Ei Cafe with Azeem

In order to thrive in today's rapidly evolving tech landscape, fluency in three languages is crucial: the language of code, the language of clients, and the language of colleagues. In this era dominated by discussions on Artificial Intelligence, we may possess top-tier talent, utilize cutting-edge tools, and foster an exceptional work environment. However, there is still an elusive element that brings everything together—a special kind of magic. This begs the question: What exactly is this magic sought after in the tech world? Is it high IQ, advanced AI, or perhaps emotional intelligence (EQ)?

Andrea Stone, the visionary Founder and Leadership Coach at Stone Leadership, and a trusted Preferred Partner for Six Seconds, recently made an insightful visit to Ei cafe. During her visit, she graciously shared her wealth of experiences and profound insights on the topic of "Emotional Intelligence in Tech: How EQ Emerged as the New IQ."

When individuals seek assistance in areas like website development, app creation, or online marketing, their evaluation process often revolves solely around technical expertise. While skills like coding, graphic design, and search engine optimization are undoubtedly important, they rarely serve as the sole predictors of project success. As Andrea emphasized, tech leaders can enhance their effectiveness by crafting an inspiring vision and bridging the gap between purpose and deliverables. Additionally, engaging in meaningful conversations plays a pivotal role in achieving desired outcomes.

Check in to the cafe to listen or to watch full episode as Andrea do share some important tips & insights.

Join us for this episode of our podcast as we explore the crucial link between leadership and communication. As we delve into the topic, we acknowledge the fundamental role communication plays in inspiring followership and achieving effective leadership. Nonetheless, leadership encompasses more than just communication skills. Frequently, leaders encounter challenges in implementing their strategies due to communication breakdowns. Hence, we investigate the elusive component of the leadership puzzle and provide insights on how to guarantee genuine understanding of your message by your team.

We're thrilled to have Todd Cherches with us today, an esteemed executive coach, management/leadership consultant, and the CEO & Co-founder of Big Blue Gumball. Todd has graciously joined us at the cafe to offer his valuable insights on the subject, "How to get your people to see what you're saying?" He highlights the significance of recognizing that individuals possess diverse preferences and engagement styles. Todd introduces us to the VARK concept, which represents Visual, Auditory, Reading, and Kinesthetic modalities. A leader's goal should be to comprehend each person's style and adapt their communication approach accordingly.

During the episode, Todd imparts remarkable pearls of wisdom. He explores the transformative power of visual thinking for leaders, emphasizing its ability to captivate attention, facilitate understanding through Comprehension , and promote information retention among employees. If you're intrigued by the idea of embracing visual leadership and thinking, don't miss out on this captivating conversation at the cafe. Prepare yourself to unveil invaluable insights that will revolutionize your leadership style and enhance your capacity to connect with and motivate your team. Without further ado, let's dive straight into it!

You can check out his book via www.amazon.com/VisuaLeadership-Leveraging-Visual-Thinking-Leadership/dp/1642933376

We have been programmed to think that money is a scarce commodity. We have been programmed to believe it's only for a small percentage of people in the world.  And these programs are our belief systems, which directly effect how we feel, the actions we take and thus reflecting in our bank accounts and how we live.

 We adopt beliefs about money from our families, socio-cultural environment, and significant life events. We can think of them like scripts of a play that are handed to us. Often we don’t even know who the author is of our scripts. But what if we can rewrite our own money story? 

Vishal George– Chief Behavioural Scientist at Behavioural by Design - New Zealand Checked in to the cafe to have conversation around " Rewiring our relationship with Money"

Today, we're diving into a topic that affects each and every one of us: our relationship with money. It's not just about numbers and finances; it's about our beliefs, emotions, and connection to abundance. Think of it as a friendship or a partnership, because just like with your best pal, your partner, or your parents, you have a relationship with your money. Taking care of this relationship is important. While you may not take your cash out on a coffee date, it's your money that funds those outings. So, it's crucial to treat it well and nurture it.

Get ready for an enlightening discussion that will empower you to improve your connection with money and make wiser financial choices. Let's dive in!

Press that Play button & Check in to the cafe to listen to full Episode.

You can get connected to Vishal George via his linkedin profile or Log on to www.behaviouralbydesign.com/money-mindsets to explore some of his work & get an update on upcoming book.

