The Hindu Business Line : Leadership should drive change

Leadership is all about making a difference. Irrespective of whether the markets are buoyant or volatile, growth is rapid or stagnant, and competition is cut-throat or not, the emphasis on leadership to drive change remains unchanged.

Given the pace at which the business environment is changing today, the demands on leadership are far greater than they were ever before.

In the prevailing chaotic environment, one is not able to anticipate `everything'. However, the problem more often than not is that one cannot anticipate `anything,' and that underlines the need to be able to see the unseen and outline combative strategies.

Business leaders need to figure out how to manage seemingly conflicting priorities. Should one go in for market share or should one aim for profits? Does one look short-term or long term?

The answers lie not in selecting either / or but identifying the common link that would drive both.

Successful leaders continuously revitalise their organisations and keep the interests of all their stakeholders, i.e., customers, employees and associates, alive. In a fiercely competitive market situation, organisations have to continuously build operational excellence and do away with redundancies.

For instance, while designing a Quick Response Supply Chain, one needs to safeguard against risk mitigating approaches such as building multiple safety stock points or excess capacities. The challenge is to strike the right balance, i.e., optimal delivery of both cost and service levels.

Leadership is about questioning the status quo and swimming against the tide. Doing the unexpected creates positive disruption, which unshackles people and mobilises them into action.

Those who lead are those who seek excellence, drive continuous improvement, set the best practice benchmarks and above all, internalise innovation as a way of life to build a winning organisation.

New age leaders who keep `customer at the core', have a `passion for performance', and demonstrate the ability to `unravel the unknown,' are the ones who will lead the march into the new millennium.

George Menezes, CEO, Godrej Appliances

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