Welcome to the Edition #40 of Think Visuals Newsletter!

The theme of this edition is- Imposter Syndrome.

I have curated the following for you:

1. Visual Summary - Imposter syndrome - Cognitive & emotional traits

2. Visual Summary - The 5 Imposter Archetypes

3. Visual Summary - How to overcome Imposter Syndrome.

4. Reflective Questions - My favorite session of the newsletter, where I leave you with some reflective questions to ponder.

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

Check out my portfolio sscoopsthinkvisuals.com

1. What is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome was first identified by American psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes in the 1970s when studying high-achieving women. Research indicates that while women may report higher, more intense feelings, men are also heavily impacted but may be less likely to openly discuss their insecurities.

Imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern where individuals persistently doubt their own skills, talents, or accomplishments and have an internalized, unfounded fear of being exposed as a fraud, or incompetence, despite objective evidence of their competence.

Rather than believing in or appreciating their own achievements, someone with imposter syndrome tends to attribute their successes and self-worth to external factors like luck, random chance or good will. Imposter syndrome can shape your behavior and affect many areas of your life.

Some examples of Imposter syndrome at work can be:

• Fear of being discovered, which could lead you to turn down promotions and hamper your professional growth.

• Or a Fear of failure can prevent you from trying out new things.

• Your self-doubt could lead you to constantly seek reassurance

• Or you may have unrealistically high expectations from others.

It is a universal experience & often triggers during transitional phases, such as starting a new job, receiving a promotion, or taking on new responsibilities. Individuals experiencing imposter syndrome often exhibit a specific pattern of thoughts and behaviors.

Here is my visual summary on the cognitive and emotional traits of people with Imposter syndrome. You might like to reflect and ask yourself when was the last time you experienced any or a combination of these traits? And importantly what did you do about it?

2. Visual Summary: The Five Imposter Archetypes

In her book, The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women, Dr. Valerie Young identified five archetypes or competence types. These represent the different internal rules that high-achieving individuals use to measure their own worth. While her research and the book focuses on women, subsequent studies have shown that it is also applicable to men. Research indicates that up to 82% of individuals experience Imposter syndrome.

The same is represented in my visual summary below for your quick understanding. These types are not mutually exclusive, and understanding them helps in recognizing and challenging irrational beliefs about competence.

3. How to overcome Imposter Syndrome

If imposter syndrome goes unaddressed it can be a significant barrier to both personal well-being and professional success. By overcoming imposter syndrome we can stop attributing success to luck, recognize our true competence, and confidently pursue new opportunities, ultimately improving both mental health and professional performance.

The focus should be on managing and reframing our inner thoughts rather than attempting to eliminate them entirely. We must actively shift our mindset from viewing self-doubt as a flaw to seeing it as a temporary signal of personal growth and professional expansion.

Here is my Visual Summary on how to overcome Imposter Syndrome:

4. Reflective Questions

With that we come to the last segment of the newsletter. I would like to leave you with these reflective questions to ponder:

• What specific negative thoughts do I have about my skills, and what proof do I have that they’re true?

• Am I using feelings or facts to judge my ability?

• What am I proud of that no one else sees?

• What would it mean to own my accomplishments with humility and confidence?

• "What's the worst that could happen?"

That’s all in this edition.

Hope the topic & visuals resonated with you. Drop in your comments.

See you with a new theme in the next edition! Until then keep blooming :)

Welcome to Edition #39 of Think Visuals Newsletter!

The theme of this edition is- Lighter - Unburdening your mind

I have curated the following for you:

1. What is Emotional Healing

2. Visual Book Summary - Lighter by Yung Pueblo

3. Visual Summary - Steps to Emotional Healing

4. Visual musing & reminder - Reflective questions to ponder

Let’s Plunge! Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

Check out my portfolio sscoopsthinkvisuals.com

1. What is Emotional Healing?

Simply put it’s about going from being stuck in the past to being able to live fully in the present. Emotional healing is the practical process of feeling better, coping better, and living better after going through something tough.

For instance think of emotional pain like carrying a heavy backpack full of bricks. Every time you have a new stressor, you add more bricks. Healing is like systematically taking the bricks out, one by one. It doesn’t erase the memories of where the bricks came from, but it frees you from carrying the weight of them every single day.

It transforms how one experiences life, moving from being overwhelmed by the past to living with greater emotional freedom and stability. This process of emotional healing is crucial for reducing stress, improving physical health, fostering resilience, and building healthier relationships, both in the personal & professional space.

2. Visual Book Summary - Lighter

While there are many books on inner healing, I like this aspect of interconnectedness that Yung Pueblo establishes between the inner and the outer in his wonderful book: Lighter - Let go of the past, connect with the present & expand the future. He talks about how personal, inner healing and global, systemic transformation are interconnected.

The crux of the book is that individuals accumulate “heaviness”—automatic, reactive patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting based on past trauma and conditioning—which disconnects them from their true, compassionate nature.

By shedding this weight through intentional inner work, people become “lighter,” clearer, and better equipped to foster positive change in their relationships, communities, and the world at large.

The book emphasizes that by first healing ourselves, we can then show up more fully in our relationships, our communities, and the wider world, spreading our healing outward.

Here is my Visual summary focusing on the aspect interconnectedness from the book which really stayed with me.

3. Steps to Emotional Healing

Emotional healing is vital because it is a foundational aspect of overall well-being, directly impacting your mental, physical, and relational health. It allows individuals to process and integrate painful experiences and strong emotions. It often takes place through a combination of professional guidance, self-directed techniques, and community support.

It’s important to remember that healing isn’t a linear process. The path through these steps mentioned in the visual below may involve stops, starts and returns to a previous step as you process more deeply. Even small signs of growth show you’re evolving.

Here is my Visual Summary on Steps to Emotional Healing You can read more on this in the link provided.

4. Visual Reminder & Musing

I would like to leave you with these questions to reflect & ponder:

• What can you do to make your healing journey gentle for yourself?

• How did I respond to challenging situations or stressors today?

• Were there any negative or self-limiting beliefs that emerged today?

• What activities or practices help me cultivate positive emotions and well-being?

I’m ending this edition with a simple yet powerful visual reminder. Do not ever walk away from your story, walk into your story, embrace it, own it and let the healing happen.

That’s all in this edition.

Hope the topic & visuals resonated with you. Drop in your comments.

See you with the next edition! Until then keep blooming :)

Welcome to Edition #38 of Think Visuals Newsletter!

The theme of this edition is- Gaslighting

I have curated the following for you:

1. Visual Summary - What is Gaslighting?

2. Visual Book Summary - The Gaslight Effect, Dr. Robin Stern

3. Visual Summary - Strategies to reclaim and heal

4. Reflective Questions

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

Check out my portfolio sscoopsthinkvisuals.com

1. What is Gaslighting ?

Have you experienced any of these situations at work:

• A coworker taking credit for your ideas while claiming you never shared them

• Being told you’re “overreacting” or “too sensitive” when raising valid concerns

• Being excluded from important information and then blamed for not knowing.

• Instances where facts are distorted, blaming you for project failures, undermining your confidence with constant criticism.

• Making you feel constantly inadequate despite your best efforts.

