The pandemic has taught Teleport India director life’s biggest lesson: being flexible

The current pandemic situation pushed Nipun Anand, Director, Teleport India to change functioning from offline to online. It was not easy to get adjusted to the new normal as there is always a difference when leading, managing a group of home based employees than having them face to face.
He told ET Panache, "The lockdown taught us how to work around the adverse situations and emerge stronger and better. Technology was a big enabler in bridging the gap between team members. We delivered in business with effective communication and working together. My team and I are developing a much greater understanding when working remotely."

While not travelling to work, Anand utilised that time to plan the day better to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

He suggests, "Download the tools/software that are accessible to everyone, avoid long meetings and trim them by moving them to email or Slack. Use internal communication tools to keep everyone on the same page. Create an office like environment virtually with technological tools to keep your employees stay motivated during this phase."

Anand feels there’s no better time to pursue self-improvement than when uncertainty abounds. "During this phase, apart from my work schedule I tried to invest my time in sports. It helps me build a strong character, develop empathy, team spirit and people skills. I have always had a strong inclination towards games like cricket and badminton. I l play these as often as possible amidst my work schedule," he said.

He does outdoor activities to keep myself physically fit. Sports provide Anand opportunities to get away from stress and helps him enjoy some solitude, to make friends and build networks.

He said, "I am not too keen on gyms but I love practising yoga before I start my day. In these times, it’s important to relax and breathe as much as possible, yoga helps me in staying mentally fit. No matter whatever happens, I always try to stay humble and grounded, not just with family but with everyone around and try to be a better version of myself. When it comes to work, I follow a simple philosophy which is deeply rooted in trust, credibility, well-preparedness and a meticulous attention to detail."

Anand spends time with his family to keep himself relaxed no matter what. He plays chess or carom with them and says his father is his strength and inspiration as his positive outlook keeps him stay motivated and calm.

"This pandemic has brought a lot many learnings for all of us. With teams working from home with unregulated working hours, it was imperative for me to ensure no one is left out. Being flexible is the biggest learning for me as a leader. Truthful and frequent communication is core to great leadership, particularly at times of ambiguity. Checking on the team's health, well-being and work-family balance helped me connect with them more effectively," he ended.