There’s pressure on us all to succeed. We either push ourselves or try to meet other people’s expectations. But when the whole world is struggling in these days, we all need a little help. Some of us hire coaches. Some of us are coaches. We all have the capacity to coach ourselves, and there’s no better time than now to develop our self-mastery and show ourselves some kindness. Can we really Self coach ?

It is no doubt that coaching is a must have skill for any leaders to help other people change or grow. But how a leader can Self coach him or herself towards growth. Andrew states Self Coaching an approach to continuous growth. It is Process of leading your own personal development as a leader by displaying self-leadership & using support of others to help maximize your personal & professional potential.

Further Andrew do state that Emotional Intelligence do play a vital role in Self coaching, Especially self awareness. A coach ability to stay in precessence to reconnect him or herself to reflect & identify growth process. Andrew did share some of his great experiences, insights & tips to develop Self Coaching.

This Episode will be a sort of Self help book for the all the individuals to Self Coach. press that play button & check into the cafe.

You can get connected to Andrew Tallent via linkedin or log on to www.tallents-partnership.com to explore some of Andrews' work. you can purchase his book via Amazon : https://a.co/d/iwmALTT

Visit Sri Lanka : Colombo Red Mosque

Colombo Red Mosque, also known as Jami Ul-Alfar Masjid, is literally an architectural wonder for the world that would stun you with its unusual color patterns and unconventional yet amazing design. Located in Pettah district, this oldest mosque towers over the buildings and streets in the neighborhood with its tall minarets and had been once a reliable landmark for the sailors coming towards Colombo port. Here both men and women are granted access, but you have to be clad in decent clothes and cover your head and respect the customs. The unconventional red tone has won the name,' red mosque', for this beauty. for more information please log on to www.travellankaconnection.com/destinations/colombo-red-mosque

Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain, How can we incorporate laughter into your daily life.

Archana Rao- Laughter Yoga Ambassador | Corporate Wellness Coach checked in to the cafe to have a conversation around Laughter & what benefits bring to Human beings & our emotions.  Archana did mention that Laughter Yoga is a unique concept of unconditional laughter, according to this, anyone can laugh for no reason.

laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. It also helps you release anger and forgive sooner. In today's fast paced corporate world we hear the word "STRESS" more often & laughter can be a good practiced in the workplaces to de escalate tension & stress. of course it increase the bond among co workers & brings out creativity.  Archana id mention some amazing tips & benefits on this episode. 

Lets is us check in to the cafe with Laugh, of course i guarantee you will a have small smile in your face.

You can get connected to Arachana Rao on linkedin or log on to www.laughteryogaindia.org to explore some of her work 

Visit Sri Lanka

The Kanniya Hot Springs,is a site with hot water wells located in Eastern Province, Trincomalee District of Sri Lanka. Average temperature of these wells is 42 Celsius and the temperature is slightly different to one another.  Kanniya Hot spring is popular tourist destination in Trincomalee district and both local & foreign travelers.  Currently this is managed by Pradeshiya Sabha (Local Council) of Trincomalee. People in this area believe that this hot water is good for some skin diseases and it has healing power for Arthritis and Rheumatic.

Make Sri Lanka as you next Holiday destination & enjoy amazing natural creations.

Emotions play a role in every aspect of our lives, including the workplace. In fact, emotions can have a powerful impact on organizational behavior and communication. For example, positive experience like happiness and gratitude can lead to increased cooperation and teamwork. On the other hand, negative experiences like anger and anxiety can lead to conflict and miscommunication. Now the question is are these emotions welcomed in to the workplaces ?

Lorissa Garcia - Founder & culture Crafter: Assembly Culture checked in to the cafe to have a conversation around "Do emotions even belong in the workplace".

it’s a loaded question, but one every organization should be thinking about. No matter where your organization stands, the reality is your employees are biologically programmed to experience emotions. Whether or not you believe emotions belong in the workplace, they certainly exist. And your people leaders need to be prepared to handle them. Lorissa did mention that developing an Emotional Culture in the workplace can have greater impact on organizational performance, simply emotions will drives performance. Leaders need to be aware about their peoples emotions when their at work & have conversation around it. at the same time Emotional Granularity is a vital component to understand what are the feeling they are feeling at work.  Lorissa did mention the importance of the psychological safety & how important for leaders to create such environment in the workplace.

Press that play button & check in to the cafe to listen to the full episode.

you can get connected to Lorrisa Garcia via her Linkedin Profile  or log on to www.lorissagarcia.com to explore some of her amazing work she does in the space of emotional culture.