These are all instances of ‘Gaslighting’.

In the workplace, gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation where an individual—often a supervisor or manager—systematically undermines your confidence and causes you to doubt your professional competence and reality. Power and authority are fundamental, enabling components of gaslighting, functioning as tools for one person to establish domination, control, and psychological manipulation over another. Gaslighting is never played out obviously. It is a covert behavior that you experience.

It therefore helps to recognize certain patterns in your interaction with people. Here is my visual summary that can set you thinking and act as a good starting point to identify gaslighting.

2. Visual Book Summary

Coined by psychologist Dr. Robin Stern in her 2007 book The Gaslight Effect, the term describes a specific dynamic of emotional abuse that requires two participants: a gaslighter, who needs to be right to maintain power, and a gaslightee, who allows the gaslighter to define their reality in order to maintain the relationship or gain approval. This book will give you the how and why, and also show you how you can opt out of it. You are part of the problem & the solution. I highly recommend this book for anyone trying to untangle themselves from toxic relationships be it at work or in any relationship.

I love how the book nudges us to stop using the victim card, or how it takes for two to tango- both the gaslighter and the gaslightee & asks us to take responsibility for our own behavior. Here is the visual summary of the key concepts discussed in the book.

3. Visual Summary: Strategies to overcome

Like mentioned earlier, its a covert behavior pattern which you will know/ sense intuitively when you engage with certain people.

I remember experiencing this suffocation with a particular manager that I was working with. I didn’t know it was gaslighting back then, now I know. I remember being blamed for things that she would forget, putting me in a zone of self doubt, making me doubt my capability, etc. It was a mentally draining experience to work with this manager because I had to face her & show up every single day. I still remember feeling anxious, deflated & miserable in my stint with her. Anyway, those are bitter experiences with lessons learnt. I really wish I had discovered this book then. But better late than never.

Here is my Visual Summary of some powerful strategies to recognize these patterns & reclaim one’s sense of self by trusting inner feelings and setting boundaries as explained in the book. You will notice that all these are steps that you will need to take, act on things which are within your control, to combat gaslighting & to make things work for your wellbeing at work.

4. Reflective Questions

I would like to leave you with these reflective questions to ponder:

• Does the person dismiss my feelings by calling me “too sensitive,” “dramatic,” or “crazy”?

• Do I feel like I’m “walking on eggshells” to avoid setting them off?

• Do I often second-guess my memory of events after speaking to this person?

• Have I lost confidence in my ability to make simple decisions?

• What behavior do I refuse to tolerate ever again?

• What is one small step I can take to protect my mental health?

If you have ever experienced gaslighting at work, would love to hear what was your coping mechanism.

That’s all in this edition. Hope the topic & visuals resonated with you. Drop in your comments.

See you in the next edition! Until then keep blooming :)

Welcome to the Edition #37 of Think Visuals Newsletter!

The theme of this edition is- Narcissism.

I have curated the following for you:

1. Visual summary - Narcissism: Core behaviors & traits

2. Visual Summary - Narcissism: Traits in relationships & daily life

3. Visual Toolkit - How to deal with narcissists

4. Visual reminder & musing - My favorite session of the newsletter, where I leave you with some reflective questions and a visual to ponder.

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

Check out my portfolio sscoopsthinkvisuals.com

1. What is a Narcissism?

Narcissism is derived from the Greek myth of Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection. In psychology, a narcissistic mentality (often referred to as a narcissistic personality style or mindset) is a pervasive way of thinking and relating to the world characterized by an excessive preoccupation with oneself, an inflated sense of superiority, and a constant need for external validation.

Narcissism exists in workplace behavior & even with anyone we interact with. It may play out explicitly or implicitly. Its important to be able to recognize people with these traits & deal with them appropriately. The narcissistic mindset is defined by several consistent internal “rules” or patterns of thought.

Here is my visual summary of some core behaviors and traits that explain Narcissism better for you.

2. Visual Summary: Traits in relationships & daily life

Let’s further understand how this plays out in interpersonal & intrapersonal relationships. Its interesting to see how they project over confidence on the outside, while internally they feel the exact opposite & are truly flawed from the inside.

Here is my Visual Summary. Read this like an iceberg, above the surface (what they project) and below the surface (their deep rooted insecurities).

As you process this visual, if someone crosses your mind, then may be now you know why they behave the way they do. Let’s further understand how to deal with such people.

3. Toolkit: How to deal with Narcissists?

Dealing with individuals who exhibit narcissistic traits requires a tactical approach. Focus on self-preservation and emotional detachment rather than attempting to change their behavior. Dealing with narcissists can be an emotionally draining experience.

Your experience of dealing with a narcissist is very personal to you. Especially in a workplace set up, you can’t just label someone as a narcissist. A lot of these are felt intuitively. Hence you need to look at how this is impacting your mind space, performance, be aware & make some informed choices of dealing with such toxic people. Remember its not about them, its about you. Prioritize maintaining your own mental and physical well-being.

Here is my visual summary of some established psychological techniques:

4. Visual Reminder & Musing

With that we come to the last segment of the newsletter.

I would like to leave you with these questions to reflect & ponder:

• Do I feel heard and valued in this person’s presence, or do I feel like I am performing for them?

• What is the "cost" of this relationship?

• What specific behaviors am I no longer willing to tolerate?

• What is the immediate consequence if my boundary is crossed?

• What progress have I made in reclaiming my voice?

While we constantly work on ourselves its equally important to stay true to who you are. Hence this visual reminder.

That’s all in this edition.

Hope the topic & visuals resonated with you. Drop in your comments.

See you with a new theme in the next edition! Until then keep blooming :)

Welcome to the Edition #36 of Think Visuals Newsletter!

The theme of this edition is- The Dopamine Effect.

I have curated the following for you:

1. Visual summary: What is Dopamine effect?

2. Visual Book Summary - The Dopamine Nation - Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence by Anna Lembke.

3. Visual Toolkit - DOPAMINE Framework, the 8 Step Process. This toolkit is basis the same book. Very practical, useful & can put into immediate use

4. Visual reminder & musing - My favorite session of the newsletter, where I leave you with some reflective questions and a visual to ponder.

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

Check out my portfolio sscoopsthinkvisuals.com

1. What is Dopamine Effect?

Consider this - Someone appreciates you & you feel good, you achieve a goal and you feel great, you run a marathon and feel energized, you read books and you feel refreshed, you meet a bunch of good friends and you feel wonderful, you exercise and feel energized…etc. Have you ever wondered where this ‘feeling good’ is coming from? That’s the Dopamine rush for you. Dopamine rush is a sudden, intense flood of the “reward” chemical in your brain. It feels like a surge of excitement, alertness, or extreme satisfaction when you do something your brain considers rewarding.

The interesting part is, while often called the “feel-good” chemical, scientists now understand that dopamine’s primary job is motivation and reinforcement—it doesn’t just make you “like” something; it makes you “want” to do it again. So, again going back to some of the examples that I have mentioned above, you might like to ask yourself, how many of these activities do you feel like revisiting again and again. If you sense that there is an inner drive which is nudging you to do something repeatedly, then that’s the dopamine you need.

