In any industry, change is initiated in response to demands from customers, employees, and competition. With businesses getting constantly redefined and consumer-focused, companies need to train their employees and prepare them to meet the challenges of the changing marketplace. An ideal leader is one who is quick to sense the need for change, and to adopt it as early as possible. At Allied Domecq most of the changes have been initially concentrated on internal processes and developmental needs.

	Going By The Book
	The Idea Of Indica
	Ideas Are Worthless

In India, there is a certain affinity for vertical organisations and titles. Hierarchy is one of the most painful shortcomings of a management system that keeps talent away from the decision-making centre. A leader is one who realises the drawbacks of the system and is able to invite suggestions from everyone irrespective of where that person is on the organisational ladder. However, the junior staff must be trained adequately if they are to gain enough confidence to make a positive contribution to the process. The employees must also be given a chance to put forward their views, and their mistakes shown reasonable tolerance.

Leadership is about understanding that an organisation will function effectively when it has the right mix of people, backgrounds, and experiences. This entails radical changes in recruitment policies. At Allied Domecq, we look beyond the industry and deliberately hire people from outside who possess a good track record.

Above all, a leader should strive at all times to attain transparency in his organisation. Information should be freely given to those who need it. The leader should send out a message that information is a not source of power for an individual, but a power that contributes to the growth of an organisation.