Arthi Rabikrisson 0:15
Hello, everyone, and welcome to the inspire your life podcast with me your host Arthi Rabikrisson.
I believe we find inspiration all around us, especially from the stories that we all have in us. My aim with the inspire your life podcast is to bring some of those real stories to light . Stories of my guests that resonate with you and me. It's by listening to the stories that we can be inspired and motivate ourselves to overcome, find a new path and rise, even higher than we thought possible.
Joining me on the show today is Dr Siraya Kongsompong, a fellow Tasha 10 member, who is a senior consultant trainer and award winning executive coach who is based in Thailand, I have not been to Thailand, yet. She helps business leaders craft changes to the organizations to become more transformational and also inspirational. One can tell that Siraya is a people's person and believes in people's potential to grow and develop as long as they are empowered properly, that's the cabinet. Siraya is a learner she has completed her undergrad she started her MBA, went on to do a PhD and of course over the years has also continued to boost her skill set in coaching and education from really prestigious bodies, everyone such as the ICF, where she's a PCC credential coach to the Gallup certification, to executive education at work as well with Stanford University. I'm going to call you by the nickname everyone calls you now Kays and I'm so pleased to actually have you on the show today, sharing your learnings with us. So welcome to the inspiring life podcast.
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 2:24
Hi, hello, Arthi and thank you so much for inviting me to be the guest in your program. Very excited and very honor.
Arthi Rabikrisson 2:33
Oh, I am really excited that you're here and I'm so glad that we were able to actually do this across our times as well. Because I know it's in the afternoon there for you. It's morning here for me in Johannesburg. So I really, really appreciate it. Now Kay I just given everyone a very high level bio to you but you know what we want to get to know you much better. So please do tell us a bit more about yourself.
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 2:57
Sure. Thank you so much for your kind introduction. That's a part of my professional life. Actually, when you see my profile, just look around, you know, and I look back in my profile, I say, beside on top of the award winning coach, actually, I claim myself as the lifelong learner. That's how I call myself always, all the time and also a mother of two kids and a happy wife. That's a part of my personal life that I haven't include that even though bio to you. Yeah, I'm so yeah, it's it's also, you know, I think I based on my role, what I did in my work to transform people, you know, that's why I'd say well, I start from learning being the student, and then I teach, and I used to be a professor in university teaching, and then I find out, you know, to help people transform, because what I'm saying is that my passion and the, the, the reason, you know, that I'm doing what I'm doing right now is to help people to transform by being inspired. So I find out along the way along my journey that I find out teaching aids, it's not enough, so that's why I add on, you know, the coaching part. And as you've introduced me that I'm a part of as a PCC credential coach in ICF. And I see that, you know, blended and well, you know, with teaching coaching and that that's a part of my role. Yeah,
Arthi Rabikrisson 4:24
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, take, you know, that professionalism from the coaching space, the education space, you know, I think it's just all linked so superbly, and I know that you're a lifelong learner learner. I am to that, yes.
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 4:39
That's why we met.
Arthi Rabikrisson 4:41
Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. Well, you know what Kay today we're talking about developing your mindset shift, right, which is such a beautiful topic when we were talking pre our, our recording today, and I'd love for it if we could go into that now and if you could share something of your own personal story around that, and why this whole idea of developing your mindset, why it's so important to you. So she's something with us to help it resonate.
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 5:10
Sure, as I mentioned, at my early stage of my professional career, I started by being the professor. Right. So I know what what teaching is and then a part of my career back at that time, I was consultant as well. So I covered like, you know, teaching and consulting means like, you know, giving people advice. Okay. So I, back then I think I did my job very well and that didn't change it. And I don't know why this must be some missing Jigsaw that, hey, I think I did well, I think I prepared well, I searched all the case study, I told people, what does she do, but why did you transform and and by that, I start to realize that, you know, when I see some of my colleagues or some of someone in my life, they start to change, or they start to to learn from that, what make you change, what is that, you know, like moments that you decide that you you need to change? And they find out, you know, I find out with them that they start from a the way they see themselves, the way they see others and actually, at the end of the day, I find out it's the way they think. So I think mindset is something that was missing, because Arthi I saw myself didn't do well, in the past, I can provide a template, when I coach, I get my clients to write down develop action plan together, and these things are perfect. But you know, they hold that that action plan for a few days, and then it's gone. So I think something that I didn't do well is that I didn't invite them to really have the awareness of what's going on. So bottom line is that I find out that, you know, if I just like invite them to have the actions without awareness, that it didn't help. So that that's something that I realized along my journey as a consultant.
