Sparking The Minds: Experiences that will shape your future

What are your goals? How is your focus on these? What if someone told you not to focus on these but on something else...?

That was something that stood out in our discussion with Jai : His philosophy:?

You should focus on your behavior and stop focusing on your goals. The more you focus on your goals, the more disappointed you're going to be.?

Focusing on outcomes maybe somewhat limiting and rigid. And deviating from the path is considered a failure. But focusing on behaviors required to achieve these goals gives you endless possibilities and sometimes outcomes beyond your expectation.?

In the ClariTea Chat with Jai Thomas, VP-IT, Infra & Operations at VerSe Innovation -popularly known for Daily Hunt and Josh.?

Here are 3 Ideas worth sharing from his conversation.??

On the challenge of connecting non-English language users in India. Jai shares the vision and narrative of Dailyhunt to personalize user connectivity and minimize the digital divide. Here are?his 3-critical approach!???

• Plug the digital divide:-? Provide inclusive connectivity to the people. Engage users through content.?
• Provide relevant content:- Don’t bombard users with the content that you think is right.?
• Multiply user engagement:- Use AI/ML tools. Let the user choose the content and context for consumption.?

Going through the learning curve with 420 million aggregate users on Daily hunt and Josh Platforms, Jai highlights his journey and endeavors in this disruptive industry.???

Here are his top 3 problem-solving techniques while scaling up with about 500 odd servers and 100k stringers on the ecosystem.?

• Understanding the market:- Understanding consumer behavior and developing steadily with the right systems and talent.??
• Building the ecosystem:-? Building a data pipeline with the right technology and providing real-time content 24*7 to consumers. Solving complexities of the content supply chain from publishers to content creators to stringers.??
• Holding boot camps,?attracting & retaining talent:- Challenging people with the right set of problems.??

An audience asked Jai, “ how do you balance censorship and free speech?”. Here is his 3-way prescription for managing such regulatory issues.??

• Publish the right content:- Promote branded and well-researched content.??
• Deploy backend learning capabilities:- Run inline parallel programs to check any objectionable publishing.???
• Block unscrupulous content providers:- To ensure quality content.?

Moving forward, Jai shared his mind-blowing learnings with his previous bosses. He quoted 3 incidents from three bosses, making him a better people leader.????

1. Learning from a boss who gives freedom and flexibility. And looks at the organization chart upside down.??

• Put customer at the top of the chart.
• Let the team interact with other business functions and take ownership.???

2. Learning from a boss who has no empathy, always grumbles, and is never satisfied.??

• What I should not do to my team,??
• What should I focus on as a manager??
• How I should manage my teams.??

?3. A boss who Makes You Important (MYI). Puts up the problem very subtly and guides you without making any noise.??

• Get into the problem:- Jump into it, chime in, and go into the root. Fix it.??
• Don't just walk around the problem.?
• Have intellectual honesty - Stand up and admit failure. Very few of us have the strength to do that. Earn multifold respect.???

Further into the conversation, Jai shared an interesting take on "Renovation with Innovation leading to transformation" philosophy. And How Airtel saved almost 60 million with a cool solution. 3 takeaways from his overall transformation and Berkley leadership Diploma program.?

• Channelizing internal capabilities:- Availability of enough resources and opportunities within the organization is there. Utilize them differently.??
• Renovating the Operations:- You don't always have to develop great innovative ideas. Begin by renovating the way you operate.??
• Don't go behind the buzzwords:- Don't embrace technologies that do not deliver business value.??

Personal transformation - Jai shared his story of losing weight, sky diving, and writing an article. And gave 3 principles of how to bounce back.?

• Revamp your habits:- Focus on behavior, not goals.?
• Be consistent in whatever you are doing.?
• Come out of your comfort zone and try to develop new habits by doing something different.?

Outpouring his views and insights on being successful as an introvert or extrovert, Jai gave more weightage to your effectiveness as a leader. Here are 3 positive qualities of an introvert.?

• Introversion isn’t a disability:- An introverted person gains power from within and is more decisive when calling shots.???
• Effectiveness drives success:- Introverts are more comfortable and confident to succeed. They mean what they say and are more alert to team concerns and ideas.??
• Differentiators of introvert leaders:- Sharp listeners, good communicators, and more empathetic towards people.??

In response to the last audience query on building the same interest and passion in new teams as prevailed in the founders' team, Jai delineated 3 factors to infuse that passion.?

• Have a big heart to be more inclusive:- Let the core team expand.??
• Make people feel involved and trusted:- Build a large caravan that goes together.??
• Collaborate with your Ecosystem:- Focus on the right partner engagements and strong teams.??

To conclude, it was truly an insightful session about personal transformation, people management, and renovation with innovation for transformation. Not only this, the story of Dailyhunt and Jai’s strategies in managing turning points in this startup is worth learning from.??

Do the philosophies and the experiences shared by Jai connect with you? Do any idea resonate? Do share your experiences...??

Here's the link to this ClariTea Chat session.

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