Looking for the catalyst

With the landscape marred with scenarios like recession calls for better management. For a clear leader it becomes important to help himself and others to find answers to questions that will help them deal with the bad scenario. Finding an answer alone is not alone important but also the ability to help others to find the answer as well is important as it will lead them to a new realization could lead the foundation of a new change. Hence, leadership skills in uncertain times comes handy. Speaking to an enthralled audience at the morning session of Day 2 at NASSCOM India Leadership Summit 2013, Ram Charan, Business Advisor and Author enlightened on leadership skills in uncertain times.

Catalyst of Change
Charan began his speech saying, "My job is to pinpoint a catalyst but the main mantra is to think outside the box and at higher altitudes. Now the question would be - What is a catalyst? Take for example, the election of a new finance minister that sends in hope of new policies, funds, etc. And later on appointment he goes to places like Singapore, Hong Kong, etc, seeking FDI which in turn sends hope. And this in turn acts as a catalyst."

Moving to technology, he pointed out that MP3 was invented in Germany but the Japanese leveraged on it. It is a wrong belief that technology will change everything. No. There can be no change until and unless there is a catalyst and the these catalysts are none other than the people involved.
It has been observed in CEOs who are witnessing good times that they accept the ups and downs as a customary fact. And their manner of viewing at scenarios is from a point of 20 years of consideration . Positions change but not the difficulties.

In a certain company at a meeting, one employee is asked to describe a situation that proved favourable or any success that he faced. Later the catalyst was then pinpointed for that particular situation. At the next meeting it was a second employee, a new scenario and a different catalyst altogether. This enabled the company to help its employees to find catalysts and also change the way of looking at things.

5 point strategy
There is a 5 pronged strategy to lead in uncertain times, which is as follows-
1. Find the catalyst.
2. Get the anchor of the future.
3. Segregate the knowns and the known unknowns.
4. There is talent inside the company, the leader needs to figure that out.
5. After putting across all these facts, the leader needs to take requisite steps.

On a final note
On a final note, Charan mentions that looking at the world through multiple lenses provides a different perspective and a catalyst helps leaders deal with the scenario better. But the challenge is to find the catalyst.