The Making and Unmaking of Leaders That Leave a Legacy
April 19th, 2024Founder & CEO, Tutul Consulting
Sujata Deshmukh
Over the past 26 years, I've encountered various archetypes of managers and observed how leaders are made and unmade.
Excerpts from Sujata's speech at a day-long convention at National HRD Network South Gujarat organized by Himanshu Bhatt and the #NHRD team
How leaders are made:
By having the fortune of being part of processes and platforms that shape them or by random, chance meetings/triggers that bring out latent energies and capabilities.
How leaders are unmade:
Inauthentic and self-centered disposition: “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.”
Drama and volatility: It is exhausting and somewhat draining and scary to be around such people.
Not being generous to accept and integrate with others.
Believing that - I have all the answers and that I alone can execute this task. I cannot trust anyone but myself.
Manipulative and being dishonest.
Not willing to do the work and over-relying on the good old days.
Wearing masks to hide who they really are.
How can leaders create an impact?
Evolved leaders possess certain predispositions.
They struggle with themselves and finally learn to accept themselves without judgement.
They balance the head, heart, and hands (and find others to augment their efforts where required).
They learn from whomever they meet who can teach them something.
They are fairly confident about what they have inside that they can count on.
They focus on the internal private journey AND the external public journey. A private victory is even more significant than the public one.
They lose their “I” when they realize they are part of the larger whole and are able to effortlessly tap into the larger consciousness.
They focus on creating value wherever they go, and a network automatically gets created around them. Networking does not add value to you; when you add value to the network, you build one.
They don’t get bitter, resentful, or angry about setbacks or when people let them down.
They forgive and move on, fueled by the energy of their purpose.
They express themselves without self-consciousness.
They are at ease with themselves, even when they may be facing challenges.
They are curious about people, events, and the larger universe.
They focus on the big and small things – sometimes it isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.
They bring the right temperament to match their talent, where temperament sets the rhythm and talent provides the melody. "Energy Flows Where Intention Goes". (yato hasta tato drishti yato dhrishti... tato manah...yato manah tato bhaava... yato bhaava tato raasah).
Embarking on the transformative journey of leadership involves a profound understanding that what goes on inside affects the outside. Here, I share some invaluable lessons learned through personal experiences and reflections:
Acknowledge and take ownership when things go wrong.
Don't hesitate to ask for help; people are willing to guide you.
Take charge of improving every day. Establish the fundamentals. Sometimes, the internal change may not be immediately visible externally. Be patient; you know you are transforming, so stay committed. Celebrate small wins.
When you get ahead, reach back and give a helping hand to those who are struggling.
It’s about Willpower (being at it all the time) and Way power (knowing what to do).
One of the quotes that gives hope when I feel lost is by Richard Bach who says,
“A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed, it feels an impulsion... this is the place to go now. But the sky knows the reason and the patterns behind all clouds, and you will know, too, when you lift yourself high enough to see beyond horizons.”
Think about it…
As a leader, whether in your family, community, team, or organization, you cast a shadow. That shadow is a reflection of who you are. Would you be proud to associate with you? Would you trust yourself? If yes, then you have made a difference.