"A Group's Strength Doesn’t Lie In The Power Of The Strongest, But In The Resilience Of The Weakest."

Let me tell you about a true personal story. While I was doing my MBA in India’s top-most business school, we had a classmate named Tarun (name changed). Tarun wasn't a typical loudmouth, He had a very humble background and done commerce before joining the institution. He was more like a quietly observing from the sidelines type. Like every other group, ?we too had assertive talkers, wise and intelligent thinkers from the top Engineering schools, and then there were the quiet ones like Tarun. Tarun wanted to speak up more, but he often felt like he was swimming against the current.

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One day, something unexpected happened. In the Written Analysis and Communication Class, the professor sensing Tarun's struggle, decided to switch things up a bit. Instead of letting the usual talkative folks dominate the conversation, she surprised everyone by asking Tarun to speak first. The group was taken aback. Tarun? Leading the discussion?

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But as Tarun nervously attempted to speak, a strange silence filled the room. His words seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving everyone staring at him in awkward silence. It was a disaster. The group with the most experienced and the best communicators fell flat before the other groups and managed a “C- grade in group task”. The group had always relied on the more vocal members to drive the discussion, never considering the impact on those who struggled to speak up. Tarun, was silenced often.

As they reflected on Tarun's silence, the group came to a profound realization. They understood that true collaboration is creating a space where everyone felt valued and heard. They vowed to do better, to listen more attentively, and to ensure that no voice went unheard in their future endeavors. Tarun, too, had his own revelation. As he watched the group grapple with the consequences of his silence, he couldn't help but reflect on his own struggles. He realized that he couldn't continue to hide behind the more confident speakers, allowing them to dominate the conversation while he remained silent in the background. Tarun understood that if he wanted to grow and succeed, he had to step out of his comfort zone and embrace the challenge of speaking up. He couldn't let the fear of being overshadowed by better communicators hold him back any longer. With newfound determination, Tarun took the initiative to speak up, even if it meant stumbling over his words or facing the scrutiny of his peers; the group committed to fostering a more inclusive and collaborative environment. Together, they embarked on a journey of growth and self-discovery, knowing that by supporting each other, they could overcome any obstacle that came their way.

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Today Tarun has become CEO of an international AID agency, and the group is gearing up to welcome its 25th Jubilee get-together in Ahmedabad.