Infectious: How to Connect Deeply and Unleash the Energetic Leader Within
Achim Nowak
Allworth Press (2013)
How to forge and then sustain mutually beneficial relationships at different levels of communication
Never before (at least that I can remember) were communication technologies faster and more extensive than they are now and yet many (most?) people I know have never felt more isolated and “out of touch” than they do now. Achim Nowak wrote this book to help people connect when they communicate and, even more importantly, to ensure that those who receive the communications ”get” their intended meaning.
More specifically, he identifies and explains:
o Five beliefs that inhabit our conscious and unconscious minds that block a genuine connection (Pages 16-17)
o Five Storytelling Essentials (43-45)
o Five Principles Summarized: Talk Level (49-50)
o Five Ways to Better Plug into Your Position Power (71-72)
o Five Ways to Better Plug into Your Relationship Power (75-76)
o Five Ways to Better Plug into Your Expertise Power (80-81)
o Five Ways to Better Plug into Your Body Power (87-88)
o Five Ways to Better Plug into Your Charisma Power (91-92)
o Your Five Step Guide to Connecting Well at Level Two: Power Is Real (100-101)
Mind you, all this (and more) is provided in the first three chapters. There are two others, followed by an Epilogue, and all of that material is also highly informative, especially in terms of do’s and don’ts. Be sure to check out Nowak’s discussion of “the Chakras,” accompanied by illustrations, in Chapter 5.
For leaders and managers who now struggle to strengthen relationships between and among those for whom they are responsible…and with them, this is a “must read.” I also highly recommend it to those who are now preparing for a business career or have only recently embarked upon one. Finally, to those who are now involved or plan to become involved in social networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. The name of that game is to be “engaged,” not merely involved. (The next time you or someone else orders ham and eggs for breakfast, keep in mind that a hen was involved but a pig was engaged.) I commend Achim Nowak on the information, insights, and counsel he provides in this book. Bravo!