Know your leader, dear corporate

A question of how to identify a person as potential and prospective leader for the corporate and who possesses all requisite qualities is whether easy or difficult? Where can we find these leaders (bosses)? Do they be close to the existing leaders or they would prefer to stay away from them?

This question can be answered only if the real definition of the term ‘leader’ or the term ‘boss’ is taught or told to people. Leaders are in true sense, people who have the ability to influence others. In the sense, their ability to influence others is far greater than they getting influenced by others. If this definition is well understood, then the search for a leader becomes easy.

People in the coterie/kitchen cabinet of the existing leader (s) in every corporate in many sense and all permutation & combinations are not ‘true’ leaders. Unfortunately, most corporate select the next boss or leader only from the coterie of the previous/existing leader thinking that these people have all required leadership qualities that they have acquired/inherited from the previous/existing boss. Further, it also believed that such people are non controversial, they do not fight with people and know how to work in harmony with people etc. The people who do not revolt against their boss/leader should not be taken as an evidence or sign of tolerance or ability of people to work in harmony with others. When the boss is powerful, naturally the subordinates have to be tolerant even if the boss is absolutely wrong.

Look at the quality of people how they are towards their subordinates. Look at the animal world for example. No two dominant or alpha animals live in same pride or pack or herd or troop. When the existing boss becomes weak, the new boss takes the charge in animal world. These leaders were never in the coterie of the exiting leader/dominant alpha animal. The animals that form the coterie of the dominant animals are in general the weaker animals, young ones and sub adults that need definite protection. This is true in most corporate as well. The people who hang around the boss/leader in corporate, always singing the song of how great their boss is, are not the right ‘leader material’ for the corporate. They are doing so only for own protection and to serve own selfish interest.

But the corporate will often choose only such people as the next heir to the throne when the existing boss retires or leaves the job.

Please look for and search your future leader far away from the coterie of your existing leader/boss. Definitely your future leader should not be from the coterie of your existing leader as such leaders will tend to get influenced than influence the people. A true leader will never prefer to be in the coterie of anyone. Therefore check people as how they conduct their subordinates. Understand their true influencing ability in the absence of any power or authority. Such leaders can take your organization to great heights.

Dr S Ranganathan