Inspiration between the pages

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC: Which books have most inspired you as a business leader?

Camilla De Villiers Managing Director, Asia Pacific HireRight

I READ Sink, Float or Swim by Scott Peltin, and what inspired me was how hard athletes trained to be at their best - they think about their diet, physical fitness, and the training needed to build performance.

However, many leaders rarely think about these things, and in fact, do the opposite - certainly when it comes to health. Why should these things matter less if you are striving to be the CEO of a Fortune 100 company?

In the corporate boardroom, it always seems to be about performance, but little thought goes into how to drive sustainable performance and the ability to do so from the leaders themselves.

John Bittleston Founder & Chair Terrific Mentors International Pte Ltd

CREATIVITY is the heart of successful business so top of my list is Arthur Koestler's The Act of Creation. Described as "a study of the processes of discovery, invention, imagination and creativity", it demonstrates how creativity in business mobilises the ability to perceive relationships.

The Henry Ford story is a good example of this need to be creative. "If I'd asked people what they wanted", he said, "they would have replied 'faster horses'." Creatively, he gave them cars.

The Shallows (Nicholas Carr) tells us how the Internet is changing the way we that think, read and remember. Every businessman must handle that change to survive and thrive.

Shobhit Shukla Chief Revenue Officer Near

MY inability to sleep on planes is a blessing in disguise. I get to spend those few hours of relative silence lost in a book.

A book that I hold close to my heart is A Champion's Mind: Lessons from a Life in Tennis by Pete Sampras. This not so well-known autobiography by a well- known sports star has taught me how to handle failures.

My journey with Near, from a small startup to the global business that it is today, has seen its fair share of roadblocks. But I've always taken solace in knowing that I am able to learn from letdowns without losing spirit, and I have Pete to thank for that!

Dileep Nair Independent Director Keppel DC REIT Management Pte Ltd

MY wife nags me about the pile of books on my desk, seemingly unread. But it's a live pile because I shelf the books once read, replacing them with new ones. Among my recent good reads are: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari - a fun and engaging look at early human history; The 100-Year Life by Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott on how to rethink your life if you live till 100; Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz - a thrilling mystery about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes against his nemesis, Moriarty; and The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye by Sonny Liew - a graphic novel set during the formative years of Singapore's modern history. I would be remiss if I left out the Bhagavad Gita that I still re-read from time to time, going over Hinduism's timeless teachings and the basis for selfless action.

Victor Mills Chief Executive Singapore International Chamber of Commerce

I PARTICULARLY enjoy books on history and biographies of leaders. There are many books which continue to inspire me but I keep coming back to Martin Gilbert's Churchill: A Life. The book is a masterpiece of writing matched only by the fascinating life of its subject.

Churchill's life with all its ups and down, its successes and its failures, is rolled out in front of the reader. What inspires are Churchill's principles of doing the best for the majority, his ability to see and predict outcomes, his compassion for others and his ability to delegate. Above all, Churchill's decisiveness inspires.

Nelson Allen Senior Director of Marketing Hotels.com Asia Pacific

YOU'RE probably expecting business yarns, but I'd have to go with Patrick O'Brian's Aubry-Maturin series of 20 books set in the early 1800s. The protagonist (Jack Aubrey) works his way up through the Royal Navy, commanding ever larger ships and squadrons.

I've been influenced by his leadership style, which brings together a clear vision, ability to mobilise limited resources, sense of urgency and of course leadership by example (you'll find him in the thick of every battle!) In short, lots to learn from this inspirational leader - absorbed through a beautifully written and gripping series.

Laurent Dedenis Chief Growth Officer Acronis

THE business world we live in is in constant disruption and the pace of change is accelerating. Yet, it is good to remember that some universal values defined several centuries ago can still be a source of inspiration for many, and still apply to our global business environment today.

I'll choose three books: The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, because more than ever, there is a need to adapt all our global political systems to the new global economic systems.

Existentialism and Humanism from Jean-Paul Sartre, for the very idea that determinism cannot be an excuse.

Managing for the future by Peter Drucker, because he gave us a vision of what the world could be so that a generation like mine can find ideas and inspirations.

