Leadership, this is a very familiar word which we come across many times. In simple way a leader is the one who leads a team towards their 'goal' in a 'correct way'. How many of us saw true leaders? As soon as I ask this question at a conference or a gathering, people start thinking about others some time they try making fun by naming others. Did any one of us started seeing an leader in our-self ? Very few might have thought like that, anyway I congratulate all those who at least made an attempt to see a leader in him and I urge them to continue that desire to lead and certainly there will be a day when people accept you and most importantly we need true leaders to take the nation back on track laid by our constitution. Recently I had attended a lecture given by Shri Krishna Murthy, former Election Commissioner of India where he shared his opinion about leadership, problems and challenges in bureaucracy in our country. Mr Krishna Murthy is known for his sincerity, under him election commission successfully conducted various elections of different levels facing various challenges including the threats by politicians. In this article I wanted to share his words which help us to build our-self to be a leader or at least a citizen who is responsible towards his/her country. According to him the prime qualities to be a leader are Art of listening, Art of speaking, Art of taking decisions, Art of questioning and finally patience. Let me explain each of these qualities in my own words may not be as influencing as our former election commissioner but in a way to make you understand the exact sense of his thoughts.
Art Of Listening:
As a leader you should be able to listen to opinions of your team mates and some times even to the opinions of the one who opposes you. You should be able to understand, analyse their opinions and take a step to improve if is necessary. You should always be ready to face the failures and the negative opinions on your leadership. You should take in all positives from the people around you and drop out the negatives in you. Finally you should never have any ego to appreciate others when they are better than you.
Art Of Speaking:
As a leader your way of speaking determines your character. You should be very thoughtful while speaking especially in giving your opinion about something. One should be very high in the language they use, not too emotional and keeping an eye on all feelings. You should not force your decisions on others but you should be able to convince them with out hurting their feelings and thus enhancing the team spirit. Your communication may be your your strength and also weakness, you are the one who should guide it.
Art Of Questioning:
This shows your real guts as a leader. One should be able to question injustice or some thing wrong committed by any one either superior officers or the ones under you. Your relation with the accused should not effect your decision. At least on your part you should never allow any injustice happening in your reach even at the cost of your position or life. Your life may end at any time and as a leader especially bureaucrat you should leave things for granted even at the cost of your life. This is the one earns you thrust and faith on you by others at least your team. You should be very alert and never let any thing go past your control. You should be bold but not harsh. You can question but the way you question determines the way they answer. A sincere officer or a leader must be ready to face any thing even the worst situation in his life but never loose his/her hope.
Art Of Taking Decisions:
The decision which you make very important as it influences the others too. Any decision that you take must not create any harm or injustice to others. You should be able to answer the questions raised against your decision. Not only taking the right ones but right time is also very important factor. You should act in time before the train leaves the platform and it is also important that you will not act before the train arrives at the platform. You should be bold in your decisions leaving no scope for personal emotions.
Patience:
I may have quoted this quality at last but it accompanies with every quality I have mentioned earlier. You should have patience in listening, patience in explaining, patience in taking decisions and patience in waiting for the results. You should never loose your hope and as quoted in the old saying Try and Try till you reach your GOAL.
# Jai Hind. Satyamevajayate.
The above article is written taking an excerpt from the lecture given by Shri Krishna Murthy, Former Election Commisioner of India at NIT Trichy. I dedicate this article to him and thank him for inspiring me to write this article.
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