom.

👩‍🏫👨‍🏫We followed our unique methodology of transformation and driving synergy as we helped participants navigate team challenges with exhilaration and draw lessons from them.

🤗Being the only woman in the room was a commitment to change the narrative.

INCOMING TESTIMONIAL FROM ROLLS-ROYCE Client🤩

It's invigorating to see what a difference coaching makes for individuals and teams. I find it so rewarding to help people work through their challenges, get their thoughts and plans in order, and set themselves up for success. 🚀

This testimonial is a Clare`s experience of working with me.

It thrills me to see this change,
This growth,
This liberation and freedom in the clients I work with.

If you're thinking that a coach could help you or your team, I'd love to have a chat and see how I could be of support. 👍

I was out on a two week holiday and caught myself making a statement several times in the days leading up to the holidays and even while on it , “I have worked so hard this year, that I deserve this break”.

Again a fantastic example of being fettered to social conditioning where we have been taught that rest is “earned” by overworking and overachieving.

The words of Nicola Jane Hobbs come to mind as I pen this :

Instead of asking, ‘Have I worked hard enough to deserve rest?’ Ask yourself, ‘Have I rested enough to do my most loving, meaningful work?”

Chicago morning

Glimpses from Boston

Happy Father’s Day to two incredible fathers

Baba - you bestowed memories worth a lifetime in only 8 years and they stay as a source of strength in my most trying times

Raj - You have taught Neer to be fearless, sporty, kind and caring… and lazy 😉 He reminds me everyday of what you are

Powerful experiential workshop on “Wellbeing and Resilience” for a Dubai Holding.

We explored the three essential pillars of Wellbeing:
- Healthy Body
- Balanced Mind
- Harmonious Relationships

Research indicates that well being impacts:
- Workforce Experience (62%)
- Market Reputation (42%)
- Customer Experience (50%)
- Innovation ( 34%)

Grateful for the opportunity to conduct such sessions which have a profound influence.

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