"Leaders don't create followers. They create more leaders." – Tom Peters
Anything about leadership inspires and excites all. Everybody wants to be a leader. But everybody cannot become a leader. What makes the leaders to stand out of the pack? Let us find out.
People mistake leadership is like standing in front of crowd and calling for action. In fact, it is not so what people imagine and think about leadership. Every one is a leader if she or he influences and inspires others by setting personal example. Mother and father at home are also leaders if they play their role properly in shaping and grooming their children.
Identify Leader Within You:
“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” - Rosalynn Carter
Do you have what it takes to be a successful leader? Are you willing to go extra mile. Do you live for yourself or for others? If you want to live for others by serving then leadership is the next best option. Do you like to share success with others or do you like to pass on the success to others? If you want to pass on the credit of success then again leadership is the right option for you. Can you handle conflicts effectively and efficiently? Can you manage human emotions and egos properly? Can you work hard and work smart? Can you motivate and inspire others in getting the work done? Can you work in teams effectively? Can you assess the strengths and weaknesses of your subordinates and can allocate the roles and responsibilities accordingly? If the answer to all the questions is yes then you have all ingredients to become a successful leader.
Leadership qualities:
Some of the qualities of leaders are: listening, communicating, team building, visioning, troubleshooting, negotiating, out of the box thinking, creating rather than copying, killer instinct etc.,
Leaders strongly believe in themselves. They focus more on the hard work unmindful of the results. But they are optimistic about the results. They also don’t mind who gets credit for their efforts and energies. They are passionate in leading whatever the task they undertake. For them, success is only a by product not an end result. This attitude helps them to persevere and pursue their goals and objectives with persistence. In the process of leading even if they fall and fail it will not disturb them as they are mentally prepared for all these eventualities. Of course, finally they attain success. What makes them different from the followers is the tenacity and the never say die approach in achieving their goals.
Leaders have clarity of mind. They know where they are going as they are visionaries. They set their eyes beyond the reach of the common man. They may not be able to explain everything in detail to their followers. But they are basically sure of where they are going. At times, followers may be confused with the attitude and aptitude of the leaders which looks very tricky. Leaders align their followers towards the cherished goals and objectives. Whenever leaders find that the followers are off the track, they put in their efforts to get their followers on the right track and on the fast track. It is in this context, they need to inspire and motivate their followers with their effective and efficient communication skills.
Success does not go in the heads of leaders. They are emotionally balanced and have emotional intelligence. They know that overconfidence is the worst enemy. They have self-control and check themselves constantly. Whenever they make mistakes they immediately realize and correct the same through remedial action. As leaders are continuous learners, they learn a lot from their failures. For leaders, failure is only a comma not a full stop.
Leaders are good listeners. They listen from all sources before taking a call. They are impartial and unbiased. They see multiple perspectives and dimensions to a specific problem. Only after weighing all the options, they take the right decision. They never ignore even minor things. When followers are engrossed with problems it is the leaders who look only at the solutions and come out with a viable and feasible solution based on their imagination and intuition.
Leadership is not a solo act. It is a process that requires interaction with others. It requires team building skills. For achieving the desired objectives, leaders have to analyze and assess the strengths and weaknesses of the members and then leverage their strengths for achieving objectives. It requires a degree of flexibility and also rigidity to form a powerful team. Mostly team building requires a lot of flexibility and in extreme cases rigidity is essential to get the team going with energy and enthusiasm.
Humility is the hallmark of leaders. They remain humble and simple however big they make. They know pretty well that success is not constant. Life is full of fluctuations with peaks and valleys. They remain cool and composed and maintain stoic silence at the time of defeat as well. Leaders know how to balance themselves well.
A leader is the one who stands by ethics. Leaders must be men of integrity and honesty. Or else they lose their credibility among their followers. Any gap between preaching and practice dents their image. Leaders need to demonstrate and stick to ethical values all the times. A person’s true character is demonstrated at the time of defeat. When everything goes well anyone can be ethical and dignified. The same has to be reflected even at the time of defeat. For instance, Abraham Lincoln demonstrated his ethics and integrity when he was defeated. People are the best judges. We cannot take people for granted. Leaders are so careful about their public image, they take every care and pain when they speak something in public. It is because of Abraham Lincoln’s ethical stand, people of America gave him an opportunity to become the President. Ultimately it helped America to evolve as a much more meaningful and progressive country as he tried wholeheartedly for the abolition of slavery.
Leadership Training:
“Leaders aren't born they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.” - Vince Lombardi
Self-analysis is the key to unlock your hidden potential. First of all, find out what is your leadership style. There are several online tests, which, if executed will reveal what category of leader you are. These will also reveal your strengths and weakness so that you can overcome your weaknesses through right kind of leadership training. There are several institutes that provide training through which leadership skills can be learnt. Lot of practice is essential. No one can become a leader just by reading books alone. Books will provide adequate inputs that will only provide as guidelines. The real leadership starts only when you practice. You cannot become a crack shot unless you lose some ammunition. Only by trail and error and by practical experience people can develop leadership qualities.
Leadership is more of a skill rather than a talent. Many people believe that leaders are born. But in fact, it is not so. Leaders are made through compulsive situations. It is only the test of fire that brings out the fine steel. A smooth sea never makes you as a skillful mariner. Lot of churning should take place to get the best out of individuals. It is possible only by continuous practice. If the road to leadership is so easy then everyone becomes a successful leader. It requires lot of struggles and sacrifices to gain acceptance as a successful leader. When we look at leaders like Abraham Lincoln, we come to know that how difficult the path to leadership was and how many trials and tribulations he underwent.
