At Kanavu Startup Village, we recently had the wonderful opportunity to learn from Mr. Madhan Kumar, an experienced tech professional and industry mentor. This special session focused on two key skills that help every team grow stronger: Accountability and Active Listening.
Mr. Madhan Kumar, who has worked with Infosys and in the US tech industry, shared practical tips and real-life examples that inspired everyone to think and act better at work.
Why Active Listening Matters
Instead of a normal lecture, Mr. Madhan led an interactive session. He explained how people often sit in “TV Mode” during meetings — they listen passively but do not respond. He encouraged everyone to switch to “Conversation Mode”, where they actively share their thoughts and take part in discussions.
Many people avoid answering questions in a group, thinking, “Someone else will reply.” Mr. Madhan broke this mindset by asking everyone to raise their hands and speak up whenever he asked something. This simple exercise helped us practice active listening and participation.
Planning for Growth
He asked an important question: “What is your plan for this day next year?” Many employees shared their dreams. He then pushed us further: “What is your five-year plan?” This made everyone think seriously about their goals and the challenges they need to overcome.
Mr. Madhan gave a powerful tip: If you want to do something, share it with others. When you tell people your plan, they will ask you later, “Did you do it?” This keeps you motivated and pushes you to take action instead of just talking.
The True Power of Accountability
Mr. Madhan explained that true accountability means doing what we promise, even when it is hard. Our thoughts change every moment, but our actions should stay strong.
He shared his own habit: he never skips tasks without setting reminders. He said, “If you plan to do something at a certain time, do it at that time, no matter what. Even in tough situations, respect your promise and complete it.”
A Lesson from Our CEO
We also thank our CEO, Mr. Karthieswaramoorthi, for arranging this powerful session for the whole team. He added a meaningful example to show how small broken promises can slowly create big problems.
He shared the frog story:
“If you put a frog in boiling water, it jumps out immediately. But if you place it in cold water and heat it slowly, it stays and does not escape because it does not feel the danger. Staying in a comfort zone blinds us to risks.”
In the same way, when we break small promises, we slowly lose trust and growth without even realizing it.
A Big Thank You
This session was not just a talk — it was a wake-up call. It reminded us how important it is to listen actively, speak up, make clear promises, and keep them.
We thank Mr. Madhan Kumar for sharing his time and wisdom with us, and our CEO Mr. Karthieswaramoorthi for giving us this valuable learning chance. We look forward to building a culture of accountability, active listening, and trust at Kanavu Startup Village!