Having reluctantly been pulled into debates about her life - both personal and professional - I've grown used to the extent of censure and praise she commands. But it's her poised indifference to both that I hold most in regard. Whether you are a fan or not, you can't deny the fact that Sonia Gandhi has some life lessons that everyone can follow and even Facebook Like. Here are some that work for me:

1. Be an unconventional leader
Take risks Sonia's leadership style stands out because it breaks long-standing stereotypes. A reluctant politician, she stunned all by declining the post of prime minister more than once. That very move made everyone look beyond her "phoren bahu" tag and show her some R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

Tip: Be confident enough to take risks and set examples. It will help increase visibility and establish brand YOU in your organisation.

2. Never say never
What most don't know is that Sonia wasn't ecstatic when Rajiv Gandhi quit his career as an airline pilot to enter politics in 1980. And she was even more perturbed when her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi's assassination in 1984 forced Rajiv to take up the prime minister's mantle. So, when Rajiv was assassinated in 1991 and she was asked to join the Congress, she declined several times over for the next seven years. She finally joined the party in 1997 and became its president.

Tip: Be open to taking on new challenges. You won't know where the new responsibility will take you if you don't try it out. And it's never too late to say "yes" and get noticed.

3. Communicate and communicate well
Breaking out of the "Italian on Indian soil" mould was probably one of the most difficult things for Sonia to do, considering her Hindi was heavily-accented and there were enough detractors in the opposition to play up the "foreigner" card. But instead of giving up, she worked on her language skills and became the force behind the pro-poor programmes of the Congress-led UPA government - an endeavour which took her to the mofussil villages of India where Hindi was the only language spoken. So much so, that this campaign helped Congress win elections again in 2009. How else could she be a three-time Lok Sabha member from Rae Bareli, the constituency in Uttar Pradesh, today?

Tip: Communicate in the right manner with the right people. Listen, learn and empathise with others - whether at work or in your family. Taking your listener's expectations into account in tailoring your interaction with them, helps to win their support and co-operation.

4. Reinvent yourself

See picture above… From small town Italian girl to one of the most powerful women in the world, Sonia Gandhi has come a long way. Need I say more?

Tip: Go beyond your JD (job description) and reinvent yourself to suit evolving needs - it will take you places.

5. Accept bricks & bouquets
Sonia has come under some of the worst criticism and the best praise in her 15-year political career. She has remained unfazed through both.

Tip: Be an optimist! See mistakes as learning opportunities and not as catastrophes from which you'll never recover.

Whatever her critics may say, Sonia has learnt her life lessons well. And there is nothing stopping us from learning ours as well. Do you think Sonia is an influential figure worth emulating? Leave us a comment and let us know.