As I think about the essence of leadership, the first thing that comes to
mind is that different circumstances sometimes throw up leaders that are right
for that time and situation. But even if you hold aside the situational leader,
there are many threads in common for those who lead through all seasons, and I’ll
share a few through some key quotes.
"All progress owes itself to the demands of the unreasonable man".
To be reasonable is to accept the status quo, to accept small gains. You must be
unreasonable – have a vision, a change in agenda, something that most people
would not see or be willing to push. So look around you — what do you see
changing that requires a different approach? Learn to pick up on the weak
signals — change descends equally on everyone, but a few realize it faster
than others. These few see a technology shift, a social shift, an industry shift
and seize the agenda. So go explore the boundaries of knowledge. Be like a
jigsaw puzzle player who sees the full picture the fastest. And be unreasonable
in demanding from yourself and others the effort it would take to change the
status quo.
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"Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn’t have to do it
himself". This skeptical view has checked many a leader in his or her
tracks. Leadership can only be successful by example. If you expect hard work
from others, you have to work the hardest. If you expect breakthroughs, you have
to show a few yourself. There is no room in the world for "empty
suits" and never let a formal designation lull you into thinking you no
longer have to personally contribute. So always balance your time between
directing and excelling as an individual performer in whichever aspect you can
do well at.
"If it is not important to make a decision, it is important not to make
a decision." There is this stereotype of this macho leader spewing a
barrage of decisions. The reality could not be more the opposite. You have to
learn to live with ambiguity for about as long as needed, able to balance the
action list with "no regret", "hedge the outcome" and
"full steam ahead" moves. There are only two ways to get this mix
right. First, use a lot of data for every decision. Irreconcilable differences
vanish when enough data is mined. Second is, listen — respectfully and with an
open mind to your team. And here the diversity of your team is truly an asset.
Foster the differences in perspective, and since this is so critical, weed out
yes men and foster people who are unafraid to tell you the unvarnished truth.
In the jungles outside Bangalore there are many elephant camps where one can
see huge elephants chained to a tiny stake. I wondered why the elephants do not
just pull them out of the ground. I was told that as calves when they are tied
to this stake, they try very hard to pull, but cannot, and reconcile themselves
to being tied down by the stake. But as they grow bigger and stronger, they are
mentally still tied to that stake and do not even try to break free. This then
brings me to the next leadership idea — have an infinite faith in yourself.
The problem in being a leader is that there is no one to say "well
done", no one to reconfirm your agenda against the whirlwinds of
uncertainty you face every day. There is only you. And the good news is that
just you is enough.
I will end with something I learnt from Jack Welch, former chairman of
General Electric. He said that he loved international trips, because every time
he got on the flight on the way home, he would pretend that he had just been
appointed CEO, that this was his first day at the office and that the guy before
him was quite a dud. He would come up with scores of things he would do
differently as the new leader. And this brings me to my last leadership idea —
always reinvent yourself, never being afraid to challenge your own past and your
own success.
So in a nutshell, catch the wave of change, for therein lies opportunity, be
unreasonable in terms of your expectations, demand of yourself more than of
others, have an infinite faith in yourself, never be reluctant to change
yourself and when success swoons at your feet "always take your job
seriously, but never take yourself seriously".
Vivek Paul
The author is CEO, Wipro Technologies