Here is my visual summary on what is Dopamine Effect & how it plays out for us.

2. Visual Book Summary

Even if something gives you a dopamine rush, its important to observe if we are overconsuming or being consumed too much by an activity. So on those lines, the book recommendation for this edition is Dopamine nation: Finding balance in the age of indulgence by Dr. Anna Lembke.

In this brilliant book she lays out why we over consume, how it impacts us, and what we can do about it. Dr. Lembke talks about how we are living in a time of unprecedented access to high-reward, high-dopamine stimuli, particularly through mobile phones & other ways such as overconsumption of food, news, shopping, gaming, social media etc. The entire premise of the book is based on how the relentless pursuit of pleasure in a world of abundance paradoxically leads to pain and addiction. There are deeper layers of substance addiction explored in the book.

Here is my Visual Summary of the key themes from the book.

3. Toolkit - DOPAMINE Framework 8 Step Process

I have chosen the 8 step process of DOPAMINE framework from the book. Even if you haven’t/ don’t intend to read the book, this is a very practical approach and can be put into immediate use.

Here is my Visual summary 8 Step DOPAMINE Framework.

Let’s understand how to apply this framework into practice with an example. Please note, the context I’m using here is limited to behavioral aspects. Substance control needs professional help & that’s not in the purview of my newsletter.

Let’s look at Ria who is struggling with a compulsive online shopping habit and wishes to apply the 8 step process to curb her habit of overconsumption.

1. D- Data: Ria tracks every online purchase for one week and notes when she shops (e.g., late at night when bored/stressed) and how much money she spends.

2. O - Objectives: Ria realizes online shopping helps her escape stress from work and the temporary “high” of a package delivery helps alleviate feelings of loneliness.

3. P - Problems: Ria notes the downsides: financial strain, clutter in her apartment, guilt after purchases, and reduced sleep quality due to late-night scrolling.

4. A - Abstinence: Ria deletes all shopping apps from her phone, blocks shopping websites on her computer, and commits to a 30-day “dopamine fast” from online purchasing.

5. M - Mindfulness: When the urge to shop hits, Ria acknowledges the feeling without acting on it. She uses deep breathing exercises or takes a cold shower (inviting pain to reset the balance) to manage cravings.

6. I - Insight: After two weeks, Ria realizes time seems to slow down when she isn’t chasing the next purchase. She notices her anxiety levels are generally lower and she feels more present in her daily life.

7. N - Next steps: Ria decides not to return to compulsive shopping but plans to make occasional, necessary purchases with strict self-imposed rules (e.g., only buying essential items on the first Saturday of the month).

8. E - Experiment: Ria experiments with her new shopping plan. If she finds herself falling back into old habits, she reassesses her self-binding strategies (like using time-based restrictions) or considers another period of abstinence.

Hope this example helps you see how simple yet compulsive the framework is. I would love for you to try this out on any area where you might be currently overconsuming and see if it works for you.

4. Visual Reminder & Musing

I would like to leave you with these reflective questions to ponder:

• What are my daily habits (e.g., checking phone, eating certain foods, exercise), and how does my brain “reward” me for them?

  • Are there any activities I engage in excessively? If so, what can I do about it?

• What tasks do I naturally feel motivated to start, and what is the perceived “reward” for those tasks?

• Am I pursuing a goal because I genuinely value it, or because of an anticipated “dopamine rush” from achieving it or from external validation?

While we work on ourselves its equally important to stay kind as we evolve. Hence this visual reminder.

That’s all in this edition.

Hope the topic & visuals resonated with you. Drop in your comments.

See you with a new theme in the next edition! Until then keep blooming :)

Welcome to Edition #35 of Think Visuals Newsletter!

Wishing you a very happy & fulfilling 2026. I wanted to bring a theme that will energize & prep you for the year ahead. Hence, the theme - Flourishing. Flourishing means achieving an optimal state of human functioning and well-being, moving beyond mere survival to actively thrive and fulfill one’s potential.

In 2026, my wish is for you to flourish & to experience all that gives you a sense of fulfillment.

I have curated the following for you:

1. Visual Summary - The PERMA Model from the book Flourish by Martin Seligman

2. Toolkit - How to apply the PERMA model into practice

3. Visual Reminder & Musing

Let’s Plunge! Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

Check out my portfolio sscoopsthinkvisuals.com

1. Visual Summary

Dr. Martin Seligman is a renowned American psychologist often referred to as the “Father of Positive Psychology”. In his wonderful book Flourish he talks about how happiness (specifically “life satisfaction”) is too limited because it focuses heavily on being in a cheerful mood. With well researched evidence, he argues that well-being is multifaceted and includes both subjective feelings and objective goals.

He specifically talks about PERMA model which is a psychological theory that identifies five core elements essential for human well-being and flourishing. He argues that these elements are pursued for their own sake and contribute to a fulfilling life, not just happiness.

I think it’s a powerful framework. Broadly the framework is about pursuing a sense of fulfillment in all that we do. Happiness is temporary, but fulfillment is more long lasting. When we seek fulfillment, it paradoxically often leads to more enduring happiness as a byproduct. Let’s understand this further:

• P - Positive Emotions: This involves experiencing feelings such as joy, hope, interest, gratitude, and satisfaction.

• E - Engagement: This refers to being completely absorbed in activities that match one’s skills and interests, a state often described as “flow”.

• R - Relationships: Strong, positive social connections are a vital component of well-being. This includes feeling supported, loved, and valued by friends, family, and the community.

• M - Meaning: This involves having a sense of purpose in life and belonging to or serving something greater than oneself, such as a community, a cause, a creative endeavor, or a spiritual belief.

• A - Accomplishment: Also referred to as achievement or mastery, this element involves the pursuit of success, competence, and progress toward goals. This helps build self-esteem, pride, and a sense of self-worth.

Here is my One page Visual summary on where & how to specifically focus for each element in the PERMA model.

Note: In more recent years, the model has been extended to include the letter H for health – PERMA-H (Norrish, Williams, O’Connor, & Robinson, 2013). I haven’t covered that here. May be later in some other edition.

2. Toolkit - How to apply the PERMA Model

Let’s understand how to apply this into practice with an example of Sarah, who is a marketing manager. She is feeling stressed and unfulfilled right now. She decides to use the PERMA model as a framework to achieve a greater sense of flourishing. Let’s see how:

Making these small conscious changes in our approach can give us a sense of fulfillment and meaning. If you see a possibility to practice this framework for yourself, it will be a wonderful start for the year ahead!

3. Visual Reminder & Musing

I would like to leave you with these reflective questions to ponder:

• What activities or events have brought me genuine joy or hope lately?

• In what ways am I using my core strengths in my day-to-day life?

• Which relationships bring me the most joy and support?

• How do my day-to-day actions align with my core values and principles?

• What experiences am I seeking?

• How often do I acknowledge and celebrate my accomplishments along the way?

Here is a visual reminder. In 2026 let us remind ourselves that we are all extraordinary. Let us move beyond happiness and seek fulfillment. Cheers!

That’s all in this edition. Hope the topic & visuals resonated with you. Drop in your comments.

See you with a new theme in the next one!

Welcome to the Edition #34 of Think Visuals Newsletter!