Visit Sri Lanka

Kalpitiya in the Puttalam district of Sri Lanka is a fast-growing tourist destination, consisting of 14 small islands over an area of approximately 16 square kilometres. It is located around 165 kilometres north of Colombo. The peninsula and its associated beaches are known for its stunning sunsets and relative seclusion, although that may change as the area grows in popularity. 

The lagoon is particularly well known for providing excellent kitesurfing and windsurfing weather conditions; the wind in the area can vary but is generally thought to be suitable for watersport activities throughout the season. The lagoons are huge, with generally still waters and a few small waves. There are courses available locally for kitesurfing and windsurfing, as well as kayaking adventures through the lagoon’s mangrove forests. Adventurous tourists can also participate in standup paddleboarding across the sea and the lagoon.

In Kalpitiya there are two distinct kite seasons – the summer season which runs from May to October and the winter season from mid-December to mid-March. Both summer and winter are warm, dry, and windy, but the wind direction changes making every spot a new adventure! Most of our kite trips run year-round, with a select few that are season dependent.

for more information please log on to www.kitesurfinglanka.com

Make Sri Lanka as your next Holiday destination & experience the adventure of Kite surfing & enjoy the giant mammals in the indian ocean.

An effective leader will directly impact the workforce as a whole. How? Leaders set an example by the way they behave. Effective leaders, who demonstrate that they are authentic, trustworthy, and consistent, ultimately help all other managers and leaders in the business, a good leader helps create cohesive teams. Of course there ARE  many more. But how Emotional intelligence & coaching can have an impact on leaders effectiveness ?

Ellen B Van Oosten- Associate Professor- at Case western reserve university.-USA checked in to the cafe to have a conversation around the topic of "The Impact of Emotional Intelligence and Coaching on Leader’s Effectiveness"

Emotional intelligence enables us as leaders to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. The ability to connect emotionally with employees and lead with emotional intelligence is essential for leadership effectiveness. Of course there are various research papers available to show how the employee engagement & experience increases with Emotional Intelligent leaders. at the same time Coaching helps leaders to have effective conversation wit their people to enable them to self discover themselves.

In this episode, Ellen did share some important aspects how Emotional Intelligence &  Coaching is a great tool for leaders. Ellen did share that there many important salient  element with Emotional intelligence, out of which EMPATHY is vital it needed to be led towards compassion. these two elements distinguish Leaders effectiveness. In Terms of coaching leaders need to inspire its people to discover themselves via develop self motivation, as it is with in them. Ellen did share in metaphoric language: Ignite a fire within them rather Ignite the fire under them. of course Ellen did share some amazing experience & insights, of course not to forget the Golden nuggets.

Visit Sri Lanka :   Nine Arch Bridge

Commissioned under the British in the year 1921, the Nine Arch Bridge stands proudly, a testament to the engineering and architectural brilliance of the early 20th century. Ideally placed between the Ella and Demodara railway station, those choosing to walk along the bridge will be presented with scenes of rolling hills and dense jungle to delight in.

The Nine Arch Bridge, also known as the ‘Bridge in the Sky’ was constructed by connecting two big mountains when constructing the Badulla – Colombo railway. This bridge is 300 feet in length, 25 feet in width and 80-100 feet in height. It is one of the best examples of colonial-era railway construction in the country. The Bridge can be reached by travelling 2km on Gotuwala road starting from Halpe Textile centre in Badulla Bandarawela road. The surrounding area has seen a steady increase in tourism due to the bridge’s architectural ingenuity and the profuse greenery in the nearby hillsides.

Arguably the best time to venture out would be during when the locomotives come barrelling along and thus it is advisable to check on the train schedule in advance. However, be sure to carry your trusty cam with you so that you might capture every moment that unravels before you.

log on to : https://www.flyingravana.com/about-ella/attractions/nine-arche-bridge.html  for more information 

With conflicting priorities, mixed skill sets and increasingly busy workloads, as a Manager sometimes it’s hard to know exactly how to get the best results from your team, in any workplace, being part of a team is a positive and productive experience.   Employees are encouraged to work together while being led by their manager.  When overseeing teams, it is a manager’s responsibility to ensure everyone is contributing and you are getting the most out of your people. Can teams lead towards Excellence , I mean not just excellence including operational Excellence ?

Ishan Galapathy - Productivity Expert- Speaker & Author checked in to the cafe to have conversation around How to get the best out of your team ?.  Ishan did share some amazing example & key insights how Operational excellence can be achieved via respective team members. one of  important message which was driven by Ishan was Engagement. have constant conversation to understand what your people exactly feel and say.