Conclusion:
“People underestimate their capacity for change. There is never a right time to do a difficult thing. A leader's job is to help people have vision of their potential.” - John Porter
We are blessed with vast human potential. But very few people realize and utilize this potential. Success people are smart at realizing the same judiciously and appropriately thus reaching their goals. Leadership is more of a skill rather than a talent. If hidden talents are tapped and also the requisite skills are cultivated and inculcated anything and everything is possible in this world. Sky is the limit.
Top sum up, find out the qualities required to become a successful leader. Find out your innate qualities that you possess and also the skills that you cultivated. Compare and contrast the both. Look for commonalities and align the same for achieving success. Find out what you lack and develop the same by reading, training, practice and by experience. Then you will evolve yourself as a successful leader.
The End
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
How to Unleash Your Hidden Potential?
“Humanity has only scratched the surface of its real potential.” -Peace Pilgrim
We are aware that all of us are blessed with certain talents and we have huge hidden potential. But very few people realize the same. What are the stumbling blocks for realizing hidden human potential? Is it because a few people think they do not possess? Or is it because even if people realize they don’t persevere up to the hilt? Let us find out the same.
Self-Belief and Passion:
First of all, you have to believe in yourself strongly that you have the hidden powers so that you can explore and exploit the same towards success. Having firm belief in this and being passionate will remove any obstacles that arise on the way towards success. Firm belief will tap your inner hidden energies and passion will give you kicks constantly unmindful of the results. Passion will not allow you to look at success frequently. Rather, it will drive and stay you focused on the amount of inputs. At times, being results-focused may take the people out of gear especially when people do not get results. But being passionate keep you on track thus taking you ultimately towards success.
Story of a Jailed Soldier:
Once upon a time, a soldier who was caught in war was chained and arrested. He was taken to a far away island and kept in a cave with doors closed and locked. Initially, he tried to break the lock to escape. Since it was locked he could not escape. He was provided with water and limited food to survive. He tried to break the lock for a few days. But he gradually gave up his endeavors. After few days, he heard noises from outside. When he came to the door and checked it was kept unlocked. In between, the lock was removed by the people who left the island. But the jailed soldier’s mind was conditioned to think that the he was locked. Similarly, in our daily life, we have preconceived notions and thoughts which are difficult to be broken. Once these are broken then we can unleash the power of human mind.
Story of Closed Compartment:
“Ineffective people live day after day with unused potential. They experience synergy only in small, peripheral ways in their lives. But creative experiences can be produced regularly, consistently, almost daily in people's lives. It requires enormous personal security and openness and a spirit of adventure.” -Stephen Covey
There is another story where Joe joined in an educational institution. He was given a cupboard which contained three separate compartments. For two compartments, keys were given to him and he opened and operated. He asked the administrative officer to provide the keys for the third compartment so that he could open and operate. He asked the administrative officer several times but the latter said that the key was with some other person who previously used the cupboard. Joe gave up asking as it was futile to ask. He somehow worked in the educational institution for a year. When he was about to leave the institution, he vacated two compartments of the cupboard and pulled the third compartment. And to his surprise it was kept unlocked. He enquired the office boy since how long it was kept unlocked. Office boy said that one day he opened the third compartment during the absence of Joe. But he forgot to inform the same to Joe and also forgot to him key.
Similarly, we keep our mind closed like that of the third compartment of the cupboard. By default, we develop regimented thoughts and ideas about others and behave accordingly. Only when we break the chains of conditioned thoughts and ideas, will we able to unlock our hidden potential.
Come out of Conditioned Thinking:
“Everyone has inside himself a piece of good news! The good news is that you really don't know how great you can be, how much you can love, what you can accomplish, and what your potential is!” - Anne Frank
Great people started from scratch. It all started with an imaginative mind. These people are not conditioned the way the majority of the people are conditioned. We have skyscrapers and great constructions. All these were achieved as they imagined and unleashed their human potential. During the course of discoveries or inventions they were treated as crazy people. Once they achieved big, people began realizing and respecting them. For instance, radio was invented by Marconi who was treated as mad by his friends as people did not understand what he was doing. Subsequently people realized what he had in his mind and respected. Opening up minds will help in unleashing the hidden potential. The problem with the majority of the people is that they don’t open up and, as a result, they lie in a conditioned state of thinking.
Live in Present:
“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land, there is no other life but this.” - Henry David Thoreau
Research reveals that people waste 30 per cent of their precious time by thinking about the past that cannot be altered. The past worries or concerns or regrets stifles our energies and kills enthusiasm. Future is uncertain and cannot be predicted. There is no meaning in thinking about the future which is not in our hands. What we have now is only present. Therefore, always learn to live in present. Think what you would do if you were to die today. Follow the deathbed approach. When this attitude is developed then the maximum energies can be harnessed for achieving all-round success as people don’t waste their precious time and energies.
You are Unique:
“Don't let anyone tell you that you have to be a certain way. Be unique. Be what you feel.” - Melissa Etheridge
Life is a gift from the god. Everyone has a role to cut out and you were born to achieve something big in this world. Whatever you can do, you have to do in this life only. There is nothing like postponing the things to the next life or birth. It is an excuse to think so. No two people are alike. Even twins are not alike. Therefore, you are unique with special talents and skills. You should learn to explore your hidden talents and exploit the skills to achieve success in your life.
Conclusion:
The Bible clearly says “as a man thinketh so is he.”
