That this Q about leadership is an enigma even now in the twenty-first century in itself tells us that the subject is beyond discussion – or in other words the subject could evoke endless ‘discussions’. Leadership exists in the animal world too. It is thus safe to presume that the traits for a leader have evolved with mankind itself. And yet after tens of thousands of years we are still trying to define a leader!!!
We were all in our Blue Patrol dress. As a pre dinner routine that evening some of us Keen Kumars were gathered around our Corps Commander. Senior officers of the Indian Army were making small talk. A colonel in a tight fitting patrol dress broached the subject of ceremonial dresses with all the accoutrements and their futility in the ‘modern’ times. The General looked at the colonel and then sweeping a glance at all of us gathered around asked - “How do I stand out in this crowd without my epaulettes and accoutrements? If I do not wear them I will not be recognized as your Corps Commander and as your leader, whereas a Lalu Prasad Yadav will be recognized as a leader even in his vests!”
There are both ‘born’ leaders and ‘made’ leaders. Every person comes into this world with certain traits. She modifies / improves upon these and acquires more traits from the environment in the process of growing up. A leader is essentially created by circumstance. The circumstance may throw up a leader and when it does, we say a leader is ‘born’! Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King fall in this category. Alternately a potential leader is introduced to a circumstance and thus, a leader is ‘made’. Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw, Admiral Ronnie Pereira, MS Dhoni and for that matter Major Riesman (Lee Marvin) in the movie The dirty dozen, are examples of leaders introduced to a circumstance. A leader is a person who guides others towards a common goal. A common goal is created by the circumstance. There can’t be a leader without a circumstance. A leader then shows the way and guides the led towards the common goal. The success or failure of a leader is determined by her capability to use the by now ingrained traits in leading the group to achieve its goal. The bottom line is that he who succeeds is a good leader…’’what may have been’ is never part of any equation!!!!
There are volumes and more volumes written on leadership qualities, skills and traits. It is a subject taught in military academies and all B schools. This is one subject that should to be removed from any academic dispensing – Abraham Lincoln, Robin Hood, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, MS Dhoni et al never attended any class on leadership. Any discussion on these traits / qualities will be repetitive, mundane and purposeless.
One other point I want to make is that a successful manager or a boss need not necessarily be a leader of any quality.
We were all in our Blue Patrol dress. As a pre dinner routine that evening some of us Keen Kumars were gathered around our Corps Commander. Senior officers of the Indian Army were making small talk. A colonel in a tight fitting patrol dress broached the subject of ceremonial dresses with all the accoutrements and their futility in the ‘modern’ times. The General looked at the colonel and then sweeping a glance at all of us gathered around asked - “How do I stand out in this crowd without my epaulettes and accoutrements? If I do not wear them I will not be recognized as your Corps Commander and as your leader, whereas a Lalu Prasad Yadav will be recognized as a leader even in his vests!”
There are both ‘born’ leaders and ‘made’ leaders. Every person comes into this world with certain traits. She modifies / improves upon these and acquires more traits from the environment in the process of growing up. A leader is essentially created by circumstance. The circumstance may throw up a leader and when it does, we say a leader is ‘born’! Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King fall in this category. Alternately a potential leader is introduced to a circumstance and thus, a leader is ‘made’. Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw, Admiral Ronnie Pereira, MS Dhoni and for that matter Major Riesman (Lee Marvin) in the movie The dirty dozen, are examples of leaders introduced to a circumstance. A leader is a person who guides others towards a common goal. A common goal is created by the circumstance. There can’t be a leader without a circumstance. A leader then shows the way and guides the led towards the common goal. The success or failure of a leader is determined by her capability to use the by now ingrained traits in leading the group to achieve its goal. The bottom line is that he who succeeds is a good leader…’’what may have been’ is never part of any equation!!!!
There are volumes and more volumes written on leadership qualities, skills and traits. It is a subject taught in military academies and all B schools. This is one subject that should to be removed from any academic dispensing – Abraham Lincoln, Robin Hood, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, MS Dhoni et al never attended any class on leadership. Any discussion on these traits / qualities will be repetitive, mundane and purposeless.
One other point I want to make is that a successful manager or a boss need not necessarily be a leader of any quality.
nicely written.
ReplyDeleteAnother great example is of Michael Abrashoff, a Naval Cdr who "ship shaped" a run down frigate by his ldr ship. I am sure you have read about Michael A-- if not I urge you to google/ youtube him. Having been in a non military env for almost a decade, i see the same rules apply here as well-- a pat works better than a slap-- knowing your stuff will always earn you acceptance and respect...and so on
Neeraj Tandon F/55
Thanks for the comments. Will gootgle and take a look
ReplyDeleteKelly F/42