Empathy doesn't mean weakness. Whether you're leading a team, building a product, or navigating change — empathy helps you connect, but it doesn't mean you should stop signalling boundaries or standing your ground.

Conscientiousness is about doing what’s right, staying dependable, and acting with integrity—even when no one is watching.

One leadership lesson we can draw from this is that these traits are deep-rooted and hard to change. This understanding makes us empathetic. It improves how we communicate, manage conflict, collaborate, build cohesive teams, and avoid burnout.

This story from the Kathopanishad is over 2,500 years old, yet its wisdom is as relevant today as it was back then.

Is your work your calling? Ever wondered about the origin of the word "calling"?

Authentic leadership is about knowing who you are, knowing what you are capable of, and acting in that way.

Eklavya wanted to be an archer. So he went to Dronacharya, one of the greatest archery teachers at that time. But Drona refused to teach him. He felt that Eklavya was a tribal, Drona only chose to teach the high born. Moreover, Drona did not want anyone to best the Pandava prince Arjuna in archery.

During the Kurukshetra war, the Pandavas faced an impossible challenge—defeating Dronacharya, the most formidable warrior on the Kaurava side. As long as he held his weapons, the war wouldn’t end.

Kisa Gotami’s only child had died. Grief-stricken, she went door to door, begging for medicine to bring him back.

In his book Meditations, Marcus Aurelius writes about his restlessness, dread, and self-doubt. While ruling the Roman Empire, he faced numerous sleepless nights and episodes of self-criticism.