UNRULY LEADER

"Leadership is not about being in charge; it's about taking care of those in your charge." - Simon Sinek

It was a typical working day at “The Towers”, the abode of offices for leading MNCs. The employees were trickling in, exchanging morning pleasantries and gearing up for another productive day. “The Towers” is a high rise commercial building which has an entire ecosystem in place for offices, attracting major corporate players to invest in and owning an office on their floors. At any given point, “The Towers” hosted approximately 5000 employees and guests of various offices.?

However, little did they know, a storm was brewing.

In the lobby, a routine security check was underway. Security personnel at baggage scanners and at the gate were vigilant in their job.?

Sanjay, the security supervisor, was manning the front entrance near the lobby.? He stopped a smartly dressed individual and politely requested to see his identification.

"Good morning, Sir. Which company are you looking for?” Sanjay asked politely.

The individual, none other than Mr. Velan, one of the high ranking employees of a high-profile MNC, was taken aback. His expression darkened, and he took umbrage at the request. He asked Sanjay to accompany him to the baggage scanner. As he put his bag into the scanner, he pulled out his card and flashed it.

Sanjay smiled and started walking back to his duty station

"Do you know who I am?" Mr. Velan demanded, his voice rising.

Sanjay, unfazed, replied, "Sir, I'm just doing my job. Everyone needs to show their ID."

Mr. Velan’s face reddened. He felt that his authority was questioned. He contacted the VP of the organisation which was incharge of the security and demanded an audience. Mr. Nagesh, the VP, listened attentively to Mr. Velan, as he recounted the incident.

Mr. Velan erupted into a scathing tirade, refusing to listen to the VP’s apology or consider his perspective.

"You're just trying to cover up for your incompetent staff. I won't be silenced. No one should question me! I hold a leadership position in my company. I don't need to show ID. You people should know better”, said Mr. Velan. "I want a written explanation for this affront. I want assurances that no one will ever question me or the employees of my firm again."

As the monologue continued, VP's expression changed from calm to concern. He recognised that Mr. Velan’s behaviour was not only unbecoming but also toxic.

The atmosphere in the room became increasingly uncomfortable.?

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Mr. Velan stormed out of the meeting.

Mr. Velan”s behaviour sparks a necessary? and deeper exploration into the depth and complexities of leadership.?

The incident highlights the importance of the following vital qualities that a leader must possess:

1. Emotional intelligence

2. Active listening

3. Empathy

4. Accountability

Effective leadership is not about asserting dominance or suppressing dissent. It's about inspiring, listening, and effectively communicating.

“Good leaders build products. Great leaders build cultures. Good leaders deliver results. Great leaders develop people. Good leaders have vision. Great leaders have values. Good leaders are role models at work. Great leaders are role models in life”, opined Adam Grant.?

1. Be self-aware. Understand your emotions to efficiently manage them. Practice patience.
2. Foster open communication. Seek? feedback and learn from it. Encourage your teams to air their opinion and be proactive to address the concerns, if any
3. Prioritise emotional intelligence and empathy.
4. Be an ardent listener.?
5. Master the art of communication. Know what to speak, where to speak, how much to speak and speak for impact.?
6. Be accountable. Accountable leaders admit their mistakes, learn from them, and make amends.?

Have you encountered such incidents? Please do share your experiences and how you dealt with it in the comments.