LEADERSHIP BASICS:
Who is a leader? What it takes to be a leader? A leader is a person — like you and me —
who leads and guides through his/her
examplels, and finally takes us to the
common goal, i.e., his vision. It takes
confidence, fortitude, and courage to be a leader par excellence. Swami Vivekananda said: “If you have no
confidence, you have lost everything in life”. In other words, the greatest loss is loss of
self-cofidence. If you have confidence
you will dare to do anything, come hell or high water, you will succeed and be
a major force so powerful that it will consume everything in your path. That, my friend, is the key ingredient to be
a leader.
who leads and guides through his/her
examplels, and finally takes us to the
common goal, i.e., his vision. It takes
confidence, fortitude, and courage to be a leader par excellence. Swami Vivekananda said: “If you have no
confidence, you have lost everything in life”. In other words, the greatest loss is loss of
self-cofidence. If you have confidence
you will dare to do anything, come hell or high water, you will succeed and be
a major force so powerful that it will consume everything in your path. That, my friend, is the key ingredient to be
a leader.
Everyone’s dream is to
become a good leader in their respective fields, but what most of the people do
not know is that even a simple, ordinary team member can become a good
leader.
become a good leader in their respective fields, but what most of the people do
not know is that even a simple, ordinary team member can become a good
leader.
Let’s take for example a
King. He has an army to protect him, but
still, a king, whether he rules a small kingdom or big kingdom, learns all the techniques — hand-to-hand combat,
sword skills, wrestling and all forms of martial arts — and masters them,
why? Because, during a war, when his
commanders and soldiers are annihilated or at the point of losing the war, the
king intervenes and puts an end to all the enemies. He comes as the last resort and defeats
them. His people say, ” long live
the king!!”
King. He has an army to protect him, but
still, a king, whether he rules a small kingdom or big kingdom, learns all the techniques — hand-to-hand combat,
sword skills, wrestling and all forms of martial arts — and masters them,
why? Because, during a war, when his
commanders and soldiers are annihilated or at the point of losing the war, the
king intervenes and puts an end to all the enemies. He comes as the last resort and defeats
them. His people say, ” long live
the king!!”
Following the example of a
king, a leader should not think that he/she is here to lead the team without
lifting a finger, or without taking any responsibilty. It would be foolish for a leader to think
that he/she could lead a team without sweat and blood. Such a leader will be a failure, a total
failure. He will be confined to the
dustbin of history. Let’s say you are
the Boss of a company and, one of your employees in the course of executing a
task made a terrible mistake, and you, as a Boss of the company, should not wash your hands off and blame
him. A true Boss — irrespective of his
age or position of authority — humbly
puts himself in the position of that employee and shows him how to perform that
task in a correct way, and in doing so, the Boss proves that he/she is a
leader.
king, a leader should not think that he/she is here to lead the team without
lifting a finger, or without taking any responsibilty. It would be foolish for a leader to think
that he/she could lead a team without sweat and blood. Such a leader will be a failure, a total
failure. He will be confined to the
dustbin of history. Let’s say you are
the Boss of a company and, one of your employees in the course of executing a
task made a terrible mistake, and you, as a Boss of the company, should not wash your hands off and blame
him. A true Boss — irrespective of his
age or position of authority — humbly
puts himself in the position of that employee and shows him how to perform that
task in a correct way, and in doing so, the Boss proves that he/she is a
leader.
I would like to draw an
example from the animal kingdom. Take
for example, the mightly Lion (male). He is the king of the forests and asserts
his authority over other animals. Unlike
his counterpart, the Tiger, the lion hunts with his brute strength for his
food; he doesn’t depend upon other animals’ hard earned food. He, along with
the Queen of the forests, Lioness, bring down a buffalo or even an elephant and
eats his share (a male lion’s share) of the meal.
example from the animal kingdom. Take
for example, the mightly Lion (male). He is the king of the forests and asserts
his authority over other animals. Unlike
his counterpart, the Tiger, the lion hunts with his brute strength for his
food; he doesn’t depend upon other animals’ hard earned food. He, along with
the Queen of the forests, Lioness, bring down a buffalo or even an elephant and
eats his share (a male lion’s share) of the meal.
Tell me: Why the male lion
— not even the size of an Elephant or strong like a Rhinocerous — became a
king? The answer is in his confidence and courage. Look at the way a lion walks: there is
confidence in his steps and courage in his heart. He keeps his head up, chest out and ears
alert. That is a sign of leadership.
They lead the pride (group of lions) and assert dominance over them and other
animals.
— not even the size of an Elephant or strong like a Rhinocerous — became a
king? The answer is in his confidence and courage. Look at the way a lion walks: there is
confidence in his steps and courage in his heart. He keeps his head up, chest out and ears
alert. That is a sign of leadership.
They lead the pride (group of lions) and assert dominance over them and other
animals.
In conclusion, a leader
also motivates and inspires his people, sacrifices for the sake of his people.
He doesn’t seek his welfare, but for the
welfare of his people. He, my friends,
is a true leader.
also motivates and inspires his people, sacrifices for the sake of his people.
He doesn’t seek his welfare, but for the
welfare of his people. He, my friends,
is a true leader.
