Playing the Enemy

One of the many benefits of sports fandom I researched is its use in international affairs, nation-building, and the peace process. There is no better example of this than what has been called the “South African Miracle,” and in this great book, veteran English journalist Carlin, who was in the country for years covering its politics, shows how the late great Nelson Mandela, Nobel Peace Prize winner and South Africa’s first black President, used the intense fandom behind the nation’s beloved spectator sport, rugby, to ease the transition from apartheid to democracy and prevent an almost inevitable Civil War. The… show more.

My goal is to help clients identify and neutralize the power dynamic in any relationship or exchange. In this autobiography of Nelson Mandela's experience in prison and beyond, he deftly transforms one challenging situation after another. His ability to stay Partner under pressure results in consistently positive outcomes. This is an illustration of a very high level of emotional intelligence, which we are all capable of developing.