PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT FROM ‘THIRUKKURAL” (4)

What are the objectives of leadership?

One wonders often – what leadership really means?  The root of the word ‘leader’ is from the Anglo-Saxon noun “laed” meaning –a path, road, way or the course of a ship at sea. It is a word that relates to a journey.

A leader therefore is pathfinder. He designs the course of a journey or blazes the trail for his followers.  Therefore, anyone who heads a team of people is not necessarily a leader unless he develops a vison, details the mission, designs the strategies and delegates the responsibilities.

Focusing on these qualities of a leader Thiruvalluvar beautifully comprehends

இயற்றலும் ஈட்டலும் காத்தலும் காத்த

வகுத்தலும் வல்ல தரசு

(Iyatralum yeettalum kaaththalum kaaththa

Vaguththalum valla tharasu.).

Leadership is a mindset. One doesn’t acquire it just because he or she is in a positon that bestows him certain responsibilities to discharge. Talking of the characteristics of leadership John C Maxwell, a leading international expert on this subject says “Job titles don't have much value when it comes to leading. True leadership cannot be awarded, appointed or assigned. It comes only from influence and that can't be mandated.”

Any amount of textual learning or financial positioning or physical or political power may not bestow a person with the qualities of leadership. It is felt, learnt and experienced through adherence to certain principles, values, practices, ethics and sensitivities.

Detailing the qualities of leaders, Thiruvalluvar calls for a deep understanding of nature, both external and the internal. In his Kural in the “Amaitchu” adhikaaram, he says

செயற்கை அறிந்தக் கடித்தும் உலகத்து

இயற்கை அறிந்து செயல்.

(seyarkkai arinthak kadaiththum ulagaththu

Iyarkkai arinthu seyal)

We could see several people who are bestowed with limitless competencies and skills, but unable to take leadership positions. Many of them lack vision and self- confidence. They suffer from “Learned helplessness” – a feeling and conviction that they cannot go beyond a given level of performance or they suffer from self-pity that they cannot compete with others.

George Bernard Shaw in his own inimitable style puts it “People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I do not believe in circumstances. The people who get on this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want and if they cannot find them, make them.”

One could find that Thiruvalluvar expresses the same point of view – “Even if one faces a series of ordeals continuously , on witnessing the conviction of a strong person, the ordeals wade away.”

அடுக்கி வரினும் அழிவிலான் உற்ற

இடுக்கண் இடுக்கட் படும்.

(adukki varinum azhivilaan utra

Idukkan idukkat padum)

Strong leaders are entrepreneurs of circumstances.

(contd._)