Ancient Secrets of Soft Skills Unravelled

Book excerpt: Did Krishna fail in his negotiation skills? Could the war have been avoided? As the two women stood in the court of King Solomon of Israel, both claiming to be the mother of the child, what strategy did the monarch follow to crack the case? Though he couldn't reach the water which was at the bottom of the pitcher, how did the crow in Aesop's fables finally quench his thirst? How did the Zen master make the businessman realise the virtues of having an open mind? When Buddha was insulted by the angry young man, how did he react to the provocation? In a world that is riddled with uncertainties and challenges, just knowing your job may not be enough. It is one thing to read management books and quite another to stay inspired and be on top of your game every day. How do you communicate at work? How do you show empathy? How do you effectively network and build lasting relationships? How can a conflict situation be managed? Can you master the art of getting along with people? Ancient Secrets of Soft Skills Unravelled teaches you all that and brings you stories from the Mahabharata, the teachings of Zen and Buddha, the wisdom of King Solomon, the survival tactics learnt from the Aesop's fables and the author's lived experiences too in an attempt to present soft skills as an essential tool to life skills. Anecdotal and relatable, it brings alive a range of skills and strategies dating back to centuries that are relevant even today, underlining the efficacy of soft skills and the need to acquire it early on in life.