How “I Can” Mindsets and “We Can” Teams Transform Organizations During Times of Uncertainty
By Ramkumar Seshu, Author of Born to Win – Leadership lessons from the Bhagavad Gita
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After four decades of walking alongside leaders across India—from the bustling tech corridors of Bangalore to the industrial hubs of Chennai and Hyderabad and Financial Capital of Mumbai—I’ve witnessed something profound yet challenging. Every time I sit with a CEO or CXO during their most difficult moments, the conversation invariably comes back to one fundamental truth: Change is not only about systems or processes. Change is also about the human heart.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us that change is inevitable, yet experiencing this truth and living it joyously in our organizations are two entirely different journeys. And it’s precisely in this gap that happiness at the workplace either flourishes or withers away.
Today, let me share real stories from our Born To Win journey—stories captured in the voices of the very people whose lives were transformed—that illustrate how we can create truly happy workplaces, even during the most challenging transformations.
The Inner Transformation: From Self-Doubt to Self-Mastery
When Jayaprakash , a Deputy Manager at a Manufacturing Company, first entered our “Born to Win – Winning to Lead” program, a conversation with him revealed that he was focusing on his limitations. Like so many talented professionals across India, he was technically competent but constrained by his perceived limitations.
This wasn’t just a professional challenge—this was a deeply human struggle affecting his happiness, his relationships, and his potential for growth. Here was someone who recognized his worth but was being held back by repetitive patterns that diminished his effectiveness and joy at work.
Through our spaced engagement methodology—six powerful sessions spread over six weeks—we didn’t just address Jayaprakash’s symptoms. We went to the root: his relationship with himself. The transformation began when he started applying the “Think I Can” principle to his daily interactions.
When asked at the end of the process ,”What are the 3 key learnings from the program”. His response revealed the depth of change: “Begin with end in mind; Convert dream in to goals; Work together as a group.”
But more importantly, he discovered something life-changing: He said “ I will implement these learnings in my day-to-day work & personal life.”
The program hadn’t just improved his professional skills—it had given him tools for a happier, more fulfilling life. His anger was replaced with understanding, his aggression with assertiveness, and his communication challenges with genuine connection.
This is what we call the “I Can” transformation—when individuals discover their capacity for growth and change, they don’t just become better employees; they become happier human beings whose joy radiates throughout their workplace.
The Collaborative Awakening: From Technical Expert to People Leader
Basavaraju, an Engineer in a Manufacturing Company, initially struggled with a common challenge among technical professionals—excellent individual capability but limited collaborative skills. His journey represents thousands of brilliant minds across India’s technology and manufacturing sectors who excel in their technical domains but struggle to create the human connections that make workplaces truly happy.
This is the trap that limits so many of our brightest professionals—they master systems and processes but struggle with the human elements that transform good workplaces into great ones.
Our “Born to Win – Inspire & Win” approach helped Basavaraju see that leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about bringing out the best in others. Through collaborative projects and peer learning sessions, he began to understand that his technical expertise wasn’t just a personal asset; it was a gift to be shared with his team.
When asked at the end of the process, what are the key learnings you have got from this program? “Motivational skills- Practiced Win – Win with my group, To meet the target by dividing the goals bit by bit; and positive thinking in my team”.
Notice how his learning moved from individual goals to group success. His implementation plan demonstrated this shift: “How do you plan to implement the learnings? By thinking positive; Communicating better way in the team; Closing the gap between the goal to meet the total target.”
Basavaraju had discovered that technical excellence and human connection aren’t competing priorities—they’re complementary strengths. This is the “We Can” transformation—when individuals learn to leverage collective wisdom and create environments where everyone thrives together.
The Science Behind Happy Workplace Transformations
These individual transformations create ripple effects throughout organizations. Workplace happiness significantly enhances the relationship between employee engagement drivers and actual engagement.
What our participants’ own words demonstrate is that when people discover their “I Can” potential and experience “We Can” collaboration, they don’t just become better employees—they become happier human beings whose transformation touches every aspect of their lives.
The “I Can, We Can” Framework for Happy Workplaces
Based on these real transformations and thousands of others across India, here’s our proven framework:
- Start with Heart, Not Strategy Acknowledge the human impact before discussing business benefits. Create safe spaces for people to express fears and aspirations, like Jayaprakash learning to manage anger constructively.
- Build “I Can” Confidence Help individuals discover their capacity for growth. Provide learning opportunities that feel empowering, not threatening. Celebrate small wins consistently, as we see in every participant’s journey from self-doubt to self-mastery.
- Foster “We Can” Collaboration Design challenges that require interdependence, like Basavaraju learning to communicate effectively with his team. Create shared success metrics that unite rather than divide. Build systems that reward collective achievement.
- Measure Happiness, Not Just Performance Include well-being indicators in regular assessments. Listen actively to feedback and recognize that sustainable performance comes from sustainable happiness.
- Lead with Authenticity Model vulnerability and openness. Admit when you don’t have answers and seek input genuinely. Show that leadership is about service, not just authority.
The Ripple Effect of Happy Workplaces
What I’ve learned after two decades of this work is profound: When you create genuinely happy workplaces, you don’t just transform organizations—you transform communities.
As Jayaprakash wrote, he planned to “Implement in my day-to-day work & personal life also.” These transformations extend far beyond the workplace. Happy employees become better parents, better citizens, and better human beings. They carry confidence and optimism into their families and neighbourhoods, becoming ambassadors of possibility.
Your Journey Starts Today
If you’re leading change initiatives in your organization, remember this: People don’t resist change—they resist being changed without their participation in shaping that change.
Start by asking yourself: How can I help my team members discover their “I Can” potential? What would it look like if our workplace became a source of happiness, not just productivity? How can I create environments where people experience the joy of genuine collaboration?
The path to successful change leadership runs directly through the human heart. When you honour that truth, when you prioritize happiness alongside performance, something magical happens. Change stops being something that happens to your organization and becomes something that happens through your people.
Ready to begin your journey toward creating a genuinely happy workplace? : https://borntowin.co.in/contact-us/
Discover how our “Winning to Lead” and “Inspire & Win” programs can help you navigate change while building the kind of organization where people don’t just work—they thrive : https://borntowin.co.in/programs/
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