Before:
“The approval process needs 7 levels”
“But why?”
“Because… bas aise hi (just like that)?”

After:
New process: 2 approvals
Sky: Didn’t fall
World: Didn’t end
Productivity: Improved

Challenging the status quos gets free advice from everyone like,
“This is how we have always done it”
“You are too fresh in the company to understand”
“In my 20 years…”

I respectfully remember one of my wise managers whose favorite saying was, “Bas ek bar chaddar mein chhed karna jaruri hota hai, fir wo chhed apne aap bada hota jata hai.” (Loosely translated: You just need to poke a hole in the blanket once. The rest follows naturally.)

What he meant was that shaking up rigid processes is the hardest part. Once you take that first bold step, change starts picking up momentum. But boy, that first step feels like walking barefoot on Legos!

In ‘any scale’ IT organizations, challenging long-standing processes often feels like trying to move a mountain. Processes, approvals, and habits are deeply entrenched. The first attempt to change them usually invites resistance. You are also being judged with lens that you are agitator, a rebel, or a radical. But with perseverance and a focus on value, those very critics can become your biggest supporters.

I can recall in one of my previous roles, we were generating monthly service reports that could rival the length of a Harry Potter book! When we proposed stopping the reports and focusing on actionable summaries, it felt like we had just declared war on tradition. It took weeks of convincing and a few trial runs. But when the concise and insight-driven reports started landing on desks, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Everyone liked the change just that they did not know it yet!

Resistance is never personal. It is just the inertia of some dated processes. Once the value becomes visible, the same people who initially opposes the ideas becomes advocates.

If chaddar chhed-ing has taught me one thing then it is this -> there is a fine line between being the “rebel” and the “innovator.” The secret lies in ensuring that the chhed saves money, time, or sanity. Preferably all three!

At the end of the day, it is not about poking holes in the blanket just for fun. It is about creating a quilt that is stronger, more resilient, and tailored to the busines needs.

So, which status quo are you challenging in 2025?

PS: Remember, it is not about poking holes in the blanket just anywhere. Aim wisely, or you might end up getting cold! 😉