In this speech insight, I have selectively collected micro videos (Duration: 2 to 5 minutes) from Internet and drawn useful insights on Qualities and Traits of a Successful Leader; how a leader qualities and behaviors should be, when they are subjected to certain external environmental conditions /situations. In this speech insight, we will learn from fields such as sports, business and space science.
First Input: Let’s take one of the speeches of Indian Cricket Team Former Captain: MS Dhoni. In this video (2 minutes), he reveals his secret of being ‘Captain Cool’. Please watch this video:
Video-1: Indian Cricket Captain Speech
Learning: Successful leaders also have frustrations, anger, and disappointments. However they control their emotions to the possible extent. Having control over emotions is also called Self-Regulation. It is one of the qualities of emotional intelligence which makes great leaders different from good leaders. What is most important is the organizational task in the picture; According to Dhoni, “What needs to be done” is more important. Leaders think constructively, think about the process more than result. If you see age old (5000 BC) Indian epic The Bhagavad Gita also, one should focus on the work in picture, and the rest (result) leave it to god. One should not focus much on the outcome. Karma (doing thing) is more important than the Phal (the result).
Second Input: Let’s watch a micro video (5 minutes) of management guru, Daniel Goleman. He talks about what makes a great leader?. Originally Daniel Goelman published a popular article in Harvard Business Review (1998) titled “What Makes a Leader?”. In this article, he highlighted that the great leaders are different. They possess specific qualities and characteristics. Please watch the video:
Video-2: Daniel Goleman on Leadership
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QpUH7i7EhM
Learning: According to Daniel Goleman, there are certain things in which people have sense but they cannot put them in words. These kinds of aspects impact the leadership. The Four Strengths of Best Leaders where they make difference include:
- Self-Awareness: have a capacity to reflect on; feels right, not rightè resulting into good decisions. Best leaders have gut feeling which is critical for ethical guidance.
- Self-Management: how we manage our emotions; are we adoptable, flexible…..
- Empathy: do we care for others?; do we help others?, etc.
- Relationship Skills: includes effective communication, collaboration, motivating others, and being team player.
Successful leaders drive their team to do best. Six different Styles of Leadership include: Visionary, Coach, Social Capital Builder, Consensus Builder, Pace Setter, Command and Control. If need is there leader should have the guts to humiliate others. This is required when the team is not taking initiative or they are about to give up.
Third Input: Let’s watch a micro video (2 minutes) from ISRO. This is just before 3 days India would reach Mars way back in September 2014. India would be the first country in the world to reach Mars in a maiden attempt. Listen to the speech of ISRO Chief when Indian Orbiter Mangalyaan is about to reach Mars.
Video-3: ISRO Chief on Mission
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xZumEfkm4w
Learning: Once Mangalyaan mission/orbiter completed 98% of its journey, the situation at ISRO is: people are down to earth; getting ready to contingencies/any eventualities; and according to the ISRO Chief the leader should be relaxed to take tough decisions; particularly when managing critical operations.
Summary: When the mission is Critical, the Leader should be “Cool”. This is what, we learned from both Sports and also Space Missions. Best leaders differ from normal leaders by possessing emotional intelligence.
Hope, I have shared a little of knowledge, I could extract:
Best Wishes,
Dr.Goparaju Purna Sudhakar, PhD, PMP
Sources:
- ANI, “MS Dhoni finally reveals the secret of being ‘Captain Cool’”, youtube.com, October 17, 2019.
- LeadersIn, “Daniel Goleman on what it takes to be a great leader”, youtube.com, October 22, 2015.
- NDTV, “Mangalyaan healthy, team cool: ISRO Chief to NDTV”, youtube.com, September 21, 2014.
(Remember, it is only for academic/learning purpose)