The true test of leadership comes only in times of adversity. I strongly believe in Martin Luther's famous words: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands in times of challenges and controversy." The true test of a leader lies in his ability to guide his ship through rough weather.

Positive leadership is about keeping the team's morale high, while retaining one's own, in times of despair. In fact, the ability to transform adverse situations into opportunities makes all the difference between being a defeatist or an optimist. I prefer to be an optimist and this philosophy has seen me through my company's fledgling days, its turnaround process, and more recently, its globalising phase.

Another test of leadership lies in whether a ceo has faith in the abilities of his or her people. A basic realisation that every person has the potential to grow, that every person can demonstrate extraordinary performance given the opportunity to do so, is something that is absolutely essential if any leader is to be effective. It is also the leader's job to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each team member and bring out the best in each. A good leader tailors his motivational techniques around the needs of individual team members.

Leadership is akin to having a third eye that gives an entirely different, and enlightening, perspective to a difficult situation. Leaders should be able to notice things that others often don't and capitalise upon them. This 'third eye' also helps leaders define a vision that is aligned with the long-term interests of the organisation, sustainable, and achievable over a period of time.