Leadership in Uncertain Times

Message to the Participant…

“Dealing with people is probably the biggest problem you face, especially if you are in business. Yes, and that is also true if you are housewife, architect, or engineer. Research done under the auspices of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching uncovered a most important and significant fact – a fact later confirmed by additional studies made at the Carnegie Institute of Technology. These investigations revealed that even in such technical lines as engineering, about 15 percent of one’s financial success is due to one’s technical knowledge and about 85 percent is due to skill in human engineering – to personality and the ability to lead people.”

• Dale Carnegie

Dear Friend,

                           The expectations of an organization from its employees are very much similar to expectations of a family/society from a kid: Increasing and ever changing. In corporates of today, these expectations have become even more stringent and keep employees on the toes, continuously. The knowledge, skills, attitudes and habits which one might have acquired four or five years ago are no more required and one has to continuously upgrade and update his/her skillset as per the changing scenario. As one of the business futurist, Alvin Tofler puts beautifully: “…The illeterates of 21st century would not be the ones who won’t be able to read and write. But, the ones who would not be able to learn – unlearn and relearn.”

During the first part of this series, taken by Mr. Sanjay, he must have emphasized the need for this group to hone Behavioral Skills (or Human Relations Skills) in addition to already acquired Technical Skills. The above statement by Dale Carnegie only reinforces the fact, quantitatively. In this series, today, we will together try to dive deeper into the subject by first analysing our job and work responsibilities closely, identifying what specific skills would be of immediate use to us personally & professionally and touch base upon how can one acquire, practice and master those skills.

        I am very excited and motivated for the session ahead to play the role as a catalyst and will try to put my best foot forward to bring for you something that would add value to you and gives you enough thoughts and direction to contribute to the organization in a wider role when you would walk out of the session.

Before I conclude, I welcome you for the sessions and I hope you would come with lot of positive energy and would help me to become better individuals and at the same time learn many new things from your vast and diverse experiences.

Thanks

Meetesh Jha

Contents

Message to the Participant…        1

Schedule for the Day        3

Understanding Executive’s Role in Organization        4

Captain Marvel        4

Responsibilities of a Supervisor        6

Higher Management        6

Subordinates        6

Co-workers        6

Appropriate Style of Leadership        7

Ingredients of Leadership across Ages        8

Similarity and Differences in Leadership: The ICE-BERG VIEW        9

Basic Ingredients of Leadership        10

Goal Clarity        10

Passion        10

Positive Social Change        10

Developing Leadership Potential        11

Personal Skills        11

Interpersonal Skills        12

Conclusion        13

Appendix II: Managing Conflict        17

Appendix III: Case Study: Scenario I        18

Initiator Role:        18

Respondent Role        19

Appendix IV: Win as much as you can…        20

Schedule for the Day