Lead, Follow or Get outta the way!

Was reminded of this quote, which has been one of my favourites since a long time, when I saw it recently posted on LinkedIn … But during the course of my 15 year young career, it has assumed a variety of meanings at different points in time … Reading it got me thinking what it means to me at this point in time?

Lead

“Lead, because of your vision … Not because of your position.”

Well… So much has already been said & written about this term “Lead”… This is what I have learnt about it … Leading is often confused with one’s designation. When you reach a particular level in the organization, you are “expected” to lead a group of people within the organization…. Rather you reach an eminent position only if you are perceived to be a good leader of people. Irrespective of whether you have any real value to add. So what is the real value that I am referring to?

Can you recount any leader worth his or her salt, who did not have a vision? A vision to make things better than they are.. A vision to challenge the status quo … A vision to transform & in the process be transformed …In my humble opinion, ONLY someone who possesses such a vision can be worthy of being able to lead and not by virtue of having a heavy tag of a designation! Their conviction in their vision serves as a magnet to attract followers who develop an unwavering belief, either in the vision .. Or in the leader harbouring the vision.

Now go back & think about the managers who have supposedly lead you in the past … How many would pass this “vison test”?

Leading, apart from having this compelling vision, is also about the relentless will to drive it like a man possessed! Leadership in thought … Leadership in action… Anybody who embodies these two qualities, is a leader, whatever their position in the organizational hierarchy!! Imagine an organization where a junior executive is leading a project having team members from the dizzying heights of hierarchies of the organization! Simply because this junior executive has the vision & the passion to execute it. Sounds simple, but how many companies have the courage to create such professionals & make them lead?

Follow.. Your heart!

(Rather than your boss’s twitter account!!)

Oft repeated phrase… Rarely practiced. Following, is simply understood as executing orders from the powers that be. Most of the times we hear ourselves saying “If I were him, I would not have done to this way…” Following is often seen as a second rate activity.. Meant for the mediocre & not so talented bunch.. Many a times we feel that we have been relegated to following simply because we seem to be ineffective to lead!! Couldn’t be farther from the truth..!

Following is all about submitting to someone who has a passionate vision & enabling them achieve it… Following entails empowering somebody completely … Even if that individual is lower in the ranks or junior in terms of age or experience! Well, only the large hearted can put their inflated egos aside & emerge to be true blue “followers”. And if I may add, the sincerity with which you follow somebody’s vision, reflects on your ability to lead.

Importantly, following also implies listening to what your heart tells you to do… The so called not so right, impractical & overly ambitious thoughts & feelings that lay simmering deep within you for months.. For years.. Forever. Hats off to those courageous souls who dare to break the shackles & explore their innate aspirations.. Willing to fail .. Daring to fight … And ending up to be far more content & happier beings than most of us.

So, a wake up call (another one) for all those who have not found a leader with a vision worth following… For all those who have been scaling the ladders of success but free falling in terms of job satisfaction… For all those who at the end of an unfulfilling day at work have said to themselves while driving back home, “Kuch karna padega…”

Its about time to follow what’s within you … Follow your heart.

Get Outta the Way … Of your dreams

“Get outta my dreams.. Get into my life”

The only person standing in between you & your dreams …Is you! (Sounds straight out of some motivational guru’s speech!). But come to think of it, nothing can be more true. It is our choices (or inability to make them) that that take us a step closer towards our dream.. Or a step away. I am not talking about the dream of making more money, buying a house or a car, taking that fancy trip abroad.. Am referring to the real dream.. One that keeps you awake.. Does not let you sleep … One that gives you true sense of satisfaction…For many the dream itself is a blur… The power of having a burning desire to achieve something you believe in or love to do is unparalleled.. What is even more unparalleled is the thrill of actually doing something to fulfil that desire.. Even if it is taking small baby steps .. Critical aspect is making a start…

We do so much for the organizations we work for .. Achieve their targets.. Work long hours… Celebrate their success … What have we done to pursue our dreams? Actually, many of us have even stopped dreaming our dream … Buried it under the rubble of family pressures, financial liabilities, humble backgrounds & what not .. There will be a million reasons not to live your dream .. But you need just one to be able to live it.. Just get outta of the way! Step aside & let it bloom .. Let it race through the sands of doubt, disbelief & ridicule .. Let it fall, then get up .. But bring it to LIFE..! Chase every dream.

So finally, its upto you…

Lead –Because of your vision

Follow – Your heart

Get outta the way – Of your dreams.

Carpe Diem!

- Vishal Shah