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Khevna

Khevna Shah  | Answer  |Ask -

HR Expert - Answered on Apr 10, 2023

Khevna Shah is the head of human resources at Coverfox Insurance. She has 14 years of experience in human resources across industries like manufacturing, banking & financial services and insurance. Her expertise includes talent acquisition, retention, employee engagement and developing a performance focussed culture.
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Riki Question by Riki on Mar 26, 2023Hindi
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Career

Hello madam, I have a question. I work in a bank as an officer. The problem that i feel i myself am having is i do not talk much or say the least at my workplace. For this reason people start misunderstanding me. But by nature i am introvert. Please help

Ans: If you are an introvert and wish to stay so, that is fine... every workplace has different personalities and that shouldn't be a reason for others to misunderstand you.

But if you do want to work on that aspect, you can do small exercises to help you work towards extroversion. You can consciously take initiative to speak up with colleagues over lunch or coffee breaks and build rapport with them. Think up a couple of topics in your mind beforehand so that you feel more prepared.


It does take a while to get out of your comfort zone but take small steps and you should be there.
Career

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Anu

Anu Krishna  |1794 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Jul 21, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 20, 2023Hindi
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Relationship
hi , I am a 40 year old man with 2 kids and wife , aged parents .Financially and health wise i am doing good and working in a reputed mnc. My relationship with parents , wife ,kids and siblings is in good spirits . however i am an introvert and don't have many friends .while i had friends in childhood and youth however they have moved in there life .i want to have an improved social life and also have joined a course to improve social skills and more strong relationship socially and at work . As course suggest to approach people , however i still don't approach/talk to people when opportunity is there .i also tried to have more positive attitude towards other people ..however still sometimes i start criticizing them in my mind...and sometimes i feel that approaching /talking may belittle me in front of them,,,, and talking /approaching opposite sex is even more difficult ... any suggestion to improve on this part and how i can improve my social life and get/find company of like minded people .
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
Two things to understand here:
1. You are an introvert and you are happy being one
2. You are a forced introvert as you are unable to break the walls that you have put around you.

If you belong to the first category, enjoy the state of bliss as is. But from what I gather, you seem to falling under the second category wherein you want to expand your social circle and be a part of activities etc.
Then you have to put yourself out there.
1. Do understand that as much you want to be engaged with like-minded people, even these people will at some point in time think different from you.
2. Do accept people for who they are and that way you will come from a non-judgemental space while engaging with them.
3. Do connect with people who are totally different from you and it will help you expand your mind to be curious about them.

If this is a difficult thing to do...think....What if one of your children came to you with the same problem that you have now? What would you tell them to do?
Also, get into circles on social media that discuss topics which interest you. Join a gym or a hobby class and that is an avenue to make new friends irrespective of gender.
To add more friends, you need to be friendly as well...so open your heart and mind...

All the best!

..Read more

Ashwini

Ashwini Dasgupta  | Answer  |Ask -

Personality Development Expert, Career Coach - Answered on Sep 25, 2023

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Career
Presently I am working as a General Manager Purchase and my age is 44, I find difficult in speaking without any agenda/specific question. Even in informal dinners or just casual talks I become blank. This is same in my personal life also. Like introvert type, but this is taking a toll on my professional as well as personal. I try very hard to be fluent with people but I am not able to do it. If somebody speaks 20 line and I convey the same in 1 line. But it is boring for others. How do I improve it.... like storytelling type.
Ans: Dear Balaji,

Thank you for writing in.

First of all, stop labelling yourself (like you have mentioned in the above question "I am an Introvert type"). As humans our brains are wired to believe what information we feed to ourselves.

Second, acceptance. Accepting the way, you are. That is your strength.

Certain steps that can be considered -
- Know the agenda you are entering into. This will help you prepare in advance on the conversations you need to engage in.
If there are no agendas then you can -
- Initiate small talks. For example- talk about current affairs in the industry (avoid talking about religion or politics) as this can get sensitive. Conversation should be general in nature. This will help you break the ice with the individual.
- Asking open ended questions- such questions help you encourage others to share more information. Instead of asking yes/no questions, ask questions that require a more detailed response, such as "What was that experience like for you?" or "Tell me more about..."
- Focus on your observation- Observe your surroundings and what's happening in the environment. You can use these observations as conversation starters. For example, if you're at a restaurant, you can comment on the decor, the food, or the atmosphere.
- Share Personal Stories- Personal anecdotes can make your conversations more relatable and engaging.
-Use Body Language- Your body language can enhance your communication. Maintain eye contact, use gestures to emphasize points, and smile when appropriate to convey warmth and engagement.
-Don’t hesitate to seek for professional help- If you feel that your difficulty in engaging in conversations is causing significant distress or impacting your personal and professional life, consider seeking professional help. This should help you navigate with the tips and tricks.

Hope this helps.

All the best

Ashwini Dasgupta
To your Success. Be You. Be Confident
Author of Confidence Decoded- Is it a Skill or Attitude?

