Who is a Genuine Inspiring Leader ?
There are multiple definitions & interpretations of leadership, but there is one that resonates with me completely. “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence” … Sheryl Sandberg quoted this in her book “Lean In”. I also came across this interesting article which helps put the definition of a leader in perspective – https://www.chieflearningofficer.com/2020/01/06/what-is-leadership-and-who-is-a-leader/. So how do you define an Inspiring Leader?
An Inspirational leader’s real value is not a measure of the work he/she does. A leader’s true value is a measure of the work he/she inspires others to do. Inspirational leadership is not a mere good pin-board for me. I can say this confidently as I have experienced working with amazingly wonderful leaders in my 22+ years of professional life.
In these 22+ years, I have come across so many leaders who have influenced my style of working. I have learned “What to do” & more importantly “What NOT to do” from all these leaders & am very thankful. They have all taught me how to be a genuine & inspiring leader. This piece is my tribute to them and also probably a practical lesson for all the “wannabe” leaders out there.
Genuine Inspiring Leader has these 7 Proven Traits
There are 7 proven traits of inspiring leaders, and I call these SEVEN ~ to the Power of Infinity. These traits or qualities, once cultivated, can have an infinite impact on the leader as well as the people being led.
So here we go with my Top 7:
- Delegate & Empower
As per Steve Jobs – “Great things in business are never done by one person. They are done by a team of people.” To take this further, this team needs to be trusted & empowered to make the decisions they deem fit. I have had my leaders trust me for some of the most significant & complex projects & stakeholder interactions. Did I falter…yes, but their continuous faith in me lead me on the journey to move ahead and excel. This is also an important life lesson which I have covered in my blog 5 Essential Life lessons you need to know. A true leader believes in his people and their capabilities.
2. Be Humane
Just because we work with dry numbers & targets, we don’t have to start treating our people like machines with target labels. To acknowledge every individual with respect, irrespective of their designation is an important trait that I picked up during my initial years at work. Whether it is your tech colleague who ensures that your email is working or the pantry guy who gives you your hot cup of coffee, all deserve respect & a “Thank you”. Acknowledgment & appreciation of the role they play in the organization can be the single biggest influencer in the loyalty pyramid. But that’s not all.
3. Step Out From Your Ivory Towers
As we climb up the corporate ladder, we lose touch with what’s happening on the ground whether it’s our operations, clients, and most importantly, our people. We must go beyond the so-called 30,000ft. view & understand the pulse of the business & people, both internal as well as external. We need to draw our inferences apart from inputs from so-called SMEs. This may seem to be micromanagement to some but believe me, I have leaders using this trait to turn around projects & businesses.
4. Reply Back
It seems very basic, but I have seen the best of leaders not replying to emails, phone calls, and messages. This is a basic courtesy we owe to any individual who is reaching out to us, again irrespective of grades. The content of the revert is irrelevant. What is important is the acknowledgement & and probably an answer which can be as simple as “ I will call back”. I have worked with leaders who are very particular in responding even if it’s a one-word reply. Remember you can have all the right strategy in the world, but if you don’t have the right culture, you’re dead. And it starts with the basics for an inspiring leader. Think about it.
5. Network & Connect
This was something that was drilled into me consistently by my leaders. And I realized it’s worth time & again during my corporate journey. Networking is not about collecting contacts; networking is about planting symbiotic relations which lead to a win-win for both parties. This is especially true if your success is determined by how well you work with various stakeholders & their success. I firmly believe corporate hierarchies are made only for ease of execution & escalation. One needs to reach out to people irrespective of hierarchies and levels.
6. I am Invincible
This thought is equivalent to committing corporate hara-kiri. No one is irreplaceable, no matter how good you are. Therefore it’s essential to be grounded and be humble. In Donald Walter’s words “ Leadership is an opportunity to serve. It is not a trumpet call to self-importance”. And an inspiring leader knows this.
7. Have Passion
Whenever I hire a new entrant in my team, I only have one ask from him/her. And that is “ the day you stop liking what you are doing; you need to let me know”. This is because I strongly feel that people give their best only when they have a passion for their work. Your team should look forward to coming back the next day irrespective of the challenges, difficulties & stiff deadlines. The only way to do great work is to love what you do!
I think all the leaders have the above qualities apart from many more. And that’s the reason they have reached where they are today. As you will observe, these are no super-human qualities and a leader who inspires is not a superhero with a cape. But he is someone who practices everyday leadership. How a leader reacts to a particular situation & which quality he/she demonstrates at that moment of truth elevates him/her from a good to an inspiring leader. And the only way to show gratitude to such leaders is to pass these on to our teams so that the “Tribe “ grows!!
I want to end this with a video that truly captures the essence of leadership with a simple analogy.
A Genuine Inspiring Leader believes in the POWER OF INFINITE. And armed with these 7 Traits has an Infinite Impact on the people he leads!!
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Wonderful written piece… and I know for a fact that these are not just words for you… you have been climbing the corporate ladder successfully for last so many years.. following these very mantras…
I’ve been witness to the love & respect your team,back in Mumbai had… & still have for you… evident from the fact that they were heartbroken & in tears at your farewell party when you migrated to Singapore…
All the very best for all your future ventures…
Proud of all your achievements…always
Oh yes! and the entire team still misses her.
Rippy ma’am was never like a ‘Boss’ to us but approachable like a colleague who we could reach out to whenever needed. Always ready with solutions and more than anything else always ready to back her team up.
No wonder we were so bonded to her and looked up to her.
Very nice – like it
Excellent inspiring words as a mentor to make the the world of the *Tribe* Resound with same and similar ethos !
Rightly said … ‘’that impact lasts even in your absence ‘’ ! So important ! The legacy to be created and carried forward !
Very interesting and relatable read Rippy ! You have hit the nail on the head !
Beautifully written Bua!!?????? It takes a very secured person to do this…which is rare in our corporate world! Kudos to you… 🙂
Again well written but you have said nothing new – we all know this and most of us do practice …if possible You will need to give insights on something that’s rarely done by leaders and managers across verticals and sectors …
Hi well written rippy ..great thoughts ..yes we all know it ..but gets forgotten in everyday life and working ….
One important thing about leadership that cannot be forgotten is hard work and it’s a lot of hard work…a vision ..and to take everyone along with you for that vision needs a skill . I think that to get people to trust you and your intentions is a very important aspect of a true leade ..An EQ here scores over an IQ at times
Very well compiled, Rippy!
It is a good reminder for all about what it takes to succeed. You have a great ability to express and you’re open to pay tributes to the leaders who have inspired you ?.
I wish you all the success so that this series becomes a brand in itself!!
Looking forward to more such thoughts through 7 raised to infinity series!!
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