Your journey is an outcome of the choice you make, says the author. Some are in your control, and some are not. It was last year that I made the decision to read and review 12 books in a row. Interestingly, the first book that I reviewed was authored by Shivakumar – ‘The Right Choice’, and from then on there has been no looking back. As the author describes in his new book, my choice to be consistent and plan my life better is directly related to my control over my time, my ambition, and my relationship with my employer and fellow employees. ‘The Right Choice’ gave me guidance on choosing my career well, but The Art of Management goes beyond that – it’s about life.
What does the book cover?
This new book is divided in three parts – Managing yourself, Managing your team and Managing your business. Narrated by the author in a free-flowing chat with industry veterans from different walks of life and a foreword by Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar. The variety has made this read much more interesting and insightful. Industry stalwarts such as K.K Sridhar, Vikas Khanna, Harsha Bhogle, Renuka Ramnath have shared their experiences on management and life lessons in a short, crisp and interactive format.
Three takeaways
- Dealing with failures – It’s your choice how you deal with failure, sit and cry or move on. The latter is what will take you to the next level, it will help you grow. Chef Vikas Khanna explains, “The moment I feel I can’t save it, it is gone. Next morning, I will focus on something completely different. Even relationships, even in contracts… if something fails, I move onto the next project. You have to disconnect yourself, and you have to jump on to something more challenging, because failure or disappointment or betrayal gives you such amazing energy. It’s like a fuel, which you can’t have in success. There is no time to sit and cry”.
- Speak your mind -Sharing your point of view brings in that much needed confidence in the corporate world or life in general. Words from Sachin Tendulkar, “Irrespective of which profession you are in, never get intimidated by your seniors. Always make it a point to share your ideas with the rest of the team and never be afraid of being ridiculed. When you speak your mind, people appreciate the value you bring to the team”.
- Skills needed for a future world – Veteran HR specialist N. S. Rajan says, “Embracing diversity and inclusion, not tokenism. Enabling a digital way of life, not just technology. Enhancing crowd-sourcing and co-creation, not replying on individuals alone. Effective crisis management, not reactive but proactive
What’s in it for me?
It was a breeze. I loved the last book on career dilemma and this one added to the much-needed guidance on managing work and life. This book doesn’t need a time and place, you can pick it from anywhere anytime. The stories are aspirational and the advice valuable.
My recommendation
Needless to say, the book is an interesting read. And when it comes from experiences of people you look up to or have been following it makes it even more relatable. The language and narrative is simple, easy to understand and beneficial to many who are confused and seeking guidance. The personal experience, knowledge and insights shared by the author and the 21 leaders can be a great source of learning for the person who reads this.
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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