Self-improvement is the key to unlock your hidden potential. Continuous learning and growing updates your knowledge, skills and abilities. From continuous learning, we begin by changing our mind, our ideas, insights and thoughts resulting into right attitude and aptitude. Therefore, you need to be a lifelong learner to unleash your hidden potential. Besides, you need to be creative and follow the road less traveled while unleashing your hidden potential so as to achieve success in your life.
The End
We are aware that all of us are blessed with certain talents and we have huge hidden potential. But very few people realize the same. What are the stumbling blocks for realizing hidden human potential? Is it because a few people think they do not possess? Or is it because even if people realize they don’t persevere up to the hilt? Let us find out the same.
Self-Belief and Passion:
First of all, you have to believe in yourself strongly that you have the hidden powers so that you can explore and exploit the same towards success. Having firm belief in this and being passionate will remove any obstacles that arise on the way towards success. Firm belief will tap your inner hidden energies and passion will give you kicks constantly unmindful of the results. Passion will not allow you to look at success frequently. Rather, it will drive and stay you focused on the amount of inputs. At times, being results-focused may take the people out of gear especially when people do not get results. But being passionate keep you on track thus taking you ultimately towards success.
Story of a Jailed Soldier:
Once upon a time, a soldier who was caught in war was chained and arrested. He was taken to a far away island and kept in a cave with doors closed and locked. Initially, he tried to break the lock to escape. Since it was locked he could not escape. He was provided with water and limited food to survive. He tried to break the lock for a few days. But he gradually gave up his endeavors. After few days, he heard noises from outside. When he came to the door and checked it was kept unlocked. In between, the lock was removed by the people who left the island. But the jailed soldier’s mind was conditioned to think that the he was locked. Similarly, in our daily life, we have preconceived notions and thoughts which are difficult to be broken. Once these are broken then we can unleash the power of human mind.
Story of Closed Compartment:
“Ineffective people live day after day with unused potential. They experience synergy only in small, peripheral ways in their lives. But creative experiences can be produced regularly, consistently, almost daily in people's lives. It requires enormous personal security and openness and a spirit of adventure.” -Stephen Covey
There is another story where Joe joined in an educational institution. He was given a cupboard which contained three separate compartments. For two compartments, keys were given to him and he opened and operated. He asked the administrative officer to provide the keys for the third compartment so that he could open and operate. He asked the administrative officer several times but the latter said that the key was with some other person who previously used the cupboard. Joe gave up asking as it was futile to ask. He somehow worked in the educational institution for a year. When he was about to leave the institution, he vacated two compartments of the cupboard and pulled the third compartment. And to his surprise it was kept unlocked. He enquired the office boy since how long it was kept unlocked. Office boy said that one day he opened the third compartment during the absence of Joe. But he forgot to inform the same to Joe and also forgot to him key.
Similarly, we keep our mind closed like that of the third compartment of the cupboard. By default, we develop regimented thoughts and ideas about others and behave accordingly. Only when we break the chains of conditioned thoughts and ideas, will we able to unlock our hidden potential.
Come out of Conditioned Thinking:
“Everyone has inside himself a piece of good news! The good news is that you really don't know how great you can be, how much you can love, what you can accomplish, and what your potential is!” - Anne Frank
Great people started from scratch. It all started with an imaginative mind. These people are not conditioned the way the majority of the people are conditioned. We have skyscrapers and great constructions. All these were achieved as they imagined and unleashed their human potential. During the course of discoveries or inventions they were treated as crazy people. Once they achieved big, people began realizing and respecting them. For instance, radio was invented by Marconi who was treated as mad by his friends as people did not understand what he was doing. Subsequently people realized what he had in his mind and respected. Opening up minds will help in unleashing the hidden potential. The problem with the majority of the people is that they don’t open up and, as a result, they lie in a conditioned state of thinking.
Live in Present:
“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land, there is no other life but this.” - Henry David Thoreau
Research reveals that people waste 30 per cent of their precious time by thinking about the past that cannot be altered. The past worries or concerns or regrets stifles our energies and kills enthusiasm. Future is uncertain and cannot be predicted. There is no meaning in thinking about the future which is not in our hands. What we have now is only present. Therefore, always learn to live in present. Think what you would do if you were to die today. Follow the deathbed approach. When this attitude is developed then the maximum energies can be harnessed for achieving all-round success as people don’t waste their precious time and energies.
You are Unique:
“Don't let anyone tell you that you have to be a certain way. Be unique. Be what you feel.” - Melissa Etheridge
Life is a gift from the god. Everyone has a role to cut out and you were born to achieve something big in this world. Whatever you can do, you have to do in this life only. There is nothing like postponing the things to the next life or birth. It is an excuse to think so. No two people are alike. Even twins are not alike. Therefore, you are unique with special talents and skills. You should learn to explore your hidden talents and exploit the skills to achieve success in your life.
Conclusion:
The Bible clearly says “as a man thinketh so is he.”
Self-improvement is the key to unlock your hidden potential. Continuous learning and growing updates your knowledge, skills and abilities. From continuous learning, we begin by changing our mind, our ideas, insights and thoughts resulting into right attitude and aptitude. Therefore, you need to be a lifelong learner to unleash your hidden potential. Besides, you need to be creative and follow the road less traveled while unleashing your hidden potential so as to achieve success in your life.
The End
Saturday, May 16, 2009
MBTI for Success
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” - Leo Tolstoy
The origin of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment goes to Carl Gustav Jung who laid foundation for this and the same was further developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers during the World War II. It was developed for the women entering the industrial workforce. The intention was to ensure that the women felt comfortable to work during war time jobs.
What is MBTI?
