“The Alchemist” a famous work of Paulo Coelho became very famous for its wisdom, imagery and ‘the universal language’ of comprehending beyond the apparent. It inspires to be observant, to be observant and to comprehend and perceive what has not been conveyed consciously or deliberately. Leaders or would be leaders have to comprehend and perceive this communication and look ahead of the road. One who can grasp the untold word, the invisible symbol or sign or reading of ‘the universal language or omen’ as per the novel, has the potential to lead people, lead vision and change the course of history.

1. THIRD DIMENSION OF LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION: “THE ALCHEMIST”
PERSPECTIVE
Dr. Harmik Vaishnav Institute of Law, Nirma University
Communication- as the conventional connotation goes is mainly conveying or expressing with
any form, be it verbal or non-verbal. This conveying has mainly two facets- conveying
consciously and sub-consciously or un-consciously. The communication cycle does not get
completed just by conveying. It has to be conveyed properly and effectively and the feedback to
be sought in form of words or actions. If it is a sub-conscious or un-conscious conveying,
feedback can be conscious in any form like verbal, action or even commencement of a thought
cycle.
To state an example of sub-conscious or unconscious conveying, when one observes something,
someone or some situation the perception is formed in mind that may trigger action, thought.
This conveying by the subject would not be deliberate but still the cycle of communication was
complete in the form of sending-receiving-feedback.
Here we are going to deliberate on the second dimension of communication that is- perceiving.
The famous saying on communication says, “You cannot not communicate.” Communication is
omnipresent as air, everyone and everything communicates everywhere. People convey
consciously, sub-consciously or unconsciously, animals do it instinctively and non-living things
too communicate. One needs an eye, mind and sense to understand all the communications. A
good communicator is one who is not only a good writer and speaker but also a good reader and
listener hence he has to listen and read what is not deliberately conveyed.
To be more precise, examples of such kind of communicator could be seen in people with
powerful sixth sense who see what is not apparent and can comprehend the situation before the

2. happening and the plausibility, detectives who can unfold the mysteries with simple clues, and a
judge who can read between the lines and listen beyond the arguments, a business leader whose
intuition speaks to him and guides him through the maze, the animals’ instinct that can
understand and decipher the language of nature. It is said that a dog becomes restless before the
earthquake as he understands the language of nature, fish start looking for a safe place before a
sea storm.
There is a famous example of Sir Issac Newton when he was loitering in the countryside; an old
shepherd told him that it might rain and he better hurry. Sir Newton was amused as the sky was
not overcast and the great scientist would know. In some minutes as he went further dark clouds
gathered and the downpour started. The next day he met the shepherd again and asked how he
came to know about the rain. The shepherd had seen the movement of the sheep, they were
looking for shelter. The nature had communicated quite early its signs but only the sheep could
understand and subsequently the shepherd and not even the great scientist. Even the medical
practitioner would read the signs of physiology to diagnose. The better the reading of symptoms,
the better the diagnosis and hence the remedy.
Some years ago a bestselling novel appeared the literary, philosophical scene giving innumerable
thoughts including a new dimension to communication; the new dimension hitherto experienced
but not thought of as a possible regular dimension in communication. “The Alchemist” by Paulo
Coelho described various aspects of language including the language of the heart, language of
intuition, the sixth sense, the language that the inanimate objects of the world speak. To
understand this language or decipher the codes of this uncommon language one needs
tremendous insight into the psychology of mankind and understanding the ways of the world and

3. nature. The language is not completely alien to many humans who penetrate the soul of the
world and its metaphysical aspects as well as animals who understand the language of nature.
“The Alchemist” tells about the observation, intuition and perception. It shows how simple
movements of humans, animals, natural objects communicate various aspects of life and lessons
of life. It also manifests how inanimate objects can help man perceive a lot about life, fellow
humans and wisdom.
“Observe the caravan and listen to the wind.....” [1]
A well known senior business leader of the country RP Goenka known also for picking up
companies had a style of his own in earmarking the company for takeover. His sons, according to
him, would watch the figures and documents and he would prefer to listen to the people dealing
with the said company to know the exact thing and finally relied on his gut feeling. He was a
man known for being gifted an impeccable gut feeling that led him through complicated deals
and intrigues to victories and winning the support of his people. He would read beyond the
figures and see beyond the machineries; something a common eye cannot see or perceive before
taking a decision. This is how great leaders comprehend what is communicated beyond the
apparent.
The young boy around whom and whose learning the story revolves undertakes journey in search
of treasure and before the actual treasure of gold he gets the treasure of wisdom, universal
language, language of omens and inanimate matters
Yet, early had he started learning and understanding the language of the world through his sheep.
For a common eye sheep are sheep but for him they meant a lot including communicators about
life.

