How to be a leader

In most organisations, employees are promoted to a leadership role for being good at the job they were doing. But think about it, isn’t leadership another ball game altogether.  

An innovative software developer, who blazed through with rapid solutions to software problems may not necessarily make a great managing director or CEO. Managing people is a complex process. Very rarely are the people picked for the top job, trained to manage people. Communication, motivation and managing a workforce, needs a lot of grit and planning.  

Many of them, who are suddenly promoted to a leadership position begin to unconsciously impose on their subordinates what their bosses had imposed on them. They saw their bosses manipulate employees and they tend to do the same.

The word manipulation, has a negative connotation and is in no way the same as motivation. It is all about how you get others to do what you want them to do, to serve your vested interests and showing your boss how you arm twisted them into new targets or cutting salaries to let the profit graph ascend. But, motivation is getting someone to do what needs to be done the way he/she wants to do it. Instead of using manipulation, identify how you can motivate your subordinates in a positive way. Every action of the boss, determines the well being of the employees. It is foolish to lose such a wonderful opportunity to impact other people’s lives. 

Leaders have to lead by example. They have to walk the talk, only then will others follow. They must also create the right environment. If the teams you’re trying to energise and motivate are splintered mentally, no change will happen. They will indulge in unwanted petty politics, backbite and torpedo your plan to help them. So first repair the environment. Remove the underlying anger, resentment, jealousy and other negative self-destructive behaviour. Once that is done, check on the other aspects such as whether the workplace is clean and do the employees have all the necessary facilities.  

Writer W Somerset Maugham said, “The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistical and self-complacent is erroneous. On the contrary, it makes them for the most part humble, tolerant and kind. Failure makes people cruel and bitter.” Leaders never allow people to fail.

Ramesh Menon is a journalist and corporate trainer