GET FIT TO LEAD

“MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO”, which is a Latin quote, means “a sound mind in a sound body”. I’m sure you would have heard similar quotes many a time, but have you ever thought about its connection with the “Leadership”, surprised? Don’t be, because leadership starts from within.  Yes, the golden rule of leadership begins with first leading thyself to a perfect state, and you cannot do great at work until you feel great about yourself.

Regretting everyday about your bulging belly, bad eating habits, and undisciplined lifestyle is only going to make you feel miserable about yourself. Good fitness habits will make you look better, feel stronger and fill you with plenty of energy. It is a fact that you cannot make someone feel good until you feel good about yourself, a trait very essential in a good leader. You can’t be a source of positive energy if you have no energy.

A good workout will not only improve your health, but also help you think more clearly, boost creativity and manage relentless stress that seems to dominate each day of your professional life. Here is a quote, which makes perfect sense- “Exercise is an insurance policy that we have taken out on our health, and each day we workout, we are paying the premium”- as I read somewhere.

Care for yourself, and you will be able to give more to others. With your good health you guarantee to be an effective leader filled with positive thoughts enjoyable to be around. It is very important for you to first achieve your fitness, in order to achieve your career goals. And if you think- there is no time to work out, no time to plan healthy meals then you better get rid of those excuses.

So, buckle up and don’t shy away from adding an additional goal of being Fit and Healthy next quarter. Put on your running shoes and live a life lot better and more productive.

Go Ahead and Get Fit To Lead !!

PS. This article was recently published in my firm's global quarterly newsletter. 

THINK LIKE A LEADER

 

A lot of times when we hear somebody say-“Think like a leader”, we make a remarkable mistake of interpreting it as- to run the organization like a CEO. With no doubt whatsoever, such an assumption is chaos!! It is true that we do need leaders who set the vision and then lead us to it, but the term “leader” is not just confined to those things or people. What really needs to be realized is that each and every member in the team should know its role and then act fully in that role like a leader would.

One of the most important characteristic of a leader is the sense of ownership, and when you start to think, feel and act like a leader with true sense of ownership towards your work, you are growing as a leader. The concept of ownership inspires us to be an entrepreneur of our functional areas. You are a software developer? Think that’s your business. Take personal responsibility for the success of your business. Design the software immaculately, inspire new ideas, implement maintainable code. You are a Painter? Think it’s your show. Show your imagination, show the quality of your work, ensure your creative satisfaction. Do whatever you can to make the business profitable as you would do if it’s your own business. By following such practices you will grow in your career and you will definitely grow as a leader.   

One other important trait of a leader is to build culture and build relationships. Like a true leader try to build a positive and enthusiastic atmosphere. Interact with people, pass a smile or wave your hand whenever you crossing them, make them feel comfortable to discuss their problems or to seek your suggestion. Instead of cribbing about the work environment, “be the change as you want to see” -as Mahatma Gandhi said. Share your ideas, discuss with people and implement them. Yet don’t be complacent and do what is right. “Being a leader isn’t about being popular, being a leader isn’t about being liked. It’s about doing the right”- as I read somewhere.

Few days ago, I saw a speech over the internet by the renowned author- Robin Sharma at the leadership forum in a business school. One thing that he said particularly impressed me- “Great leadership is tied to who you are as a person, rather than to your official position. Be a real leader, a leader without a title”. So, on that positive note let’s think like a leader to become “rock stars” at work, and finally to awaken the inner leader in ourselves. 


PS. This article was recently published for my firm's global news-letter.

LEADERSHIP - BY ROBIN SHARMA

 

What makes an effective leader? This is a very important question that we hear almost everyday in our life. Yet, the answers we get are mostly bookish and unrealistic as a result we keep on diverting ourselves from this very significant question.

I’ve have been reading a lot of stuff about Robin Sharma these days. Robin Sharma is a renowned writer of the famous book- ‘The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari’. Sharma was recently the guest speaker in one of the B-School in Switzerland where he explained his views about the leadership. For Robin Sharma- ‘leadership comes from an inner sense of who you really are’. Sharma pointed out that “our performance on the outside is a reflection of what is going inside”.

Sharma insists, the great essence of leadership is the quality of positively inspiring creativity in others, and that requires developing one’s inner self. “We can’t celebrate another human being unless we have first celebrated ourselves”. “We must have great ideas inside to have great ideas in our work.”

I was really impressed with one thing in particular that Sharma said- great leadership is tied to who you are as a person, rather than to your official position. He advised executives to become “rock stars” at work, and finally to awaken the inner leader in themselves.

As per Sharma, The best leaders share 7 basic characteristics:
- They are ridiculously good at what they do
- They are ferociously curious.
- They balance the artist with the engineer.
- They leave most other people better off.
- They prefer marathons to sprints.
- They edit and then amplify.
- And finally, their “video is in sync with their audio.” In other words, they don’t just talk a good line, they deliver on what they promise.

One other very interesting thing that Sharma said was- we should ideally wake up early in the morning to strategize and plan our day. Ben Franklin used to say it: “There is plenty of time to sleep when you are dead.” Superior performance invariably requires rehearsal. “How can you be the Madonna of manufacturing, or the Mozart of management, if you don’t practice ahead of time?“ Sharma asked.

I suggest everyone to follow what the great Robin Sharma has said and make a significant difference to your life.

PS- For those who missed my first audio post here is a better one. Hope you will enjoy the audio, do share your thoughts about it.