The MBTI is a psychometric instrument helps in finding out how people perceive the world and others in taking decisions. This psychometric instrument lists out the psychological differences into four dichotomies (Extraversion Introversion, Sensing iNtuition, Thinking Feeling, Judging Perceiving) which results into 16 possible psychological types. For instance, all these 16 types are listed out like ISTJ, ISFJ, INFJ, INTJ, ISTP, ISFP, INFP, INTP, ESTP, ESFP, ENFP, ENTP, ESTJ, ESFJ, ENFJ and ENTJ. It reveals from these tests that there is nothing right or wrong with the people’s preferences.
It is believed that the people who are sensing look within five senses. In contrast, the people who are intuitive look beyond five senses for patterns and meaning. In a nutshell, sensors are present focused while the intuitors are future focused by nature.
Leadership Material:
“We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The research reveals that people with Thinking and Judging –TJ possess leadership material. It is because leaders need to possess the qualities of deep thinking and judging the people to carry them forward. Therefore, the people who possess TJ in their categories are sure to succeed as leaders. There are several advantages of taking MBTI test which are stated below.
Merits of MBTI:
“It is the greatest good for an individual to discuss virtue (aka areté) every day...for the unexamined life is not worth living.” - Socrates
• MBTI is widely used in corporate training for leadership development, team building skills, coaching, mentoring and marketing.
• It is very much useful for youth especially in the area of career counseling so that they can choose the right career and succeed professionally.
• It enhances the chances for students to succeed in interviews as well.
• It helps working professionals to face the challenges as they get to know about themselves thoroughly.
• It helps in getting into the right education based on aptitude thus enhancing the learning curve.
• It helps in SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis and for problem solving.
Conclusion:
“Only by much searching and mining are gold and diamonds obtained, and man can find every truth connected with his being if he will dig deep into the mine of his soul.” - James Allen
MBTI is useful to all be it for students, teachers, entrepreneurs, professionals etc., It helps in categorizing and classifying what group individuals belong. Therefore, they can make use of this test for their personal and professional growth. There are several online tests. Therefore, it is advisable to take the test and rate themselves. Besides, there is extra information about the global celebrities and personalities who belong to each category. MBTI helps in taking inspiration from such successful personalities.
The End
The origin of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment goes to Carl Gustav Jung who laid foundation for this and the same was further developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers during the World War II. It was developed for the women entering the industrial workforce. The intention was to ensure that the women felt comfortable to work during war time jobs.
What is MBTI?
The MBTI is a psychometric instrument helps in finding out how people perceive the world and others in taking decisions. This psychometric instrument lists out the psychological differences into four dichotomies (Extraversion Introversion, Sensing iNtuition, Thinking Feeling, Judging Perceiving) which results into 16 possible psychological types. For instance, all these 16 types are listed out like ISTJ, ISFJ, INFJ, INTJ, ISTP, ISFP, INFP, INTP, ESTP, ESFP, ENFP, ENTP, ESTJ, ESFJ, ENFJ and ENTJ. It reveals from these tests that there is nothing right or wrong with the people’s preferences.
It is believed that the people who are sensing look within five senses. In contrast, the people who are intuitive look beyond five senses for patterns and meaning. In a nutshell, sensors are present focused while the intuitors are future focused by nature.
Leadership Material:
“We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The research reveals that people with Thinking and Judging –TJ possess leadership material. It is because leaders need to possess the qualities of deep thinking and judging the people to carry them forward. Therefore, the people who possess TJ in their categories are sure to succeed as leaders. There are several advantages of taking MBTI test which are stated below.
Merits of MBTI:
“It is the greatest good for an individual to discuss virtue (aka areté) every day...for the unexamined life is not worth living.” - Socrates
• MBTI is widely used in corporate training for leadership development, team building skills, coaching, mentoring and marketing.
• It is very much useful for youth especially in the area of career counseling so that they can choose the right career and succeed professionally.
• It enhances the chances for students to succeed in interviews as well.
• It helps working professionals to face the challenges as they get to know about themselves thoroughly.
• It helps in getting into the right education based on aptitude thus enhancing the learning curve.
• It helps in SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis and for problem solving.
Conclusion:
“Only by much searching and mining are gold and diamonds obtained, and man can find every truth connected with his being if he will dig deep into the mine of his soul.” - James Allen
MBTI is useful to all be it for students, teachers, entrepreneurs, professionals etc., It helps in categorizing and classifying what group individuals belong. Therefore, they can make use of this test for their personal and professional growth. There are several online tests. Therefore, it is advisable to take the test and rate themselves. Besides, there is extra information about the global celebrities and personalities who belong to each category. MBTI helps in taking inspiration from such successful personalities.
The End
Thursday, May 7, 2009
How to think out-of-the Box?
“Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.” - Hyman Rickover
Whenever people are confronted with several problems they brood over on the problems rather than looking at the solutions. A few people look at the problems and find a few solutions and opt for the best one. And there is another set of people; they look at the problems from different multiple perspectives unconventionally and come out with viable and feasible solutions. When they think in novel and unconventional we may call it as out of the box thinking. In a nut shell, “Out of the box thinking” can be defined the process of thinking multiples solutions for a given problem by coming out of conventional constraints and barriers. The concept originated from USA in late 1960s and early 1970s and several management experts are responsible for evolving this concept.
‘Out of the box thinking’ is basically status quo ante. It is mostly possible for trailblazers who leave a mark behind. Those who think outside the box are creative people and are basically ideas and solutions oriented people. They have the extraordinary ability to generate multiples solutions for each problem. They are non-traditional and unconventional thinkers. Many inventions are the result of out of the box thinking.
