Sunday 2 September 2018

Indian Leaders versus Other Leaders―Professor M.S. Rao






“An ounce of practice is worth a thousand words.” ―Mahatma Gandhi


Leadership is leadership irrespective of the regions and nationalities. However, there are some aspects that differ leadership from region to region. When you look at leadership in Asia especially India, it is unique because leaders often hail from established families. Whether it is in business, politics, sports or film industry, people with family lineage and connections in a specific industry or area excel quickly and acquire the title of ‘leader’ in India. But can we call them natural leaders?  Of course, not. In this context, let us  look at leadership from Indian perspective versus the rest of the world.  


Indian Leaders

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” ―Mahatma Gandhi

In India, several leaders emerged in the name of caste, religion, region, language and community without any ideology. People supported them because the leaders belonged to their communities. They have identity crisis and appreciate being recognized with their communities. First, do these leaders have the leadership potential? Second, most Indian politicians rose by joining established parties. There are a very few leaders who started their own political parties with their ideologies. It is obvious that Indian leaders depend more on community aspects and less on ideological aspects. If they are tested about their leadership potential, very few will succeed. Mahatma Gandhi was a rare leader who rose from ranks without any family lineage in politics and fought India’s independence, and finally emerged as an international leader. Here is a list of leaders and famous people who were inspired by Mahatma Gandhi―Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Aung San Suu Kyi, HH Dalai Lama, John Lennon, Albert Einstein, Al Gore, Steve Jobs, Rabindranath Tagore, Pearl S. Buck, U Thant, Will Durant, Richard Attenborough, Ho Chi Minh, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Cesar Chavez, Louis Fischer, Haile Selassie I, and George Bernard Shaw.


Indian Leaders versus Other Leaders

“Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people” ―Eleanor Roosevelt

Indian leaders are hierarchy-oriented and directive because of their culture unlike the leaders from developed nations. In India, the subordinates rarely question their superiors because they respect hierarchy. Sometimes, they are risk-averse, and find it difficult to overcome volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA). Therefore, Indian leadership style is different from other cultures and nations.

The average Indian struggles for his/her survival from cradle to grave. S/he hardly finds time to pursue creative activities and aspire to lead others. Only when people lead themselves comfortably they will be able to lead others successfully. Since Indians struggle for their basic necessities, they hardly think of leading others. In contrast, the people from developed nations meet their basic necessities, and are provided with social security measures. So they follow their passions and pursue creative activities. Above all, they find time to lead others. Hence, it is obvious that the leadership style of Indian style definitely varies from other cultures and nations especially the developed nations.


Conclusion

“Twenty-first-century leadership relationship dynamics are from the bottom-up rather than the top-down; from the outside-in, rather than the inside-out.” ―James Strock

India is a country of contrasts. Hence, you find a unique leadership style in India where it is more of hierarchy and bureaucracy which usually doesn’t work in the current global environment. Hence, there is an urgent need for Indian leaders to reinvent their leadership style with the prevailing global scenario to stay relevant and competent.   


“Be the change that you want to see in the world.” ―Mahatma Gandhi


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Read my ‘Vision 2030 One Million Global Leaders’ URL: http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.in/2014/12/professor-m-s-raos-vision-2030-one_31.html  


Life is great!

Professor M.S. Rao
Founder of MSR Leadership Consultants India
Global Top Gurus 30: http://globalgurus.org/upcoming-leadership-gurus/



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