MM: Chanakya – Turn Managers into Leaders : May 28, 2007
Turn Managers into Leaders
– Radhakrishnan Pillai
(This weekly column will explore the relevance and application of Principles and Strategies of Chanakya as discussed in his 3rd Century BC treatise, Kautilyas Arthashastra, in Todays Corporate World)
Human capital, intellectual capital, human resource- all these are terms to define the value of people in any organisation. Day by day, every organisation is focusing more and more on these aspects. Today, a companys ROI (Return on Investment), productivity, as well as profits in all areas, are based on the quality of people it has.
An organisation may have a good man power in terms of numbers. But if these people are not fully productive, or not working to their optimum potential, the organisation is at a loss.
The first challenge of any organisation is to get good people. The next challenge is to train those good people into good leaders.
On this Chanakya says,
When he (prince) is ready for it (knowledge), experts should train him (1.17.27)
When the HR Department is initially recruiting people from Business schools, or even from other players of the industry, they are first looking at good managers. But if the company has to scale up, the next challenge is to make them great leaders.
Even in the above verse, Chanakya calls for identification of potential leaders and then for providing them with leadership training. But how do we understand if a manager or an employee is a potential leader?
Here are some tips:
LEADERSHIP IS A MIND SET
Leadership is not a position or a designation. It is a way of thinking a mind set. Therefore, a business leader has to keep an eye on the quality of the minds of his people. A leadership mind is a great mind. It keeps continuously learning. It does not get struck up seeing a problem. It will seek alternatives and find different methods to come out of it. It challenges itself.
SOLUTION MINDED
A potential leader is solution-focused. Once, I was conducting a training programme which dealt with the topic From good managers to great leaders a delegate asked me, My boss is always the decision-maker. He usually brings the solution. Then why should I not just go to him with problems?
I said, Yes you are right. You have to present the problem to him. But go to him with two or three alternative solutions. Let the boss decide which solution is best for the organisation. But the thinking also has to be done by you, not only your boss! THINK SOLUTIONS – is the mantra to success.
IMPLEMENTATION
Most managers are good planners but bad implementers. The difference between a manger and a leader is this implementation aspect. Just do it. At times, you do make mistakes but learn form the mistake and move on in life.
For training program Chankayas 7 Pillars for success in Management and Leadership or any management consultancy requirement in your organization call +91-9819825474/ 9820374796 or mail to maya@atmadarshan.com / radhakrishnan@atmadarshan.com
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Read more:
Introduction of Kautilyas Arthashastra
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Management Fundamentals in Kautilyas Arthashastra
http://www.atmadarshan.com/events/tapovan.htm
Spiritual Tours organised by ATMA DARSHAN to Kailash Mansarovar, Chardham etc
http://www.atmadarshan.com/tours/intro.htm