Arthi Rabikrisson 7:02
Okay, well, and that's so important, right? Because, you know, from what you're saying, it's like, we can check all of these boxes, right, all of these things that you said you're able to do for your clients. But come the end of the day, the commitment is just not there, the actions are maybe being half done, but they're not like fully formed in any shape, or form. And I love how you know, what you was also saying about that, you know, from your colleagues and those that you admire, when you saw this transformation happening, you at the end came to the conclusion, it's about how they think that it is that mindset, and how important to come to that sort of conclusion Kay up for yourself.
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 7:39
Right Right.
Arthi Rabikrisson 7:40
Um, so I mean, what were what were some of those first steps, then once you once that sort of penny dropped to do that, you know, what, there is something deeper here around my mindset, What did you start to do what did you start to do to kind of be more aware of that, that the mindset is actually the one that's the catalyst here?
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 7:56
Right now you know, I conduct so many workshops about mindset, I coach, all about the mindset. What I realized is that mindset is tricky Arthi, because, you know, like, when when I ask my client, it's like, what do you think it's more difficult skill set or mindset? A lot of people say it's a mindset, because you know, it's is invisible, but is so powerful, right? So when you want to change something that you don't see, that's, that's a problem. So that's why I say, you know, when we need to transformation, the first thing is to make people aware, okay, and it's not easy. And I do with a lot of, you know, even my own blind spot, because, you know, it's something that we are not aware.
So, the first thing that I advise, you know, people is around me to start even myself that I go through this journey. First, I need to realize, how does it work so that I could support my clients, I think it could start from a self reflection, it could start from the feedback, it could start from the like assessment, something that helps you to reflect on the other side. So that would be a some, you know, a simple two that I will advise people if they want to start gaining higher self awareness. Yeah, that's gonna be a few thing. But the starting point.
Arthi Rabikrisson 9:12
You know I like that, you know, because these are not difficult things for us to start doing, you know, like taking an assessment to kind of even your journal writing, just to start keeping those thoughts in mind those types of things. So I really, really liked that those are not difficult things for any of us to get started on. I suppose, you know, and when we were talking and when we were preparing for the podcast, one of the things that you mentioned, which stood out for me was you talked about the qualities that we all need to be able to maneuver the kind of world we in now, which is complex, which is changing. I'd love for you to share that with everyone like what are those qualities we're striving for? Because I sort of, I sort of feel that this process that you've given us the practical details on is like the starting point to bring that to consciousness. So lovely, share that with us.
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 9:59
Yeah Arthi, One thing that I always always invite, you know, my clients, even myself, it's to start with, you know, the learner mindset or even the curiosity, like because, you know, as long as we gain more experiences, it seems like, you know, we lost the sense of curious because it's like, we know it all, instead of you learned it all. So I invite you know, a starting point of gaining all those awareness start from your mindset that you want to learn, you're curious, you don't jump to conclusion too soon, even though you are experienced and that's actually I think, you know, that that could be a two sides of the same coin. As long as we get to gain more experiences, we tend to assume and just, you know, and come to conclusion too early. So, one thing that I helped my clients is that, you know, start with the beginner mindset. So that will help a lot when you want to start this journey.
Arthi Rabikrisson 10:53
Yes, yes. And I mean, resilience is so key as well, right? Tell us a bit more about that. How do we develop those qualities?
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 11:01
Yeah, so it's a process. It's like this, if you want to change or transform, first, start with your learner's mindset, right? You're curious, you want to know, and then after thing you want to try, I will say, try, you try something. So you know, that's a learning space and when you try some new thing, you know, there's an equal chance of winning or losing. But you know, as a coach, we always say, you know, there's no mistake, there's no failure, only learning. So how can make you think like that, it's the sense of resilience, you come back that, oh, I didn't make any mistake, it's not a failure, I just, you know, find a new way of not doing something. And that, you know, you can come back and be resilient. And that's a way you could find a new way to be yourself when you transform. So curiosity, learner mindset, even resislience when you are trying or exploring thing that's so important. And I think that's more and more important nowadays. Because, you know, back here in Thailand, I think, I started to give the keynote about, you know, digital disruption, I think, more than five years ago. And here we have a different industry that has been disrupt. However, in the last few days, I think more and more well, what were the impact from the COVID? So, okay, it's not that it's not the choice anymore Arthi a learning mindset, curiosity, resilence, it's a way to survive.
Arthi Rabikrisson 12:22
Okay, Ooh, okay, so that dynamic has changed, actually, that it's not like a nice to have, it's actually you have to have this now to be productive.
Dr Siraya Kongsompong12:33
If you want to grow, I mean, that's, that's a new game.
