Building Career Expertise

I never understood the importance of financial literacy Until I started preparing for my CA exams. Managing my money was always so overwhelming for me specially when I had just started to take up more responsibilities. But if I had to start again, these are areas I would never ignore: → A budget is a plan for your money. Whether you prefer the 50/30/20 rule or the envelope method, find a system that helps you prioritize essential expenses, avoid unnecessary spending and save for your future.  → Your credit score can impact everything from loan approvals to interest rates. To improve your credit, keep your credit utilization under 30%, pay bills on time and check your credit report regularly for errors.  → Saving is not the same for everyone. Define your goals whether it’s an emergency fund or a big purchase and create a plan. Consistency is more important even if that means you’re starting small.  → Debt isn’t bad but how you manage it matters. Before borrowing know your debt-to-income ratio, avoid overextending yourself financially and create a repayment plan to minimize interest and stay on track.  → If you want to build wealth, learn the basics of investing in stocks, bonds and mutual funds. Understand the risks and diversify your portfolio to balance short-term goals with long-term growth.  Financial literacy becomes a must to deal with emergencies, handle stress and achieve your goals confidently. So, how financially literate do you feel? #financialliteracy #moneymanagement

After 100+ MUNs, 50+ keynote sessions, and public speaking events at IIM,IIT,DU Here are 10 hacks that help me perform under pressure: 📌 Use the “3-Second Rule” Start speaking within 3 seconds of reaching the podium. The longer you wait, the harder it gets. 📌 Speak in 3-Point Structures People remember things better in threes. Instead of rambling, structure your speech into three key points. 📌 Power Pause for Impact Before making an important statement, pause for 2-3 seconds. It builds anticipation and makes your words more powerful. 📌 Control Your Tempo Nervous speakers talk fast. Slow down—pausing between ideas makes you sound more authoritative. 📌 Eye Contact = Confidence Instead of scanning randomly, focus on one person for 3 seconds, then move to another. This creates a natural rhythm. 📌 Master “Bridging” Phrases If you forget what to say, use phrases like: “Another key point to consider is…” “What’s important to remember is…” This keeps your flow intact. 📌 The 4-4-4-4 Breathing Trick Before speaking, do this Navy SEAL breathing technique: Inhale for 4 seconds Hold for 4 seconds Exhale for 4 seconds Hold for 4 seconds It instantly calms nerves. 📌 Start with a Question Instead of a boring introduction, grab attention with a thought-provoking question. Example: “What if I told you that confidence is actually a skill, not a talent?” 📌 Practice in High-Pressure Situations Rehearse with loud music in the background (trains focus). Stand on one leg while speaking (improves balance). Record yourself & analyze (spot weaknesses). MOST IMPORTANT: ⭐ Smiling and using open hand gestures makes you look approachable and confident. Avoid crossing your arms or fidgeting. 🍪 Bonus Tip: Public Speaking = Repetition The best speakers aren’t born—they train like athletes. The more you practice, the better you get. Which tip are you trying first? Let me know! LinkedIn LinkedIn News LinkedIn Guide to Creating #linkedin #publicspeaking #linkedintips #linkedinnews

Measuring Success: How Competency-Based Assessments Can Accelerate Your Leadership If it’s you who feels stuck in your career despite putting in the effort. To help you gain measurable progress, one can use competency-based assessments to track skills development over time. 💢Why Competency-Based Assessments Matter: They provide measurable insights into where you stand, which areas you need improvement, and how to create a focused growth plan. This clarity can break through #career stagnation and ensure continuous development. 💡 Key Action Points: ⚜️Take Competency-Based Assessments: Track your skills and performance against defined standards. ⚜️Review Metrics Regularly: Ensure you’re making continuous progress in key areas. ⚜️Act on Feedback: Focus on areas that need development and take actionable steps for growth. 💢Recommended Assessments for Leadership Growth: For leaders looking to transition from Team Leader (TL) to Assistant Manager (AM) roles, here are some assessments that can help: 💥Hogan Leadership Assessment – Measures leadership potential, strengths, and areas for development. 💥Emotional Intelligence (EQ-i 2.0) – Evaluates emotional intelligence, crucial for leadership and collaboration. 💥DISC Personality Assessment – Focuses on behavior and communication styles, helping leaders understand team dynamics and improve collaboration. 💥Gallup CliftonStrengths – Identifies your top strengths and how to leverage them for leadership growth. 💥360-Degree Feedback Assessment – A holistic approach that gathers feedback from peers, managers, and subordinates to give you a well-rounded view of your leadership abilities. By using these tools, leaders can see where they excel and where they need development, providing a clear path toward promotion and career growth. Start tracking your progress with these competency-based assessments and unlock your full potential. #CompetencyAssessment #LeadershipGrowth #CareerDevelopment #LeadershipSkills

