Job is an economic phenomenon

Job, in India, as in many other parts of the world, is still an economic phenomenon. Most people, irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds, look at jobs as a means of earning livelihood. There is a tendency of making career choices based on the earning potential of a profession not necessarily based on the interest or talent. There is also a social status attached to jobs. Sadly professional choices are based mostly on bottom & middle of the pyramid thinking (money, survival, recognition, growth) not top of the pyramid thinking (calling, ennobling purpose, meaning etc).

With economics in mind, leaders tend to only deliver transactional leadership. Their risk taking is low, need for safety high, need for control acute and focus is only short term. Saving their job or maintaining employability is more important to them. While it ensures a steady 10-15% growth pa, most of them fail to set examples of inspirational leadership. At best they become `nice bosses’. They have successful careers but they don’t touch too many hearts to compel people out of their comfort zones to achieve something extra ordinary and meaningful or not many leaders have the courage join a fledgling business and turn it around.

Ultimately it is in organization’s best interest to invest in leadership development and using a right approach is second to none. Case study based approaches that enhance cognitive intelligence have their place but their impact is limited to the opportunities leaders get to apply them. Leadership journey is a journey inside-out, not the other way. Self is the only tool a leader has, advocates Kouzes and Posner. So it is not about what one knows but who he is that really matters in leadership. Emotional intelligence and personal transformation based leadership programs have wider application than strategy and case study based cognitive ones. If Ranjay Gulati’s and Daniel Goleman’s researches are anything to go by, then they are strongly advocating affective skills, an area that is under-valued ignored in leadership development.

My wish for leaders at all levels is that they take a moment from their leadership chores and dive deep inside themselves and start impacting their surrounding with a renewed self awareness.