Self-
Assessment for leaders
While
many people aspire for the leadership and want to play a pro-active role in
shaping systems, institutions and concepts, their desire, competency and style
do not necessarily match the skills required for an effective leadership. Consequently
when they take up positions of responsibility they are not able to discharge their
duties effectively. They exhibit absence of vision, direction and focus.
Such
situations arise when the leaders do not assess their competencies effectively
and meaningfully. They are also not aware of the challenges facing them, the
strength of competitors and the environment in which they are functioning. It
is a demonstration of pragmatic vision. Talking of such leaders Thiruvalluvar
says
வினைவலியும் தன்வலியும் மாற்றான் வலியும்
துணைவலியும்
தூக்கிச் செயல்
(vinaivaliyum thanvaliyum
maatran valiyum
Thunaivaliyum thookkich
cheyal)
Meaning “Before you engage
into an action, assess your strength, strength of others, strength of the
action and the strength of the support systems.”
If a leader is hasty in his
actions without considerations and judgment of all that is listed above, he is
bound to face defeat and suffer humiliation.
Mere desire to do something,
mere curiosity and a sense of enterprise will not help or assure one of
success. As such this curiosity and enterprise has to be weighted against the
competence. Otherwise, the leader is likely to desert his actions even
half-way, just because his strength and that of the resources that support are
not good enough to take him to the path of success.
Says Thiruvalluvar:
உடைத்தும் வலியறியாதார் ஊக்கத்தின் ஊக்கி
இடைக்கண் முறிந்தார் பலர்
.
(udaiththum valiyariyaathaar
ookkathin ookki
Idaikkan murinthaar palar)
Meaning “Many have broken
halfway just because they got into action catalyzed by their enterprise without
knowing their actual strength.
In trying to mobilize support
the leader should be extremely careful about the persons with whom they
associate. The choice of supporters is vital for safe mobility towards the path
of success. If the people who stand by the leader is not dependable, their
support will always be subject of suspicion and doubt. Similarly, if the leader
always suspects the association of dependable person, he will again be in
trouble because such actions will have frustrated those who want to give unqualified
support.
According to Thiruvalluvar
“தேரான் தெளிவும் தெளிந்தான்கண் ஐயுறவும்
தீரா இடும்பை தரும்”
(Theraan thelivum
thelinthaankan aiyuravum
Theera idumbai tharum)
GREAT
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