Column: Leadership Secrets

LEADERSHIP SECRETS
Make People Feel Like Heroes

By Pramod Saxena, Country Head, Motorola India

The basic model of leadership in use today is the command and control method, developed by the Romans. However, I believe leadership cannot be restricted to the top of the organisation; it exists at all levels.

Today, the role of leadership has taken a new meaning with the advent of intellectual capital as the driving force behind businesses. I personally believe in five fundamental practices that enable leaders to get extraordinary things done. They are:

Challenge the process: Leaders constantly search for opportunities to change the status quo. They know that risk-taking involves failures, and accept the inevitable disappointments as learning opportunities.

Inspire a shared vision: Leaders envision the future, creating an ideal image of what the organisation can become. Through their magnetism and quiet persuasion, leaders enlist others in their dreams.

Enable others to act: Leaders understand that mutual respect is what sustains extraordinary efforts, and strive to create an atmosphere of trust and human dignity.

Advise and assist: Today, intellectual capital is flowing across the board at levels and not from top down. Leaders create standards of excellence and then set individual benchmarks. They inspire confidence, listen, advise, assist and support their people all the way.

Encourage the heart: Accomplishing extraordinary things in organisations is hard work. To keep hope and determination alive, leaders recognise contributions that individuals make. In every winning team, the members need to share in the rewards of their efforts, so leaders celebrate accomplishments. They make people feel like heroes.

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