Authors:

Wali Zahid & Leadership Readiness Class (2006) MBA / MS SZABIST, Karachi

Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

The Leadership Readiness course

Leadership is a much written and talked about term. We have seen authors and management gurus talking about leadership styles, theories and even how great leaders worked to rise to the occasion to save the day for their nations. There are numerous articles and material available on internet as well. A simple search for the term leadership in Google will give you approximately 164,000,000 (164 million) results. So what is different about this course titled Leadership Readiness It is not about the above mentioned questions. It is about what it takes to become a leader. What factors are involved in shaping up a leader, in preparing him / her to take up the leadership role, getting him / her ready to be precise? It is a prologue to leadership or becoming a leader. In studying the various aspects of readiness and during various brainstorming sessions in class we 1 have developed few leadership readiness models. One of these being:

The A.B.C of Leadership Readiness

Leadership has its own ABC; that is different from the normal ABC. It is not as simple as the letter seems to be, it has a complete depth a new world to explore. Every word for a letter has its own meaning and they define the quality that a leader must have. Each letter has a word of its own and each word has its own meaning with reference to the leadership context. We tried brainstorming and gather different views and ideas amongst ourselves, and have collected as much possible words as we could come up with. Then in the context of leadership we have tried explaining those words or abilities that leaders posses. These are the qualities that one tremendous leader must posses. With these qualities person can be a better leader. ABC tells us all the hidden qualities of a leader. You will be amazed to read all the details and think of u as a leader and having those qualities. A-Z is just part of few of the qualities and the topic can still be researched over .

Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

A
Ability
Leaders need to have Ability: Knowledge, skill, experience, training and understanding necessary to perform the task successfully.

Accolade
Leaders need to be Accolade: A sign or expression of high praise and esteem for somebody.

Accommodate
Leaders need to have ability to Accommodate: To adjust actions in response to the needs.

Action Oriented
Leaders need to be Action Oriented: Openly supporting the process of doing something in order to achieve a purpose or willing to execute task.

Adaptability
Leaders need to have Adaptability: Able to adjust easily to a new environment or different conditions.

Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

Agile
Leaders need to be Agile: Able to move quickly and with suppleness, skill, and control or Able to think quickly and intelligently.

Alert
Leaders need to be Alert: Ready to deal with whatever happens, watchfull.

Ambitious
Leaders need to be Ambitious: Having strong desire to do something successfully.

Appreciation
Leaders need to have Appreciation: Feeling or expression of gratitude, a favorable opinion or value something.

Articulate
Leaders need to be Articulate: To express thoughts, ideas, or feelings coherently or clearly.

Authority
Leaders need to have Authority: Right to command, legitimate power.

Awareness
Leaders need to have Awareness: Having the sufficient Knowledge about the project / assignment to be performed and how the task can be achieved, well-informed about what is going on.

Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

B
Balanced
Leaders need to be Balanced: Stable and able to make rational judgments, taking into account all sides on their merits.

Bold
Leaders need to be Bold: Eager to face danger with a sense of confidence and fearlessness, daring.

Boost
Leaders need to have ability to Boost: Strengthen or encourage.

Brave
Leaders need to be brave: Having or showing courage, especially when facing danger, difficulty, or pain.

Bright
Leaders need to be bright: Showing ability to think, learn, or respond quickly. Cheerful and lively.

Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

C
Calculated
Leaders need to be calculated: Having a quality to consider a situation carefully and decide what is likely to happen.

Calm
Leaders need to be Calm: Not anxious; without anxiety or strong emotion.

Careful
Leaders need to be Careful: Watchful and protective about something or showing close attention to accuracy and detail.

Challenging
Leaders need to be Challenging: demanding physical or psychological effort of a stimulating kind.

Change
Leaders need to have a quality of Change: To become different, or make something or somebody different.

Character
Leaders need to have Character: The set of qualities that make somebody or something distinctive, especially somebody's qualities of mind and feeling; with an unusual or eccentric personality.

Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

Charisma
Leaders need to have Charisma: A gift or power believed to be divinely bestowed. Personal Magnetism; the ability to inspire enthusiasm, interest, or affection in others by means of personal charm or influence.

Comfortable
Leaders need to be Comfortable: Feeling comfort or ease. Free from stress or anxiety.

Command
Leaders need to have Command: Thorough knowledge of something.

Communicator
Leaders need to be Communicator: Having quality to transmit or reveal a feeling or thought by speech, writing, or gesture so that it is clearly understood.

Concerned
Leaders need to be Concerned: Attentive to and interested in something. Having an active role in or related to something.

Confident
Leaders need to be Confident: Certain of having the ability, judgment, and resources needed to succeed; presumptuous in manner.

Continual Learning
Leaders need to have Continual Learning: Uninterrupted and recurring acquisition of knowledge or skill.

Control
Leaders need to have Control: Ability or authority to manage or direct.

Cooperative
Leaders need to be Cooperative: Doing or willing to do what is asked or required, willing to help.

Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

Coordinator
Leaders need to be Coordinator: Responsible for organizing diverse parts of an enterprise or groups into a coherent or efficient whole.

Courageous
Leaders need to be Courageous: Having the ability to face danger, difficulty, uncertainty, or pain without being overcome by fear or being deflected from a chosen course of action.

Covering
Leaders need to be Covering: Having the ability to protects, hides, or covers something.

Creativity
Leaders need to have Creativity: Having the ability to develop new and original ideas or things.

Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

D
Daring
Leaders need to be daring: showing a courageous or courage combined with a willingness to take risks or attempt difficult or unconventional things.

Decision Making
Leaders need to have capability of decision making: Ability of making choices or reaching conclusions, especially on important political or business matters.

Deliver
Leaders need to Deliver: to provide or produce something or give a talk to an audience.

Dexterous
Leaders need to be Dexterous: mentally sharp or quick, skill in physical movement.

Dignity
Leaders need to have a Dignity: A proper sense of pride and self-respect.

Diplomacy
Leaders need to have Diplomacy: Skill and tact in dealing with other people.

Distinct
Leaders need to be Distinct: Clearly different and separate from others, very great in degree.

Diversity
Leaders need to have Diversity: Variety of something or a difference from what is normal.

Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

Dynamic
Leaders need to be Dynamic: Full of energy, enthusiasm, and a sense of purpose and able both to get things going and to get things done.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

E
Eagerness
Leaders need to have Eagerness: Expressing enthusiastic interest and expectation or an impatient desire to do something.

Educated
Leaders need to be Educated: well taught or has had a good education.

Effective
Leaders need to be Effective: Producing a result, especially the desired or intended result

Efficient
Leaders need to be Efficient: Capable of achieving the desired result with the minimum use of resources, time, and effort.

Eloquent
Leaders need to be Eloquent: saying something in a forceful, expressive, and persuasive way, expressing a feeling or thought clearly.

Energetic
Leaders need to be Energetic: Displaying great vigor or force.

Enthusiasm
Leaders need to have Enthusiasm: Passionate interest in or eagerness to do something.

Esteem
Leaders need to have Esteem: A high opinion and appreciation of somebody or something.
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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

Expressive
Leaders need to be Expressive: expressing a great deal of feeling and meaning.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

F
Faithful
Leaders need to be consistently trustworthy and loyal, especially to a person, promise, or duty.

Facilitating
Leaders need to make something easy or easier to do.

Fearless
Leaders need to be resolute in the face of dangers or challenges.

Fire in the belly

Leaders need to have a strong liking or enthusiasm for a subject or activity.

Flexible
Leaders need to be able to change or according to circumstances, or adaptable.

Focus
Leaders need to have concentrated effort or attention on a particular thing, the condition of seeing vision clearly.

Focused
Leaders need to be single-minded and determined.

Friendly
Leaders need to have a pleasant welcoming atmosphere.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

G
Genius
Leaders need to have exceptional intellectual or creative ability.

Gifted
Leaders need to have great natural talent or intelligence.

Gut
Leaders need to have courage or boldness.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

H
Harmony
Leaders need to bring a pleasing effect produced by an arrangement of different things, scenarios or actions.

Health
Leaders need to have soundness, vitality, and proper functioning of all his physical and mental organs.

Heart
Leaders need to have capacity for courage and determination, and also the ability to feel humane and altruistic feelings.

Humane
Leaders need to be showing the better aspects of the human character, especially kindness and compassion with an emphasis on respect for other people's views.

Humble
Leaders need to be feeling or showing respect and deference toward other people.

Humility
Leaders need to be the quality of being modest or respectful.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

I
Imaginative
Leaders need to be good at thinking of new ideas or at visualizing things that have never been seen or experienced directly and have the ability to form images and ideas in the mind, or to think of new things.

Initiative
Leaders need to have the ability to act and make decisions without the help or advice of other people.

Innovative
Leaders need to be creative, especially in the way that something is done.

Insightful
Leaders need to have a clear perception and the ability to see clearly and intuitively into the nature of a complex person, situation, or subject.

Integrity
Leaders need to have the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards.

Intellectual
Leaders need to have a highly developed ability to think, reason, and understand, especially in combination with wide knowledge.

Intelligent
Leaders need to be showing an ability to think and understand things clearly and logically.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

J
Jack of ALL
A leader needs to be jack of all trades so that he can fill any gap created by his subordinate.

Jargon Free
Leader need to speak in a simple language so that masses can understand.

Judgment
A leaders Judgment has to be accurate so that to make effective decisions.

Just
A leader needs to be just in their decision making.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

K
Keen
Leader needs a keen vision of the future, and should set goals accordingly.

Kind
For leadership, we need hearts. We need hearts to care, to empathize, to feel injustice, and to be passionate about righting wrongs.

Knowledgeable
Leaders are enthusiastic knowledge champions supported by top management.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

L
Leader
Leader leads from the right to the right for the right.

Let it out
Leader speaks out, the hidden truth.

Lively
A leader needs to be lively and spontaneous while responding.

Loyalty
Loyalty toward friends, co-workers, subordinates, and not in the least to your own principles, will be recognized by the ones who follow your acts. Enable others to achieve common aims and inspire loyalty.

Luck
Leaders do not rely on good luck only.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

M
Manageable
Leader need to manage their resources.

Mental readiness
Leader needs to be alert with their environment.

Mentoring
Leader need to mentor in order to nurture and grow their subordinates.

Moral
Leaders actively apply moral values to achieve enduring personal and organizational success.

Morale
Leader must have charisma to lift morale with a smile.

Motivation
Leader should motivate its subordinate through self-achievement.

Multi Dimensional
A leader needs to be multi dimensional rather than being on a single track.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

N
Noble
Great leaders are always noble in their respected field.

Norms
A leader should follow the norms and values of the society.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

O
Open minded
A leader needs to be open minded in terms of behavior, openness to ideas and accommodating to internal and external changes that are against the status quo.

Optimistic
A leader needs to be optimistic to think is a positive manner, this will enable the leader to identify the emerging trends and situation and use heat and noise to improve performance.

Organized
A leader needs to be organized to maintain the checklist of task imperative for successful completion of any task.

Out of the box

A leader needs to think out of the box in order to generate interest of his followers, innovation also helps the sustenance of organization. But at the same time the leader should be aware of the norms and culture.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

P
Passionate
A leader needs to be passionate, meaning he needs to have the fire in the belly to set challenging goals for himself/herself in life. Passion also leads to discipline and commitment beyond the call of duty.

Patient
A leader needs to be patient to achieve results, sometimes a long term strategy needs to be developed to achieve long term goals which may give edge over short term goals. Besides a leader who thinks in the long run helps in building necessary infrastructure.

Performance
A leader needs to gauge not only his superior's performance but also his own and based on feedback, the leader needs to improve his performance, its similar to leading by example .

Persistence
A leader needs to persist with his/her decisions/actions to achieve better results. Perseverance leads leader and his followers to a stable position.

Powerful
A leader needs to be powerful in his actions; behaviors and speech to maintain discipline within his/her followers.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

Practical
A leader needs to be practical; he/she needs not to make castles in air as mere conjectures leads a leader and his followers astray. Also too much planning without implementation is costly and time consuming and may create a reputation for vacillation.

Precise
A leader needs to be precise when delegating work and responsibilities. This saves the time of a leader as every second is precious for a leader.

Priority
A leader needs to execute things based on priorities, this will enable him/her to set a criterion and maintain a checklist of execution. Here he/should take in the collective priorities of people and not his individual one's.

Probing
A leader needs to be probing to investigate any discrepancies or hiccups within the system.

Promptness
A leader needs to take a prompt action in need of difficult time; alertness and tactfulness are the concomitants of promptness.

Punctual
A leader needs to be punctual to set the behaviors of others in the right direction.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

Q
Quality
A leader needs to create quality systems and processes.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

R
Rational
A leader needs to be rational, he should be aware of the short coming of himself and his followers.

Ready
A leader should be ready to face any daunting task or any challenging assignment, In fact this word encompasses myriad factors of leader readiness for example ready to lead, ready to transform and so on.

Realistic
A leader needs to be realistic; he/she should not be overconfident.

Reasonable
A leader needs to be reasonable at times; it is more concerned with ettiqutes of a leader that is a mirror image of a leader.

Recognition
A leader needs to recognize the efforts of others and should also recognize his efforts to gain confidence but not publicly.

Reliable
A leader needs to be a reliable person as he/she is the one leading others.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

Risk Taker
A leader should be a risk taker meaning he is willing to sacrifice things to achieve much bigger things.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

S
Sincere
A leader needs to be sincere not with himself/herself, only then he/she can gain the trust of followers.

Situation
A leader needs to access the situations to take advantage of that situation, meaning a leader should be a good situation reader to make a move before others do.

Skilled
A leader should be skilled, only then he/she can properly guage the work of people working under him.

Smart
A leader needs to be a smart thinker , anything smart in terms of physical is a value added feature but a leader needs to utilize it smartly also.

Strategy
Leaders always strategize, to conduct things in order.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

T
Tactful
A leader must be tactful in order to tackle the hurdles that come in the way of success.

Talented
A leader should be talented enough to analyze the problem and keep track of the progress.

Task Oriented
A leader must visualize its current progress and tend to complete the goals it has set.

Team Player
A leader must always take its followers along with it and be completely participative.

Technique
A leader must have techniques to accomplish something out of nothing or make things happen.

Temperament
A leader must have a temperament in order to cope up with the mistakes other make and find out solutions.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

U
Understanding
A leader must have the capability to understand its mate.

Unique
A leader must give out a unique style of leadership. Whatever it may deliver must be different and bold.

United
A leader must keep its team united together. United on the thoughts, support and in both ups and downs.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

V
Versatile
A leader's action may be versatile. Every member in the team needs different way to be dealt or communicated.

Victorious
A leader must be goal oriented. And attain victory at any cost.

Vision
A leader must have a clear vision of where it is heading for? And what is going to be the outcome? Is it going to be what it thought before or not?

Volunteer
A leader itself must volunteer for different or difficult task; so, as to boast the overall courage and reduce the fear of danger.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

W
Will
For a leader, Will is the weapon to strive in all circumstances for success.

Wise
A leader must be wise enough to make the right decisions at right times and keeping the consequences calculated.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

Z
Zest
It is the endless enthusiasm for a leader which takes him up in the sky of victory.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

About the Author

Wali Zahid is an international consultant, speaker, trainer and executive coach. He has spoken to audiences in Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Western Europe, England and the United States. Wali has trained thousands of managers and business leaders in the past 15 years from most Fortune-500 companies. His leadership and training of trainers workshops have been a crowd puller. His branded workshops include Leadership for CEOs, Women in Leadership, Leadership Readiness and Leadership Derailments. A lifelong learner, Wali has received training and education in America, Canada, UK, Germany, Austria and Singapore. He is an accredited leadership trainer from Team Management Systems, Australia. He has also taught pioneering courses at MBA level in Pakistans premier business schools like IBA Karachi and Szabist. He is member of UKs Institute of Directors, Chartered Management Institute, Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, Chartered Institute of Marketing and American Management Association. Currently, he is working as Director of Management Development Services at British Council, Karachi and can be reached at wali.zahid@gmail.com.

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

Contributors
Name Aafrin Khizra Niazi Age 23 yrs About Me BCS (Bachelor of Computer Science) from Al-Khair University. Doing MBA with majors in HRM from SZABIST. Working in Faysal Bank Limited. Will move HR Ammar Farooq 34 yrs department after MBA. Working in IT field since 1995, with a graduate degree from FAST Lahore in Computer Sciences. Currently enrolled in last semester of MBA program at SZABIST. Bushra Ubaidullah Bhurgri 26 yrs Graduated (BE in Computers) from Sir Syed University of Engg & Tech. Currently in the 3rd semester of MBA at SZABIST. Majoring in HRM. bushrabhurgri2001@yahoo.com ammarfarooq@yahoo.com Contact aniazi786@yahoo.com

Faisal Shamim Naik

31 yrs

Working in IT and Telecommunication field since 1999, with a graduate and a post graduate degree in Computer Sciences. Currently enrolled in last semester of MBA program at SZABIST. Graduate degree in Computer Sciences from SZABIST. Currently enrolled second last semester of MBA program in HR at SZABIST.

fnaik1@gmail.com

Faisal umer

25 yrs

faisal_ars@hotmail.com

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

Farhana Zia

23 yrs

Graduated (BE in Computers) from Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology. Presently in MBA third semester at SZABIST with majors in HRM.

farhana109@hotmail.com

Hisham Aurangzeb

24 yrs

Bachelors in Software Development from Hamdard University Karachi; An Oracle Certified Professional with sound knowledge of Databases and the Technology. To improve my management skills, joined SZABIST for an MBA with majors in HR. Working for Deloitte M. Yousuf Adil Saleem & Co. Chartered Accountants in HR Department. Also work as a free lance visualizer and graphic designer. Qualified as BBA (Hons.) from BIM&CS and certified as a 3-D Animator from Arena Multimedia. Currently enrolled in MBA/MS program at SZABIST, KHI. Working as IT Coordinator Sind for Ministry of Environment (Government of Pakistan) on implementation of SMART project. Graduated (BCS) from SZABIST in 2005, presently in 2nd semester of MBA program with majors in HRM. Attached with Banking Industry since 2000, having past flavor of Citibank & currently designated as Relationship Manager in Human Resources at Bank Alfalah Limited, holding a Masters in International Relations, MBA (Marketing) & M-

hishamtheleo@hotmail.com 0333-2241882

Mirza Faizan Baig

27 yrs

mirzafaizanbaig@gmail.com

Omar Hafeez

24 yrs

omarhafeez21@hotmail.com

Shahla Surhyo

30 yrs

surhyoshahla@yahoo.com

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

Phil in IHRM is in progress at SZABIST under feather of Shehnaz Shalwani 23 yrs Northamton UK. BCS and MCS from SZABIST. Right now pursuing MBA in Human Resource final semester. After completing MBA in HR. I have passion to work with HR department of a good multinational where I can learn and apply my skills. My hobbies Shiraz Ahmed 29 yrs include music, TV and reading. Working in HR & Management since 1999, with PGD in Public Administration, Masters in HRM and a Certified HR Professional, currently enrolled in MS program at SZABIST. Syed Fida Marvat Currently doing MBA from SZABIST Karachi. And serving in PAF as Flight Lieutenant. BE, Aeronautical Engineering PAF Academy Risalpur /NUST. lion.of.khyber@gmail.com shirazvohra@yahoo.com shehnaz83@gmail.com

Tabassum Nadeem

45 yrs

Serving in Pakistan Navy in the HR department for PN Civilian Employees as number two. Joined Navy in 1979 as a junior Cadet (after matriculation). By profession submariner. BSc (Hons) in Naval Sciences and Bsc (Hons) in War Studies from K U. Currently enrolled in 4th semester of MBA program at SZABIST.

cdr_tabassum@yahoo.com

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Anatomy of Leadership Readiness

Umer Irfan

25 yrs

Currently doing MBA in HR from SZABIST Karachi. Have done BS (IT) from Assumption University Bangkok. Worked at UNHCR Bangkok as Coordinator for a year.

umerirfan@yahoo.com

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