Rethinking Leadership

Conventional definition defines a leader who is charismatic, powerful, and overpowering enough so that he could drive the millions behind him. However such a narrow conceptualization of leadership cannot sustain itself in the contemporary competitive scenario.

Leadership is a much more complex concept that moves beyond the margins of “driving millions behind”. It is neither the physical assertion that “I am the leader”.

In true essence a leader is one who does not have to say, “follow me”, but still millions are “with” him. A true leader radiates energy, enthusiasm, positivities which magnetizes his personalities and automatically attracts all around him. He is an embodiment of devotion, intellectuality, service and energy. However alone with these four components one may not become a leader. These are the ingredients which needs to be blended with the most essential component of leadership- that of social compatibility. Infact, scholars discuss the nature of leadership in terms of the “interaction” among the people involved in the process: both leaders and followers. Thus leadership can be redefined as the “process of interaction”. It is a process because true leaders and true followers are not made in a day: infact they are evolved over a period of time. Thus leadership is not a one sided effort; instead it is a “collective endeavor” among group members. Thus the essence of leadership is not the leader; instead it is a bond of faith, trust, and mutual respect that is established by the process of moving forward collectively.

Contributed By:

Richa Shukla

(Globsyn Business School)

Core of Leadership

Dear Students,

Ken Adelman mentioned, “ A leader knows what’s best to do; a manager knows how best to do it’.

Today, I wish to share with you two anecdotes I read, which bear out two points of leadership as under:

1. A leader is not hellbent to hog the limelight; rather, teamwork is considered to be important.
2. A leader strives to conceive innovative ways to make things happen.

Anecdote to prove the first point above:

A little child was trying out for a part in a school play. His mother knew that the child had set its heart on being in it. On the day the parts were awarded, she went to collect the child after school. When her child’s name was not announced, she was distressed. She was wondering what to tell her disappointed child. To her surprise, the child came rushing to her, his eyes shining with pride and excitement. “Guess what, Mom.” He shouted, “ I’ve been chosen to clap and cheer.”


Anecdote to prove the second point above:

One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him shovel dirt into the well.

At first when the donkey realized what was happening, it cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later when the farmer looked down into the well, he was astonished at what he saw.


When each shovel of dirt hit its back, the donkey would shake it off and take a step on to it. As the farmer’s neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would go on shaking it off and take a step up. Pretty soon everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off !


The core of leadership, therefore, as evident from the above fables, is never to stop with setbacks but be courageous and take one step at a time.

Best wishes,

Prof. D. P. Chattopadhyay
(Globsyn Business School)

Leadership Talk

This is a video recording of Dr. Kiran Bedi's talk underLeadership Lecture Series 2007 held at IIT Bombay on 17th February 2007 at CDEEP site of IITB.

This is one of the most inspiring and well articulated talks. I am sure you will enjoy this talk till the end.

Part A: http://www.cdeep.iitb.ac.in/vod/ll/

Part B: http://www.cdeep.iitb.ac.in/vod/ll/Part2.html

Happy Viewing!

Dr. Meenakshi Khemka
Globsyn Business School