Make Believe

Leaders come in all forms and sizes. Their greatest strength lies not in leading from the front but in their ability to create more such leaders.

While at college, one major activity that I used to be involved in was working for student associations. I was an office bearer in a few associations and just a volunteer in many others. But the journey was what made it special. As a fresher, first year into college, we used to work with almost all associations - professional bodies and the fun clubs. As we worked, we were told by our seniors how exactly to do a few tasks but what we learnt actually was much more. We learnt how to be a team, how to get tasks done, how to believe and how to gain trust and of course, how to do the task given to us. With time, our learning made us grow into a position where we were able to guide new members in those teams. When we were in the final year, we realised that our role being in one of the top student posts in these clubs and associations was not to do the work but to teach our fellow members on how to get the work done.

This growth pattern holds true even in the corporate environment. You join a company and spend the initial phase trying to learn about the company, its products, its culture and the people. The second phase is when you grow to be looked up to by your team mates and colleagues as a leader. You go ahead hire people and train them. You try and help them see their true potential and make them believe they are the best. Once you have inspired them and given them the required confidence, your role becomes more of a mentor to these new leaders.

In a book I recently read, The Immortals of Meluha (a very good read indeed), the story is set in 1900 BC and 2 kingdoms are at war. A group of 10000 soldiers face an army of a million soldiers. They feel weak. They are outnumbered by a huge margin but they hold their ground. Lord Shiva, the Mahadev, joins them in the battlefield and chooses to lead them. Their spirits rise and they are happy that their leader is the Mahadev. They are ready for battle. Before the battle, Shiva talks to them and tells them that not just one Mahadev is fighting this battle. The troops get worried. Does this mean the enemy also have a Mahadev on his side? But Shiva goes on to tell that it is not just Him who is the Mahadev or leader. In fact, every one of those 10000 is a Mahadev or leader himself. The troops were not able to believe what He had told them. As they listen to their leader, they realise the presence of a Mahadev in each one them and with that belief and strength, they ride out to battle, crying "Har Har Mahadev!" In creating such Mahadevs lies the true essence of leadership.