LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP
I must admit that I follow cricket only for Mahendra Singh Dhoni, for how he handles the team, and he is the perfect example of dealing with diverse situations. Often, by being an amazing strategist, he has turned a tricky situation into a good game even when the majority lost hope. I also admire the determination and resilience exhibited by Sylvester Stallone’s character in the movie Rocky. He is highly adamant about what he wants and does everything it takes to achieve a task, irrespective of distractions around him. This observation has taught me to not give up till the last minute and truly helped me in dealing with various situations and clients.
Rocky is not overenthusiastic like his competitors and many of us have witnessed Dhoni give firm orders to his teammates to retain their focus – he is still known as ‘Captain Cool’ and for a good reason. Both these icons have made me realise that approaching a stressful situation calmly can bring out the best in people. I exercise this daily even at my workplace, something that has helped me grow and lead by example.
A good leader does not possess a sense of superiority, but rather humility towards teammates. For instance, Dhoni has enough faith in his team. He is resilient, clear in making decisions, and knows what each player must do in every match. Likewise, I believe that all my colleagues have different capabilities and that I just need to guide them towards the goal. I involve them in making plans and take their suggestions and opinions to turn the tide when needed and for making informed decisions on behalf of clients.
The eagle-eyed vision of Dhoni and Rocky to achieve their goals is another trait of theirs that inspires me. I have observed that Dhoni does not take success to his mind and failure to his heart; he just focuses on doing his job as a captain efficiently. In Rocky’s case, his core goal was not to defeat Creed but to prove his worth, which he did despite losing the title. I feel this is how every entrepreneur should be; after all, every businessman knows that he took a risk, and therefore, should get accustomed to not getting mentally affected by minor failures. Additionally, he should not become overconfident by early profits. These are traits I have truly imbibed and this is what has helped me in growing my team from 20 to 120 members in a short span of two years.
Both Dhoni and Rocky epitomise the underdog mentalities of fearlessness and courage. I strongly believe that a leader ought to have these core qualities, along with determination, diligence and resilience and act as an example for colleagues and seniors, alike. People who are endowed with responsibilities have duties to set the tone for their organisations. I have exerted all my will to build myself in the same manner. I believe that my team has the freedom to express what they want and to responsibly implement the same at an organisational level.
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