LEADER

Written by

Brij Sachdeva 

The Mark of a True Leader 

Ordinary people naturally look to leaders for guidance in their life situations. Whether it is a king, a statesman, a public administrator, a parent, or a teacher, each is considered a leader who can educate and guide their dependents through practical conduct.

Anyone can become a leader, but not everyone has the qualities of a leader. A true leader possesses leadership qualities. On the one hand, a leader has to be able to convince the people of his/her idea; on the other hand, if he/she cannot convince them, then he/she has to be courageous enough to feel sorry and accept that he/she may be wrong. A true leader never says no to any challenge that comes their way. He/she is not disappointed due to failure. He/she tries again and again and never gives up. A leader should always try to make intimate relationships with his people and be helpful in their difficult times. True leadership happens as a consequence of love, sacrifice, devotion and kindness.

Leadership Qualities 

Self-development

Leadership is a process of self-development. Being genuine to who you are is fundamental to the role of a leader. As a leader, you have to be clear, confident and consistent about your idea of who you are. You cannot become a successful leader without thoroughly understanding your self-image and self-concept, including how you perceive your strengths, weaknesses, beliefs, and values. Self-actualisation is achieved through self-concept clarity, which is a by-product of self-analysis. The more you know yourself, the more you know others. The more you know others, the more you know yourself. This is a kind of feedback loop that enhances self-awareness and self-worth, to become congruent with the ideal self. Therefore, interpersonal communication plays a great role in the process of self-development. True leadership qualities are established when a leader reaches the full potential of self-development where self-concept, self-worth and ideal self all synchronise and become complementary to one another.

Moderation

A true leader is an effective moderator. If a father has one excessively aggressive child and another calm, peaceful, tolerant, and non-violent, his role as a leader is to act as a moderator. If the father possesses true leadership qualities, he tries to calm the aggressive child and, at the same time, encourages the tolerant one to become assertive. But a father lacking leadership qualities goes on giving endless concessions to an aggressive child to avoid conflict, neglecting the needs and rights of the tolerant one, knowing that the tolerant sibling is unlikely to resist.

Vision

A leader sees the big picture and inspires others through his vision. He/she has a vision about how the world is and how it ought to be.

Integrity

A true leader upholds the principles of honesty, ethics, and consistency without compromise. His/her integrity is less congruent with the variable moral standards of  society but more congruent with his/her own truth. His integrity is the ‘integrity beyond morality’ because his truth is the only priority. He/she can compel obedience but only Integrity earns lasting respect.

Empathy

Empathy lies at the core of leadership. An effective leader understands people and cares genuinely.

Decision Making

A leader makes confident and timely decisions.

Inspiration

He/she motivates and encourages others to grow. His/her motivation is not just administering the injection of willpower, but it is based on understanding and reality.

Communication

He/she listens well and communicates clearly. The art of listening is the core of leadership quality. Effective listening improves outcomes. 

Leadership by Example

The leader takes responsibility and leads by example. A leader’s credibility depends on whether his or her conduct matches what is preached. He/she sets an example by doing what is expected  from others. A leader who fails to practise what he preaches undermines his own credibility. For example, a person who smokes cannot convincingly persuade others to give up smoking. Effective leadership begins with leading by example.

In the Bhagavad Gita, chapter-3 shloka-21, Shri Krishna explains, “Whatever a great person does, others follow; whatever standard he sets, the world pursues.”

Resilience

He/she stays calm and persistent in challenges.

To be continued…….(still incomplete)