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By:

Divyaa Advaani 

2 November 2024 at 3:28:38 am

When agreement kills growth

In the early stages of building a business, growth is often driven by clarity, speed, and conviction. Founders make decisions quickly, rely on their instincts, and push forward with a strong sense of belief in their methods. This decisiveness is not only necessary, it is often the very reason the business begins to grow. However, as businesses cross certain thresholds, particularly beyond the Rs 5 crore mark, the nature of growth begins to change. What once created momentum can quietly begin...

When agreement kills growth

In the early stages of building a business, growth is often driven by clarity, speed, and conviction. Founders make decisions quickly, rely on their instincts, and push forward with a strong sense of belief in their methods. This decisiveness is not only necessary, it is often the very reason the business begins to grow. However, as businesses cross certain thresholds, particularly beyond the Rs 5 crore mark, the nature of growth begins to change. What once created momentum can quietly begin to create limitations. In many professional environments, it is not uncommon to encounter business owners who are deeply convinced of their approach. Their methods have delivered results, their experience reinforces their judgment, and their confidence becomes a defining trait. Yet, in this very confidence lies a subtle risk that is often overlooked. When conviction turns into certainty without space for dialogue, conversations begin to narrow. Suggestions are heard, but not always considered. Perspectives are offered, but not always encouraged. Decisions are made, but not always explained. From the outside, this may still appear as strong leadership. Internally, however, a different dynamic begins to take shape. People start to agree more than they contribute. This is where many businesses unknowingly enter a critical phase. When teams, partners, or stakeholders begin to hold back their perspective, the quality of thinking around the business reduces. What appears as alignment is often silent disengagement. What looks like efficiency is sometimes the absence of challenge. Over time, this directly affects the decisions being made. At a Rs 5 crore level, this may not be immediately visible. Operations continue, revenue flows, and the business appears stable. But as the organisation attempts to grow further, this lack of diverse thinking begins to surface as a constraint. Growth slows, not because of lack of effort, but because of limited perspective. On the other side of this equation are individuals who consistently find themselves accommodating such dynamics. They recognise when their voice is not being fully heard, yet choose not to assert it. The intention is often to preserve relationships, avoid friction, or maintain a sense of professional ease. Initially, this approach appears collaborative. Over time, however, it begins to shape perception. When individuals do not express their perspective, they are gradually seen as agreeable rather than essential. Their presence is valued, but their input is not actively sought. In many cases, they become part of the process, but not part of the decision. This is where personal branding begins to influence business outcomes in ways that are not immediately obvious. A personal brand is not built only through visibility or achievement. It is built through how consistently one demonstrates clarity, confidence, and openness in moments that require it. It is shaped by whether people feel encouraged to think around you, or restricted in your presence. At higher levels of business, this distinction becomes critical. If people agree with you more than they challenge you, it may not be a sign of strong leadership. It may be an indication that your environment is no longer enabling better thinking. Similarly, if you find yourself constantly adjusting to others without expressing your own perspective, your contribution may be diminishing in ways that affect both your influence and your growth. Both situations carry a cost. They affect decision quality, limit innovation, and over time, restrict the scalability of the business itself. What makes this particularly challenging is that these patterns develop gradually, often going unnoticed until the impact becomes difficult to ignore. The most effective leaders recognise this early. They create space for dialogue without losing direction. They express conviction without dismissing perspective. They build environments where contribution is expected, not avoided. In doing so, they strengthen not only their business, but also their personal brand. For entrepreneurs operating at a stage where growth is no longer just about execution but about expanding thinking, this becomes an important point of reflection. If there is even a possibility that your current interactions are limiting the quality of thinking around you, it is worth addressing before it begins to affect outcomes. I work with a select group of founders and professionals to help them refine how they are perceived, communicate with greater impact, and build personal brands that support sustained growth. You may explore this further here: https://sprect.com/pro/divyaaadvaani In the long run, it is not only the decisions you make, but the thinking you allow around those decisions, that determines how far your business can truly grow. (The author is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries. Views personal.)

Self-imposed Celibacy

Updated: Dec 23, 2024

Self-imposed Celibacy

These are not the celebrities ostentatiously delaying marriage, nor are they couples in live-in relationships, priests or ascetics. Instead, they are men and women who have consciously chosen to stay single, rejecting the idea of marrying a farmer or a man earning less than their salaried counterparts.


In rural Maharashtra, a generation of men and women in their 40s is opting to remain unmarried, challenging long-held traditions that prioritize early marriage. This trend, particularly noticeable in the last decade, has escalated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Once restrictions were lifted, mass weddings took place—but they were largely for the working class. This shift has ignited discussions about how careers, social expectations, and changing attitudes are reshaping marriage in these communities.


At the heart of this shift is 85-year-old Ratnakar Pagare, a veteran community organizer from Sangamner. Through his Vadhu-Var Suchak Mandal, which connects educated professionals, he has witnessed many women, particularly from the tech sector, reject marriage proposals from farmers, despite their parents’ desire for a rural, land-rich life. For these women, the allure of a city-based career far outweighs the appeal of rural living.


Women raised in urban areas are increasingly rejecting the prospect of farm life, despite its potential for significant financial returns. Interestingly, it is often the mothers of these women who are the real deterrents, discouraging their daughters from marrying farmers, fearing that rural life would hinder their daughters’ career ambitions.


This issue goes beyond individual preferences and speaks to deeper societal shifts. An anonymous political leader from the region points to a worrying trend: in some communities, nearly 98 percent of families are fixated on securing an heir to their property, but the new generation of educated women is increasingly uninterested in this traditional expectation. They are prioritizing their careers over family life, even if it means foregoing marriage.


The allure of urban life, with its promise of career stability and high-paying jobs, has only intensified this shift. The relative financial security of city-based jobs—often tied to the IT sector—has further discouraged rural men and women from considering marriage. For these urban dwellers, the prospect of returning to their ancestral land seems less appealing.


The rapid pace of urban development has contributed to a disconnect from rural life. This growing urbanization has made village life seem less desirable while the constant migration to cities and, increasingly, abroad, offers an escape from what many see as a stagnant rural economy.


But while urban life offers a degree of financial assurance, it is not without its emotional toll. Dr. Neha Kode, a psychologist from Nashik, warns that the decision to remain unmarried can result in feelings of inferiority and depression, particularly for men. In rural areas, where family and community often define an individual’s identity, the absence of marriage can lead to stigma, and in some cases, suicidal thoughts. She argues that the emotional impact of this societal shift deserves attention and calls for a broader debate in Maharashtra’s Legislative Assembly.


As the desire for professional success and financial stability continues to shape the lives of rural women in Maharashtra, the question remains: will the institution of marriage ever return to its traditional form, or is this a permanent transformation in the way people approach family life in India? The generational divide is clear, and its implications are only beginning to unfold. In rural Maharashtra, it seems, the future of marriage may no longer be shaped by tradition, but by the choices of a new, career-focused generation.

(The author is a senior journalist. Views personal.)

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