I’ve coached 300+ CEOs. Steal these 7 public speaking cheat codes. They separate top 1% communicators from the rest. You don’t need to be a “natural” when it comes to speaking. You need smart moves — small upgrades that instantly boost how persuasive, confident, and compelling you sound. After coaching 300+ CEOs into top 1% communicators, these are the 7 moves I return to again and again. They’re the shortcut to real speaking impact. 💥 1. Start with impact ↳ Your first seconds determine if they lean in — or check out. ↳ Power move: Begin with a bold idea, sharp question, or vivid story — skip the thank-you. 🎯 2. One message, one slide ↳ If they’re confused, they won’t remember anything. ↳ Power move: Ask yourself, “If just one thing sticks — what should it be?” ⏸️ 3. Pause with purpose ↳ Silence adds gravity and rhythm. ↳ Power move: Pause just before and just after big ideas. It creates presence and control. ❤️🔥 4. Lead with emotion ↳ Logic informs. Emotion drives action. ↳ Power move: Start with a personal story or feeling. Then back it up with facts. 👐 5. Use your body wisely ↳ Your body speaks before your words do. ↳ Power move: Keep hands open. Use intentional gestures to reinforce — not distract. 🧹 6. Eliminate distractions ↳ Filler words drain your authority. ↳ Power move: Trade “uhm” and “you know” for a pause. It signals confidence. 📱 7. Record. Watch. Improve. ↳ What feels right might not land right. ↳ Power move: Record yourself. Refine tone, pacing, gestures. One tweak = a major upgrade. 💡Great communicators aren’t born. They’re built — one power move at a time. Which one will you use next? ♻️ Share to help someone step up their speaking game and follow Oliver Aust to master leadership communication.

Great idea, But… What’s the ROI on this investment? How will this idea help us grow our top line? What’s the margin that we will earn on this service? Raise your hand (virtually) if these questions sound familiar. I can already count 4 distinct instances just this past week where I faced such questions. Now, I will be the first to admit that I have no formal education in Finance and struggled for years early on in my career in making sense of it all. Acronyms such as ROI, ROC, GM, NPV were all foreign to me and I struggled to decipher financial jargon. But here's the good news: Financial literacy, just like any other skill, can be learned and it’s never too late to get started and improve. Regardless of your role, function, or position in an organization, understanding the language of finance is crucial. It deepens your understanding of the business and amplifies your influence - boosting your career growth. To help you accelerate this journey, I reached out to my friend Kurtis Hanni, a fractional CFO and writer of the Frameworks & Finance Newsletter - for some advice. Here are Kurtis's top 3 tips to strengthen financial acumen: 1. Ask questions of financial experts you know. The biggest issue with a lack of financial knowledge is the fear associated with not knowing. ↳I promise you: Accountants don’t understand marketing and sales. When you understand the numbers related to your part of the business, you gain a competitive advantage not only in your department but in the business as a whole. Who do you think a CEO is going to pick for a new initiative? The one who talked about the financial impact of their proposal or the one who didn’t? Ask: What financial metrics are you looking at in my department? What does success look like financially? 2. Read the Annual Report’s of your favorite companies. Boring, I know. But the best way to improve is to get more reps. ↳It’s hard to get enough in the real world, so search “Company Name 10k Report” and get to reading. Read the company background and risks sections, then look at the financials and financial notes. Do this a few times and you’ll start to understand how these businesses think about their money. Start with the businesses you know like Apple, Google, Amazon, and Nike. 3. Consume the basics. If you want to go the extra mile, find experts to learn from. ↳Take a class, subscribe to a newsletter, listen to a podcast, and consume financial news. There are an abundance of resources out there, so find one you enjoy and make it a regular part of your consumption habit. Some good ones are: Morning Brew, Acquired Podcast, and Khan Academy “Accounting and Financial Statements” course. Don’t be intimidated by the numbers, and begin developing your financial acumen today - your future career will be grateful. Do give Kurtis a follow and join over 30K+ professionals who receive his weekly newsletter Frameworks & Finance (link in the comment box).

