Championing our internal battles - burning the effigies of individualism, insecurity and inefficiency

Dussehra has always been a very special festival for me - a representation of hope. A day that symbolises the promise of better - that better days are ahead of us, that we are capable of being better individuals, and that good will always triumph over evil. And the legendary battle serves as a great reminder for us to tackle our own personal demons as professionals and put to rest our metaphorical effigies - our insecurities, negativity, our egoistic tendencies and our self-indulgences. This particular day signifies the potential we have within us, and the importance of cleansing ourselves of our vices in order to elevate our collective capabilities.?

In the race to get ahead, we often lose sight of our greatest enablers - the drive to innovate is replaced by the fear of failure, speed takes precedence over quality, grooming new leaders spawns apprehensions of being replaced, and an unhealthy sense of competition breeds self-gain over collaboration. Each of these areas create cracks in the larger system, fueling mistrust and hampering progress. This kind of fragmentation creates a reluctance to share new ideas or even provide constructive feedback, as teams prioritise their own interests above all else. People begin to operate in silos, with a more guarded approach, and ultimately the widening disconnect impacts the ability to deliver authentic outcomes as well.

As a result, there is an increased focus on individual performance indicators, with evident neglect for the big picture. Shared aspirations move towards toxic ambition, with leaders then trying to reverse-engineer and build linkages between individual goals and strategic priorities. However, this calls for much-needed interventions at an organisational level, to course correct, strengthen communication, and drive cohesion across teams. And a starting point is self-awareness - to filter through the noise, to seek constructive feedback, to understand the larger objectives, and be open to adapting and working towards a collective vision - to burn the effigy of individualism.?

Another major challenge for leaders of today is transparency. A lack of trust internally, whether between teams, individuals or even in existing processes and systems creates protectionism of sorts. And a dearth of openness and faith in each other’s intent and capabilities internally makes it challenging to build trusting relationships externally. Ambiguity brews beneath the surface, and the overall environment suffers, as people become increasingly wary of failure, rethink and often set-aside innovative ideas, and begin to steer away from supporting one another. In these scenarios leaders need to quickly address any doubts and apprehensions head-on - to burn the effigy of insecurity.?

And finally, creating an environment grounded in trust with a sense of shared purpose, does not mean shared tasks but defined expectations with clear accountability. It is crucial to develop a sense of ownership - an understanding that each individual is not just part of the organisation, but is the very organisation itself. This means taking responsibility to go beyond meeting client expectations, towards understanding what clients need, and proactively finding the opportunity to create distinct value - and to do so consistently - to burn the effigy of inefficiency.?

As we gear up for another Dussehra celebration, let us introspect and identify the aspects that might be holding us back, and let us consciously confront those deterrents and find the strength to do what is right. The battle of good versus evil will always favour good - and the true victory for us as leaders and as individuals lies in empowering people - creating value with each other and for each other.