The theme of this edition is- The Comfort Zone inspired from a wonderful book called The Comfort Zone by Kristen Butler.

I have curated the following Visual Summaries for you to share some interesting concepts from the book.

1. What are the Three Zones of Living

2. How to Expand your Comfort Zone

3. The journey from discomfort to comfort

4. Reflective Questions

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

Check out my portfolio sscoopsthinkvisuals.com

1. What are the Three Zones of Living

We all have heard about comfort zones and how it is important to push yourself and move out of your comfort zone. Many times this ‘pushing yourself’ is attributed with Risk taking and is often appreciated as a growth indicator. But in her wonderful book The Comfort Zone Kristen Butler talks about Comfort Zone from a very different perspective. She challenges the traditional notion and argues that your comfort zone is not necessarily a place of stagnation, but a launchpad for expansion.

There are Three Zones of living that she talks about in the book: The Complacent Zone, The Survival Zone, and The Comfort Zone. She argues that typically we bounce in and out of each of these zones throughout our life. Each zone is characterized by different emotions, beliefs, and behaviors. The zone where you spend most of your time determines the quality of your choices and therefore the quality of your life.

Here’s my Visual Summary of each zone to help you get the crux.

The book emphasizes that Comfort Zone is about slow, intentional growth without forcing ourselves into survival mode. And it’s important to remember that comfort is not the same as complacent.

2. How to expand your Comfort Zone?

Its interesting how Kristen Butler invites us to explore how our comfort zone can be a source of strength, creativity, and productivity when approached with the right mindset and strategies.

Here is my Visual Summary on how to expand your comfort zone.

3. The journey from discomfort to comfort

It all really just boils down to how do you level up your game? Even when inside your comfort zone, how can you expand, so that you are constantly learning, unlearning, making mistakes & in the entire process you are just living it up. “Acclimation” is the term that is used in the book for the process of the gradual expansion of one’s comfort zone through repeated, manageable exposure to new or challenging situations.

I have used the metaphor of surfing in my visual below to depict the journey from Uncomfortable to comfortable. Surfers usually increase the size of waves gradually rather than immediately facing intimidating ones. They practice getting comfortable with being underwater and out of breath to improve your ability to stay calm in rough conditions. They get to know the waves by swimming and diving before they try to surf. They ensure that they have prerequisite knowledge and preparation before tackling bigger waves.

Uncomfortable to comfortable - this is the universal truth of all growth journey’s. Where we face the unfamiliar, overcome our mental models, work on ourselves & prep to take the plunge. Here the prompt really is oscillate towards the zone that gives you meaning & relevance in the here & now.

4. Reflective Questions

I would like to leave you with these questions to reflect & ponder:

• According to you, which zone of life are you in today?

  • Ask yourself how is this serving you in the present? Would you like to move out to another zone at all?

  • Given a choice, which zone would you prefer to be in the future? Why?

  • What actions in the present will help you to move towards your preferred zone in the future?

• What are some areas of discomfort for you today? What changes can you make to ease your discomfort?

• Who comes to your mind when you think of a mentor? What areas can you seek support to help you better navigate this discomfort?

That’s all in this edition. Hope the topic & visuals resonated with you. Drop in your comments.

See you with a new theme in the next one!

Welcome to the 33rd Edition of Think Visuals Newsletter!

The theme of this edition is- Forgiveness at Work. There’s so much that is spoken about workplace wellbeing, mindfulness, inclusion etc. where I find many constructs very esoteric and far fetched for practical life. While doing my research what I enjoyed about this topic of Forgiveness at work is its simplicity in both processing and practicing. So lets see what’s in store.

I have curated the following for you :)

1. Visual Summary of 5 Indicators on why Forgiveness at work is important for Professional Growth

2. How does it impact us - Research insights

3. Visual Summary on How to practice Workplace Forgiveness?

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

Check out my portfolio sscoopsthinkvisuals.com

1. Forgiveness at Work

Note: While forgiveness is a larger topic, the scope of this edition is limited to Workplace forgiveness.

Many a times what stops us from reaching our full potential isn’t a lack of skill or opportunity but unresolved resentment. Have you ever noticed how we tend to experience different emotions in our interactions with different people? Have you ever wondered why?

It could be a past conflict with a colleague, or a denied promotion from a manager, a new comer in the team who brings to the table better experience or a team member who is constantly trying to out shadow you. These are just some instances. When we hold on to a grudge, we are suppressing what we truly feel. And the sad part is sometimes we aren’t even aware of this.

This where Forgiveness at work - 5 indicators will be helpful on why it might be necessary for professional growth. Here’s my visual summary to help you process the key insights.

These indicators go on to prove that when we hold on to resentment, it suffocates us in more ways than we can imagine and impacts our bringing our whole selves to work. According to Harvard Business Review, individuals who practice forgiveness at work report higher satisfaction and engagement levels, which contribute directly to career advancement opportunities.

2. How does it impact us?

Have a look at the image below from a Finnish study which mapped bodily reactions in around 700 people. They found patterns in how each feeling was felt within their bodies.

Particularly look at the emotions of anger, anxiety, contempt, envy, disgust, (because we may largely attribute these emotions towards people we cant tolerate) and look at its impact. It’s clear that different emotions impact our physical body, & when we consistently feel lots of challenging emotions, we end up getting stressed.

Harvard research suggests workplace forgiveness is not about forgetting past wrongs, but about shifting to a mindset that moves beyond resentment to improve personal well-being and organizational health.

Additionally research from Frontiers in Psychology provides compelling evidence for the transformative power of forgiveness in the workplace. I have provided the link to the evidence based research in case you are interested.

Resources: Do refer some of my earlier newsletter editions which will help you with labelling your emotions & some toolkits.

Edition #2 Dealing with our emotions

Edition # 28 Emotions

Edition #30 Permission to feel

3. How to Practice Workplace Forgiveness:

Now this brings us to the important part of how to practice this? So the best thing is to keep it simple.

Identify for yourself one workplace grievance, you are ready to release.

That’s it. One at a time. By viewing forgiveness as a daily practice rather than a monumental task, you can gradually build your capacity to let go of anger and cultivate a greater sense of peace and well-being at work. By doing so, you’re not just letting go of the past; you’re actively creating space for new possibilities, stronger relationships, and unprecedented growth opportunities. You will be surprised to see how much better this will make you feel.

Here is a visual to help you with Practicing Forgiveness At Workplace (Source: Medium)

When we make a conscious choice to practice forgiveness in workplace, we tend to replace ill will with goodwill, it reduces stress hormones and improves focus, and can lead to greater job satisfaction, engagement, and career advancement.

Will be happy to hear what are some of your key take away’s from this edition? Drop in your comments.

That’s all for now!

See you with the next curation :)

Welcome to the 32nd Edition of Think Visuals Newsletter!

