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Why Being People-Centric is the Future with Manish Bundhun

What are you doing to meet the future?

Every generation brings a new perspective on work, life, and success — more so when the times are riddled with crises. 2008 had an economic recession; 2020 had the pandemic. The solution to tomorrow’s problems, according to Manish Bundhun, is being people-centric.

In this episode, I talk to Manish Bundhun — author, business leader, and corporate monk. Manish Bundhun brings his expertise in Human Resources to the table. We discuss what a business or individual needs to be successful in today's work landscape. Join us as we talk about how to learn from our experiences, examine generational differences, shape a people-centric culture, and what it means to be agile.

Are you seeking to thrive in all your goals? It's time to be people-centric rather than focused on efficiency. Tune in and learn how and why people-centric companies are the future.

3 Reasons to Listen:

Learn how to shape culture in yourself or an organization.
Understand why everyone is a leader — and who they’re leading.
Find out how to maximize your time and effort in everything you do.

Resources

Read Manish Bundhun’s book, Disruptor: 9 Abilities of Agile Leaders!
Get Manish Bundhun’s first book, Shots of Insights!
Deep Work by Cal Newport
Visit our YouTube for full-length episodes and short clips from each episode.

About Manish

Manish Bundhun is a business leader and corporate monk focusing on Human Resources, coaching, strategy, and leadership. He has over eighteen years of experience in Human Resources and is currently the Chief People Executive at the Rogers Group. Manish is no stranger to diversity, having covered more than 5000 employees across over a dozen countries in multiple business sectors.

Manish makes it his personal mission to be a catalyst for positive change and transformation in people. He leads from the heart with a clear mind, challenging his followers to find the answers within themselves to grow and be all they were created to be.

Connect with him on LinkedIn. To find more content by Manish, search for the #shotsofinsights hashtag!

Episode Highlights

[01:56] About Manish Bundhun

Manish helps people excel, grow, and thrive in whatever they do — especially in their work.
Human Resources, coaching, and change are Manish’s specialties.
Manish comes from Mauritius, which boasts a diverse range of peoples and cultures within it.
He works for the Rogers Group, a company that’s been running for more than a hundred years. It’s a diverse group with multiple interests across over a dozen countries.

[10:42] The Changing Landscape of What Workers Want

People awoke to a greater sense of purpose due to the mass-scale concerns regarding safety, security, and health.
Employees today want to find meaning in their work, and businesses today have had to adapt to that need.
The 2008 recession pushed companies to decrease costs, but the 2020 pandemic was an economic, health, and social crisis.
Cross-generational management is more of a challenge, as every generation has different needs driving them. Today's generations are more people-centric.
According to Manish, the old goal of operational efficiency doesn't connect with anyone because it benefits no one except a few shareholders.

[12:06] “The pandemic has been a portal for transformation for a lot of people. It has awakened people to a stronger sense of purpose.” - Click Here to Tweet This

[16:49] Defining Human Resources

The term “human capital” is impersonal; human resources means people.
People are the center of your organization: employees who create value and the customers for whom you create value.
How does your company attract talent? Success today requires mastering the people equation from both sides.

[18:45] “How are you able to attract talent? Are you able to grow talent? And how are you able to engage your talents from the Human Resources perspective? The ones who are able to differentiate themselves on that are the ones who are going to win in this age.” - Click Here to Tweet This

[19:52] Transitioning to a People-Centric Culture

According to Manish, people are the way forward.
There are three elements around people operations: your company’s services, people’s perspectives on your organization, and the experience you create.
Being people-centric is about culture. However, shaping culture is an evolution rather than a revolution; it does not happen overnight.
Leadership is culture.

[24:23] Insights from a Corporate Monk

Being a corporate monk isn't something Manish learned from school. It's about being non-judgmental, accepting, and present in current situations.
According to Manish, we don’t learn from experience. Instead, we learn by reflecting on experience.
Take time for yourself. Self-care is not selfish — you need it to thrive.
Be clear on your purpose and how you add value.
Manish suggests having a routine. A routine includes having healthy boundaries and helps him be effective in what he does. Ask yourself: what will you say no to?

[30:06] “Take time for yourself. That self care is not selfish. And self care is essential for you to thrive in whatever you do.” - Click Here to Tweet This

[31:56] Intentionality Around Performing Tasks

Writing methods vary per person. Some people prefer to have 100% focus on writing. Manish likes having a dedicated time and routine.
Human beings cannot multitask; what people are actually doing is task-switching, which drains mental energy.
A clear mind lets you become more intentional and focus your energy.
Find what works for you.

[37:10] How to Read Manish’s Books

Manish wanted to provide a quick boost with every practical insight in Shots of Insights.
As a book, Shots of Insights lets you distribute the insights you receive over multiple days.
The catalyst for writing Disruptor was Manish's experience with Rogers of trying to shape a more agile culture. Disruptor takes a more proactive approach.
People today feel disrupted rather than like disruptors. We can’t step out of our comfort zone; instead, we should try to stretch it.

[40:45] “Being agile means being proactive, more than being reactive. It means anticipation plus action, rather than just action when things happen.” - Click Here to Tweet This

[42:39] Abilities and Agility

Abilities are not personality traits. Being disruptive isn't an inborn trait — it's a learned behavior.
Leadership and disruptiveness are elements that people can develop.
Agility means outperforming the environment. It’s linked to how you see, read, and understand your environment.
According to Manish, agility is in our DNA. As human beings, we are intrinsically capable of adapting to any situation.
Listen to the full episode for Manish’s octopus analogy on agility!

[51:03] Straight Talk: A Critical Skill

Straight talk is three conversations in one: you talk about your observations, impact implications, and the future.
If we don’t speak up, someone else will dominate the conversation.
Different generations have different communication styles.
Speak from the heart, and speak a meaningful truth. Nelson Mandela is an excellent example of someone who uses straight talk.

[54:38] “The one who is able to command airspace airtime is the one who gets most attention.” - Click Here to Tweet This

[59:06] Manish Moving Forward

Manish’s next book is titled Architects of Opportunity.
It’s related to entrepreneurship but focuses more on intrapreneurship and change.
Manish's preferred word is "Seek."
Seeking has changed Manish's life positively. The answers he sought were within him.

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Seek Go Create is for anyone seeking excellence, moving towards success, or creating something new. We share topics, stories, and conversations that allow us to rethink how we live, work, and lead. This episode is about shaping a people-centric future and viewing things from the Human Resources perspective.

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To growing and becoming all we are created to be,

Tim