KOCHI: Creators of book covers have always shown a special liking for abstract concepts as it gives them the freedom to make them look multi-dimensional. But the counter-argument has been that what they provide us with is a rather vague image.
Avik Chanda and Suman Ghose seem to have been pretty clear about what they wanted on their book’s cover, be it the image or title. ‘From Command to Empathy -- Using EQ in the Age of Disruption’ deconstructs the myth that leadership is all about aggression and command. And in the process, it boldly puts forward the argument that in order to be a successful leader, one needs to possess emotional intelligence and to be empathetic - that is “putting yourself in the other person’s shoes” or “seeing things through someone else’s eyes”.
The cover image has a man in a suit. His head is cropped while the red heart pin on his left chest might imply that emotions are more important to the authors. It takes your mind straight to the corporate world, where fierce competitions, targets and deadlines are upheld at the cost of the lovely, little pleasures of life. While it is agreed that the authors always centre on a pyramid of a team and its leader, the topics they deal with and the open-ended questions they raise are quite relevant in every sector in any country.
For a leader who has hitherto considered ruthlessness and high decibel levels as two vital stepping stones to the pinnacle of success, this book might let him down a bit. For it tells you -- with stories including Bill Gates’ arrogance and the decline and fall of the mighty Satyam empire -- why it is not the case always.
The style Chanda and Ghose have selected is innovative, with exercises and infographics giving the reader enough scope to gauge where he stands in a world that is turning increasingly complex, but it is quite lucid. Furthermore, it answers all queries that pop up while you read on and proves why some of the oft-heard apprehensions, including about the millennials, are quite unfounded.
As we cluelessly perceive the modern world, revolutionised by information technology and its gadgets, with a confused mind, the book helps you calm down, provided you put your head above brain in the pecking order. It is a must-read for all who are perplexed. But then who is not?