I have curated the following for you:

1. Visual Summary of The Squid Games & how it mirrors our society

2. Visual Musing over the Character’s of Squid Games & how they are a reflection of us.

3. Book Recommendation - Games People Play by Eric Berne

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

Check out my portfolio sscoopsthinkvisuals.com

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1. Visual Summary - The Squid Games

Just like half of the world, I happen to be an ardent #squidgame fan. I kept procrastinating from watching the series as I assumed it's beyond my appetite. But then I ended up giving it a watch. Little did I know that beneath all the brutality, this series is actually about #humanity #love #compassion and #kindness

While The Squid Game may be born out of South Korean society, the show reflects some universal truths. The entire set up is a microcosm of our reality. It reflects our society & social conditioning. There are profound lessons & reflections around the dynamics of #groupprocesswork #selfawareness #Leadership #teamwork #bias #shadows #inclusion #survivorship #conflict #valuesclash #identitycrisis #decisionmaking to name a few.

Sharing my #visualsummary on the crux of the show, all three seasons. I have tried my best to refrain from spoilers & largely focus on the overarching themes.

The entire show is structured so brilliantly, as a fictional microcosm & metaphor for the real world that we are all a part of. The players are a reflection of all of us running the rat race. The world is now ruled with Capitalism at a Systemic level, be it in the education system or financial markets, politically, globally, we are all just driven by relentless competition. We operate in binaries, of winning and losing the game. There is no scope for in-between shades of grey. We are either labelled as successful or unsuccessful, period. Across the world societies are divided, there is only hatred and increasing conflict based on ideologies, religion, gender etc. As much as we keep speaking inclusion, society screams of exclusion in many aspects even today.

Each game in this series is conceived so brilliantly that the players are forced to race, to compete with each other. There is an element of time & success or failure is determined within that time frame. There are various pressure situations created within each game, where the players can choose to give their best or give up. This is where the concept of what drives our choices is questioned at such a deep level in the show. Throughout the series, game after game, its all about making choices. Which is true to our daily lives. Day in and out, our lives revolve around the choices we make.

In the game, given the same context, we see that not all the players make the same choices. There is a larger reality for us to take away here, which is given that we all are running our respective races to be successful, can we make decisions conscientiously? Can we be more aware of what drives our choices? Can we respect the fact that we are racing along with fellow human beings and not horses. Another critical take away for me was Value clash. Like the games, in reality when our context changes, do our choices make us stay true to our values? What is the cost that we pay when we deviate from our core values?

Masks are an integral part of the series. The Front man, the guards are all masked literally. The players also are wearing masks initially by not projecting their true selves. I loved how this reflects the masked identities that most of us carry. Some reflections that stood out for me were - are we living our lives truthfully or are we also hiding behind masks. Why are we afraid, what are we hiding behind the masks we all wear knowingly or unknowingly?

And at the end of it all, what is the price that we pay for this race that we run? In the end is it the win that matters or is it our conscience? I love how the show questions us throughout on - While we run our race, can we still be humane and compassionate.

2. Visual Musing

Here is my visual which sums the core of few characters who truly stood out for me. Each character has a backstory, a moral compass which directs their choices and justifies their decisions. It was interesting to see how some of my judgements about few characters shifted once I understood their backstory. This again is reflective of how we just see people for what they are without making an attempt to understand what made them to be what they are today. Everyone has a story to tell. Some brilliantly chiseled characters with well established character arcs.

In case you are yet to watch the series on Netflix, I would strongly urge you to. Its very pertinent and powerful if you understand the deeper meaning behind the narrative. In case you have watched the series, would love to hear who was your favorite character & why?

#squidgames #squidgameseason1 #squidgameseason2 #squidgameseason3 #squidgamenetflix #netflix

3. Book recommendation

Because the entire edition is about Games, I thought I will recommend this brilliant book Games people play by Eric Berne Will you believe if I say that this book was released forty years ago, yet it holds every bit true even today in our social interactions? Simply put, the book talks about how as humans, we all constantly play games. We think we’re relating to other people–but actually we’re all playing games. There are some technical psychology terms like TA - Transactional Analysis, but its simplified with examples in the book. Berne calls our interactions with fellow humans as transactions. Our behaviors can be viewed as games where the main goal is to receive recognition from the rest of the players & we are driven by strokes - appreciation or acknowledgement. We are made aware of these interactions so that we can be more informed. In the books he talks about various social games people play, how we play them and why.

When I was watching The Squid Games, I kept coming back and connecting the dots to TA explained in this book. I could clearly see how these interactions were taking shape & how like us, the players keep shifting between the parent, the adult & the child state. Do grab the book for a better understanding of the Games we all play and why.

I’d just like to conclude saying that our lives are filled with games & we exist within a construct of winning the games. Given that, it's important that we stay conscious to how we play the game.

That’s all in this edition! Drop your comments on what resonated with you.

See you with the next curation :)

Welcome to the 31st Edition of Think Visuals Newsletter!

I have curated the following for you:

1. Book Visual Summary of You become what you think by Shubham Kumar Singh

2. Visual Musing - Take responsibility of your life

3. Visual Reminder - Practice Self forgiveness

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

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1. Book Visual Summary

In this edition, I am sharing my Visual Book summary of You become what you think by Shubham Kumar Singh. This book has been doing quite the rounds in the Personal Growth space. So it explores the themes of Happiness and Mindfulness , Habits and Personal Growth, Stoic Philosophy, Mental Health, Relationships, Human Psychology. Having said, there is nothing groundbreaking, or something that you didn’t already know. If you are someone already working in the space of Personal Growth, Leadership, you will be familiar with most of these. But on the other hand, if you are beginner, treading on your journey of self discovery, then this book might add value.

Here is my Visual summary to help you process the content.

2. Visual Musing

Our ability to accept responsibility for things depends on our sense of agency. Stop complaining, making excuses, blaming, or playing the victim.

Instead shift your focus to
- What is my role in this?
- How have I contributed to this?
- What will I do about it now?

3. Visual Reminder

In the process of becoming something, try not to be too harsh on yourself with your health goals, career goals, parenting goals or any other aspect of life. We will get there eventually with time.

Ask yourself:
- How can I be kind to myself & soothe my discomfort?
- How can I take one small step towards forgiving myself?

The below visual is to remind you of same.

That’s all in this edition!

See you with the next curation :)

Welcome to the 30th Edition of Think Visuals Newsletter!

I have curated the following for you:

1. Book Visual Summary of Permission to feel by Marc Brackett

2. Visual Musing - Being Vulnerable

3. Visual Reminder - Embrace Mindfulness

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

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1. Book Visual Summary

In this edition, I bring to you the visual book summary of this phenomenal read Permission to feel by Marc Brackett.

The book explores how our emotions are a big part of what makes us human. And yet we go through life trying hard to pretend otherwise. At the very core, this book is about being able to recognize, express and regulate our feelings and to some degree the feelings of the people around us. The book talks about how we have all aced this ability to hide/ suppress our feelings, and unknowingly pass on this belief to our children.

In the process we deny ourselves the permission to feel. We assume its cool to toughen up, squash our feelings down, behave irrationally. We avoid sharing our true feelings with a loved one or a colleague owing to the fear of blowing things up. I like how the book is centered on a specific steps that can be taken and applied. Many of the issues facing our children today are covered. Highly recommend. Here is my visual summary to get a sense of the book.

