Vernacular.ai CEO uses Ivy League method to make work from home better & boost efficiency

Sourabh Gupta, Co-founder and CEO of Vernacular.ai, has had an interesting experience working from home.

He told ET Panache, "Overall, productivity has increased by several folds, and I am able to get a lot more done now. I have also started appreciating the concept of working from home. Like me, every individual in the company has leveraged the comfort of their homes, turning them into smart workspaces, resulting in magnifying levels of productivity amid such times of crisis. For this reason, I have considered making work-from-home an option for everyone in the organization, even in a post-Covid world."

Gupta has recently adopted the Ivy Lee method, in which he outlines his task-list by priority, helping kick-start the day with energy and completing action items on time.


"This method was introduced to me by my mentor, and it has boosted efficiency multi-fold. The concept is to jot down six tasks for yourself that need to be completed, listed down in the order of priority a night before, holding yourself accountable on its completion in the order it's been placed before moving on to other action items. This really helps in being proactive, to ensure that you are doing what you need instead of procrastinating, and provides clarity of focus areas on a hectic day," he explained.

The company conducts multiple brief meetings, with fixed agendas to ensure calls don’t go beyond 30 minutes. "That way, our discussions are streamlined, focussed, maintaining a balance between individual and group debates, as the latter can be difficult to moderate at times," Gupta said.

He has a dedicated study room in his apartment which has an office-like setup that has turned out to be Gupta's most productive nook.

"There I keep some of my best reads and allies of productivity. To name a few, Hard things about hard things by Ben Horowitz and Skin in the Game by Nassim Nicholas Tabebb, arranged in an open bookshelf, with my latest paperback by Levison Wood, Arabia kept at an easy distance so I can pick up where I left off any time the day gets cloudy. I also have a reading couch for this purpose, to unwind, relax, read and, mull over the present challenges and devise ways to tackle them. This room also showcases wall-hangings, art-work, quotes and posters to serve as silent motivators," he shared.

Given the nature of his work, most of Gupta's days are spent on video engagements, resulting in being clad in formals even at home. "This I must say, feels good, rather than sporting pajamas all day," he said.

To understand all the new problems and challenges faced as a result of WFH being implemented enterprise-wide, the company runs a weekly Café Rant - an hour is allocated for each individual in the company to voice their concerns in navigating the new normal.

"To elaborate – at Café Rant, we try to replicate the ease of sharing things with someone sitting beside you in office, effectively in a work-from-home environment. Initial challenges faced by team members were of communication and efficient coordination. The problem of coordinating meetings, in a situation where several clashed with one another and participants of the meeting arriving late given the various situations at home, and all of this while the company-size and talent count doubled and grew within a span of two months," he said.

The solution for this was to set up the right systems and processes such as setting up meetings with the respective individual/team on the calendar that holds accountability of one's time and makes it formal for communication, solving not just current issues but also making scaling seamless.

"Given that I live alone, learning the art of cooking was essential. It was difficult initially, but soon I got the hang of it. Now I have begun exploring and experimenting with exotic ingredients, indulging in the activity. Apart from taking up cooking as a hobby, I have recently started gardening, adding a backdrop of greens and florals to my balcony," Gupta ended.