LEADERSHIP PART I

Preface

Pre-retirement posting to Pune after three years in Nagaland was more than welcome surprise. Reputed for salubrious weather and performing arts, I looked forward to exciting times. It turned to be more than my expectation re-connecting with long lost friends. Now what has that got to do with an article on leadership?

There I was hilariously impacted regarding foremost quality of a leader. Occasion was Raising Day Celebration,  Army Medical Corps (AMC). Though invited I was somewhat hesitant to attend. My impression was doctors were too professional and dry to organize an enjoyable social gathering!  

To my surprise it started with a bang; spectators were rolling in laughter watching a well-rehearsed skit. Plot was satire on what happens when a ‘yes-man’ General Officer of questionable credentials visits a hospital for inspection.

Opening scene—Group of officers disinterestedly awaiting arrival of the General exchanging snide prompts. All smarten up as the bouncy general almost stumbled in. (Note: such officers have learnt to express superficial concern for subordinates’ welfare)             

 Next scene dialogue between Gen and an Officer having spinal injury.  

Gen:         How are you and what are you doing about the spinal injury?

Officer:    Responds promptly—Sir I am doing well

Gen:         No, no son don’t take it casually. Why don’t you get operated?

Officer:    Nervously mutters—I am better off without it Sir. I will recover Thanks for your concern Sir.

Gen:        You need not be overly fearful of the operation. I had the same problem. Got operated and see I am now fit as a fiddle; ending with a loud guffaw. So what do you think?

Officer:    Losing patience replied nervously—To be honest Sir, I am not OK with it as I do not wish to be spineless like you!!  

The entire gathering burst into irresistible laughter.   

Reflections

I have lost count of discourses and conclaves  on leadership during 35 years of service in uniform. During rookie phase I was overawed listening to eloquent speakers more for their style than content. I still recall a memorable one by former Army Chief in 1960s. His concluding comment though witty was meaningful—‘Ideal battle conditions—German Leadership, Indian soldiers and Italians to fight against’.

As perception crystallized, one disturbng question engaged my thoughts—Reasons for the widening gap between precepts and practices in Life Style of those remarkable speakers!

 

Life Style 

Almost everyone has an opinion on leadership.  Be it parents, teachers, professionals, politicians, bureaucrats, judiciary, spiritual leaders or for that matter any motley crowd, each one pontificates at lib on questionable life style of others.  When assigned responsibility to perform, amnesia sets-in to conform. Academic brilliance in drawing applause in an auditorium is of little value when it comes to deliver. What matters is Life style. None can escape its scrutiny by others especially colleagues and juniors.         

Sheena Murder. Principal accused is her own mother, Indrani Mukherjea, enviably high profile media baron. This ghastly news has spread like wild fire. Her reputation as well as that of her family has nose-dived. Mega statement on consequences of unethical life style despite Pelf and Power

  

Apathetic Faculty.  Recent interaction with perceptive student of a reputed university in Dehradun revealed his disillusionment due to the lackadaisical atmosphere. Though headed by high profile Chancellor, Vice Chancellor and hi-fi faculty, the environment was much too depressing. Internal bickering and crab mentality amongst faculty has vitiated the academic ambiance.  Charged with purpose, this young final year student wishes to change the University Culture. I think he has immense leadership potential!                                           

Religious Leader.  

During informal discussions recently, a group of concerned students expressed anxiety as to the unabated growth in corruption, sleaze, sex and violence. All recognized that solution lies in attitudinal  change. A guy retorted—‘Only saints can do that’.  While discussing who is a saint, a young lady volunteered to share her experience—

‘At Badrinath to seek blessings of one famous Saint Swamiji, we joined the queue. Door to his abode was closed as we were about to enter. Choice to walk-in unannounced though improper exposed his covert life style; in full view was sizzling Tandoori Chicken and chilled beer bottle’!

  Who is Not a Leader?     

Who is not a leader is a question we never ask! Starting from home, parents are leaders, so are husbands, wives, teachers, class monitors, prefects, union leaders, laborers’, craftsmen, domestic helpers et al. In fact each one is a leader in his/her own right.  Instances are aplenty, when illiterate but innovative tradesmen produced better results than qualified professionals. 

                                                                                                                                     

Life Time Learning 

Modeling principle-centered  life style is the hallmark of a good  leader. Closer home, vision of all parents is to see children grow up as good human beings. Similarly, children adore virtuous Mom & Dad.  Neither like to be short-changed! Yet dearth of quality leaders persists!   Strange but true!!         

Types of Leaders. They belong to either good or successful category. 

1) Good Leader.  Service Before Self; Principle-centered; Unconventional;   Consistent behavior. Seldom  hesitates to take bold but ethical decisions, disregarding personal safety and welfare. Negligible few as system pushes up Successful Leaders. 

