The Hindu Business Line : Leaders should possess humility

A collaborative and participative leadership style is important to garner the best and to drive the team towards a common goal and vision. The leader should be have the ability to choose the right people and place them in the right roles. The aptitude to break away from the norm with a clear vision is also integral to an organisation’s success in today’s dynamic environment. Leadership today requires more than a large stock of gunboats and a hard fist at the conference table. While leadership is not about decision-making alone, the active involvement of the team in the decision-making process improves the understanding of the issues involved. Last but not least, humility is an important trait that all leaders must possess.

An incident from your life, or, what you observed, that has helped guide you as a leader?

The multitude of roles I have been exposed to has held me in good stead throughout my career. I believe that people should move out of their comfort zones and create new challenges for themselves. This stretches them physically and more importantly, mentally, and helps them build confidence.

Ways in which young managers can develop leadership skills?

Young managers should focus on the following factors:

Build a strong knowledge-based foundation that can be leveraged for growth and personal development. Do justice to each role and be open to learning at every stage in their career.

Take rotational assignments, be open to taking risks and not be afraid of challenges and even failure.

Build relationships and an eco-system of advisors and partners and hone the ability to tap into the right resources at the appropriate time.

Your leadership ideal in the corporate world - India or global.

John Chambers, Chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems, has and continues to demonstrate great leadership. Not only an evangelist for radical change in the world of technology, he also possesses the vision and charisma of a true leader.

Naresh Wadhwa, President & Country Manager, India and SAARC, Cisco.

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