Keeping boardroom brawls at bay
These CEOs and MDs share their mantras to keep tempers in check when things don’t go as planned
Biggies in aboardroom ? A sure recipe for ideas, learning, and sometimes, a clash of egos and personalities too. We got three city professionals at the top of their game to talk about their strategies to defuse volatile situations and make everyone feel heard.
Nirupa Shankar Director, Brigade Hospitality Services Ltd
Dr Mohan Manghnani Chairman, New Horizon Educational Institution
Green tea to stay cool A volatile situation in the boardroom is something that happens quite frequently. I too have lost my cool in the past, but in hindsight, I feel it is childish to do so. Since most people stubbornly tend to stick to what they’ve said, the clash of egos can lead to an ugly situation. To keep calm, I keep a glass of green tea with me and sip it through the meeting. Not only am I fond of it, it also helps keep tempers at bay.
Sudhindra Holla Country manager, Axis Communications
Turn to yoga and humour Beginning my day with 20 minutes of pranayama and yoga keeps me calm. When clashes occur in the boardroom, besides clarifying misunderstandings and understanding other viewpoints, I take deep breaths to avoid that rush of blood. As a regular practice, I try to infuse some light moments into a serious meeting. Bringing in some humour and relevant topics that everyone can partake in, can make a huge difference to the atmosphere.
Biggies in a
Take a break or a nap When there are many passionate people, it’s common to get into a heated discussion. For instance, a budget discussion can often turn into a heated debate. But I’m conscious of not losing my cool. As soon as I feel that the discussion is not going on track, I tell myself there are bigger issues. I also call for a break. Sleeping over the matter can make a huge difference and I’ve found that we all come back to deal with the situation.
Green tea to stay cool A volatile situation in the boardroom is something that happens quite frequently. I too have lost my cool in the past, but in hindsight, I feel it is childish to do so. Since most people stubbornly tend to stick to what they’ve said, the clash of egos can lead to an ugly situation. To keep calm, I keep a glass of green tea with me and sip it through the meeting. Not only am I fond of it, it also helps keep tempers at bay.
Turn to yoga and humour Beginning my day with 20 minutes of pranayama and yoga keeps me calm. When clashes occur in the boardroom, besides clarifying misunderstandings and understanding other viewpoints, I take deep breaths to avoid that rush of blood. As a regular practice, I try to infuse some light moments into a serious meeting. Bringing in some humour and relevant topics that everyone can partake in, can make a huge difference to the atmosphere.
