Calming Leadership – What a Chaotic World needs today!

Competence, Compassion, Conduct and more….

 Shrabonee Paul & Saurabh Bajaj

 Leadership is one of the most celebrated topics of discussions. And why shouldn’t it be? It is a role that is not bound by hierarchy nor designation, nor by profession nor delegation. And many a times it cannot be defined within conscious intent. Leadership is a trait, an ability and a skill that some people possess in them , that enables them to do things that set examples for others while touching the lives of those around them sometimes directly, and sometimes even discreet.

We come across many great leaders from all walks of life. Their leadership is so prominent that everyone even those beyond their profession know about them. Media, social media, professional networks are flooded with their stories. So today, we choose to focus on some leaders who come from all walks of life and their leadership skills woven around compassion and goodwill and how it makes others feel. On this month of Thanksgiving, we would like to feature few leaders who lead by example. 

Lawrence W. Hartnett- (Academician / Principal)

Although, I was not part of that school where Mr. L.W. Hartnett served as principal, but heard about his art of teaching and leadership from many who happened to know him closely. He is kind, warm, very knowledgeable, empathic and had a keen attention on everything or everyone around him. He is humble and modest and had an amazing skill of disciplining students with a friendly yet charismatic demeanor. His students could not stop talking about him and all that he did – and thus inspired so many of who heard about his many qualities.

Years later, after the advent of the social network that brought together people far and wide together and closer, I had a chance to connect with him. Not surprisingly, his posts were always very positive and reflected the very qualities that he was well known for. But here’s something that deserves a mention.  He was always and every time the first person to send in birthday wishes to each and every person on his friend list- every year, without fail and always first. I was never his student, (not directly at least), but that did not stop him from showering the same love, kindness and affection that he gave to all his students.  Every year over the past decade and more, it is always him to send in the first birthday wish, with kind words of affection that certainly brightened up our days. Small acts of kindness that make a big impact. The simple act of taking the effort to write to everyone the first thing around their birthday with a very positive loving note, had a very lasting effect on the day. This gentleman stands out across decades as a very celebrated teacher because even after years of passing out from the institutions where he was a teacher or principal, his students who are now doing extremely well in their career paths, still remember him and connect over conversations on professional excellence and highly impactful leaders. Leadership is not about one big act of greatness, but about the many small simple acts which reinforce the right behavior and sets the right examples for many.

Raymond Garivey Jr : ( Law enforcement )

Chief R. Garivey serves as Chief of Police within his professional paradigm. But in reality, he has been able to lead many minds with examples of thoughtful leadership and encouragement by his acts of going beyond his calls for duty and touching lives as a wonderful human being. Chief Garivey displays acts of kindness and positivity by the work that he and his department does for the people and leads by example. His signature style of motivating people to stay relentless is an encouragement to many, even those who may never meet him in person, but still be touched by the aura of the good work he does. With a very strong community outreach, he makes an effort to include people from all walks of life in his activities, thus shadowing the line that divides civilians from law enforcement. He actively participates with various social causes - cancer awareness, supporting differently able persons and even taking the effort to visit war veterans or patients and motivating people to stay relentless are some of the few examples he sets every day. And he engages his team with his very noble activities.  Even as their duties display strength and grit, their involvement and engagement with the public makes them non-intimidating and rather a welcome breath of fresh air.

So what does that display? He holds the qualities of human values and actions beyond the paradigms of his profession. And what a beautiful subtle way of enforcing law and harmony through positive examples by common engagement and participation that blurs out lines of divide and encourage better citizenship behavior. It is his way of balancing compassion and competence that makes him unique as he chooses to lead by example.

Joe Biden: ( US President – Elect )

Coined as ‘Sleepy Joe’ by some, perhaps seen as a little boring versus the fire and brimstone of the other within his own party, yet someone who managed to bridge the divides and prejudices of such a great nation. A person who won the hearts of so many Americans because of his calming effect and the promise of balm and healing of a country and the world going through so much of trauma - increased gun violence, several cases of shootings by some prejudiced people, divides based on racism, families torn apart and hundreds of children separated from their parents in the name of law! Undoubtedly vision & charisma is important but often what is more important and essential is a message of hope & healing. Being kind is not a sign of weakness, just like being stern and strict is not a sign of competence. Conduct and character goes a long way and people still value it over everything else.

Ratan Tata: ( Industrialist )

 Of course such a discussion, cannot be complete without the mention of Mr Tata, the man whose very name inspires images of humility, compassion and simple humanity! It was his leadership that inspired such heroism within the staff of Taj that not a person left his post even under the onslaught of terrorists! And then again it was is leadership that displayed immense competence by the Tatas who set up a team to ensure all the staff and people and families affected during the terror attack were taken care of. Mr. Tata was also present in person during the relief activities. A man who comes across as so simple and genuine that the world seeks out a leader with his mettle in the times that we are going through! It is not just one but many more examples of compassionate leadership displayed by the Tata Group over generations, that makes it one of the most respected organizations in the world. 

So, what’s unique about all these stories!

Why do they stand out and make us believe that, this is exactly what the world needs right now? Let me tell you why? Leadership is not just about performance and charisma and vision and brave deeds. It is also about the small things that matter. An empathic and compassionate leader is one who will take care of the feelings of those around him. So no matter how great your visions are, or how impactful your performance is, if you cannot make the people who work with you or associated with you feel good and in harmony, your leadership may be questioned. Because good leadership is not just about vision, it is about intent and impact.

Leadership is not just about what you do, but how you make others feel.