Arthi Rabikrisson 12:36
Right? Okay, and you know, that's such an important pivot point or inflection point to understand. And I suppose many people may not necessarily understand that, and they may feel okay, there's still time in the process, we can get this done. But if you've already sort of noted that this is so key that this is survival, and and especially if you do want to grow, then of course, you know, this is something that needs to be put forward with everyone.
So you know, Kay, as you were talking, what I was thinking about was these qualities, right? Yes, they saw inherent in us, right? The ability to be curious, to go into that learner mindset. But you know, the thing is, I find with a lot of people, and maybe you're finding this too, that it's typically very muted, right? Because we've got so many things going on and I guess I want to understand for people who are maybe now coming to this realization, especially in your part of the world that actually I need to do this now, it's survival mode, how can we help them realize and bring this to the fore? How do we help them develop that curiosity? Those Those first couple of steps? Potentially? How do we help them understand that they can switch into that Learning Mode again, and not just be in habits and routines? What would be some of your guidance around that?
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 13:46
If yes, I understand your point. Because usually people don't realize this until they step out of the comfort zone, right? So exploration is important as well. So you will see these a lot if you step out of the comfort zone, or, you know, sometime like we've got something new that we need to explore, that will be the area of learning. So I would say like, you know, actually, the stretch zone is a learning zone and that's, that's a way that we can expand our capabilities, and right with that zone you really need to encompass all of these mindsets, so that you realize that there is something that I need to change, because you know, what many pads is muted if we stay inside of the comfort zone, you won't be able to notice it because you just do whatever you you know, are accustomed to, to Yeah. So I would say like muted could happen if we stay you know, in a comfort zone. So back on the adult way of the equation is that if you don't realize anything, maybe a good question is to start to ask yourself, am I still in the comfort zone? And that's why see anything pops up because if you extra as you learn you if you see your encounter you fade something
Arthi Rabikrisson 14:58
Yes, yes, yes. I love I love that because now you're giving us some of these practical things, you know that self talk is so important. Kay, I love it that you bring it into our conversation. You're such a deeply experienced coach. I mean, it's evident, what are some of these other tools that you're probably helping your clients work through, as well as on yourself to develop that awareness to develop that, like you've just said, asking the question, but what are some of these other things potentially, that could help us to understand our mindset, understand these qualities that we're talking about?
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 15:30
Sure, I think on a day to day basis, a very simple one is to have this self reflection, I think these skill, I need to talk this a lot with my clients, especially for those in like higher leadership position, or those were senior experienced, because you know, less and less people will give you the feedback compared to when you were younger. So I think that self reflection is a good good tool, that we start to realize this on a day to day basis.
So you know, a simple thing that I recommend my clients to, like, you know, three simple questions or, you know, ask yourself, and every day is that or every week, if you don't have time, and you want to start you do something like weekly habits, like what I did well for today, or this week, that will be the first question, find out what you did. Well, and the second question, is that what I didn't do well, okay, on the other side. Yeah. And then the third question, what did I learn from this week? Or today? And that that was the three question that invite you to reflect and have a self reflection. But that doesn't complete the process yet? Because I will say, well, to move forward, you need the last question, and what will I do differently tomorrow or next week? So that will be at least you know, self reflection, very simple question three, four question that you can ask yourself on a daily basis, or a weekly basis. Yeah, that that one was a good practice and easy to start.
Arthi Rabikrisson 17:02
And, you know, I love that, if you're doing it consistently, like you're suggesting the daily or weekly or whatever works for the person in mind, that the starting to build up this lovely kind of review, and even self feedback, if we want to call it that, that they can go back over time and sort of notice what's coming out from that, because you're quite right and I'm glad you mentioned that, that when you're younger, you do get a lot more feedback than when you're older and professional and all of that. And sometimes to even get feedback of you know, at this age, or at the stage of your career even becomes far more difficult. So I love this reflective practice as simple questions for four questions in total, that can actually help us get there. In your journey Kay, I mean, how helpful is this been for you and also, it's, you know, as we were talking, I was thinking about, we start this journey, we start doing the reflection with us the support come from as well. So I guess my question to you here is, but two prong in your own journey, how is self reflection helped, and also, who has been supporting you along this journey?