Bad decisions aren't just costly ⁣ ⁣ They compound over time.⁣ ⁣ The difference between happy people and everyone else isn't luck.⁣ ⁣ It's their ability to consistently make choices that align with their goals⁣. ⁣ Not their current emotions.⁣ ⁣ Here are 8 decision-making frameworks that eliminate regret:⁣ ⁣ 1: The 10-10-10 Rule⁣ ↳ Ask how you'll feel about this decision in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years.⁣ ↳ This time perspective reveals if you're making an emotional or strategic choice.⁣ ⁣ 2: Values-Based Filtering⁣ ↳ Every decision should align with your core values.⁣ ↳ When your choices match your principles, regret becomes impossible.⁣ ⁣ 3: Reversable Choices⁣ ↳ Distinguish between decisions you can easily change and permanent ones.⁣ ↳ Move fast on reversible choices but take time with irreversible ones.⁣ ⁣ 4: The Regret Minimization Framework⁣ ↳ Imagine yourself at 80 years old looking back at this moment.⁣ ↳ Choose the path that minimizes regret from your future self's perspective.⁣ ⁣ 5: Opportunity Cost Analysis⁣ ↳ Every yes is a no to something else - choose the best value option.⁣ ↳ The best decisions aren't just good, they're better than all alternatives.⁣ ⁣ 6: Energy and Intuition Check⁣ ↳ Notice how your body feels when you imagine each option.⁣ ↳ Decisions that align with your authentic self create energy.⁣ ⁣ 7: Stakeholder Impact Assessment⁣ ↳ Consider how your decision affects everyone important in your life.⁣ ↳ Great decisions create value for multiple people.⁣ ⁣ 8: The Advice Test⁣ ↳ Ask what you'd tell your best friend if they were facing this exact same decision.⁣ ↳ We often give others clearer guidance than we give ourselves.⁣ ⁣ Which framework will you try?⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ 💚 Follow Hetali Mehta, MPH for more. 📌 Share this with your network.⁣⁣⁣ 👇Subscribe to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eFSskmyH

𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬, 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 Does the thought of networking make you feel like you're just selling yourself? It's time to flip the script. Here’s how to network effectively without feeling 'salesy': 📍Seek Depth, Not Numbers Forget about amassing contacts. Harvard Business Review suggests that meaningful, in-depth conversations are far more beneficial than a vast network. 📍Become a Master Listener Effective networking is less about talking and more about listening. Show genuine interest in others' stories and challenges. This approach not only builds stronger connections but also makes your interactions more engaging. 📍Lead with Value Always offer help before asking for anything. According to LinkedIn, 80% of professionals believe that networking is most effective when both parties gain something from the exchange. 📍Customize Your Connections Skip the generic connection requests. Reference specific details about how you met or a topic you discussed. This personal touch transforms your approach from transactional to meaningful. 📍Make Memorable Follow-ups After meeting someone, follow up with something relevant from your discussion. Whether it's an article related to a topic you spoke about or a simple congratulation on a recent achievement, personalized follow-ups make you stand out. 📍Engage Thoughtfully Online Interact with your connections' content by sharing insights or thoughtful comments. This keeps you visible and valuable, enhancing your network's strength without overt selling. 📍Embrace the Long Game Remember, effective networking builds over time. Stay consistent and patient—American Express reports that 40% of executives credit networking for their success. 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙍𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩: 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩, 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙨. 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙢𝙥 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙚𝙨. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜—𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝙢𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨. ---------------------------------- Follow Surya Vajpeyi for more such content💜 #EffectiveNetworking #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalNetworking

