The Hindu Business Line : Tryst with truths you can trust

What do more responsible roles require? "More mental bandwidth," says Dr Karen Otazo in a forthcoming book titled The Truth About Being a Leader from Pearson Education.

That's just the first among 52 truths that leap from the pages of crisply written prose. Truths can shock; as, for example, a blurb in truth 7 that reads, "A little bit of BS does you and the organisation good." BS makes good fertiliser, observes Otazo. `Nothing But the Truth,' that is, but where does BS work? At least four circumstances: brainstorming, selling an idea, relaxing others, and scenario planning. "There are times when a little exaggeration can play a positive role in organisational life. It can give you and others freedom to play around with ideas and to ease the strictures of corporate culture."

Player/coach is a tricky role, cautions truth 8. He or she is in charge of the team and also has to regularly perform `the same work as the team'. Make sure that you do both well, advises Otazo, and offers three tips: share your thinking, weigh the needs of each situation, and think ahead.

"The more your share with your team, the more they will learn how to think for themselves." Remember, "You're already a great player. As a player/ coach, you now have the opportunity to be a great leader - at least some of the time!" Truth 18 sounds simple: `Stories help make change clear.' But the idea is powerful. For, stories can serve as scenarios, and put things in perspective. "Stories can help your team deal with new realities by facing challenges in advance in their imaginations."

The book abounds with takeaway ideas, such as how to `read' like a leader `in the blink of an eye'.

Your body language is 60 per cent of what people remember of you; tone makes for 30 per cent, and content is only 10 per cent. "This means that, in key meetings and presentations, you need to present yourself as a leader with every part of yourself that's visible to others."

For instance, the classic hand position for leaders worldwide is the steeple - `a kind of relaxed prayer position, with your fingertips touching'. That way, you can control `unwanted gestures or nervous habits,' counsels Otazo.

There's more to it: "The point of the steeple invades the space in front of you, especially when you're sitting at a table, and therefore gives the unconscious message that you are in charge because you're claiming the space."

Make your tryst with truth!

http://BookPeek.blogspot.com

D. Murali