Twitter
Advertisement

Traits of a leader, defined by leaders

These personalities tell how leadership is about simplicity and clarity of thought.

Latest News
article-main
These personalities tell how leadership is about simplicity and clarity of thought
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

One of things I love writing about is leadership through examples and experiences. And why so? Because for years I have been intrigued by how dense the notion of leadership has been in the gazillion books and speeches. Thanks to this column I have had the good fortune of speaking to so many personalities and realised how leadership is about simplicity and clarity of thought. So here I am with pickings of what some of my power turks think of leading.

Shashi Tharoor

"Money has never been able to motivate me. I got through both of the IIMs that existed in those days — I was first in the list for Calcutta and second in the list for Ahmedabad but I didn't actually take them up. I preferred studying international relations." He pursued the subject at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. While there, he received the Robert B. Stewart Prize for Best Student and also helped found and serve as the first editor of the Fletcher Forum of International Affairs. "From childhood I was always motivated by the idea of doing something for my country. I philosophically believed that the justification for being on this planet ought to be related to your ability to do something for the people around you. And so, I was active in the college union in the same spirit. I was an active debater, a writer."

Sadhguru

"Leadership is spiritual. Most of the population has come to this conclusion that spirituality is for those people who are not interested in life. They think if you have to be spiritual you should not eat, dress, or live properly. Spirituality means your interest in life has gone so deep that you want to know everything about life. You want to know not just the physical dimension of life — you want to know all of life. How can people who are trying to avoid life be spiritual? There is no chance because spirituality needs absolute involvement with everything."

Zia Mody

"I think winning in the right way is important. When I used to do litigation, many moons ago, there were times when you won a case and felt you should have lost. Or you lost a case where you were convinced that you should have won. The court has a different nuance and it all depends upon that moment." Zia gives importance to both emotional and intelligence quotient. "I believe that without the IQ, you won't enjoy respect. If you are average, the rest of the organisation won't respect you that much. EQ is important too. I believe women can deal with some situations by being less confrontational. They know how to be gentle in situations. And of course, the hormones are quieter. Smart women are much more intuitive. That can truly help in a legal profession."

K P Singh

"There will always be instances when you are faced with very challenging situations as a young person but as you approach life and your career put your mind to work and heed the head over the heart. I learnt this when I was in England and at times I wondered if my decisions were correct but at the end I realised all that 'accidents' of my life have benefitted me immensely. I also believe one needs to work passionately against all odds. I did that on many occasions in my life when people and powers that be were against me. I believed in myself, my ideas, and the beliefs I had set for myself. Follow your passion and guts by taking some calculated amount of risk and that will help anyone who is willing to change to achieve their ambition. Taking risks is an inherent part of the idea of entrepreneurship and leadership."

Kalpana Morparia

An important lesson along the ladder of learning is to be in sync with one's organisation. "If you are not completely in sync with the culture and objective of the organisation, if you are at war with yourself, you will not be an effective leader." Kalpana grew to realise how important the brand you represent is. Around this time India had just opened up, the industrial sector was looking to detach from the government and therefore induct new ideas and best practices to make it an organisation of the future. "If you feel the drive and the passion to meet the customer expectations that has allowed you to be in that business in the rest place, you will grow and lead."

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement