LEADERSHIP – the most used word in the corporate dictionary today but the least understood… Don’t

you think? 😊

Let me explain with an example:

The task– To climb a wall?

Manager A - I want you to climb the wall (I don’t care how you do it, just get it done)

Manager B - Let me know how we can get over this wall (I’m here for you if you need assistance or face
any difficulties when climbing the wall)
Both Managers get the job done; but who do you think is the leader in the above scenario? I would say
Manager B. While we mostly find Managers (and bosses) in workplaces there are very few LEADERS and
the difference is obvious. Recently I read a book about leadership and I was overwhelmed by a part of
the book which mentioned the fact that managers can actually change the entire personal and
professional development life cycle of their team, if only they transformed into LEADERS who genuinely
cared. This got me thinking, there have been so many amazing leaders like Nelson Mandela, Martin
Luther King Jr, Anna Durai, APJ Abdul Kalam etc. who have shown us how to lead & change the world in
the process, but how many “leaders” in corporates today show the traits of true leadership?

Being a leader, in the true essence, is the ability to be able to positively influence the people around
her/him to do better. The mark of a good leader is to appreciate ones who question wrongdoing (even if
it is on their part) instead of holding grudges. A Leader encourages learning and growth instead of
looking down on someone who makes mistakes or someone who isn’t a know-it-all. For the most part,
employees do not question the ways of their managers and accept what is being dished out to them
because of the simple fear of retribution. When we are led by a true leader, we feel safe, wanted,
respected and motivated which increases the urge to perform in terms of wanting to do better
intentionally as opposed to doing my job because I need the money.

A very famous leadership author in his book said “A leaders job is not to do the work for others; her/his
job is to help others figure out how to do it themselves and succeed beyond what they thought is
possible” even if it means failing multiple times. I understand that failure can sometimes mean loss, but
learning from those failures and helping overcome it is where the true skill of a leader lies.

There are some truly inspirational leaders in the world today who are helping reshape corporates to
accept that leadership skills are more important than getting the job done. Despite their efforts to
change the culture, there is still a lack of understanding of the difference between being a leader & a
manager and the true spirit is lost in translation.

We all have the capability of becoming a leader. The moment we start learning to care and help each
other by walking alongside our peers lending them a hand as they reach their goals and in the process
reach ours as well, we mature as a LEADER.

To conclude I would like to leave you with a famous saying by Lao Tzu” To lead people, walk behind
them”. Think about it.

HAPPY LEADERSHIP.