In the bustling city of Rajkot, a small yet ambitious dermatology company, UBIK Solution Group, is redefining leadership in the healthcare industry under the guidance of its CEO, Ilesh Khakhakhar. Since its inception in 2003, UBIK has carved a niche in dermatology by focusing not just on delivering high-quality products but also on nurturing a culture of innovation and people-centric leadership.
Khakhakhar’s journey is about managing a successful company that embodies the principles of emotional intelligence (EQ).
Sharing His User’s Manual
I’ve long preached the idea that all leaders—in fact, all employees—should create a “user’s manual.” A short guide that explains their personality, work style and strengths, and yes, even quirks, so that their team members and peers would know how to best work with them.
Most examples of these that I’ve seen consist of a short one-pager or simple digital Google Doc. However, Khakhakhar took the production of his manual to the extreme: eight pages, professionally printed in four-color. The “packaging” alone of his guide tells everyone just how serious he is about self-awareness and even vulnerability.
Crafted with insights from the CliftonStrengths assessment and feedback from key team members, his manual includes an honest account of his strengths, weaknesses, and “known defects.” His signature strengths include Strategic, Input, Communication, Leadership, and Command. His weaknesses include Anger, Anti-Social, and being a “cellcoholic.”
Further, he shares his most productive times of the day (early afternoon and early evening), his preferred communication channel (Whatsapp, not a phone call), and that it’s OK to remind him of your message if he doesn’t respond immediately. The back cover even gives the results of his latest 360 survey for all to see.
Not limited to his direct reports, Khakhakhar, shares his User’s Manual with all employees (including new joiners) and even their vendor partners.
The real power of workplace user manuals is the process required to create them. Few leaders take the time to analyze their strengths, seek feedback from others, and fewer still have the professional courage to share it all openly.
Managing Emotions: Respond Don’t React
Reactive leaders lose control and express negative emotions—frustration, anger, anxiety—openly and without filters when experiencing pressure or stress. They react impulsively instead of responding thoughtfully. Due to emotional contagion, their failure to regulate negative emotions ripples out to those around them.
The EQ skill of managing emotions, naturally follows after mastering awareness of one’s emotions. It’s about self-regulation–learning to pause and respond, instead of reacting without thinking.
Khakhakhar described his approach to self-management. “I value maintaining control and staying composed, especially in challenging situations,” he said. “My approach includes identifying the triggers of these emotions, taking a moment to step back from the situation, and finding constructive ways to express feelings.”
EQ and Social Awareness
Social awareness, one of the four key EQ skills, is the ability to accurately perceive and understand the emotions of others. It’s like having an emotional radar, allowing you to pick up on subtle cues like body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. This “sixth sense” enables you to grasp the underlying emotional currents in a room, recognize unspoken needs, and anticipate how your words and actions might impact those around you.
Khakhakhar’s approach involves observing without judging, which helps him connect deeply with people’s experiences and emotions. “I always try to put myself in the other person’s shoes, regardless of the situation,” he explains. “It has become a habit to observe without evaluating or judging.”
EQ and Relationship Management
Relationship management, another cornerstone of EQ, involves navigating the complexities of human interaction. It’s about building and nurturing strong, healthy relationships through effective communication, conflict resolution, and mutual respect. It’s the “people skills” component of EQ. Those with strong relationship management skills are masters of influence, able to inspire, motivate, and guide others.
Khakhakhar offered three specific “rules” for relationship management.
- Law of Reciprocity – “I always make sure that first investment as a leader in any relationship should be made by me,” he explained. “Without expecting anything in return, I invest time, effort, money, and energy.”
- Authenticity – People can sense fakeness and phoniness; authenticity drives trust and enables people to feel that they can safely share their authentic selves.
- Act Like It’s Day One – Remember the initial effort you put in, the thoughtful gestures, and the genuine curiosity you showed? Bring that same energy to every interaction, no matter how long you’ve been together.
Ultimately, Khakhakhar explained that it comes down to creating positive cycles of mutual respect, and mutual benefit, not just the pursuit of immediate gains.
Taking Action
UBIK’s success under Khakhakhar’s leadership is a powerful illustration of how emotional intelligence can lead to a thriving culture and substantial business results. His leadership style not only sets a benchmark for CEOs in healthcare but also across industries.
Consider your own EQ journey, starting with self-awareness. Begin with one of the many validated assessments available online including VIA strengths, open source personality tests, and emotional intelligence tests. Ask trusted friends and colleagues what they consider your strengths and weaknesses. After reflection, create and share your own “Working with Me User’s Manual” and share it freely.
Kevin Kruse is the Founder + CEO of LEADx, an emotional intelligence training company. Kevin is also a New York Times bestselling author. His latest book is Emotional Intelligence: 52 Strategies to Build Strong Relationships, Increase Resilience, and Achieve Your Goals.