Please Don’t Read This:
The author wrote a case study titled “Please Don’t Read This…Prof.M.S.Rao” and posted in his Blog. It was an interesting case study and helps people to think and analyze the case study. It contained emotions, feelings, egos and hidden and unexpressed love between two personalities (Ref http://profmsr.blogspot.com/2009/03/please-dont-read-this-profmsrao.html ). Usually when people are asked to read, they may not read. But when they were asked not to read then they began reading and there was an overwhelming response to the post with cross section of people offering their comments. It was an instant hit. It was possible as the author thought unconventionally and created curiosity among the readers to come to his Blog and read.
Dhirubhai Ambani:
When we look at Indian businesses, Dhirubhai Ambani rose from ranks and established Reliance Empire by adopting unconventional methods during license raj. There were too many controls for doing business in those days in India. But he explored unconventional ways and means to promote business and became a successful entrepreneur. He started the equity cult in India which helped his business to grow as well as the Indian investors. He taught Indian investors about the share market business and encouraged them to explore investments in this area. He brought investor education and awareness. All this was possible through ‘out of the box thinking’. Whenever people are faced with stumbling blocks they convert the same into building blocks through creative methods.
Competition and Creativity:
“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” - Mary Lou Cook
The business world is beset with cut throat competition and to beat the competition, companies are trying to innovate themselves with new features, products and services. Although people say that competition is a bane, but, in business world it is treated as a boon as it keeps the companies moving forward with creativity and innovation. Companies try to offer products, services with more features for lesser, cheaper and faster ways and means. It ultimately benefits the consumers. The ‘out of the box’ methods and unconventional business strategies will help stay ahead of competition thereby adding value to consumers.
Mahatma Gandhi’s Unconventional Leadership:
When the entire world was beset with attaining independence through violence, Mahatma Gandhi came up with the tenets of truth and non-violence for attaining India’s independence. Everyone doubted the competency and relevance of these principles as people believed in the principle of ‘might is right’. Finally, Mahatma Gandhi led to India’s independence through non-conventional methods successfully. Martin Luther King applied the same to bring equal rights for black along with whites. Leaders always believe in ‘thinking out of the box’. They never follow the crowd. They rather follow where there is no path thus leaving a mark behind.
Susan and Ron:
Ron and Susan worked in a similar department in an organization. Ron and Susan gelled with each other as they have several commonalities. Ron was extrovert, with energy and enthusiasm. Susan was introvert and a woman with strong character. She was bold and beautiful. She was a very cool, composed and charismatic woman. He enjoyed talking with Susan often. And Susan also liked the company of Ron. Gradually they developed mutual admiration for each other. Both Ron and Susan usually did not interact with other colleagues unless there was any official communication. Other colleagues in the office were surprised with these two people interacting with each other. There were two women colleagues who were jealous with the amicable relations and they began giving negative inputs about Susan to Ron. Ron was basically an independent and original thinker and could smell the negative intentions and kept away from these two negative women.
Since the plan did not work out, these two women kept on giving negative inputs about Ron to Susan. Over a period of time, Susan stopped talking with Ron and the latter felt that something went wrong with former. Ron guessed that this might be the work of these two negative colleagues. He tried to meet Susan number of times to persuade about the situation so that she would not get trapped by these two negative women. Unfortunately, Susan maintained more distance with Ron.
Ron was basically a man with perseverance, persistence and passion. He was passionate about Susan and tried number of times to reach her. He looked for several conventional solutions to reach her, but failed such as personal visit to convince, email communication, through telephonic conversation. At last, Ron thought unconventionally for this problem and succeeded in reaching and persuading Susan. People give up addressing the problems after having tried one or two solutions. But the people with perseverance will find number of solutions for solving a single problem just because they never give up.
Both Ron and Susan reconnected with each other and gelled with each other. Later on, both expressed their love towards each other and finally married and lived happily. When love is true and strong, nobody can break the relations.
Ron as a Researcher:
Ron joined in a research organization for developing books related to HR subjects. When he joined the firm there was number of books already released from the shelves of the research organization. He found it difficult to create books as there should not be any overlap of books on the same topic. Therefore, he entered into the domain of leadership development where there were limited books released. After entering into the domain, he found that there were number of styles and theories on leadership. He explored fully and looked for areas where there were research gaps. He probed and researched in that domain and developed books on specialized styles and theories of leadership. What Ron did was to travel the unconventional path where no one traveled in the past thus becoming a trailblazer in the domain of leadership development.
Tools for Unconventional Thinking:
“It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.” - Edward de Bono
• You need to come outside your comfort zone to think unconventionally.
• To be creative, you need to follow a different route map to reach your office as it leads to thinking in a new direction.
• You may take any item and start thinking about its application and utility in multiple ways. Don’t be content if you get one or two ideas. Keep exploring in multiple ways. You will be amazed to know that you will get more creative over a period of time.
• You must be willing to take risks and tread the path to uncertainty and complexity.
• Open up your mind, be a good listener and be receptive to new ideas.
• No idea is too small to be ignored. You must learn the fact that an idea can change your life.
• Develop observation skills as it throws light on new things. Many people do not observe well resulting into ignorance. When we listen to the story of Sir Issac Newton sitting under an apple tree, he observed the apple falling on the ground due to gravity. And he suddenly thought of the Universal Law of Gravitation.
• Go to a serene place and start thinking, you will develop new ideas which you never imagined.
Individuals need not to be intelligent to think unconventionally. Out-of the box thinking requires thinking skills which even average individuals possess. When they can think in different directions they develop several permutations and combinations resulting into creative solutions.
