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Thomas J. DeLong teaches globally in a myriad of executive programs and consults with leading organizations on the process of making individual and organizational change. His 2011 book, Flying Without a Net: Turn Fear of Change into Fuel for Success, centers on the challenges of helping talented professionals who are resistant to change.

He is also the Philip J. Stomberg Professor of Management Practice in the Organizational Behavior area at the Harvard Business School. Before joining the Harvard Faculty, DeLong was Chief Development Officer and Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Group, Inc., where he was responsible for the firm’s human capital and focused on issues of organizational strategy and organizational change.

DeLong co-authored two books focused on leading professional service firms, When Professionals Have to Lead: A New Model for High Performance (Harvard Business School Press, 2007) and Professional Services: Cases and Texts (McGraw-Hill/Irwin 2003). DeLong has coauthored two Harvard Business Review articles, “Let's Hear It for B Players” and “Why Mentoring Matters in a Hypercompetitive World”. His 2011 series of articles in the Harvard Business Review focus on why high achieving professionals often unwittingly sabotage their effort to excel.

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India Untouchables Queen

How about reading and filling in the blanks?

Mayawat, a 55-year-old former teacher, …………………………………………. (be) a powerful Indian politician who currently ……………………………………… (head) India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh.

She …………………………………………. (be) known as the Untouchables Queen because she …………………………………………. (advocate) for the Dalits or "untouchables", who …………………………………………. (be) among India's poorest and most deprived people.

Last week the WikiLeaks website ………………………………….. (release) October 2008 cables that ……………………………………. (describe) her as "a first-rate egomaniac who …………………………………………. (be) obsessed with ……………………………. (become) prime minister."

"Last month she ……………………………………… (need) new sandals, so a jet …………………………………………. (fly) to Mumbai to retrieve her favorite brand"

"She ……………………………………… (build) a private road from her residence to her office. She ………………………….………. (use) it at least twice a day and it ……………………………………… (clean) immediately after her multiple vehicle convoy …………………………………………….. (reach) its destination."

"She …………………………………………… (employ) food tasters to guard her against poisoning"

"One minister …………………………………………… (force) to do sit-ups in front of Mayawati as a punishment for a minor offence"

"Those wanting to become election candidates for her party ………………………………… (have) pay tens of thousands of dollars for the privilege"

"At her birthday parties, top public figures, including police chiefs and politicians, often …………………………………………… (feed) her cake"

A spokesperson for Mayawati …………………………………………… (say) in a statement that those cables …………………………………………… (not carry) any authenticity.

Supporters of Mayawati …………………………………………… (say) she …………………………………………… (fill) them with a sense of pride and …………………………………………… (be) a source of inspiration to the millions of Dalits, or Untouchables, who have traditionally been forbidden from displays of well-being.

India …………………………………………… (be) awash with stories of corruption that …………………………………………… (trigger) a wave of street protests demanding tougher laws.




Think of questions to get the following answers






1. For the untouchables
2. Last week
3. As a first-rate egomaniac
4. To Mumbai
5. To go to her office
6. Twice a day
7. To guard her against poisoning
8. Tens of thousands of dollars
9. At her birthday parties
10. No, they can't. It's forbidden


adapted from Reuters