Be Able
Ability without dependability, responsibility and flexibility is liability.
Opening Case Study :
Narendra Modi: A Truly Able Leader
Chanakya believes that “A man is great by deeds, not by birth.”
Belonging to the backward Ghanchi community, Narendra Modi started selling tea at Vadnagar railway station at a very young age, after which he set up a tea stall near a bus terminus with his brother. He rose from a poverty-stricken tea-selling boy to a development-oriented leader, eventually becoming the longest-serving chief minister of Gujarat for 12 years. Now you can see as where does he stand. Narendra Modi is the world’s third most popular leader, according to a survey done by Gallup International.
Here is a leader who has both power and passion. We have seen political leaders who had visionary thinking and we have seen some leaders who had an eye for the details, but Narendra Modi can do both. While his eyes are focused on the stars his feet are firmly on the ground. The 16th and current Prime Minister of India, Narendra Damodardas Modi is considered a famous and powerful leader not just in India, but in the world.
Narendra Modi is considered one of the most respected leaders in the world not because of his position, but because he set the example as a great leader. He is the man that everyone looks up to and respect because of his personality, his characters, traits, and qualities.
The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been”. Henry Kissinger
Modi has presented himself as an example of a great leader. Even to this day, he is still a well-behaved man who does not misuse his status quo to garner false-respect from others. And this is what a leader is all about.
One of the most important leadership qualities one can learn from Modi is his intense passion and enthusiasm for his work. He loves serving his country so much that he spends 18 hours every day at work.
Besides being a workaholic, Modi also shows his ability to adapt to the current technology. He has been using social media since years ago and is the second most-followed leader in the world, with over 34 million followers on Twitter.
Modi has made his appearance not only on Twitter but also Google Hangouts. His appearance there made him the first Indian politician to interact with netizens on live chat.
Modern management defines Leadership as the ability to set a new direction or vision for a group to follow, and a Leader has to be the spearhead for that new direction. Like in a ship, although the crew knows their tasks well and performs them diligently, they still need a Captain who directs, coordinates, navigates and owns up the responsibility in case of any unexpected calamity. The ability to Lead and management goes hand in hand. Leadership without ability is only setting a direction without considering how it has to be achieved. Management without leadership ability is managing status-quo of resources without knowing in which direction to drive a change. So, a manager also needs to be an able leader and vice-versa to strike a balance and achieve the objectives.
The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been”. Henry Kissinger
We all admire people who display high competence and ability, whether they are precision craftsmen, world-class athletes, or successful business leaders. And most of us want to be seen as able at our work. For leaders, ability is especially important. It can determine whether followers respect and follow you — or don’t.
Able leaders perform through every season of leadership, during the good, bad, and ugly times of leading. They know how to nourish themselves and remain self-motivated. The most important role of a leader is to produce results, primarily by influencing those around them to perform.
Able leaders never settle for good or average results whether it’s in a product, service, or the effort of the team or themselves. They are driven to put in the effort to produce great results and work. This mindset strives for great work but does not allow perfectionism to cause them not to deliver results. Never settle for the average when you can produce greatness.
In every task they do, able leaders pay attention to the details. Dale Carnegie said,“Don’t be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves.”
Leaders understand the small tasks compiled together produce large and successful results. Even in the small or routine tasks, they never cut corners or overlook the details. This leads to the success of everyone on the team and the entire organization.
The role of the leader has never been as important or demanding as it is today. Leaders at all levels must deliver consistent, sustainable results in leaner organizations and get things done day to day with fewer resources. There is an increased emphasis on maintaining employee morale and high levels of productivity
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” – John C. Maxwell
in an increasingly complex and changing business environment. And leaders must ensure that the right people with the right skills are in the right roles.
Some people are known to be born leaders. The quality runs in their family; it is in their genes. Others are inspired by such people and work upon embedding this quality. Some fail at achieving it others are successful in attaining it through continual efforts. While leadership is a powerful quality, leaders possess various other qualities in addition to it that make for their popularity.
Competencies of a Good Leader
Here are the five main competencies of a good leader:
1. Clarity of Vision
A visionary leader who clearly and passionately communicates his or her vision can motivate employees to act with passion and purpose, thereby ensuring that everyone is working toward a common goal. The end result is that everyone contributes to the organization’s forward momentum.
2. Effective Communication
A leader does not think of himself as superior to you and thus does not believe in maintaining a distance. He rather ensures a flow of two-way communication to share ideas, discuss issues and maintain a cordial relation.
3. Expertise of Subject
Studies suggest that the best leaders know a lot about the domain in which they are leading, and part of what makes them successful in a management role is subject expertise. As a leader, you’re expected to do more than just manage people. Your
employees and colleagues look to you as a subject matter expert.
- Choosing Right People
Company’s most important asset is its people. Having the right people with the right skills in the right positions makes the difference between business success and failure. Bad hires can damage your business. Organizations can reap success by hiring the right person tin the first go.
- Problem Solving Skills
Effective problem solving is one of the key attributes that separate great leaders from average ones.Being a successful leader doesn’t mean that you don’t have any problems. Rather, it means that you know how to solve problems effectively as they arise.
CONCLUSION
A good leader has the ability to inspire others and instill leadership qualities in his subordinates to generate future leaders.