Conclusion:
“One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.” - A. A. Milne
In this cut throat competitive and complex world we need to be creative. We need to be different from others to stay ahead of times or else we will be lost out in the race. Get out of your conventional constraints. Remove your mental barriers and limitations. Fortune favors only the brave. The world is only meant for brave hearted not fainthearted. Therefore, dare to be different but don’t be indifferent.
Unconventional thinking is a skill that can be cultivated through observation, practice, reading, experience and training. It is not a talent that you should be born with. Therefore, develop this skill for all-round success.
The End
Whenever people are confronted with several problems they brood over on the problems rather than looking at the solutions. A few people look at the problems and find a few solutions and opt for the best one. And there is another set of people; they look at the problems from different multiple perspectives unconventionally and come out with viable and feasible solutions. When they think in novel and unconventional we may call it as out of the box thinking. In a nut shell, “Out of the box thinking” can be defined the process of thinking multiples solutions for a given problem by coming out of conventional constraints and barriers. The concept originated from USA in late 1960s and early 1970s and several management experts are responsible for evolving this concept.
‘Out of the box thinking’ is basically status quo ante. It is mostly possible for trailblazers who leave a mark behind. Those who think outside the box are creative people and are basically ideas and solutions oriented people. They have the extraordinary ability to generate multiples solutions for each problem. They are non-traditional and unconventional thinkers. Many inventions are the result of out of the box thinking.
Please Don’t Read This:
The author wrote a case study titled “Please Don’t Read This…Prof.M.S.Rao” and posted in his Blog. It was an interesting case study and helps people to think and analyze the case study. It contained emotions, feelings, egos and hidden and unexpressed love between two personalities (Ref http://profmsr.blogspot.com/2009/03/please-dont-read-this-profmsrao.html ). Usually when people are asked to read, they may not read. But when they were asked not to read then they began reading and there was an overwhelming response to the post with cross section of people offering their comments. It was an instant hit. It was possible as the author thought unconventionally and created curiosity among the readers to come to his Blog and read.
Dhirubhai Ambani:
When we look at Indian businesses, Dhirubhai Ambani rose from ranks and established Reliance Empire by adopting unconventional methods during license raj. There were too many controls for doing business in those days in India. But he explored unconventional ways and means to promote business and became a successful entrepreneur. He started the equity cult in India which helped his business to grow as well as the Indian investors. He taught Indian investors about the share market business and encouraged them to explore investments in this area. He brought investor education and awareness. All this was possible through ‘out of the box thinking’. Whenever people are faced with stumbling blocks they convert the same into building blocks through creative methods.
Competition and Creativity:
“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” - Mary Lou Cook
The business world is beset with cut throat competition and to beat the competition, companies are trying to innovate themselves with new features, products and services. Although people say that competition is a bane, but, in business world it is treated as a boon as it keeps the companies moving forward with creativity and innovation. Companies try to offer products, services with more features for lesser, cheaper and faster ways and means. It ultimately benefits the consumers. The ‘out of the box’ methods and unconventional business strategies will help stay ahead of competition thereby adding value to consumers.
Mahatma Gandhi’s Unconventional Leadership:
When the entire world was beset with attaining independence through violence, Mahatma Gandhi came up with the tenets of truth and non-violence for attaining India’s independence. Everyone doubted the competency and relevance of these principles as people believed in the principle of ‘might is right’. Finally, Mahatma Gandhi led to India’s independence through non-conventional methods successfully. Martin Luther King applied the same to bring equal rights for black along with whites. Leaders always believe in ‘thinking out of the box’. They never follow the crowd. They rather follow where there is no path thus leaving a mark behind.
Susan and Ron:
Ron and Susan worked in a similar department in an organization. Ron and Susan gelled with each other as they have several commonalities. Ron was extrovert, with energy and enthusiasm. Susan was introvert and a woman with strong character. She was bold and beautiful. She was a very cool, composed and charismatic woman. He enjoyed talking with Susan often. And Susan also liked the company of Ron. Gradually they developed mutual admiration for each other. Both Ron and Susan usually did not interact with other colleagues unless there was any official communication. Other colleagues in the office were surprised with these two people interacting with each other. There were two women colleagues who were jealous with the amicable relations and they began giving negative inputs about Susan to Ron. Ron was basically an independent and original thinker and could smell the negative intentions and kept away from these two negative women.
Since the plan did not work out, these two women kept on giving negative inputs about Ron to Susan. Over a period of time, Susan stopped talking with Ron and the latter felt that something went wrong with former. Ron guessed that this might be the work of these two negative colleagues. He tried to meet Susan number of times to persuade about the situation so that she would not get trapped by these two negative women. Unfortunately, Susan maintained more distance with Ron.
Ron was basically a man with perseverance, persistence and passion. He was passionate about Susan and tried number of times to reach her. He looked for several conventional solutions to reach her, but failed such as personal visit to convince, email communication, through telephonic conversation. At last, Ron thought unconventionally for this problem and succeeded in reaching and persuading Susan. People give up addressing the problems after having tried one or two solutions. But the people with perseverance will find number of solutions for solving a single problem just because they never give up.
Both Ron and Susan reconnected with each other and gelled with each other. Later on, both expressed their love towards each other and finally married and lived happily. When love is true and strong, nobody can break the relations.
Ron as a Researcher:
Ron joined in a research organization for developing books related to HR subjects. When he joined the firm there was number of books already released from the shelves of the research organization. He found it difficult to create books as there should not be any overlap of books on the same topic. Therefore, he entered into the domain of leadership development where there were limited books released. After entering into the domain, he found that there were number of styles and theories on leadership. He explored fully and looked for areas where there were research gaps. He probed and researched in that domain and developed books on specialized styles and theories of leadership. What Ron did was to travel the unconventional path where no one traveled in the past thus becoming a trailblazer in the domain of leadership development.
