In our ongoing Employee Spotlight series, we celebrate the achievements of our team members who are making a significant impact. Today, we shine a light on Sindhuja’s remarkable journey and her pivotal role in improving team performance through new ways of working within a client engagement.

Sindhuja Nagendran, Lead Consultant at Greyamp, brings over 13 years of experience in the IT industry, having worked across various domains, projects, and roles such as developer, scrum master, agile coach, and project management. She is passionate about understanding human behavior and problem-solving - she excels in handling challenging opportunities and asking thought-provoking questions. She actively engages as a speaker on Agile and Scrum topics. Sindhuja's interests include reading, helping people enhance their interpersonal skills, and supporting career transformations. 

Here’s a Q&A with Sindhuja regarding one of her recent client engagements.

Q: What was the client engagement about?

Sindhuja: I was part of the Ecosystem and Banking as a Service (BaaS) initiative at a large Indonesian bank. BaaS enables non-bank entities to provide financial services without the need for traditional banking infrastructure. My responsibilities included enabling team to make API specifications, partner integration, and ensuring seamless business processes. Partnerships within the ecosystem leverage technology to provide products and services. Through scoring analysis, we identified key partnerships and arranged programs to tap into them, enhancing the availability of banking services.

Q: Can you summarize the issues you worked on & the solutions you implemented to address them?

Sindhuja: Through a discovery workshop we identified that the team faced challenges in strategic planning. The team was proposing targets and progress without a strong foundation, relying on assumptions rather than data analysis. This resulted in missed targets, inefficient resource allocation, and team demotivation, ultimately hindering organizational performance.

To address this, we implemented the following solutions:

• Data-Driven Approach: We ran data-driven target setting and strategic planning workshops to establish clear objectives, OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), and foster cross-functional collaboration.
• Critical Thinking: We stimulated critical thinking through thought-provoking questions, leading to realistic targets and actionable plans. Daily stand-up meetings with regular guidance further facilitated target achievement.

Consistently practicing this over time, the team became empowered, proactive, and significantly more productive. This shift led to increased motivation, personal growth, and a positive impact on the organization's overall vision. The team revisited OKRs & set measurable outcomes. 

Q: What were your key learnings from this engagement?

Sindhuja: Problem-solving and communication are vital for consultants, especially when working with teams on legacy systems resistant to change. Understanding their concerns, emphasizing benefits, and offering support and training are crucial for enabling these teams to transition to new methods effectively.

Q: What was your biggest challenge? What did you do to overcome it?

Sindhuja: Introducing new ways of working and driving the adoption of tools and processes for improved outcomes was the biggest challenge.

To address this, I began by observing team dynamics and existing processes to establish trust. I then introduced new ideas gradually, emphasizing benefits aligned with team goals. By demonstrating positive results and highlighting the need to unlearn outdated practices, I facilitated a successful transition to a more efficient work approach.

Q: If there is one thing you could do differently, what would it be?

Sindhuja: Steve Jobs once said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” This highlights the importance of connecting work with purpose and passion.

Instead of solely focusing on technical activities, I would help individuals connect more deeply with the purpose and meaning behind their work. When people understand why they are doing something and how it aligns with their passion, they are more likely to excel and find greater satisfaction in their achievements.

Q: What was the biggest highlight from this experience?

Sindhuja: Sometimes, the knowledge and solutions we gain from past experiences and early learning journeys may no longer be accurate or universally applicable. In such moments, it’s crucial to remain open, analyze situations objectively, and be willing to challenge our assumptions and preconceived notions. This mindset is essential for continuous growth and adaptation. Learn to unlearn.