“Life's one big story, and human beings innately respond to it. Otherwise, there would be no mythology or grandmothers,” laughs R. Gopalakrishnan, executive director of TATA and Sons, at the launch of his book “When The Penny Drops” in the city recently.
The book focuses on lessons that managers learn through experience. Though the thrust is more on effective leadership and communication with employees, the book's interspersed with colourful anecdotes and stories of people who have faced diversities in their career and the way they have handled them.
“The stories mentioned in the book are of people I know, and things I have either witnessed first-hand or as an observer. The book acts as a mirror, where you can relate a problem you have handled with the way someone else has,” he says.
Of ordinary people
The stories are of ordinary people, and this will help the readers connect to it better, feels Gopalakrishnan. “There are a lot of books on leadership which quote famous people such as Mahatma Gandhi, Akbar or Alexander. But, when the character is someone like you and you can relate to the person, it's very different. In my book, I begin with the story of a man called Ram. He is a common man and could even be your father or grandfather,” he says.
Though the lessons are about managing situations where the “penny drops”, the author believes the message is for anyone willing to learn from it.
“Lots of books tell you how to improve your strengths, but not many tell you how to address your weaknesses. This book tells you ways to cope when you identify your negative traits. They won't go away, but you can control them. It's a book for everyone, not just managers. It's set in a corporate ambience, but its lessons are universal.”
“When The Penny Drops” allows you to reflect on yourself and release the answers entrapped within you, allowing you to look past your errors, he feels. “If you see, a lot of intelligent people suddenly seem to do the wrong things. It doesn't make them stupid, does it? I realised these things happen when we give up our intuition and start thinking analytically. Intuition is an important part of our psyche.”
Gopalakrishnan, who also wrote “The Case Of The Bonsai Manager”, is now on his third venture. “I have signed a book which is about what your CEO expects from you. I will begin working on it shortly.”
“When The…” is priced at Rs. 399, and is available at leading outlets.
