The Leader Was Once a Child, authored by Dr. Kartik Nagendra and Gauri Das, is a thought-provoking and insightful book that challenges conventional leadership literature. Instead of offering the usual corporate strategies, it explores a powerful truth: our earliest experiences—love, discipline, success, and trauma—quietly shape the way we lead as adults.
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The opening chapters immediately draw readers in with relatable, story-led case studies. From Rajiv’s unexpected outburst in a board meeting reflecting his father’s harsh criticism, to Harit’s calm resilience built during candle-lit power cuts in his hometown, the book clearly shows how our responses to stress often stem from childhood coping patterns.
It effectively connects psychological concepts such as attachment styles, emotional intelligence, and schema therapy with real workplace situations.
What makes this book stand out is its well-structured and compassionate approach:
Foundations: Explains how early psychological experiences influence workplace behaviour.
Excavation: Offers practical tools, self-assessments, and trigger-response plans to identify personal blind spots.
Transformation: Provides actionable frameworks to rewrite limiting beliefs and create psychologically safe workplaces.
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Rather than blaming the past, the author encourages readers to see their inner child not as a burden, but as a source of self-awareness, growth, and strength.
This is an engaging, practical, and deeply reflective guide for leaders, managers, and HR professionals who want to build genuine empathy and authentic leadership.
A truly transformative read that will change the way you see yourself, your team, and leadership itself.
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About the Author
SightsIn Plus
Contributing Writer