Uantchern Loh Chief Executive Officer Black Sun PLC

JONATHAN Livingston Seagull, written by Richard Bach, is a story of a seagull who is frustrated with the meaningless materialism, conformity, and limitation of the seagull life. "Most gulls don't bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flight - how to get from shore to food and back again," writes the author. Jonathan vents his frustration by learning everything he can about flying. In doing so, Jonathan discovers his purpose in life.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull has been flying with me ever since I read the book, and he tells me: "Don't believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding. Find out what you already know and you will see the way to fly."

Daniel CF Ng Senior Director of Marketing - APAC Cloudera

"I DECLARE after all there is no enjoyment like reading" - a quote from one of Jane Austen's greatest works, Pride and Prejudice. So much more than the relaxing, witty comedy it initially appears to be, Pride and Prejudice is a novel that paints clearly the intricacies of human relationships and dynamics.

As a marketer and business leader, this is something that has always stood out to me about the story. From an analysis of first impressions, and social segmentation, to the magic of words (in the story's case, letters), the novel shows how quickly human perception can become reality - valuable learning for marketers everywhere.

Axel Pannes Managing Director BMW Group Asia

ONE of many books that have inspired me is Not For Sale!, a biography of Bobby Dekeyser, a high school dropout, soccer pro and entrepreneur. Dekeyser has an unusual life story with many ups and downs. He had a passion for soccer, and when his soccer career ended, he channelled that passion into setting up DEDON, one of his many successful businesses.

Dekeyser proved that anything is possible if you are willing to work hard, try something new, and take risks. This book is motivating, relevant to all walks of life, and one that everyone should take time to read.

Dhirendra Shantilal Board Director Fircroft Group

I LIKE reading good business books, rather than fiction, and I look for books backed by research that present clear actionable messages succinctly and well.

Of these, the ones that have stayed with me and influenced my thinking are books whose insights I've seen play out in my own experience include:

Execution by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan which says, fundamentally, that great ideas and vision alone aren't enough and that the key to success is getting things done.

Good to Great by Jim Collins which makes clear the most valuable capital is human capital.

Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins which tells us that we are the main obstacles to our own success and that if you take control of your own time and life, you will eventually reach your goals.

I'd recommend any of the above to business leaders, managers and anyone looking to understand more about running teams; they are truly important contributions to our understanding of why some businesses work and some don't.

Jayajyoti Sengupta APAC Head Cognizant

TO me, reading is a form of meditation, rich with insight and inspiration. Among the many books that have had an influence on me is Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln (Doris Goodwin), which has helped me communicate via story-telling, manage conflicting personalities at work, and stay focused on my goal.

Another one is Ashoka the Great (Wytze Keuning), which chronicles the transformation of a prince into a warrior and eventually into one of history's most influential teachers. In addition to the defining forces of Ashoka's times such as cross-border trade, currency, scriptures and evangelisation, it also offers an enlightening peek into the cardinal principles of governance.

Naveen Bhat Vice-President and General Manager, Asia Pacific Ixia

IN an era driven by rapidly changing technology and business models, knowledge is the new currency and books are the purses which hold it. Reading widely enables business leaders to stay informed and inspired. My best books of late have been Top Dog by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman, Real Magic by Wayne Dyer, and How Google Works by Eric Schmidt.

Tripti Lochan CEO VML in Southeast & India

AS a Man Thinketh by James Allen is an incredible book that I have re-read multiple times. And each time, for the phase of life I was in, it meant something specific.

We are what we think. There is no magic, no luck, in what happens to our lives. And I believe the only muscle that we really need to exercise is our thought muscle. And we are in control of this thought muscle through the course of our lives. Our interactions with people are based on interpretations of what we think. A timeless book written over a hundred years ago.

Florence Ng Managing Director Founder Straits Talent Private Limited

I AM a self-professed picky reader when it comes to self-improvement reading so the list is rather short. That said, what I like, I like to read again and again. My top two inspirational reads are:

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R Covey: It is a book I have read several times over the years. Covey focuses on the paradigm shift from traditional management style to true leadership and on looking at things from different perspectives, not just within the confines of one's role as a business leader, but in one's other roles as a parent, son/daughter, friend, colleague, mentor, neighbour and so forth. As all aspects of our lives are intertwined, each time I read this book, it is a useful reminder to focus on a 360-degree view.

Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going by Lee Kuan Yew: Every Singaporean (leader or not) should read this. It is a candid "wake up" call to rock us out of our complacency whenever we get trapped within our respective comfort zones. Each read is a stark reminder that we live on a small island with limited natural resources and that our "human resources" are what set us apart. It had enabled our founding fathers to build our nation to what it is today. It is what will help us further develop our nation for tomorrow. The same can be said about human resources in business.

Sean Tan Singapore General Manager and Chief Business Development Officer iProperty Group

THE Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell and The First 90 Days by Michael D Watkins are books that have inspired and shaped my leadership style over the years. The First 90 Days has been a go-to book throughout my career, guiding me whenever I lead transitional changes. The Tipping Point is a great book that examines how little changes can have big effects. The "broken window theory" in particular, examining how small changes affect the bigger picture, resonates with me as I believe that the smallest of business details contribute to the overall success of the company.

Amos Poh Executive Director Kingsland Global Ltd

SELF-HELP guru Dale Carnegie has effectively promoted the positive impacts of "emotional intelligence" in personal relationships and workplace relations for many years before science even proved its validity.

We usually think about business from the monetary and functional side of things, and tend to overlook the human relations that are also involved. Rather than a cold and impersonal approach, How To Win Friends and Influence People highlights the importance of human relations, reminding us that empathy and connecting with others are part of a sustainable business approach - an approach that is designed and well suited for young and dynamic environments like that of our company.

Zaheer K Merchant Regional Director (Singapore & Europe) QI Group of Companies

ONE of the books from which I draw inspiration is Malcolm Gladwell's Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. Even today, the ideas explored in the book resonate strongly with me, especially the concept of intuition viewed from a psychological standpoint. Essentially, all of us are capable of making extraordinary extrapolations from the small observations that we make of instances and people, leading us to make fairly accurate predictions.

Today, as a director of a business, this intuitive perception and processing has become an invaluable tool for me, especially in times when decisions have to be made quickly or where there is even slight uncertainty. Of course nothing is foolproof, and intuition will never take the place of informed decision-making, but there's some comfort that intuition - a common business trait - can sometimes be as good as cautious and deliberate research.

Eric Lew Executive Director Wong Fong Industries

THERE are two main categories of books that inspire me - biographies and books on psychology and sociology.

I am fascinated by how one person, or a group of people, can create their own path. Some notable biographies that I love include the recent ones on Steve Jobs, Warren Buffet and Alex Ferguson. Titans of History by Simon Sebag Montefiore is always on my bedside table and has short features on 300 notable people of history, which I read like short stories.

Books like Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell are of interest to me because as a business leader, I am first and foremost a leader of people. If I am able to understand people better, I can do a better job. I believe that human behaviour follows a pattern across history and if I understand this pattern, I can better predict the future.

Ronald Lee Managing Director PrimeStaff

START with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek has to be one of the most defining and inspiring books on leadership. The book is premised on the fundamental question of "why" - Why are some people and businesses more innovative, more influential and more successful than others? Why do some leaders command greater loyalty from employees?

As an entrepreneur, I believe the question of "why" is even more critical - Why are we in business? What is the greater purpose we serve by choosing the business we are in? Focusing on the "why" creates a compelling and powerful mission where stakeholders including employees, customers and investors are more likely to buy into.

Robin C Lee Group COO Bok Seng Group

MY favourite book is Slowing Down to the Speed of Life by Richard Carlson and Joseph Bailey.

As the world hastens its pace, coupled with countless disruptions in the form of innovations, processes and technologies, life can quickly overwhelm us with stress and frenzy. In the face of this, one needs to slow down to avoid being overrun by thoughts unnecessarily speeding through our mind that often result in poor decisions and actions. It is not about sacrificing our productivity or lifestyle, but rather adopting a simple change of our attitude as well as doing simple exercises to slow down our mind-racing - focusing on the present can actually help us achieve greater creativity and productivity. This compact book perfectly encapsulates the mantra preached above and is one book that I've read many times over, even giving copies to friends to help them tide through tough times.

Tan Mui Huat President and CEO, Asia International SOS

IN their pursuit for results and productivity, companies are constantly searching for methodologies to improve performance, and this brings to mind the book by Jim Collins titled Good to Great.

What really strikes me is the Hedgehog Concept that Collins developed in his book on how organisations are more likely to succeed when they focus on one thing and do it well. This was illustrated through the parable of the fox and the hedgehog. The fox keeps coming up with new ideas to eat the hedgehog, but the hedgehog handily defeats him by using just one trick, which is rolling into a thorny ball.

