Timeless Skills

We will then show that these missing skills are generally coachable. While behaviour change is anything but easy, it is possible. It requires a Eureka moment, rigorous commitment, practise and constant feedback. Unfortunately, parts of our own brain shut off people who are willing to give transparent feedback. If we can change, the benefits accrue both in our professional and personal lives.

‘If leadership is an art,’ one of my coaches said, ‘the artist’s instrument is the self.’ Indian sages talked of atma-vichara (self- contemplation) just as ancient Greeks, whether Epictetus or Plato, taught us to be self-aware. They also talked of self-control. Focus on things we can control; accept calmly things we can’t control and be responsible for our actions.

Later, proponents of Emotional Quotient (EQ) like Daniel Goleman popularized three distinct areas: Self-awareness, self- regulation and self-motivation. We will discuss all these.