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Showing posts with the label The Challenge of Leadership

Work to purify your Idealism

Idealism in its purest form is the belief that  Dharma (Righteousness) eventually prevails. Knocks in the world have led to death of idealism in many. An Idealist assigns high value to State. He  regards State as an ethical institution. According to him, State has to work for welfare of Man. The concept of Fundamental Rights in the Constitution emanates from this worldview. 'Men of world" recognise power and seek to accumulate their power and degrade others power.  An Idealist gives higher value to morality.  Each is incomplete without other. Only with genuine mutual respect for each other, a better outcome for world is possible. " Ideas are great arrows, but there has to be a bow. And politics is the bow of idealism." (Bill Moyers) A deadly outcome can happen when an Idealist uses accumulated power to impose his world view on others.  History shows how Hitler and Aurangzeb caused distress to others. An Idealist has to work to purify his Idealism in the fire of ...

Some Thoughts on Leadership by Civil Servants

Civil Servants are associated with the task of nation building - both at policy level as well as implementation.  A Civil Servant is expected to be a Karamyogi. Shri K Srinivas, Director LBSNAA defines a Karamyogi as one having qualities of austerity, ability and anonymity. Austerity means discipline of body and thoughts. It also means both effective and efficient use of resources. Ability means competence to do tasks successfully. It requires an attitude of lifelong learning. Anonymity means giving credit for a successful task to people, democratic processes, people's representatives, team members. It is putting "We" before "I". Dr R Balasubramanian, Member, Capacity Building Commission in his book "Leadership Lessons For Daily Living" has shared his learnings about meaningful leadership from lives of common people who are taking lead to address challenges facing people. His learning: a selfless attitude and a central focus on public good are powerful...

Random Thoughts about Leadership

Gandhi jee describes the power of Leadership in these words. "A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history." Swami Vivekananda jee describes India in these words. "Our motherland has religion and religion alone for its backbone, for the bedrock upon which the whole building of its life has been based." For Gandhi jee, the essence of a Leader. " There goes my people. I must follow them, for I am their leader." What does Leadership do? The energisation and transformation of people by knowledge into people of action working towards constructive purposes. How to facilitate learning of leadership? Following steps can be planned. Self-awareness Self-Improvement Working with others Case Studies Practice - Project/On the Job The end goal: a democratic India in which citizens are easy to lead, but difficult to drive; easy to govern but impossible to enslave.