The word leadership emanates the entire gamut of People Management Skills that one needs to possess to effectively lead a team / organization. For some these qualities are inbuilt in them and for others they need to acquire them during their life time. The concept of leadership has gained relevance over the years as organizations have now started to see employees as their greatest asset. As each individual is unique, it requires lot of skill to effectively manage the workforce. The Art of Leadership lies in effectively responding to the situation at hand and giving it a positive dimension.
Leaders have to traverse through many arduous paths to win the confidence of their followers. One of the major challenges faced by them in their journey towards personal excellence is "Getting over the Predecessor/Successor Syndrome". It is nothing but having the capabilities to rationalize the Management Ideologies followed by the Predecessor with the ideologies that one wants to incorporate, keeping in view the Organizational Tenets and Ethics.
It is common for the leaders to follow the footsteps of their predecessors and work in their shadow. They are sometimes too reluctant to come out with their own style as they fear it will vitiate the Organizational harmony. It often happens that the Successor is not able to exorcise the predecessor's ghost completely. It haunts him every now and then. The result is a distorted vision of "Self" and the Organizational goals and aspirations. There is a famous story /film (Dead Poets Society) about a Professor, Mr Keating, who changed the entire methodology of teaching poetry. He didn't go by his predecessor's way, but rather motivated the students to find the meaning themselves. This greatly helped in honing their imaginative / creative skills and during Mr Keating's tenure, the school produced many authentic Poets and Writers.
To overcome this one needs to have complete "Self Belief" and loads of "Self Confidence". A very important quality for a leader is "Expressiveness". An able leader is very expressive and is able to articulate his vision, mission and goal to his compatriots/ colleagues. He should be able to convince the people and instill in them a confidence in him. He should not be deterred by the inconveniences that keep pouring his way. It takes very little to walk away from a situation but it takes lot of courage to deal with it head on.
In the year 1996 Lance Armstrong, the world's numero uno cyclist, was diagnosed with cancer and he was given 50% chances for survival. Despite his illness, the pain and the suffering and the perpetual struggle for life, he went on to win 7 Tour De France (World's toughest Cycle Tour) titles. He was able to do this because he didn't run away from his inconveniences. How one handles the unexpected truly defines his/her character. It is rightly said that "if we cannot change what happens, then for our happiness we must change our mindset". This is what Mr Armstrong did and it gave his life back.
Leadership requires lot of effort, commitment and sincerity. One needs to be decisive and deliver the goods, no matter what the situation is. The ultimate measure of a person is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. "
"Ability can take any one to the top. But it requires character to sustain that position."
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