2. Visual Musing

Vulnerability is an essential part of being human. Vulnerability is often inaccurately equated with weakness. If we prevent ourselves from being vulnerable, we foreclose on experiencing our emotions. Learning how to be vulnerable involves a willingness to accept the emotional risk that comes from being open and willing to love and be loved. Remember, what makes you vulnerable, makes you beautiful.

Some considerations can be:
- Admit feeling overwhelmed
- Ask for help
- Admit mistakes, apologize if need be
- Reaching out to reconcile or reconnect
- Taking chances, even if that might lead to rejection

3. Visual Reminder

Mindfulness is not something esoteric. It is essentially cultivating a sense of awareness in your daily life.

Some simple yet impactful considerations:
- Mindful eating
- Mindful Listening
- Observe your senses, thoughts & feelings
- Practice Gratitude & Kindness everyday

Focus on being fully present in the moment by paying close attention to your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations without judgment.

That’s all in this edition!

See you with the next curation :)

Welcome to the 29th Edition of Think Visuals Newsletter!

I have curated the following for you:

1. Infographic of an engaging HBR article on Five strategies to prevent meeting hangover

2. Visual Musing - on Coherence

3. Visual Reminder - on Confirmation Bias

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

1. Infographic

As per this HBR Article Five strategies to prevent meeting hangover, over one quarter of workplace meetings leave employees with lingering negative effects such as lowered engagement and productivity that can last hours. This is called a meeting hangover. To me this is a very pertinent read because so much of our morning productive time gets wasted with meaningless meetings.

Some frustrations associated with it include Irrelevance of the topics discussed, lack of a clear agenda or objectives, Poor time management, Lack of actionable outcomes or follow-up, unequal or low participation & Ineffective facilitation. I personally value people’s time and expect the same of others. These 5 strategies are truly helpful. Here is my visual summary.

2. Visual Musing

This one is a snippet from one of my Graphic recording work of Jonathan Haidt’s book The Happiness Hypothesis. The below visual speaks about Vital engagement comes from a state of flow + meaning. Flow is a state of deep absorption in an activity, such that you lose track of time. Flow can occur when you're doing something that challenges your skills. Meaning is the subjective significance of what you're doing. You might find an activity meaningful if it's important to you, or if it's part of a sustained relationship with an object.

“Physical social psychological coherence" refers to a concept where an individual experiences a sense of order, meaning, and manageability across their physical health, social interactions, and psychological state, essentially indicating a balanced and well-integrated life where these aspects are not in conflict but rather support each other; this concept is often associated with the "Sense of Coherence".

3. Visual Reminder

Confirmation bias as most of us know refers to the search for information that confirms one's initial belief while ignoring disconfirming information.

Some considerations:

- Actively seek out diverse perspectives

- Question your own assumptions

- Actively look for contradictory evidence

- Encourage open discussion

- Create psychological safety for people to be comfortable expressing dissenting opinions

That’s all in this edition!

See you with the next curation :)

Welcome to the 28th Edition of Think Visuals Newsletter!

I have curated the following for you:

1. Book Visual Summary of ‘Atlas of the Heart’ by Brene Brown.

2. Visual Musing - On Setting Boundaries

3. Visual Reminder - Tune into your emotions

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

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1. Book Visual Summary

Here is my Visual summary of the wonderful book ‘Atlas of the Heart’ by Brene Brown. A brilliant book which explores 87 emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human and walk through a new framework for cultivating meaningful connection. Use of language plays a crucial role in how we label our emotions. We all need this ability to acknowledge and distinguish emotions and feelings and this book is a massive portal to that. The book highlights for instance how envy and jealousy aren’t synonymous. And that there is a difference between awe and wonder. And surprisingly how joy has been found to be the most vulnerable of all emotions. Can you believe it? And so much more.

For anyone interested in Inner Growth, Self Work, healing, Self Discovery, this book needs to be in your personal collection. Hoping that you will find the key highlights helpful in getting a sense of what the book is about.

2. Visual Musing

Setting boundaries is important, yes. But what is equally important is:

- Once you set your boundaries, how do you guard it?
- What action would you take if that boundary is crossed?

Remember that if you don't follow through, you are not upholding your stated limits. Do not give permission to anyone to disregard your needs. Value your own space wellbeing. The below visual is a reminder of same.

3. Visual Reminder

It's important to tune into the emotional upheavals we experience and try to understand the why behind it. Make a habit of tuning into your emotions, good - bad - ugly, all of it. Tune in and listen.

Some considerations:
- What is my emotion telling me?
- Is there a value clash?

Susan David in her wonderful book Emotional Agility speaks about asking ourselves:
- Which action will bring me towards my values?
- Which action will take me away from my values?
Worth Pondering! The below visual is a reminder.

That’s all in this edition!

See you with the next curation :)

Welcome to the 27th Edition of Think Visuals Newsletter!

I have curated the following for you:

1. Infographic- of an interesting article on Five ways to increase your influence at work

2. Visual Musing - Organizational Influence

3. Visual Reminder - Believe in yourself

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

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1. Infographic

To be able to influence without authority is a critical skill for anyone from leaders to change agents to anyone having an interaction with a system which could include internal and external factors of an organization. Even in the personal space influence is a critical skill to have when it comes to day to day interactions with family.

So in that sense, I find this article relevant where it sets out Five approaches to influence

2. Visual Musing

Aligned with our theme of this edition, I have the below visual from a graphic recording collaboration, which depicts that to be able to influence the organizational culture, it calls for Interpersonal interactions, creating a shared understanding and working towards a collective purpose. Influence is at the larger system level, with ripple effects across all the layers of people, processes etc.

3. Visual Reminder

Lastly, for influence to work well, the founding stone is to believe in yourself. Self efficacy or believing in oneself is the prime predictor that makes people winners or losers in any given situation. Learn through repeated experiments that you are stronger than you think, that you are more capable & more tolerant of discomfort than you think. It's OK to fail, but don't forget to learn from your mistakes. Confidence and conviction precedes influence and that happens when you Believe in yourself.

Some considerations could be:
- Recognize what you're good at. Nurture it.
- Build authentic relationships. People who can show you the mirror.
- Be kind to yourself. Be empathetic to your life journey.
- Draw your boundaries. Let in what gives you energy, let out what saturates you.

That’s all in this edition!

See you with the next curation :)

Welcome to the 26th Edition of Think Visuals Newsletter!

I have curated the following for you:

1. Infographic- of a powerful HBR article on How to Give Yourself More Space to Think

2. Visual Musing - Prioritize Self Discovery

3. Visual Reminder - Focus on Self Care

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

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1. Infographic

This interesting HBR Article on How to Give Yourself More Space to Think talks about how when we operate only in ‘doing’ mode, we risk failing to grasp the big challenges and opportunities in front of us, damaging our relationships, and missing the joy that makes life and work worthwhile. It encourages us to think back to our most important moments, memories, and realizations — many of them likely came not in times of relentless doing, but in the in-between spaces. The research recommends a spacious mode, in which attention becomes expansive and unhurried. I thought this resonated with the theme of this edition. Below is the visual summarizing the key concept.

