For individuals aspiring to achieve professional success through a structured framework, the book titled ‘Leapfrog – Six Practices to Thrive at Work’ authored by Mukesh Sud and Priyank Narayan, both entrepreneurs turned academicians, can prove to be an invaluable resource. Mukesh, an Associate Professor at IIM Ahmedabad, boasts three decades of experience spanning academia and entrepreneurship, while Priyank, the Founding Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship at Ashoka University, initiated his career at IBM and subsequently ventured into entrepreneurship.
The insights presented in the book are drawn from the experiences of students whom the authors have taught in the educational institutions. The authors have used evidence-based outcomes and research from various disciplines. They have highlighted practices and pillars designed to assist one in achieving success in professional endeavours.
As per the authors their combined corporate and entrepreneurial experiences prompted them to question why some individuals, despite similar backgrounds, skills, or qualifications, outshone others in terms of success. This curiosity culminated in the formulation of six practices for achieving success in the workplace or as an entrepreneur, which are encapsulated in this book. The primary goal is to empower people to lead fulfilling professional and personal lives.
What does the book cover?
The book is structured into six chapters, each dedicated to one of the six practices:
- Develop grit
- Nudge yourself
- Be intellectually humble
- Dance with discipline
- Curate the chaos
- Think entrepreneurially
The introductory section provides an overview of what to anticipate, and a visual snapshot offers a glimpse into each chapter. Notably, each chapter includes a “So What?” section, which illustrates how each practice can be applied in real life.
The epilogue offers hope for late bloomers, emphasising that your time to shine can come at any stage.
Key highlights for me are:
- Follow Deliberate Practice: Mastery and perfection can be attained through deliberate practice, where each endeavour strives to improve by just one percent compared to the previous one. This continuous improvement approach can make you 37 times more proficient in any task than you were at the start of the year.
- Building Blocks of Intellectual Humility: There are three pillars supporting intellectual humility: having a big and a small ego at the same time, being able to listen to contrary ideas and accepting limits to what you know.
- The Foreign and the Familiar: Many people believe that curation is the act of selecting and presenting content. Some view it as cross-pollinating ideas to make a meaningful collection. Others think of curation as a way to learn and grow – it is a mix of all these. Curation brings together the foreign and the familiar. That which are aware of and that which we are not aware of.
What’s in it for me?
The authors have adopted a storytelling format, incorporating numerous anecdotes, examples, and personal experiences to reiterate the message. Written in a simple, easily comprehensible manner, the inclusion of diagrams, tables, and questionnaires throughout the book further helps one to understand the concepts.
My recommendation
For those seeking a structured approach to professional success, this book serves as a valuable guide, providing a set of practices to navigate the challenges of the unpredictable real world. The notes and references section at the end of the book will serve as a valuable tool of additional information and knowledge.
The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.
Sarika has previously had stints with with Weber Shandwick as Vice President - Client Experience, Adfactors PR, Text100 (now Archetype) and Perfect Relations. With keen observation and analytical skills, Sarika has successfully led PR campaigns for key brands across multiple sectors by leveraging her strength and expertise in the communications arena.
She is a post graduate in communications from Xavier Institute of Communications. She is based in Mumbai and in her free time loves to spend time with her daughters, play with her dogs, read and travel.
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