Tools for Unconventional Thinking:
“It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.” - Edward de Bono
• You need to come outside your comfort zone to think unconventionally.
• To be creative, you need to follow a different route map to reach your office as it leads to thinking in a new direction.
• You may take any item and start thinking about its application and utility in multiple ways. Don’t be content if you get one or two ideas. Keep exploring in multiple ways. You will be amazed to know that you will get more creative over a period of time.
• You must be willing to take risks and tread the path to uncertainty and complexity.
• Open up your mind, be a good listener and be receptive to new ideas.
• No idea is too small to be ignored. You must learn the fact that an idea can change your life.
• Develop observation skills as it throws light on new things. Many people do not observe well resulting into ignorance. When we listen to the story of Sir Issac Newton sitting under an apple tree, he observed the apple falling on the ground due to gravity. And he suddenly thought of the Universal Law of Gravitation.
• Go to a serene place and start thinking, you will develop new ideas which you never imagined.
Individuals need not to be intelligent to think unconventionally. Out-of the box thinking requires thinking skills which even average individuals possess. When they can think in different directions they develop several permutations and combinations resulting into creative solutions.
Conclusion:
“One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.” - A. A. Milne
In this cut throat competitive and complex world we need to be creative. We need to be different from others to stay ahead of times or else we will be lost out in the race. Get out of your conventional constraints. Remove your mental barriers and limitations. Fortune favors only the brave. The world is only meant for brave hearted not fainthearted. Therefore, dare to be different but don’t be indifferent.
Unconventional thinking is a skill that can be cultivated through observation, practice, reading, experience and training. It is not a talent that you should be born with. Therefore, develop this skill for all-round success.
The End
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
NLP and Its Advantages
"To be a good communicator, you need 3 things. First, to know what outcome you want.
Second, you need maximum flexibility in your own behavior. Third, you need to be able to notice, fully and accurately, the responses you are getting?” (http://www.gp-training.net/training/communication_skills/nlp/quotes_nlp.htm )
Now-a-day, there is frequent discussion about Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) across the world. Let us know what is all about NLP and its advantages.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is all about cognition, communication and change. It also focuses on self-awareness, attitude, personality development and psychology. It indicates the relationship between brain, body and language. It was developed by Richard Bandler and John Grinder in 1970s aimed at human excellence. It is widely used by several professionals for helping their customers and clients. Given below are the two definitions about NLP.
Co Founder Richard Bandler and John La Valle explain Neuro-Linguistic Programming as :
Neuro: The Nervous System through which experience is received and processed through the five senses.
Linguistic: Language and nonverbal communication systems through which neural representations are coded, ordered and give meaning.
Programming: The ability to organise or communication and neurological systems to achieve specific desired results. (http://www.ppimk.com/NLP/NLP-What.html)
NLP , or Neuro-Linguistic Programming, is the study of human excellence and communication. It provides us with the tools to run our own brain and manage our states, emotions and behaviours. (http://www.thecoachinginstitute.com.au/what-is-nlp.html )
Merits of NLP:
• NLP helps in your self discovery and enhances personality development as you will have better awareness about yourself.
• NLP practitioners and trainers use this tool to bring out the best from the participants by enabling them to realize properly resulting into better communication and behavior.
• It helps you in becoming what you want by changing your thinking.
• It helps you to think better thereby improving your learning skills as well as social and soft skills.
• It helps you to align your goals effectively and efficiently.
• It builds you optimism and confidence which are essential for all-round personality development.
• It not only builds communication skills but also team building and leadership skills that are essential for professional success.
• It promotes listening and observation skills thus helping to find the hidden data in any communication.
• Through NLP techniques, you will be in a position to influence your audience through communication by gauging and analyzing their body language. It helps you to become a successful public speaker.
NLP techniques are widely used in several sectors to reap the rewards out of it. There are several trainers and practitioners to execute this instrument. It is advisable for students to get trained in NLP so that they can develop and evolve themselves as successful professionals.
The End
Second, you need maximum flexibility in your own behavior. Third, you need to be able to notice, fully and accurately, the responses you are getting?” (http://www.gp-training.net/training/communication_skills/nlp/quotes_nlp.htm )
Now-a-day, there is frequent discussion about Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) across the world. Let us know what is all about NLP and its advantages.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is all about cognition, communication and change. It also focuses on self-awareness, attitude, personality development and psychology. It indicates the relationship between brain, body and language. It was developed by Richard Bandler and John Grinder in 1970s aimed at human excellence. It is widely used by several professionals for helping their customers and clients. Given below are the two definitions about NLP.
Co Founder Richard Bandler and John La Valle explain Neuro-Linguistic Programming as :
Neuro: The Nervous System through which experience is received and processed through the five senses.
Linguistic: Language and nonverbal communication systems through which neural representations are coded, ordered and give meaning.
Programming: The ability to organise or communication and neurological systems to achieve specific desired results. (http://www.ppimk.com/NLP/NLP-What.html)
NLP , or Neuro-Linguistic Programming, is the study of human excellence and communication. It provides us with the tools to run our own brain and manage our states, emotions and behaviours. (http://www.thecoachinginstitute.com.au/what-is-nlp.html )
Merits of NLP:
• NLP helps in your self discovery and enhances personality development as you will have better awareness about yourself.
• NLP practitioners and trainers use this tool to bring out the best from the participants by enabling them to realize properly resulting into better communication and behavior.
• It helps you in becoming what you want by changing your thinking.