..Read more

Shekhar

Shekhar Kumar  | Answer  |Ask -

Leadership, HR Expert - Answered on Apr 29, 2024

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Career
I am working as Branch Manager in Bank. My nature is more talkative and also due to my job many customers are meeting me. This fact increases my talkative nature and due to this though customer is satisfying my working time get reduced and I can't do my office work. Please advice about how to overcome this.
Ans: It's great that you're aware of the impact your talkative nature has on your work efficiency. Here are some strategies to help you manage your talkative tendencies while balancing customer satisfaction and your office responsibilities by establishing clear boundaries for your interactions with customers. While it's important to provide excellent customer service, set limits on the length and depth of conversations to ensure you can prioritize your office work. Allocate specific time slots during your day for customer interactions and office tasks. Use techniques like time blocking to schedule dedicated periods for meeting with customers and focusing on your administrative duties. Identify your most critical office tasks and prioritize them based on importance and urgency. Focus on completing high-priority tasks during designated office hours, and schedule customer meetings around these priorities. Delegate certain customer interactions or administrative tasks to your team members or support staff. Empower your team to handle routine inquiries or transactions, freeing up your time to focus on strategic priorities. When engaging with customers, practice active listening to understand their needs and concerns effectively. Summarize key points and address their inquiries efficiently to prevent conversations from veering off-topic. Clearly communicate your availability and office hours to customers. Set realistic expectations regarding response times for inquiries or follow-ups, and inform customers of alternative points of contact for urgent matters. Implement visual cues or signals to indicate when you're available for conversations with customers and when you need uninterrupted time for office work. For example, use a "Do Not Disturb" sign or closed office door during focused work sessions. Reflect on your communication habits and identify triggers or patterns that contribute to excessive talking. Practice self-awareness and mindfulness techniques to manage impulsivity and maintain focus during work hours.

Consider participating in workshops, seminars, or training programs focused on time management, communication skills, and customer service excellence. Develop strategies and techniques to enhance your effectiveness in managing customer interactions and office responsibilities.

By implementing these strategies and techniques, you can strike a balance between providing excellent customer service and fulfilling your office duties effectively. Remember that managing talkativeness is a skill that can be honed over time with practice, self-discipline, and a proactive approach to improving your work habits.

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11156 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 26, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 26, 2026Hindi
Money
I am 41, earning 1.6L/month, dependent family with a kid of 9 years. Home loan of 43L, emi 50k + 10 k part payment every month. SIP : 33k/month accumulated to 12 L Shares : 25 L ESOP : 10 L MF : 15 L Expense : 50 k EPF 12k/month Corporate health insurance. No term insurance, as company sponsoring 50L term insurance. Kindly guide me any improvements in the current strategy and an approach for passive income which would turn into active after the corporate career .
Ans: You have built a strong base already. Your income, savings habit, and discipline in loan repayment are very good. With some fine-tuning, you can move from “stable” to “financially independent with choice”.

» Current Financial Position – Healthy but Slightly Unbalanced

Income vs expense gap is strong. You save well.
Good mix of assets: MF + shares + ESOP + EPF
Home loan is under control with part prepayment – this is a big positive
However, risk protection and asset allocation need correction

» Risk Protection – Immediate Gap

You are depending only on company term insurance (Rs 50L)
This is risky because it stops if you change job or lose job

You should:

Take a personal term insurance of at least Rs 1.5 to 2 Cr
Keep corporate cover as backup, not primary

Health insurance:

Corporate cover is good, but add a personal family floater policy
Reason: continuity after retirement or job change

» Emergency Fund – Must Improve

You have not mentioned a clear emergency fund
Your EMI + expense is ~Rs 1 lakh/month

You should:

Maintain at least 6 months = Rs 6 lakh in liquid form
Keep in savings + liquid mutual fund

» Asset Allocation – Needs Rebalancing
Your current structure:

Shares (Rs 25L) + ESOP (Rs 10L) = high company/market risk
MF (Rs 15L) + SIP (Rs 33k/month) = good
EPF = stable

Concern:

Too much concentration in equity and ESOP
ESOP risk is double – job + investment in same company

You should:

Gradually reduce ESOP exposure over time
Move that into diversified mutual funds
Keep equity but reduce concentration risk

» Loan Strategy – Good but Balance Needed

EMI Rs 50k + Rs 10k prepayment is disciplined

But:

Do not over-prioritise loan closure at the cost of investments

Balanced approach:

Continue EMI
Reduce part payment slightly if it affects investments
Equity over long term can give better growth than loan interest saved

» Investment Strategy – Strengthen for Goals
You are investing well, but need structure:

Separate investments by goals:
Child education (9 years left)
Retirement (15–20 years)
Continue SIP but:
Increase SIP by 5–10% every year
Focus on diversified, actively managed funds
Avoid over-exposure to direct stocks unless you track regularly

» Passive Income to Active Income Transition
This is where you need clarity now (very important stage)

Phase 1 – Build Passive Income

Grow MF corpus steadily
Add some debt allocation closer to retirement
Aim for income-generating corpus

Phase 2 – Convert to Semi-Active
Choose one path based on your interest:

Financial knowledge → advisory / consulting
Skill-based → teaching / coaching / freelance
Business → small scalable service

Key idea:

Start part-time before leaving job
Build income slowly for 3–5 years

» Retirement Direction – Early Planning Advantage

You are 41, so you have time
Your discipline is your biggest strength

You should:

Define retirement age clearly (say 55 or 60)
Build a corpus that can replace at least 70–80% of income
Gradually reduce risk 5–7 years before retirement

» Tax Efficiency Awareness

Continue using EPF as safe component
For mutual funds:
Hold long term to benefit from lower tax (above Rs 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%)
Avoid frequent churning

» Finally

Protect first (term + health insurance)
Build emergency fund
Reduce ESOP concentration risk
Keep investing consistently and increase yearly
Start building second income stream now, not later

If you follow this path, your shift from salary income to independent income will be smooth and stress-free.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramalingamcfp/

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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