Every successful leader in the industry or in any other field is known to possess exceptional knowledge and talent in specific areas. We may call these the peak of the pyramid. While we are dazzled by this genius, we often fail to notice the base of the pyramid. This wide base is what sustains and supports the pyramid of success. We may call it soft skills. These apparently simple skills make as much contribution to make the success story of a leader as his genius in the chosen field. This article attempts to take a look at some of these traits.

We all know what William Shakespeare said about a rose. But then we humans seem to identify ourselves with our given name, even if it is a tongue twister like Vangipurappu Venkat Sai Laxman or Casper Weinberger. No one would like to be called "Hey, you" or "Janitor" or "Gardener". There is a scene in the movie "Namak Haram" in which Rajesh Khanna tells Amitabh Bacchan: "Kabhi apne driver ko naam se bula kar dekho." It does help to remember names and to address a person by his or her name.

Some top executives have this extraordinary ability to remember names and address people by their names. Imagine the impact this has on you when your Managing Director addresses you by your name, or better still by your first name.

I have known a manager who would recall a person's name while listening to the voice on the telephone. It would immediately establish a rapport.

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