2. Visual Musing

While indulging in the process of Spacious Mode as per the above infographic, as a change agent or an individual trying to influence a system for change, in the process you will notice that a lot of self discovery will take place. This is also known as ‘Use of self’ in the OD parlance. Truthfulness is a very important OD Value for a practitioner. Stay truthful to your emotions, purpose, discoveries, vulnerabilities, self limiting beliefs etc. When engaging with complex systems, our own anchoring is critical. Build awareness of these discoveries as you navigate.

3. Visual Reminder

Lastly thinking can happen clearly only when the body and mind is well rested or balanced. Hence practice prioritizing your own mental & physical wellbeing. Focus on Self Care. Focus on what brings you joy. It could be reading, painting, walking, gardening, spending time with family/ loved ones, a solo trip or workout. Whatever nourishes your soul, identify & make time for them regularly. It will make you feel anchored & centered.

Some suggestive ways to check-in & assess how you are caring for yourself:
- Are you getting adequate sleep?
- Are you taking charge of your health?
- Are you making enough time for activities that mentally stimulate you?
- Are you investing enough time on relationships that truly matter to you?
- Do you have healthy ways to process your emotions?

Identify one small step you can take to begin caring for yourself better.

That’s all in this edition!

See you with the next curation :)

Welcome to the 25th Edition of Think Visuals Newsletter!

I have curated the following for you:

1. Infographic on a brilliant article on How Building an Idea sharing culture leads to organizational transformation & continuous learning’.

2. Visual Musing - Future of Work

3. Visual Reminder - Embrace receiving

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

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1. Infographic

Here is my visual summary of a brilliant article on ‘How Building an Idea sharing culture leads to organizational transformation & continuous learning’.

In a rapidly evolving business landscape, where innovation is the driving force behind success, fostering a culture of continuous idea sharing is not just beneficial—it's vital. A culture of continuous idea sharing enhances innovation and competitive advantage within an organization. If we want an organization of high-performing, productive people, with high collective intelligence, building a culture of ideas-sharing is a big priority.

A staggering 61% of employees say that their organization often resists new ideas, according to a recent survey by Pollfish. This resistance stalls progress and stifles creativity, making it imperative for emerging leaders to champion and cultivate an environment where ideas flow freely.

I found this article resonate with the theme of this edition, because even to be able to share ideas, people need safe spaces and a protective net in case of failures. Here’s the visual summary.

2. Visual Musing

If idea sharing needs to be nurtured (as per the above infographic) then Leaders need to create a conducive & compassionate environment where people are not penalized for failures. Teams should have the ability to fail fast, but learn faster through rapid prototyping. Leaders should provide a safety net, so the team learns from mistakes & build their resilience. This is more important for the health of the organization.

3. Visual Reminder

Given a choice, we all love to be givers. To embrace receiving requires courage because receiving comes with vulnerability. Unless we embrace receiving, we are depriving ourselves of genuine human connections.

Ask yourself :

- How can I be more acceptive of this idea coming from my team member?
- How can I wholeheartedly receive a compliment today without discarding it.
- If someone is trying to be kind to me, instead of suspecting the motive, how can I stay receptive to it in the here & now?

That’s all in this edition!

See you with the next curation :)

Welcome to the 24th Edition of Think Visuals Newsletter!

I have curated the following for you:

1. Infographic on a powerful article on Why do we always feel the need to be busy?

2. Graphic Recordings/ Visual Snippets from my collaboration with Asia OD Network

3. Visual Musing - A visual to ponder.

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

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1. Infographic

There used to be times when people would ask 'How are you?'. The emphasis was on 'you'. But these days what we are asked is 'What is keeping you busy?' or 'What are you busy with these days'? Here the emphasis shifts to 'busy'. There is so much importance attributed to being 'busy', as if it's the only validation of your existence. Unfortunately, some organizations view 'busyness' as a marker of leadership success.

Upon reflection, what truly drives our need to be 'busy' could be a deep rooted psychological need for validation, self-worth or avoiding emotions etc. Here is my visual summary of a wonderful article from Medtrics on ‘Why do we always feel the need to be busy?’

It explores the psychological factors that can make us uncomfortable with stillness and drive us towards constant activity.

👉Why do we always feel the need to be busy.
👉 How do we stop seeing 'busyness' as a norm and start focusing on things that truly matter to us?
👉 How do we strike a healthy balance?

Here is my Visual Summary which captures the essence of the article for your quick consumption.

2. Graphic Recordings/ Visual Snippets

As an OD practitioner in my association with Asia Organization Development Network (AODN) I scribe the talks from Thought Leaders & Change Agents from across the globe. Which is then used by the forum to circulate amongst the attendees for key highlights from the session.

This insightful and engaging talk was delivered at the '𝐀𝐎𝐃𝐍 𝐄𝐗𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄' by Dr Douglas OLoughlin, PhD, the Principal of The Dao of Thriving and a Senior Principal Associate Consultant with Civil Service (CSC) in the Singapore Public Service. Here is my visual summary of a very interesting topic - Flourishing at all levels of the system.

Link to the original Post on Linkedin

3. Visual Musing

Agree? Big result’s aren’t achieved overnight. Small consistent changes lead to Big results. Consistency is the key word here. Something to ponder. A small snippet from my visual work sometime back.

That’s all in this edition!

See you with the next curation :)

Welcome to the 23rd Edition of Think Visuals Newsletter!

As we usher in the New year with New beginnings, another clean slate to chalk out 365 days with renewed zeal, hope & conviction, I have curated the following for you:

1. Infographic on 10 Essential Leadership Tips for 2025

2. Graphic Recordings/ Visual Snippets from recent collaborations

3. Book Reviews - Shifting focus to fiction this year. I have reviews on some brilliant Japanese & Korean translations this month.

4. Visual Musing - A visual to ponder.

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

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1. Infographic

MIT Sloan recently published Ten essential leadership tips for 2025

To be a successful leader in 2025, the two C’s at the top of the list are Communication and Culture. An organization can’t have a strong culture without strong communication skills, and vice versa. And the related challenges are among the hardest faced by leaders.

- How do I spell out what’s most important to me as a leader — and live by it?
- How do I encourage people on my team to tell me the truth?
- How do I set boundaries with people?
- How do I encourage more continuous learning?
- How do I stop “overly busy” from being a measure of success?

What's interesting when you read the article is that each of the tip can be clicked through to full articles which provide evidence-based answers to these pertinent Leadership challenges. So it's a fully loaded resource & would be a helpful reference to those working on Leadership Capability Building or Change Management. Urge you to leverage.

2. Graphic Recordings/ Visual Snippets

As an OD practitioner in my association with Asia Organization Development Network (AODN) I scribe the talks from Thought Leaders & Change Agents from across the globe. Which is then used by the forum to circulate amongst the attendees for key highlights from the session.

Here is my visual summary on a very timely topic: Managing Talent: Challenges and Opportunities. This talk was delivered by Prof. David Clutterbuck, one of the early pioneers of developmental coaching and mentoring, co-founder of the European Mentoring and Coaching council. He is also the author of more than 80 books, including the first evidence based titles on Coaching culture and Team Coaching. His session was powerful and thought provoking.