Teamwork isn’t just about finishing tasks faster. Teamwork increases overall productivity in a workplace over a sustained period, not just for one moment. Effective teams pursue a common outcome and have a common goal they want to reach. Healthy teams have mutual respect between members of the team and management. Plus, team members value one another’s contributions and skill sets. Having a team allows people with different strengths to work together. That’s the beauty of collaboration: No one has to work alone and struggle through specific tasks. Instead, people can opt to work on tasks that suit their strengths.

Press that play button & check in to the cafe.

You can get connected to Ishan Via Linkedin or log on to https://ishangalapathy.com/ explore some of his work & buy his book

Visit Sri Lanka

Make Sri Lanka as your next Holiday Destination & explore the lovely city of Galle. Galle Fort , in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. It is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument, which even after more than 432 years maintains a polished appearance, due to extensive reconstruction work done by Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka.[1]

Workplace conflict is inevitable when employees of various backgrounds and different work styles are brought together for a shared business purpose. Conflict can—and should—be managed and resolved. With tensions and anxieties at an all-time high due to the current political divide and racial inequity discussions at work, the chances for workplace conflict have increased.  So the question is Are conflicts really unproductive in the workplace?

Liane Davey- Co Founder-3COze Inc, Author ,Speaker & HBR contributor checked in to the cafe to have a conversation around workplace conflict & whether they are unproductive?

Many experts maintain that although conflict is generally regarded as having a negative effect in the workplace, a degree of properly managed conflict can be beneficial for an organization. Eliminating tension in the workplace isn’t feasible—and isn’t healthy for your organization in the long run. A better approach is to redirect the attention wasted on petty fighting toward a positive pursuit, experts say. conflict is always emotional, “so it’s paramount that HR professionals are able to create a safe place for people to talk about and pursue their emotional motives” and develop strategies for healthy resolution. 

Liane did share two elements in terms of Workplace conflict, which is Tension which is healthy conflict which can be a proactive to identify certain problem, it can be uncomfortable at the same time friction can create a negative impact. This is where conflict appears as lack of Emotional Intelligence, lack of listening not able to understand the situation. Empathy, Curiosity, interest & openness  are some key  behaviors help to develop productive tension.

Press that play button to check in to cafe

& you can get connected to Lian Davey via linkedin or log on http://www.lianedavey.com to explore some of her work she does

Visit Sri Lanka

Unuwatuna

Make Sri Lanka as your next holiday destination to explore Unuwatuna Beach and enjoy the amazing Breeze & beaches.

65m years ago an asteroid the size of a small mountain struck the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and everything changed. Interestingly, it wasn’t the impact that killed off the majority of the dinosaurs but the rapid change in global environment that followed. These huge beasts who ruled the earth for 180m years, unsurprisingly could not adapt fast enough.

Our world has changed too, but our meteor strike has been technology. The unprecedented rate of change we now see leaves many breathless; and this is just the beginning. Quantum computers will soon be an everyday reality and many previously intractable problems will be rapidly solved by the sheer might of quantum computing power. So do we invest on Innovation led culture in organization to Adopt to rapid change or Do we get extinct like dinosaurs ? 

Moahmed AlTajer: Partner at Tough love , a speaker & an Innovator checked in to the Cafe from UAE and shared some amazing insights & experience on Investing on Innovation led culture. 

Innovation is easier said than done. It often requires you to collaborate with others, overcome resistance from stakeholders, and invest valuable time and resources into generating solutions. It can also be highly discouraging because many ideas generated during ideation may not go anywhere. But the end result can make the difference between your organization's success or failure.

Having a culture of innovation is vital for any organization that is looking to innovate and achieve or maintain a leading position in their own field. Sure, an innovation culture always has room for creativity, empathy, and freedom, but those attributes also need to be balanced with some of the tougher, and frankly not so fun, ones like discipline and individual accountability.Having said that, creating an innovation culture isn’t impossible, it just takes a lot of dedication, persistence and hard work.

Click the Play button to check in to the cafe

get connected to Mohamed Al Tajer via his linkedin profile or log on to http://www.toughloveadvisors.com/  to explore some of his work

Visit Sri Lanka- Nuwara Eliya

Make Sri Lanka as your next holiday destination to explore Nuwara Eliya and enjoy the amazing nature

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/sri-lanka/the-hill-country/nuwara-eliya