The concept requires answers to three crucial questions - What are you passionate about? What can you be the best at? What can actually make you a living? The key is to find the sweet spot where the three answers intersect that can transform a company from good to great.

The concept can be applied by businesses as well as individuals in creating an edge for themselves.

Lim Soon Hock Managing Director PLAN-B ICAG Pte Ltd

I LIKE reading about political luminaries such as Ho Chi Minh, Mao Zedong, Lee Kuan Yew, Hilary Clinton, Ahmed Zaki Yamani, etc, and about business titans such as Warren Buffet, Ken Olsen, George Soros, John Sculley, etc. They all have one common trait: They believe in themselves and their own ability to lead others well, to change the world, on issues which they believe in.

Other than curiosity, I find great learning and inspiration in their accomplishments and the way they live life. My favourite is still Ho Chi Minh. He is an epitome of humility, living a simple life while holding the highest office in the land. When reading his biography, I felt that I was watching him from a distance, fascinated by the imagery of what was being played out in front of me. For example, he was often dressed simply in Vietnamese garb and sandals when making his pitches in international conferences, in stark contrast to his contemporaries, in suits, from other nations. His public and private personas are one and the same, something that cannot be said of many. I still keep the book in my library.

If there is one other biography I would like to read, it would be about Donald Trump.

Thomas Wai Director, Asia Pacific Talent Plus Inc

IT would have to be "The Effective Executive" by Peter Drucker. If I had to sum up the book in one sentence, it would be: Get the right things done right. It speaks about both effectiveness and efficiency - which still are essential in today's environment - and I have learnt how important timing is in order to get things done. As I have realised in business over the years, the right things done at the wrong time is often the wrong thing.

I am a firm believer in the ongoing pursuit of knowledge and experience. One can learn a lot from reading and when we begin to apply those acquired knowledge in the real world, we would benefit a lot more.

Annie Yap Group MD & Chief Strategy Officer AYP Group

"RICH Dad Poor Dad" by Robert T Kiyosaki has inspired me so much as a business leader. "Winners are not afraid of losing. But losers are." Losing is not as bad as not being able to get back up. If you are fed up of losing or just simply hungry for the win, you need to work even harder. Your dedication, your knowledge and experience derived from past failures would eventually change your life and make you a winner.

Patrick Liew Managing Partner Greenpro Capital

THE book Good to Great disproves many long-held beliefs about the "great man" qualities of leadership, links between compensation and performance, accelerated growth through technology and merger and acquisition, and the lure of sunrise industries.

Based on empirical studies by a relatively large team of researchers, the book by Jim Collins shows that ordinary persons on the street can build great enterprises provided they practise effective leadership, the right ethic of entrepreneurship, and a culture of discipline.

As we come to grips with the disruptive nature of the new economy, it bodes well to remember that disruptions have always been with us throughout history. With the advent of every new version of disruption, perhaps the book serves as a call to strengthen our execution of fundamental business principles with greater discipline, rigour and proactive action.

T Chandroo Chairman & CEO Modern Montessori International Pte Ltd

BOOKS are the window to another person's experiences. Autobiographies show the writers' willingness to share their journeys with the world. There are many successful people whose stories are intriguing and encouraging.

One such person is Sir Richard Branson. His book "Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won't Teach You at Business School" is especially inspiring for me as a business leader. The book speaks about being realistic when handling business and personal relationships. The book is kept simple and clear, which makes reading it a joy. Hence being "too busy" can't be an excuse for not reading it.

David Leong Managing Director PeopleWorldwide Consulting Pte Ltd

THE book that impressed me the most is the ancient Chinese classic "Book of Changes" or commonly known as I-Ching. It is a book on changes and it uses 64 hexagrams to define each change context or scenario, and shows within the hexagram, the stages of change. For business planners and strategists, the illustration of the evolution of change helps give perspective - and a reality check - to the changing situation. I derive a lot of inspiration from reading I-Ching and marvel at this probabilistic way of looking at problems.

I-Ching contains infinite wisdom. I get inspired every time I read it, and I will probably never fully grasp its universal and infinite permutations of change. What I learn from it is: Life is constantly evolving. Change is a fact of life for businesses, and the way we see change, in proportion and in perspective, can determine success and failure.