Are we ready for the Competency Shift? This article compels us to introspect and ask ourselves some crucial questions as educators: 1. Am I fully aware of the competencies that CBSE now expects us to assess in our learners? 2. Am I adequately equipped to design a question paper with 80% competency-based questions? 3. Am I confident in drafting questions that truly assess critical thinking, analysis, and application in my learners? 4. Do I have a clear understanding of the difference between rote-based and competency-based assessment? How do I ensure that my classroom practices support this transition beyond just examination patterns? 5. Have I integrated skill-based learning and real-world contexts into my day-to-day teaching to prepare students for such assessments? 6. What professional development or peer collaboration do I need to strengthen my ability to frame, evaluate, and grade competency-based questions effectively? 7. How do I create a classroom environment that encourages inquiry, reasoning, and problem-solving rather than memorization? 8. Are my teaching strategies inclusive enough to address the diverse learning styles, multiple intelligences, and the needs of CWSN who coexist in my classroom? 9. Finally, as a teacher, how can I become a facilitator of deeper learning, ensuring my students are not just exam-ready, but future-ready? As we adapt to this shift, professional development, peer collaboration, and reflective practice become essential. Ultimately, this transformation is not just about changing the pattern of assessment, but about preparing our learners — and ourselves — for a more thoughtful, inclusive, analytical, and application-oriented future. Best Wishes to all educators and learners! #educators #competency #criticalthinking #HOTS #application #analysis #collaboration #futurereadyskillls #21stcenturyskills #assessments #CBSE #inclusive

How to Build Resilience: The Ultimate Guide Resilience isn't born. It's built. I spent years studying why some people bounce back from challenges while others break. The answer isn't willpower—it's a system. Here's the framework that changed everything for me: Your resilience isn't one skill—it's six interconnected domains that work as a system. Vision powers everything: • Purpose • Smart Goals • Alignment Composure is your emotional foundation: • Emotional Intelligence • Control and Authority • Mindfulness Reasoning is your strategic edge: • Plan and Anticipate • Resourcefulness • Problem-solving Health is the domain most leaders neglect: • Exercise and Nutrition • Quality of sleep • Relaxation Tenacity separates the great from the merely good: • Realistic Optimism • Self-belief • Persistence Collaboration might seem optional, but isolation kills resilience: • Support networks • Good relationships • Trust and Teamwork The 6 methods that transformed my resilience: Goggins 40% Rule: When your mind tells you to stop, you've only reached 40% of your limit. Keep going. Cognitive Reframing: When faced with stress, consciously choose to see it as a challenge to overcome rather than a threat to avoid. Premeditation Malorum: Visualize and explore the worst-case scenario to reduce anxiety and stress around potential outcomes. McGonigal's Challenge Response: Transform stress into a powerful ally by consciously choosing to see it as a challenge. Stockdale Paradox: Acknowledge the severity of your situation without sugarcoating it, but maintain faith in your eventual success. The 5×5 Rule: If it won't matter in 5 years, don't spend more than 5 minutes being upset by it. ------------------------------------------------- Follow me Dan Murray-Serter 🧠 for more on habits and leadership. ♻️ Repost this if you think it can help someone in your network! 🖐️ P.S Join my newsletter The Science Of Success where I break down stories and studies of success to teach you how to turn it from probability to predictability here: https://lnkd.in/ecuRJtrr

Your school didn’t teach you financial literacy. But as a business owner, if you’re not learning it now, You gotta be prepared to struggle. Understanding numbers isn’t optional in business. It’s essential. Without it, you’ll always feel like you’re flying blind. Here’s why financial education matters: 1️⃣ Profit doesn’t mean cash flow Your business can look profitable on paper but still run out of money. Cash flow is king, learn to manage it. 2️⃣ Debt can be a tool or a trap Understand the cost of borrowing. Not all debt is bad, but misuse it, and it’ll hold your business back. 3️⃣ Taxes are NOT just a yearly chore Tax efficiency can save thousands. Learn the basics or get professional advice early. How can you improve your financial literacy? Read smart: → Books like Profit First or The E-Myth Revisited are game-changers. Upskill online: → Platforms like YouTube offer free resources on budgeting and business finance. Work with your accountant: → Ask questions. A good accountant will help you understand your numbers. When you understand your finances, You gain control over your business. And when you control your business, The possibilities are endless. Make financial literacy a priority. It’ll change the way you grow.