Of leadership and taking responsibility

Authentic leadership is all about standing up and taking responsibility by being true to oneself as well as others, said Sudhir Raj, Professor,Justice KS. Hegde Institute of Management.

He was delivering the BL Club lecture on ‘Be an authentic leader’ at SDM College at Ujire in Dakshina Kannada district. Syndicate Bank sponsored the event.

Raj said authentic leadership is about guiding others with sincerity and setting directions with integrity. An authentic leader takes the lead while being open to others.

The leader’s actions are based on values and convictions. An authentic leader does not crave for status or other personal rewards.

Giving the example of an airline pilot who avoided an accident in 2009, Sudhir Raj said the pilot in that case is a classic example of authentic leadership.

He said that Chesley Burnett ‘Sully’ Sullenberger of the US gained fame when he successfully and accurately executed an emergency water landing of his flight on the Hudson river after the aircraft was disabled by a bird-hit. All the 155 passengers and crew on board the aircraft survived.

Sudhir Raj said the pilot knew that goal setting was paramount for the landing of the flight. He attempted water-landing and succeeded.

The quick decision-making ability to land it on the river averted what could have been a tragic accident.

In spite of this, Sully remained a team player. When all were congratulating him, he attributed the credit to his team members. As a leader, one needs to remain calm during a storm, Sudhir Raj said.

Udayachandra PN, Head of the Department of Commerce and Management, SDM College, Ujire, was present on the occasion.

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