This is the simplest and most powerful leadership intervention I’ve seen in years.

When Deepika Arora invited me to host an online poetry circle for her organisation, I was excited — and sceptical. I’ve facilitated 60+ in-person and online poetry circles since 2019. But always for open audiences. Never inside an organisation.

Deepika shared that when she joined Haqdarshak (a Social Enterprise) after working at a large public-sector company, she was deeply inspired by the simplicity and heartfulness of her employees working in the most difficult circumstances across the country. She started an online monthly book-reading club and invited authors to create learning spaces for her people.

She had learnt about my other poetry circles and read my book, Dil ki Ankahi Baatein. She sent me three lines, underlined the word “संवाद,” and said,

“I intend to host Samvaad — heartfelt conversation through your book.”

I shared with her that one thing I’ve learnt from my earlier poetry books and poetry circles is that a poem is only a doorway that invites people to step in and meet themselves.

We had a deal.

I followed her lead. 80+ people joined from across India.

After some introductory conversation, I asked all participants:

“If you open the door of your heart right now, what’s most alive?”

The answer touched my heart: childhood — innocence, creativity, forgotten dreams.

I read one poem from the first chapter of the book — बातें बचपन के खोए ख़ज़ाने की (Lost Treasures of Childhood).

Something unlocked. People started sharing their childhood memories, first innocent loves, unadulterated dreams. Some of them even wrote fresh poems in the chat. They were touching spaces that I haven’t yet unlocked in myself. Within 90 minutes, an online room turned into a living poem.

Deep creativity. Joy. Emotional honesty. The kind you rarely see, even after days of leadership workshops.

We were not only walking down the childhood lane, but were sourcing the treasures of creativity, innocence, trust, passion, and vitality back into our daily life.

I asked Deepika how she created this powerful experience with such limited resources.

She said, “Your poetry unlocked our hearts.”

I said, “No — it’s your intention to host such a deeply personal and non-judgemental space that allowed my poems to breathe through 83 hearts.”

That moment I realised:

Heartfelt intention to create spaces where people meet themselves is the most powerful leadership intervention there is.

If you feel called to host such a space in your organisation — let’s talk.

Together, let’s serve the field. 

— Manish Srivastava 

PS: Inspired by this event, we are launching an online, monthly Contemplative Dialogue Circle. Where poetry will open doorways to deep conversations. Anyone can join and participate for free. Read more here