Col. Sudip Mukerjee has recently come out with the book Two Steps Ahead: Uncover What People Really Mean, which is an insightful read about effective communication and how we can decipher human thoughts through the language people use. The book details the 5 step ‘secret decoding system’ for improving communication skills, knowing exactly what the people you are dealing with want, and getting what you want simply and easily by using the language that works.

I chat with Col. Sudip about his book Two Steps Ahead, as well as when he discovered his love for writing, book recommendations, and much more.

Hello, Col. Sudip! Tell us a bit about yourself!

I live in Noida and am a Behavioural Analyst. I work with individuals and companies to make them more efficient through the use of Psycholinguistics and Human Behaviour analytics. I have worked for 21 years in a combat-active role in the Indian Army and for 2 years as a Vice President of an Airline. I also write in various publications on Human Behaviour, Psychology, Education and Mental Health issues.

When did you first discover your love for writing?

I have been writing creatively since school days – especially answering questions in subjects I hadn’t studied for. I also participated and won several Inter School competitions in creative writing. I started writing seriously post leaving the army and have authored two books and several published papers.

How would you describe your book Two Steps Ahead in one sentence?

It’s a book about understanding human behaviour through their communication.

Now tell us a little more about the book! What can readers expect?

Readers will accept (I think they know already) that people don’t always mean what they say. And through this book, readers can understand how to decipher language so that they can know what the speaker actually means.

You have detailed the 5 step ‘secret decoding system’ for improving the effectiveness of communication in this book. Please tell us more about it.

Every system has a process and the book gives out the process in a simple manner. If readers practice the process, they will gain the skill to decipher language. A small example is use of the word ‘and’. Anything used after the word ‘and’ is more important to the speaker than the word used before it. The 5 Step system is the sequence by which you will achieve the most.

What is the main message that you want readers to take away from Two Steps Ahead?

The message – each person gives out enormous amounts of information without meaning to.

The skill – decipher that information and use it to understand the person better.

How have you been coping with the current pandemic and what will be the new normal for you post it?

My trainings have moved from contact to online. I am spending more time working on my next book which I have been researching for the last 3 years. So yes, I am busier now than pre-Covid.

Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

An Easy Read – White, Soft and Fluffy by Poonam Jalan. It’s an excellent book about overcoming pain.

A Behaviour Related Read – The Art of Thinking by Ernest Dimnet. An excellent book about Human Behaviour.

The book ‘Two Steps Ahead: Uncover What People Really Mean’ is available online and at your nearest bookstore.