4. “Well, usually I learn more from my sheep than from books.” [2] He had the eye to perceive and
understand the language of sheep and their responses to various situations, their instincts were
translated into a language that he could perceive. Before Santiago was noticed by the Alchemist
and taken in as a disciple, he had already the signs and potential of learning the universal
language and this universal language seemed a greater treasure than the treasure of gold in the
church.
The entire novel began as a quest for treasure and gradually took the shape of quest for the
universal language, the understanding of the omens, perception about the communication of
inanimate objects and observing beyond the apparent.
“There must be a language that doesn’t depend on words, the boy thought. I’ve already had that
experience with my
Sheep, and now it is happening with people.” [3]
“And dreams are the language of God. When he speaks in our language....”. [4]
Santiago first became conscious of the language and tried to grasp it. Gradually he understood it
and the culmination reached when he too communicated to the elements of nature. This success
of perceiving or comprehending the language not spoken and beyond words started with his
consciousness followed by observation and understanding, listening to his heart and the intuition
and finally feeling one with everything.
In the managerial perspective, there has to be a Santiago in all the leaders and managers. They
have to learn to read the signs, comprehend beyond the apparent. Great business visionaries and
leaders have mastered this third dimension of communication. Speaking, writing, listening and
reading are the two dimensions of communication that common people can master with a little
practice but the third dimension of ‘reading and listening beyond’ cannot be mastered easily.

5. Tremendous observation, consciousness, objectivity amalgamated with wisdom can help one
reach there. This third dimension of communication is the most sustainable of skills of a leader,
skill that can
Convert common man into a leader, guide people and transform the situations.
As Santiago read the language of nature... observing the ground and the sky....presence of certain
bird communicated a snake in the vicinity, certain shrub communicated water in the area, leaders
have to read the language of their vicinity, their people and the world.
“Observed that there was sense of fear in the air, even though no one said anything. Once again
he was experiencing the language without words....the universal language”. [5]
“The caravan and the desert speak the same language, for that reason that the desert allows the
crossing.” [6]
“...the guides read the signs of the desert and how the soul of the caravan speaks to the soul of
the desert.” [7]
Actual freedom movement of India picked up when Gandhiji entered the scene and with his first
Satyagrah of Champaran. Before plunging into the movement, he had travelled the length and
breadth of the country to understand the soul of the nations. He saw beyond the mountains and
forests, read beyond the words and could comprehend no other person hitherto could about the
people, their woes, their psychology etc. He also had comprehended the British style of ruling
and oppressing and their laws beyond the batons poised as sceptres and black and white letters of
an act.
There have been many guides who guided the world and alchemists who turned simple metal
into gold.....here simple situation and people into purposeful vision and developing great people.
They all have learnt the third dimension of communication, the language beyond words and

6. perception beyond shapes and figures. There may not be set procedure for learning the third
dimension of communication but one can be observant, thoughtful, logical, inquisitive about
‘why’, ‘how’ and ‘what’, and filter things through the fine sieve of wisdom and develop a very
sustainable skill.
REFERENCES
1. Coelho Paulo, The Alchemist, Harper Collins India Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 1998 p. 78
2. Coelho Paulo, The Alchemist, Harper Collins India Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 1998 p. 13
3. Coelho Paulo, The Alchemist, Harper Collins India Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 1998 p. 6
4. Coelho Paulo, The Alchemist, Harper Collins India Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 1998 p. 4
5. Coelho Paulo, The Alchemist, Harper Collins India Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 1998 p. 80
6. Coelho Paulo, The Alchemist, Harper Collins India Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 1998 p. 82
7. Coelho Paulo, The Alchemist, Harper Collins India Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 1998 p. 83
© Dr. Harmik Vaishnav