The Hindu Business Line : Leaders guide their companies into the future

A leader is a person who is capable of leading an organisation into the future, a visionary who inspires people, a man who fosters a high performance, fast-learning organisation. To achieve all this, a leader must be motivational and inspire people to over-achieve their targets.

An incident from your life, or, what you observed, which you think was great leadership?

Once I met Swami Vishnumayananda of Ramakrishna Mission at Shivanahalli village, close to Bannergatta. He said, “We educate children by developing curiosity, not by the stick.” The school, with less than 10 pupils was taken over and it steadily grew to 260 pupils offering quality education in a rural area. It sounds simple, but this philosophy has instilled self-confidence in its pupils.

Ways in which young managers can develop leadership skills?

Young managers today have to work in a global environment. Their responsibilities cut across geographies and cultures. The world is changing fast and they should adapt to these changes quickly. Today, young managers have a good educational background, but they have to complement it with new skills and fresh ideas. Managers must also be attuned to the market they operate in and at the same time must understand the needs of their employees.

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

For me, there is no ideal leader who ‘fits all’. I am inspired by individuals who challenge the status quo and help institute positive changes in the society, yet remain humble. An individual’s field is not important; it is the difference they make to the society that matters. Mahatma Gandhi was one of the greatest leaders of India. He achieved so much by remaining humble, yet motivating Indians to fight against injustice. — Alexius Collette, CEO, Philips Innovation Campus

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