Ashok Kumar on Life Skills to Reach the Top

Academic achievement can open doors but handling responsibility requires more than examination results Life Skills to Reach the Top coauthored by Ashok Kumar explores how students aspirants and young professionals can develop the abilities needed to make informed choices and manage everyday challenges Its themes connect career preparation with the practical work of communicating clearly making decisions and recovering from setbacksAshok Kumar former Director General of Police of Uttarakhand and Vice Chancellor of the Sports University of Haryana Sonipat brings a background in public service and educational leadership His professional experience provides a relevant context for questions about preparation accountability and the responsibilities that accompany ambition His launch message placed knowing oneself at the beginning of the discussion about acquiring skillsLaunched at IIT Delhi by Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya the book covers career planning emotional intelligence resilience and decisionmaking The event organised by S Chand Publishing and the IIT Delhi Alumni Association brought together over 500 participants with boAt cofounder Aman Gupta among the guests The following conversation explores the bookrsquos themes through a focus on Ashok KumarBuy Life Skills to Reach the Top from S Chand PublishingLet us have a conversation with Ashok Kumar1 Why should students learn life skills alongside academic subjectsAshok KumarAcademic learning helps you clear examinations but moving ahead in life requires more than academic knowledge Life skills cover many abilities that help you succeed in a competitive examination an interview or a group discussion Their value also extends beyond these immediate challenges they help you progress in life That is why academics alone are not sufficient When you develop life skills alongside your studies you prepare yourself to reach higher levels of success2 Your launch message emphasised knowing yourself first How can students beginAshok KumarKnowing yourself is important because you need to understand what you want from life what you are good at and what you love doing These questions help you identify a career that is right for you Ideally your career should bring these three things together When your work matches your interests strengths and aspirations you are more likely to find happiness and satisfaction in it Work then becomes something you enjoy rather than something you merely have to do That is why understanding yourself should come before choosing a career3 Can someone practise leadership without holding a formal positionAshok KumarYes leadership is possible without a formal position A position brings authority and authority has a role in leadership but a person can demonstrate leadership qualities even without it Leadership includes building a team showing a positive attitude taking charge and giving direction You can do these things without holding an official title Consider the story of Chanakya recognising leadership qualities in the young Chandragupta when he saw him leading a group of village boys Chanakya recognised that potential and later helped him become a king The point is that leadership qualities can be visible long before someone holds a formal position4 What would you tell someone discouraged by an unsuccessful examination or interviewAshok KumarLife brings many shocks and setbacks but a setback does not mean that life is over If one route closes you can find another In the book I mention the example of paraathlete Sumit Antil a twotime Paralympic gold medallist After an accident his leg had to be amputated Despite this lifechanging setback he found another path and became a sporting star His journey shows that a closed route need not end your possibilities An unsuccessful examination or interview does not close every door There are many ways to succeed in life so do not allow one disappointment to make you give up on your future5 How can young professionals become more confident communicatorsAshok KumarPrepare your main point and think about what the listener needs to understand Clear information is more useful than an attempt to sound impressive Give listening the same attention as speaking let the other person finish and check that you understand their concern When you disagree explain your reasoning respectfully Practise in ordinary situations through concise emails meeting summaries and conversations Confidence grows when your contributions are useful including when you honestly acknowledge that you need more information6 What should reaching the top mean to readersAshok KumarEveryone has potential and everyone has their own idea of happiness I relate reaching the top to selfactualisation in Maslowrsquos hierarchy of needs realising your potential and achieving what you want to do in life To me it means reaching a point where your needs are met you are happy and satisfied and you can contribute to society This applies in every field whether administration academics spirituality or sport Whatever your chosen field if you can reach the peak of your own potential and live a fulfilling life that is success That is my idea of reaching the topMore about Ashok KumarKumarrsquos work across policing and university leadership places preparation and accountability at the centre of his professional background These experiences offer a relevant perspective on ambition judgment and the responsibilities that accompany successBuy Life Skills to Reach the Top from S Chand Publishing

Ashok Kumar on Life Skills to Reach the Top

Other Articles

Mid-Day Fast

Home / Buzz / Article / Ashok Kumar on Life Skills to Reach the Top

Ashok Kumar on Life Skills to Reach the Top

Other Articles

Mid-Day Fast