I have an MBA in marketing. I graduated in 2023 and got placed on campus in Pune. In my team everyone is obviously more experienced and I don't feel encouraged enough to share my ideas and plans. In my appraisal report, my manager has mentioned this as a weakness area that I need to work on. I am not sure how to approach the situation.

Ans: Dear Sir/ Madam,

Hope you are doing well.

Apology for the delay in reply.

First of all I recommend that one should stop labelling yourself ( or others). In this case you saying " I am not a good people manager" is labelling yourself. This way you will start (or have already started) believing that you are not a great people manager. Remember this is a skill and can be developed with practice, consistency and seeking regular feedbacks.

Few navigations you can look at-

Lack of Clear Expectations: If you haven't set clear expectations for your team, they may not know what you need from them. Ensure that roles and responsibilities are well-defined, and everyone understands their individual and collective goals.

Communication Skills: Effective communication is crucial for managing people. Make sure you're communicating your expectations clearly, listening to your team, and providing feedback in a constructive and empathetic manner.

Trust and Rapport: Building trust and rapport with your team is essential. If you tend to work independently and do a lot for others, your team may not see you as approachable or willing to collaborate. Invest time in getting to know your team members, showing interest in their ideas, and supporting their professional growth.

Delegation Skills: If you're doing most of the work yourself, it could be because you haven't delegated effectively. Delegate tasks and responsibilities to team members based on their strengths and capabilities. Trust them to handle their responsibilities independently.

Conflict Resolution: If there are conflicts or issues within your team, address them promptly and constructively. Develop conflict resolution skills and provide a safe space for team members to voice their concerns.

Leadership Style: Reflect on your leadership style. Are you being too controlling or not providing enough guidance? Adapt your leadership style to the needs of your team.

Feedback and Recognition: Provide regular feedback and recognition for your team's efforts. Acknowledging their contributions can boost morale and motivation.

Personal Development: Consider investing in personal development and leadership training. These programs can help you build the necessary skills to be an effective people manager.

Mentoring and Coaching: Seek out a mentor or coach who can provide guidance and support in developing your people management skills.

Self-Care: Ensure you're taking care of your own well-being. Stress and frustration can affect your ability to manage people effectively.


It's important to approach this issue with self-awareness and a willingness to change and improve. Start by having open and honest conversations with your team members to understand their perspectives and concerns. Encourage them to share their thoughts on how you can work together more effectively. This proactive approach can help you identify and address specific issues that may be hindering collaboration and teamwork.

Until then Be You. Be Confident.

To your success
Ashwini Dasgupta
Author of Confidence Decoded. Is it a skill or attitude?

Ans: Did you cry for shoes until you saw someone with no legs at all...!?

Aspirations are fine but pushing yourself against pseudo competition is not the way forward.,especially needed in the field of consulting

It just may cause a physical and mental burnout
Seniority comes with experience and expertise, built over the years.
Compare with the comparable...Thing's as you say are good as of now what makes you think you will flounder later..

I see you need to upscale your communication and self motivation,Collaboration,Tenacity,Commercial awareness,Organisational,Critical thinking,Analytical,The ability to listen and persuade,Teamworking skills,Enthusiasm,Attention to detail,Problem-solving,Adaptability..are are the key skills you need to upscale and develop!

Ans: Hey!!
Let me tell you as a body language and communications expert, that body language is a like learning any other language.
It needs to be learnt and practiced, it takes time and effort...
When you are technically strong and when your bosses have faith in you... then just go ahead , learn body language, practice it and project it .I say there are three ways of communication, Visual, Verbal and Vocal. What you say is important but how you say is also very important.
Learn body language from an expert and then project that winning image!!
You can get in touch with me too..
https://transformme.co.in/

All the best !!

Ans: Hi!!

I can understand what you are going through.
I have helped many a people to become better communicators, presenters and public speakers. I agree with you when you say .. that these skills will augur well for your career growth.
What I can say is this .. that it is a learnable skill. Practice and more practice is the only way ahead. You said your content is strong, that is 50% of the job done, so build up on this confidence and practice your delivery in front of the mirror or in front of encouraging family/friends.
The only way to gain confidence is to "JUST DO IT"....to calm your nerves- deep breathing techniques and visualizations techniques will be useful.
I can help you on this journey of being a person who delivers with panache!

There are books by Dale Carnegie on public speaking which can help you out. Also read about Abe Lincoln and his journey of becoming a great orator, it can maybe help you.

Remember, PRACTICE AND PRACTICE is the key to unlock your confidence and become the person who delvers with panache.

All the best!!