• It helps you to think better thereby improving your learning skills as well as social and soft skills.
• It helps you to align your goals effectively and efficiently.
• It builds you optimism and confidence which are essential for all-round personality development.
• It not only builds communication skills but also team building and leadership skills that are essential for professional success.
• It promotes listening and observation skills thus helping to find the hidden data in any communication.
• Through NLP techniques, you will be in a position to influence your audience through communication by gauging and analyzing their body language. It helps you to become a successful public speaker.
NLP techniques are widely used in several sectors to reap the rewards out of it. There are several trainers and practitioners to execute this instrument. It is advisable for students to get trained in NLP so that they can develop and evolve themselves as successful professionals.
The End
Monday, May 4, 2009
Will Chiranjeevi be the King or Kingmaker of Andhra Pradesh Politics?
“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Harold R. McAlindon
Before we deliberate whether Chiranjeevi be the king or kingmaker in the Andhra Politics, let us look at political scenario prevailing when NT Rama Rao entered into AP politics and the time Chiranjeevi entered political scenario. In fact, there is a vast gap and that cannot be compared.
When NTR entered into politics there was political vacuum as there was no strong opposition. Congress ruled the state of Andhra Pradesh continuously. Although people disliked Congress they voted as there was no suitable alternative. At that time, NTR founded Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and successfully threw out Congress government within a short span of founding the party. Of course, he made several mistakes during his tenure but he learnt lessons during his political career and evolved as a successful leader.
Unfortunately, there was no political vacuum when Chiranjeevi founded Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) as there was a strong opposition i.e. TDP. He struggled a lot to find acceptance and ultimately established himself as a leader to reckon with. Of course, like NTR, Chiranjeevi also made several mistakes as he is new to politics. But Chiranjeevi rose from ranks and learnt several lessons. Like NTR, he will also learn lessons and excel as a successful politician. He brought forward the slogan of ‘Change’ as the way Obama came to power in America. Let us wait and see whether the magic works or not.
The advantage with Chiranjeevi is that he is a leader who rose from masses, where as, other contemporary leaders rose from parties founded by others. That makes him as a successful leader than that of other leaders of Andhra Pradesh. He has grit and determination. He is a self-made man who knows the value of life. Therefore, he can empathize with people’s problems and find solutions. Vince Lombardi rightly said, “Leaders aren't born they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.” And Chiranjeevi’s goal is to bring social justice which is possible when he pursues and persists in his political career. He is workaholic and has tenacity to move forward. Initially several politicians threw brickbats at him but he was not disturbed by such things and moved ahead. It is one of the hallmarks of a successful leader. He is a good communicator and can sway the audience at ease. He is the real crow puller. He is cool, composed and charismatic.
In the history of Andhra Pradesh, there is no hung house. As per the exit polls, it appears that there will be a hung house. In that case, Chiranjeevi will definitely be the king maker and will play a crucial role in AP politics. If he gets sizable majority, he can become the Chief Minister (CM) of Andhra Pradesh through power sharing basis.
Even if he does not become the CM this time, there will be an opportunity for him to prove himself and become, in future, as he has a long way to go. What he should do is to stay in touch with people, raise the issues of concern to common man thereby gradually evolving as a successful politician and also as a leader.
The End
Before we deliberate whether Chiranjeevi be the king or kingmaker in the Andhra Politics, let us look at political scenario prevailing when NT Rama Rao entered into AP politics and the time Chiranjeevi entered political scenario. In fact, there is a vast gap and that cannot be compared.
When NTR entered into politics there was political vacuum as there was no strong opposition. Congress ruled the state of Andhra Pradesh continuously. Although people disliked Congress they voted as there was no suitable alternative. At that time, NTR founded Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and successfully threw out Congress government within a short span of founding the party. Of course, he made several mistakes during his tenure but he learnt lessons during his political career and evolved as a successful leader.
Unfortunately, there was no political vacuum when Chiranjeevi founded Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) as there was a strong opposition i.e. TDP. He struggled a lot to find acceptance and ultimately established himself as a leader to reckon with. Of course, like NTR, Chiranjeevi also made several mistakes as he is new to politics. But Chiranjeevi rose from ranks and learnt several lessons. Like NTR, he will also learn lessons and excel as a successful politician. He brought forward the slogan of ‘Change’ as the way Obama came to power in America. Let us wait and see whether the magic works or not.
The advantage with Chiranjeevi is that he is a leader who rose from masses, where as, other contemporary leaders rose from parties founded by others. That makes him as a successful leader than that of other leaders of Andhra Pradesh. He has grit and determination. He is a self-made man who knows the value of life. Therefore, he can empathize with people’s problems and find solutions. Vince Lombardi rightly said, “Leaders aren't born they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.” And Chiranjeevi’s goal is to bring social justice which is possible when he pursues and persists in his political career. He is workaholic and has tenacity to move forward. Initially several politicians threw brickbats at him but he was not disturbed by such things and moved ahead. It is one of the hallmarks of a successful leader. He is a good communicator and can sway the audience at ease. He is the real crow puller. He is cool, composed and charismatic.
In the history of Andhra Pradesh, there is no hung house. As per the exit polls, it appears that there will be a hung house. In that case, Chiranjeevi will definitely be the king maker and will play a crucial role in AP politics. If he gets sizable majority, he can become the Chief Minister (CM) of Andhra Pradesh through power sharing basis.
Even if he does not become the CM this time, there will be an opportunity for him to prove himself and become, in future, as he has a long way to go. What he should do is to stay in touch with people, raise the issues of concern to common man thereby gradually evolving as a successful politician and also as a leader.
The End
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