Here are my thoughts about "How I could see a Loser in a Leader" in 3 environments - one in a decent Startup, then in a Mid-size Telecom Service Provider and other in a Global Fortune 100 Company!
Trait #1 - Being a Dumb Lier!
Lieing to Audience!
First observe the Body Language - The Body language says "I am a Total Loser!". Because of the fact that we might have seen them earlier on numerous occassions, we just ignore this Body Language and the Leader gets the benefit of Doubt!
Second - You hear statements like this
"I (/We) have been travelling non-stop for past 2 - 4 weeks interacting with partners, customers, govt - all are excited about our technology! We have a great Future"
You get to hear this quiet often -
"Guys the market is Huge, Great! Its ocean out there! All we need to do is Just DO IT", as if the audience really didnot have any sense of what is it out there! "What is out there" is just COMMON SENSE!
Trait #2 - Looking for a Scape Goat!
Not-even Shouldering the Responsibility!
The Leaders though they would have read enough number of times that never put failures on somebody's shoulder, fail to "Walk This Talk"!
You hear -
"I arrived at a Perfect Strategy and asked u to do this /focus on this / your team is expected to do this.You guys dint do it and we fail!"
Though this is less seen outside the boardroom, if one observes a basic level of communication, you get to see a Frustration (/ OverJoy) that conveys all! [:D]
My personal observation has been
. Steve Waugh - in case of a loss, he always use to say - I take the Personal responsibility for this defeat! This way u instill the confidence in the team and be a TRUE leader rather than a Momentary Leader!
. Have seen this trait in only Manager (/ CXO) I have worked with. Rest around 10 are utter DHUD
. You can make out at the Cricket Match Presentation Ceremony whether the Losing Captain is a Leader or a Loser [:))]
Trait #3 - Speak About Work Accomplished in Past!
Take Responsibility of Previous Successes! Itz like Mungerilal Ka Sapna!
Leader Never Speaks About His Work! If he speaks he definitely is a Loser!
"I built the company from a team of 3 to 25! I built an amazing team! But the current team lacks the instinct. I wish I had that kind of team!"
"I was totally responsible in taking the company from US$ 1 M to US$ 200M. I did it! I see similar opportunity here!"
"I have been working off late with CXO1, CXO2 and Senior Management to re-build the organization!I am working Very Hard, Stretching, Work 24 X 7"
Trait #1 - Being a Dumb Lier!
Lieing to Audience!
First observe the Body Language - The Body language says "I am a Total Loser!". Because of the fact that we might have seen them earlier on numerous occassions, we just ignore this Body Language and the Leader gets the benefit of Doubt!
Second - You hear statements like this
"I (/We) have been travelling non-stop for past 2 - 4 weeks interacting with partners, customers, govt - all are excited about our technology! We have a great Future"
You get to hear this quiet often -
"Guys the market is Huge, Great! Its ocean out there! All we need to do is Just DO IT", as if the audience really didnot have any sense of what is it out there! "What is out there" is just COMMON SENSE!
Trait #2 - Looking for a Scape Goat!
Not-even Shouldering the Responsibility!
The Leaders though they would have read enough number of times that never put failures on somebody's shoulder, fail to "Walk This Talk"!
You hear -
"I arrived at a Perfect Strategy and asked u to do this /focus on this / your team is expected to do this.You guys dint do it and we fail!"
Though this is less seen outside the boardroom, if one observes a basic level of communication, you get to see a Frustration (/ OverJoy) that conveys all! [:D]
My personal observation has been
. Steve Waugh - in case of a loss, he always use to say - I take the Personal responsibility for this defeat! This way u instill the confidence in the team and be a TRUE leader rather than a Momentary Leader!
. Have seen this trait in only Manager (/ CXO) I have worked with. Rest around 10 are utter DHUD
. You can make out at the Cricket Match Presentation Ceremony whether the Losing Captain is a Leader or a Loser [:))]
Trait #3 - Speak About Work Accomplished in Past!
Take Responsibility of Previous Successes! Itz like Mungerilal Ka Sapna!
Leader Never Speaks About His Work! If he speaks he definitely is a Loser!
"I built the company from a team of 3 to 25! I built an amazing team! But the current team lacks the instinct. I wish I had that kind of team!"
"I was totally responsible in taking the company from US$ 1 M to US$ 200M. I did it! I see similar opportunity here!"
"I have been working off late with CXO1, CXO2 and Senior Management to re-build the organization!I am working Very Hard, Stretching, Work 24 X 7"
6 comments:
You should not worry about Loser... You should worry only if you Lose-her...
Everyone will be some percentage Leader and some percentage Looser everyday. It just matters which is of higher percentage in your daily inner struggle...
Anyways I will use these tips against yourself!
I knew about your try on Third comment... [:D]
@Raj,
I have quite a few views regarding the same points you mentioned,
Trait #1 - Being a Dumb Lier!
Lieing to Audience!
Lieing is an art and a good lier can be a very good leader, provided the lie is for good purpose. There is a sanskrit proverb "Satyam Brooyath, priyam brooyath, na brooyath satyam apriyam", which literally translates to "You should speak truth, you should speak whats nice to hear, but you should never speak the truth which is NOT nice on ears". Sometimes to keep the spirit among the team, though he knows the situation is worse, he will have to lie so that the morale of the team is not affected.
Trait #2 - Looking for a Scape Goat!
Not-even Shouldering the Responsibility!
This is something which is very very annoying. Can you imagine, the so called leaders, off their 30s, at quite senior levels try to please only theie seniors for their BENEFIT. I must say, they are unfit to be called as leaders. They bask in all the glory for the work well done, leaving behind the team who laboured throughout, but if something goes wrong, they come on you as if... Idiots.
Trait #3 - Speak About Work Accomplished in Past!
Take Responsibility of Previous Successes! Itz like Mungerilal Ka Sapna!
Again, if he says it to boost the morale of his people its fine. Imagine a startup of 50 people struggling with their fears and premonition, if a leader tells them his experiences, they might feel good. They might also get encouraged to take up the tasks head-on without fearing what will happen in future. But if that guy is mentioning this to enhance his image among poor fellows, or to hide his current failres, no doubt he is a loser.
You know, except for the mid sized company, I had a previlege to work for a startup and a giant. Believe me, the difference is huge. In a startup, you rarely see people pointing fingers. People are willing to own mistakes, even though they are not theirs plus they can willingly put their efforts just for the sake of product without caring hoots for their appraisal or rating.
But in a giant, people even at their very senior level are running after only their ratings which finally determines their financial future. One situation was so ridiculous that one manager was not ready to explain a few tech things to his manager fearing the outcome. Even after explaining clearly as what could be the resource savings, time savings etc with the other approach, he was not willing to present it before his manager. Result, 2 parallel approaches for the same stuff... Ridiculous. A leader is one who has faith in himself, his people and knows the actual work and has the dareness even to challenge his supiriors if there comes a better approach.
Its very disheartening to see majority of people being like that. Even I have come across only one such person who knew things technically so sound, had the guts to present things and believe me the result was great. I would like to work for such person anyday whatever is the amount of work pressure. The main difference I saw in these two people is, the former always used to tell us to do (what, he barely knew) but the latter, he used to understand the issues, guide us properly and if we were to suggest any better alternative, used to take it with open mind. No doubt these are the much required people to bring out best of the products, who focus more on the work on hand than their ratings.
:o) Nice writeup man, brought so many memories back :o)
Aks,
Thanks for insightful comment..
I appreciate your thoughts and they made me look some traits from different dimension...
Thanks Once Again!
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