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 18:03
My my story with this, I was so passionate with this because Arthi and everyone I need to tell you that before this, I focus a lot on like, you know, working, you know, focus a lot on quantity, I worked so hard, and I think that's a way that we will be you know, become a better person a more valuable, but that's a lesson I grew up, you know, someone taught me and I learned this by myself is that even though we work hard, we did a lot, but why we're not happy. So something in congruence comes up in my life and then what I realized as a part of me that I work a lot with all these questions, when I keep asking myself is that I focus too much on doing. I'm like, you know, like, many of you may say, Well, we will have a value when we do a lot and you know, it was not in that case every time. So I find out so I decided with myself, I will move away and my comfort zone is doing human doing Arthi and my learning focus on is the human being. So I focus more on not just doing but the quality of being the mindset. What were you thinking when you were doing that? So that's something I learned with myself that you know, switch from doing to being and by, you know, encounter or income past that quality, you need a lot of self reflection, because, you know, someone taught me like, you know, you'll experience doesn't count by the number of years that you work, for example, like if you worked six years without reflection, maybe you experience is only one year, but we repeat that six times, right? There's no learning only doing but you can you can develop a better quality of being by doing and then reflecting so that we have a moment of, you know, pausing with like, our own mindset. What have we done well, what we didn't do well and that, you know, it comes inside you it's a process of like I always use this inside out, you know, because you know, mindset or transformation is not the outside in. It's like the egg, it needs to be cracked from inside out,otherwise, you know, the fetus will will dead if you crack it from the outside. So it's the same process that I learned, you know, even myself to go through this journey. And I find myself I'm more happy even even though I do less Arthi spend time reflecting on learning, you know, enjoy the journey along the way, not just the destination. And so that's higher the quality of my life and that is something I'm so passionate that I want to bring out and spread this to a lot of people so that they can have a happier life and more with like, fulfillment not not an accomplishment. Yeah, that would be something I move out and shift my mindset. That's my personal story.
Arthi Rabikrisson 20:46
I must say, I love hearing your story. I'm just captivated, listening to you. Talking about this transformation. I mean, from doing to being that is incredible. I mean, to come to that sort of conclusion that I'm a doer, that's my comfort zone and I actually need to be I mean, yeah, I love I love how you encapsulated that sort of transformation and ongoing transformation. Even with the analogy of the egg. You know, it for me, I couldn't picture it. As you were talking, you know that something is bursting through and that is coming from within. Beautiful, beautiful. Thank you for sharing that with us, Kay.
Now, when you look back, so I mean, I mean, this awareness has come through now things are moving ahead beautifully for you. When you look back, though, do you feel that I missed something here. I regret that the still wasn't done better. Do you have any of those feelings that come up regret or, or sadness, if even looking back at some of the things from when you were just being a doer?
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 21:45
I think I cherish every moment because as I as I share with you, even the mistake that I've met, I take that into learning and there's no moment that I want to change anything. I think that's a process of growing, everyone need to go through this. Really? No, we do not. You know, when we were young, we we do the task, right? And even here, when we study, we try to make things right. Yes. But in life, you need to learn, you know, when you try something and when you've made mistake, that's how you learn. I mean, that's different between theory and practical. So if you ask me, I, I see a lot of you know, even mistake relearning. I did, but I didn't want to regret or change anything. So it's, I took all that, you know, for as my learning and just, you know, my last question, what will I do differently? So instead of changing things, I focus on the last question, the fourth question. So if I realized that, what will I do differently to people around me or even myself? Yeah, so that's how I treat what has been happening in the past.
Arthi Rabikrisson 22:49
What a what a beautiful lens to look at everything right about what could I do better the next time because that just also from a mindset perspective, just just pulls you away from any of that negative potential emotion you could have been sitting with, and then you future focused again, and there's optimism that comes in. I like that. I've that's what I'm hearing when you're speaking, which is so so great.
Kay, you've already shared such beautiful lessons that you've learned along the way, are there any others that really stand out for you that you'd like to share with our our listeners as part of this developing your mindset shift in the journey that comes with it?
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 23:25
Yeah, I focus on transformation. First, you need to change yourself first. Okay, people many people, they'd love to say, I want to change the world, okay. And I said, Oh, you can't change the world, if you are the same old people for people to respond to right. So any transformation start t to change ourselves. That's what I've talked before. However, I find out when you change yourself the other way that could help to transform the world as well to the way you interact with people around you. So what I see the others skill or mindset, it is important as well here is not only the curiosity or learning but you know ability or the mindset to understand other or these days we talk a lot about the empathy. And I I just realized this that you know, when we talk a lot, you know, compared to the senior to Junior, it's a mature maturity, right? So that's why I said no ability when you talk with children, my toy, my house,
Arthi Rabikrisson 23:25
Very posseive. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 23:37
But when you grew up, you know, the sense that you grew up is not by the number of age, but descent, the ability of you to see others and understand others from their shoes. So that's why I said it is very, very important as well to make yourself happy to live with others around you is to a mindset that ability to empathize, understand and seeing others from this endpoint. You know, we changed from I use the words a lot changed from me to we. So with that, you know, we can have more understanding, especially Arthi I work a lot with a disruption, you know, within change alot and I see these days you know, environment change so fast too fast, but you know, you won't, you cannot judge that you really understand that people until you talk to them, you listen to them. So I think that that's another thing that I want to highlight as well to leave, you know, fulfilly in this future world
Arthi Rabikrisson 25:23
Lovely and I liked the way you phrased it as well. It's that sense making and that sensibility of others as well. So beautifully put actually, interpersonal skills today and not just about that high level sort of communication, and that active listening, but that empathy that we're within that, that comes from that thank you for spotlighting that that's so important, you very very right. Kay you know, there's so much that you've given us in terms of this beautiful conversation we're having today, share with us what's in store for you next for the rest of the year, or even next year, what's upcoming for you?
