Leadership

We learn a lot about various styles and theories of Leadership. The success or failure of an organization depends upon the ability of its leaders to a great extent.

I heard an interesting story on the same subject a couple of days back on Radio FM and am sharing it here.

A renowned MNC carries out annual appraisal of its employees. One senior team leader does not take a single day off saying that his work and team need him; while his counterpart takes all the eligible leaves ensuring that, his team is self driven and knows how to fulfil its responsibilities even in his absence.

Can anyone guess who among these two guys gets a promotion?

The first guy who does not take any leave is not appreciated because of his team's overdependence on him and lack of his ability to have groomed them to function in his absence; while the second guy is appreciated to have developed a great team that knew how to accomplish team objectives even in his absence. So the second guy is promoted.

Leadership is not about being indispensable, it’s rather about developing proficient leaders, without the fear of them replacing you.

A few do’s and dont’s for a competent leader:

Do’s :

1. Lead from the front (remember Shivaji and Akbar).  

2. Ensure clarity of goals and roles. 

3. Share credit for good work with team mates and peers.
4. Take responsibility for failures.
5. Keep the team motivated.
6. Lead by example/ act as a role model.
7. Welcome new ideas and encourage thinking. 
8. Foster talent and develop leaders.

 Dont’s :

1. Use team members only for his own growth or benefit. 

2. Misuse team members (eg- pressurising a team mate to claim boss's expenses through his account).
3. Present a subordinates project as his own.
4. Favour those team mates who use flattery / do personal work to climb the ladder.
5. Use pressure and politics as a regular weapon to get results.

Remember, that there is no law of jungle out there and hence, might is not right.

The 6th US President John Quincy Adams so aptly said,

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

Let's aspire to be such leaders.