2) Successful Leader. Self Before Service; Lack personal and professional integrity. Conformist (yes man) and Sycophant;  Man of double standards; Career conscious; Amenable to wrong doings for personal gain.  Most belong to this category.

Invaluable Asset of Life

As pleasure seekers, we gloss over the Ultimate Truth—Death; we are on exit route from birth! Then what should be life’s invaluable asset? Here I am reminded of a witty anecdote by Zig Ziglar, great story teller with a message:

   

‘One burly-old-lady entered the bus pushing her way in and plonked herself down with loud thud. Her abrasive and voluble behavior was annoying.  In short, she was nuisance personified. While getting down, the driver, who was watching her activities on rear view mirror inquired—‘Ma’am, don’t you think you’ve left something behind’? Worried she asked ‘What’? Sarcastically retorted—a very bad reputation’!   

Question is what kind of reputation one leaves behind would depend entirely upon the quality of choices made in life. No retake possible!      

Post 1962 War Debacle

 Our national pride was dented in that full-fledged war against the Chinese.  As young officer then, I had many inconvenient questions  regarding mega failures in leadership. Grapevine went viral. It thrived due to weary silence of denial at the highest level.  Those interested in credible war memoir may read India’s China War 1962 by Neville Maxwell published 1970 and Himalayan Blunder by Brigadier JP Dalvi published 1968

Unsparing criticism of leadership failure in both the books made me ruminate since then. Intention was to identify qualities of  an inspiring leader be it military or otherwise. 

Leadership Qualities Gleaned from Past

To discover the fundamental qualities of leadership, we may learn from history in deference to the famous quote—Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it; George Santayana, 1863 – 1952, Spanish philosopher. To summarize few.

Socrates 470 –  399 BC. Famous Greek philosopher and one of the founders of Western philosophy. He was convicted as heretic for not conforming to societal norms. Gladly accepted death by drinking hemlock.   He ‘believed the best way for people to live was to focus on the pursuit of virtue rather than the pursuit of material wealth. He stressed that ethical value is the only thing that matters’.

Gautama Buddha 563 – 483 BC.  Watch your thoughts they become words. Watch your words they become deeds. Watch your deeds they become habits. Watch your habits they become character. Character is everything. 

Guru Nanak 1469 – 1539, First Guru of Sikhs. ‘Mool Mantar’ is basic prayer composed by him.  His fundamental teachings inter-alia include ‘Kirat Karo-Work hard and honestly’.

Swami Vivekananda 1863 – 1902.  “We want education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one can stand on one’s own feet;  Give me 100 men of steel will and I will change the world".

Abraham Lincoln 1809 - Assassinated 1865, Former President USA. If you want to test a man’s character, give him power or take his power away. 

Martin Luther King Jr 1929- Assassinated 1968.  Humanitarian Activist. ‘I have a dream that my four little children one day will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.

Arnold Toynbee 1889-1975, Famous Historian.  Of the 22 civilizations that have appeared in history, 19 of them  collapsed when they reached the moral state the United States is now.    

Stephen Covey, 1932-2012.   Excerpts from his best seller Seven Habits of Highly Effective People—‘Through 200 years of research….150 years Character Ethic was the foundation of success followed by Personality Ethic…….from WW I….Character Ethic taught …people can only experience  true success and enduring happiness as they integrate principles into their basic character’.

 APJ Abdul Kalam, Former President of India. ‘If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you do not have integrity, nothing else matters’.

Inferences: Striking  Behavior of a Good Leader

1)               Integrity/Principle-centered life style is the top most quality.

2)               Moral courage—non-conventional choices to protect ‘Safety Honor and Welfare of the Country First; Then That of The Subordinates Always & Every Time’.

3)               Audacious decision makers  based on Stoicism, Moral Courage, Justice, Compassion, Empathy

4)               High Spiritual and Emotional Quotient (SQ & EQ)

5)               In short imbued with Character and Competence.

6)               Other attributes like competence, confidence, communication, physical courage are like peripherals that stem from the stated fundamental traits     

Post Mortem

Am I being too idealistic in my perception of a good leader? Of course yes. I think the stench of incompetent leadership has become too nauseating to put up with.  

My understanding of a good leader was initiated reading the famous quote of  Field Marshall Philip Chetwode at Indian Military Academy:

 The safety, Honour and welfare of your country come first always and every time;  The  honour, welfare and comfort of the men you command come next  

 Your own ease, comfort and safety come last always and every time     

Progressively it crystallized gaining personal knowledge of inspiring but unsung heroes. Real life saga of few would be published in next part.

                 To Be Contd…………….