"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn
more, do more and become more, you are a leader." - John Quincy Adams
The above quote is essential to introduce my concept of
leadership. If we breakdown this quote into short segments and analyze it, it
will lead to a more deep view of what my perception and aspiration of
leadership is.
This quote primarily talks about not words, not thoughts,
not opinions and not intentions but actions which are most effective when we
need to play our role of a leader effectively.
I firmly believe in this very popular phrase “Actions speak
louder than words” and they are a proof or evidence which can be cognitively
perceived by every person and evaluated well to understand the principles
his/her leader lives by and propagates. Actions provide living examples, which
are shared and told to the many people we come across, the lesson gets
imprinted more vividly and clearly in our minds and the result of the actions
also help us in making the right choices ourselves when a similar situation
shows up in our own lives.
As it is said, "Leadership is practiced not so much in
words as in attitude and in actions." - Harold S. Geneen
Hence I believe that actions are the culmination of the attitude
that a man/women possesses and which is visible in big as well as small actions
of the person. It is the attitude which acts as the impetus for courageous,
unbiased, innovative and positive leadership.
Moving further, actions inspire others. Looking at the likes
of Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Junior whose stories we
have been listening since ages and generations to come will also be in awe of
these great leaders of the world, we can say that all of us at some time have
been inspired by them and many more great leaders we have come across in our
daily lives. They inspire us to think the impossible, do the undoable and be
the most magnificent being that you can be In this lifetime.
Being a great leader is a choice that one makes, it is not a
bed of roses but a field of thorns as there are many looking up to you for
strength, support and sound reason.
"The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not
rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy;
be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without
folly." - Jim Rohn
It is a tight rope on which one has to walk, a narrow bridge
which when one crosses goes down in history and people’s heart. I believe and I
practice the above phrase as far as possible because balance is in behavior, in
decisions, in actions is extremely important.
"Leadership should be born out of the understanding of
the needs of those who would be affected by it." - Marian Anderson
If you have been chosen as the leader by a group of people
it is mostly because they trust you, your actions and feel comfortable &
confident with the path the leader paves for the group. Hence I feel that it is
the responsibility of the leader to take care of the interests, well being of his/her
group members, to bear the onus of the impact which his decisions will have and
consider the obligation which he has towards all the stake holders involved.
This makes one a thoughtful, well rounded, respectable leader.
"The only prerequisites to leadership are that you
remain positive, calm, and open-minded." - Alexis Hunter
I have had a lot of experiences in life where I have come
across leaders who in extremely critical situations as well direct the people
and hold the reins of the horse in a composed and positive manner. He
understands that his people are trying to give their best as the situation
demands and has the capability to keep his temper, stress and fear of the
unknown in check. That is what makes the leader a strength to reckon with.
Lastly, as Bill Gates said, “As we look ahead into the next
century, leaders will be those who empower others.”
I believe that best utilization
of power is done when you empower other people, make them strong enough,
confident enough and skilled enough to become leaders in their own right and
that becomes another facet of a cherished leader. This world requires many more
leaders who look at the bigger, national, global picture and live a balanced
life, full of passion towards their work and compassion towards people and
understand the importance of their responsibilities towards society as a whole,
their people, their family and themselves and inspire many new infants being
born at the rate of 1,000,000 per minute to make this world a better place.