Link to the Post on Linkedin

3. Book review (Fiction)

So up until last year, my book reviews were all management and leadership based. This year, I needed a change. Given that there is a lot of regular management and leadership reading by default in the nature of my work, my newsletter posts on book recommendations & reviews are going to be on fiction. I feel fiction adds to the much needed element of imagination which is required for all, but especially those in creative field. Interestingly, I am exploring Japanese & Korean translation works which are trending in the reading community.

There are some pertinent issues portrayed by the characters which includes
a) Finding meaning & fulfilment in work and eventually life
b) Friction between work identity & self identity that one is serving
c) Rejection of hyper capitalism by pursuing what's meaningful
d) Work life balance and the dissonance it can cause
e) Mental well being & purpose
f) Education and employment challenges etc.

What stood out for me as a constant in all these books is the concept of ‘Slow living’. How culturally they are reeking of burn out & people are consciously opting for conscious living. Mentioned below is my wrap up of Jan’25 reads. You will find my detailed review of each book on my Instagram handle.

4. Visual Musing

‘Declutter to create more space!’ How profound! Easier said than done, but worth every bit.

Being in a cluttered, disorganized environment can compromise your attention, concentration, and focus — and even drain your cognitive resources. Decluttering allows to create more space for the new to come in. Decluttering is a precursor to cleansing, whether its your wardrobe, your thoughts or your gut health. The very process of decluttering gives us a sense of freedom and liberation. It allows reclaiming of a sense of mastery and control.

With 365 days of new opportunities left with us, lets work our way towards simplifying our goals and lives. Let’s keep things simple, doable, conscious & clutter free.

That’s all in this edition!

See you with the next one soon :)

Welcome to the 22nd Edition of Think Visuals Newsletter!

The theme of this edition is Prioritize Yourself. I have curated the following for you:

1. Visual summary on Reconnecting with your Feminine Energy

2. Useful Resource: The Wheel of Life

3. Graphic Recording of 2 insightful AODN Exchanges with Asia OD Network

4. An interesting Quote to ponder, that resonates with our theme.

5. Calvin & Hobbes - Always a helpful reminder to keep our inner child alive :)

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

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1. Infographic - Feminine Energy

Is feminine energy relevant only to women? No. All humans are a mix of the feminine and the masculine. Both the energies are a dualism we carry within us. They are binary systems coexisting in nature. Feminine energy is all of the nurturing traits it takes to connect to human beings in a meaningful and fulfilling way. It’s compassionate, kind, empathetic, patient and emotional. It’s about embracing your intuition and creativity. Feminine energy is fluid and free. It’s about a state of being. It encompasses receiving and is represented by nature. If you want to reconnect with your feminine energy, you have to learn how to prioritize yourself, your self-care and your well-being.

The infographic below is a friendly reminder of 17 tactics to give off more feminine energy. Also sharing an interesting read on How to Step Into Your Feminine Energy and Achieve More in Your Life

2. Useful Resource -The Wheel of Life

Wheel of Life is a powerful tool that continues to prove popular in life coaching and self-help. It offers enormous insight into aspects of your being that are flourishing or struggling and helps guide you to the changes needed to remove barriers and push forward. I have used the Wheel of Life in various Personal Growth Workshops and it has always worked wonders. Its important to note that you stay earnest while plotting. Do not give your self rating from an ideal or desired state. When you stay true, the results of Wheel of Life will reflect your reality.

How to use:

1. Determine your categories

2. Create a wheel using the categories you chose

3. Evaluate each area

4. Connect the dots

5. Compare the results to your ideal levels

6. Take steps to address the areas you'd like to improve

Here are some useful links. Hope you all will find this useful.

Wheel of Life - How to plot, Video

Wheel of Life - Free Online Assessment

Downloadable Wheel of Life Worksheet

3. Graphic Recording Projects

In my association with Asia Organization Development Network (AODN), I do Remote Graphic Recording of their Virtual OD Exchange sessions with some eminent thought leaders from across the globe. The objective of these Visual summaries is to capture the essence of the speakers sessions for synthesis, knowledge assimilation & retention of Key information for the OD, HR Community. Here are 2 recent ones.

4. A Quote to Ponder

5. Calvin and Hobbes

That is all for this edition folks :) See you with the next edition!

Welcome to the 21st Edition of Think Visuals Newsletter!

The theme of this edition is Inner Game. I have curated the following for you:

1. Visual book summary of The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey

2. Infographics - The Inner Game Approach, The Work Triangle

3. Useful Resource - Kurt Lewin’s Force Field Analysis

4. Graphic Recording - Sharing some visual work in the OD space.

5. A Quote to ponder

6. Toon Feed to keep our inner child alive :)

Let’s Plunge!

Happy Visual Synthesis :)

Shilpa

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1. Visual Book Summary

My book recommendation of this edition is The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey The book explores the mental and psychological aspects of sports performance, there are some brilliant take away’s applicable at a universal level.

Every game is composed of two parts: an outer game and an inner game. The outer game is played in an external arena to overcome external obstacles, whereas the Inner Game happens in the mind of the player & focuses on internal obstacles. By understanding the interplay between our conscious and instinctive minds, we can tap into our full potential and achieve excellence.

Here is my Visual Summary, followed by some infographics that can act as a helpful reminder of important concepts in the book.

2. Infographics: The Inner Game approach

The Inner Game approach is about unlearning the personal and cultural habits that interfere with our ability to learn and perform. Gallwey summarized the approach in a simple formula. I have indicated this as a separate infographic below:

Potential includes all of our capabilities as well as our ability to learn. Interference represents the ways that we undermine the fulfillment of our own capacities. We can achieve increased capacity for performance and learning either by actualizing potential or by decreasing interference—or by a combination of both.

2.a. The Work Triangle

Performance, experience, and learning are interdependent. This is a mutually supportive Work Triangle. Refer the infographic below:

The Experience side of the triangle reminds us that we can’t afford to neglect personal fulfillment during working hours. The Learning side of the triangle reminds us that our future work prospects depend on the growth in our capabilities. If individuals aren’t learning, their performance will decline over time. Performance is further propelled through Learning & Enjoyment. Gallwey identified that we need a balance of the three elements in everything we do in order for us to feel contented, satisfied and perform at our best.

3. Useful Resource

I thought this tool resonates well with the theme of this edition, Inner Game. Kurt Lewin’s Force Field Analysis is a wonderful tool which is used in business context for identifying enabling forces and disabling forces of business and moving forward with a decision. It’s also a great tool to use for personal exploration, for us to look at what are our Interferences (Disablers) which impact our Performance (Enablers).

Here is the link where you can learn a bit more in detail about how it can be used in a personal context, along with free downloadable template that can be used as a worksheet by you.

4. Graphic Recording

Here are some Graphic Recording visuals, from the OD space. Those who follow my Newsletter regularly know that I am associated with Asia OD Network, where I scribe the talks of their AODN exchange from renowned speakers. I recently collaborated another OD forum - Centre for Organization Leadership & Development. Here are the 2 visuals that I created for them.

5. A Quote to Ponder

This one is an epic quote from THE Daniel Goleman, where he encourages us to cultivate the ability to notice beyond the obvious, by reflecting on what makes us not notice them in the first place. Deep stuff, but worth pondering.

6. Toon Feed

That’s all for now. Drop in a like if you find value in my Newsletter.

See you in the next edition :)