Kamal Ghorui
Leadership over the years has become an ‘Industry’! Everybody is a Leader! Everyone is talking about it and writing about it. Indeed, it carries such a lofty and profound image that all power and privilege seekers wish to wear a veneer of Leadership. There is glory, grace, charisma, glamour, and history in leadership, and therefore birds of all kinds are attracted to it. They intend to perch on its broad branches and nibble on its fruit of immortality.
However, the ‘corporate’ could be credited with bringing the epithet of ‘Leadership/Leader’ to centre stage and making it their own. They have this uncanny habit of adopting anything which is saleable, be it any material, technology, idea or concept. Since the word ‘Leader’ gives respect, adoration and longevity, it is now in their captivity, and they encash it every day to boost their image – ‘corporate leaders’.
But there is much history, sacrifice , sublimity and purity in ‘Leadership’, and so it pains me to see it being played so casually. And therefore, I propose to construct my understanding and views on the subject. As I had stated above, the pull and power of the concept is inherently so strong that not even corporates but all institutions adopt it and hold the banner aloft.
The fascination of adopting ‘military terminology’ and practices appeals to the private sector, as a regimented system centrally controlled suits them. I admire the way the corporate world adopts all good practices around them, but for the subject of leadership.
It therefore becomes imperative to set the record straight even for mere academic reasons to make a point. The newspapers are regular in columns full of leadership sermons by the corporate stars, executives and trainers. The ‘Ascent’ column of The Times of India is one such column which accommodates the ideas of Leadership and management, and there are Financial and Business newspapers too.
The writ of the corporate runs large, perhaps because they own the media in all forms. Numerous books on the subject are on stands regularly, many by corporate executives. This has increased since the liberalisation of economy in the early nineties of the last century and the advent of intense market. Therefore, it is imperative to point out the designs of the corporation on the concept of leadership so that it could be returned to its rightful place, and that is the centre of the Nation. It does not belong to any private agency or any organisation.
There are three essential ingredients of leadership: the leader, followers, and Ideology/principles/objectives/targets. The three should fall in one line, and both the leader and the followers should agree with the ideology which the leader has formulated or that has been collectively agreed upon.
The finest example is of the Indian freedom struggle, when under the leadership of Gandhi, the entire Nation aligned and the Aim was to win freedom. Similarly, in 1971 Indo -Pak war, the Indian Army liberated Bangladesh; the entire Army was aligned with the objective of the Army chief Gen Manekshaw and the objective was to win the war. In the case of corporates the objective of the Boss /Chairman is to multiply wealth /profits, which may not be a common goal of all his workers. Further, it is not necessary in the case of a corporation that the workers may agree with the company policies. Therefore, as we had read in the Management books, there are Leaders and Managers.
Corporate Bosses are managers who manage people and work for their own personal interest.
Leaders who qualify the benchmark of having followers and ideology are restricted to a few categories only. There are politicians, Military leaders, Social reformers, Religious/cult leaders such as the Pope and Shankaracharya. All these have a following and an aim. The Aim of a religious leader is salvation. The Aim of political leaders and their followers is socio -economic upliftment. Military leaders and their men aim to win the battle/war. The Aim of a social reformer is the upliftment of the followers of his idea.
What makes ‘Leadership’ distinct is the ‘emotional bond’ between the leader and the followers. This bond is maintained by sweat, tears and blood and lasts long if the same are maintained and replenished from time to time. Personal touch, a handshake, a hug, an embrace, and personal visits to the home help in restoring faith. Travelling/walking together, singing together, and fighting the enemy together are essential practices that help in longevity.
My image of a leader and leadership is- Mahatma Gandhi leading the Dandi March for Salt Satyagrah, Military leaders leading their men in war from the front, disregarding bullets and blood. A union leader standing on top of a crane or a truck, addressing his followers. A religious congregation where, on the instruction of the Guru, the followers meditate together. And if we trace history, then the foot march of Adi Shankaracharya from Kerala to Kedarnath and establishing four Dhams in the four corners, and its organisation is the finest example of socio -cultural leadership. Leadership is ethereal, which is sustained by selfless commitment and cannot be talked or incorporated lightly. It sustains on love and benevolence, not fear and control. Sometimes a leader has to walk alone, but once his thoughts appeal to people, they follow him :
‘Mein akela hi chala tha janib e manzil magar
Log saath aate gaye aur kaarwaan banta gaya ‘
– Majrooh Sultanpuri
( I was walking alone toward my destination
But people started accompanying, and it became a Carawan )
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