BOOK REVIEW

Book Review by Ramchander Deekonda

“THE LEADER WHO HAD NO TITLE”

By Robin Sharma

Jaico Books, 200 pages, priced Rs195

There are several books in the market written by eminent authors specializing in corporate governance and the concepts of leadership. They all strive to inspire and awaken the readers towards innovation and to discover their own latent potential lying dormant in their personality. The title under review comes out from the intellectual repository of Robin Sharma. It is provoking and belongs to the genre of ‘I can also’.

Robin Sharma, the author who is well-known for his acclaimed work ‘the monk who sold his ferrari’ has invented a commendable style of narrative in this book under review – ‘the leader who had no title’.

We are living at a time where man in general is driven by greed, envy, peer-pressure, unethical competition, unbridled wants - all leading to an unprecedented and hitherto unknown rat-race. Employees in organizations crave to be recognized and compensated continually through elevation and higher titles, designations. At times, this deep rooted passion for recognition leads them to resort to all sorts desirable and undesirable moves that the organization may not benefit. Sycophancy and hypocrisy land the candidate into mediocrity which is detrimental to a growing company. All this has been happening leaving behind the value systems and forgetting the necessity of individual excellence and the pledge of moral commitment.

Every civilization has its own ethos, mythos and pathos. Every culture is guided by the immortal principles which it inherits. It is apparent that Robin Sharma has the cosmogonal message of the sub-continent, the Bhagavad-Gita running in his veins. Throughout the work under review the profound influence of Gita touches the reader strikingly. The author appears to have imbibed the time-less assertions of this classic. He has aptly and consciously applied them to the proposed philosophy of “Leader Who Had No Title”.

The entire book and its plot, to me, appears to be an adaptation and dramatization of the oft-quoted verse of Gita “karmanyevaadhikaaraste maa phaleshu kadaachana; maa karma phalaheturbhuh maa te sango’stu akarmani” This is what the author tries to sermonize through characters like Tommy and Ann.

yogah karmasu kaushalam: ‘Fruition is but the excellence in our endeavors’ is another statement of Gita that is evidently expounded in this work. It is this philosophy that appears to be the basis of author’s whole discourse on achievement of excellence in the given field of action assigned to an individual. The author assures the reader that leadership is certain to happen where there is excellence, perfection and commitment despite constraints.

The concept of self-elevation propounded here, is again reminds us of the advice of the Gita. Compare “uddharet aatmanaatmanam……..” that one must elevate himself by his own mind and deeds without waiting or expecting someone else to do that. The author displays through the protagonist and the ‘four masters’ that success and recognition and titles simply do not follow but chase the one who excels and accomplishes with no signs of being a victim.

The message is clear and loud: we have been professional for quite some time, now it is time to be a missionary – Lead Without a Title. The coveted fruits shall fall on their own. I simply can’t refrain from quoting the famous inspired words of Iqbal “khudi ko kar buland itna ke har taqdeer se pahle khuda bande se ye pooche ke bata teri raza kya hai” Thus, the necessity of self-elevation is established here to be the prime motivator.

What that author strives to impart is said repeatedly; and certain repetitions sound redundant. A point is emphasized again and again in a professorial manner forcing the reader to think that the author is just filling the pages. Though astonishingly fresh in its out look and approach, the book can be condensed to half its size.

On the whole, it is a must read for all aspiring achievers who want to master the art of leadership. Organizations should encourage it among their work force. Robin Sharma’s holistic solution to a well researched subject is admirable.