He was a fresher at #Harvard #Business #School - one of the only four #Indians in his class.
He was #smart. And #analytical. But, like many Indians, #reticent by #American standards.
One day, a professor pulled him aside and said his #grades would suffer if he did not #participate in class discussions.
He started making an effort to speak. Soon, noticed that most profs would not give him an #opportunity to do so even when his was the only hand raised.
Puzzled, he asked the prof why was this the case. The prof said - 'You confuse the class', and explained -'It's not that your #ideas are wrong. They are just more #complex and #nuanced than the basic #concepts I am trying to get across'.
He thought it was not #fair for him to be penalized for his #intelligence. So he proposed a #deal - 'Grade me only on my final exam and I would stay quiet in the class'. The prof happily agreed. So did several other profs.
At the end of the first semester, he was one of the only two students who secured all 'Excellent' grades.
Lesson learnt: In a culturally unfamiliar #environment, rather than trying to be like everyone else, #focus on your #strengths and use your #differences to your #advantage.
(Adapted from: #RajatGupta 's #Memoir - #MindWithoutFear)
#culture #leadership