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 26:00
Um, I think we, I find out my passion more and more as long as I work in this career. And I think what we could do is to spread this word out. So we, I have a plan, you know, to work this and state about these originally, not only in Thailand, okay, so you know, like a part of the guest to be a guest of your program, you know, it's something that fits you what I intend to. So what I plan to do is to, you know, spread this word originally, maybe nearby, you know, Thailand, and also help these to do work more and more off the, you know, a sustainability job, you know, something that I can put to service in public, because, you know, previously I work with some project as a volunteer with the innovation foundation would help the handicapped to get the job because, you know, these people, they are less fortunate, and, you know, to teach them the soft skills and mindset, especially Arthi, I work a lot with the handicap, and I find out, you know, the mindset is very, very important. Because, you know, these people, they need support in terms of the stronger mindset, that's the way they see the value in them. So, you know, I one thing that I love to talk with them is that even though you have less than others, maybe because of the handicap, but one thing that you have, we are equally is the mindset, the way we see ourselves. So I think this is something I wish that I will work more and more to serve in a volunteer project, you know, in Thailand and in nearby country,
Arthi Rabikrisson 27:31
What a powerful place to be spending your experience and expertise in, it's definitely going to be beneficial. And I love that you on my podcast, because we are global. So people across the world are going to be hearing this and reaching out to you Im sure. Absolutely, how beautiful. Thank you for putting it out there. You know what, when we put things out in the universe, the universe has a way of bringing it to us. So yes, you're in all your determination to want to spend more time in that space. I can't wait to hear how it all goes down as we get into it, yeah. Kay, we coming to the end of our conversation and such a beautiful conversation about developing your mindset and the shifts that we can, the steps that we can take to make that shift happen. I'd love to hear from you now, in terms of as we close off, what keeps you inspired, something, it could be a poem could be a, quote, a song lyric, but something that keeps you going forward in your journey of transformation that can inspire others to on this process.
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 28:33
Since they work a lot with our leaders and I will tell you what I did wrong in the past. I mean, I asked them not the right question. First, I asked how many team members follower Do you have? And I think that was not the right question. Because it's a bad question. We did see the quality of the leadership a true question that I should ask, then even myself that how many leaders were you building at this time? So instead of you know, asking you how many followers do you have, that doesn't tell the quality? You know, our things will change when we could build a leader around us? So for me, a good question is to keep asking myself, How much leader I could support Oh, I could build, you know, on on on my career on my work. So those leader and one thing is that don't think that leader needs to be positioned, it could be the quality, implant or support orders that let them step up and have initiate so many, many times I say, you know, leader is not the same as leadership. Leader is the position but leadership is the action. So what is your action today that create more leaders around you? That will be my final center?
Arthi Rabikrisson 29:42
Ah, beautiful, beautiful, beautifully encapsulated tea. Thank you so much for joining me on the podcast today. It's been such a pleasure having you on
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 29:52
Thank you so much for inviting me. I really enjoyed the conversation and thank you so much for these program. It's a part of the mission that we have to to spread this around the world so that we can make a better world. Thank you so much Arthi
Arthi Rabikrisson 30:05
Absolutely thank you so much Kay. Take care.
Dr Siraya Kongsompong 30:09
Thank you. Bye bye
Arthi Rabikrisson 30:20
Thank you so much for joining me on this episode today. If you like what you heard, rate the episode and podcast and feel free to write a review. Plus, of course, share with others too. I love talking around topics like these. So if you like my perspective or insight in a subject close to your heart, or something that you're grappling with, reach out to me in your comments or send me an email via my website, or connected me via LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook. All my social media is on the podcast information. If it's important to you, then it's important to me. So happy listening to the inspire your life podcast and catch you soon on the next episode.
